"Love" seems like a strong word when it comes to how one feels about certain home-improvement products... however, you learn to love things that make your job, and life, easier.
1. Good Drywallers: There is no more over-looked tradesman in the building industry than drywall finishers. A good point-up guy can lower your or your customer's blood-pressure by at least 20 points. It's all in the touch. A good drywall finisher is like a world-class Olympic Curler... it seems so simple in theory, until you try to do it yourself. Drywall finishers should make a million dollars per year. There are certain people you should keep as close friends: A lawyer, a dentist, a doctor, an accountant and a reliable drywall finisher.
2. Cheap Caulk Guns: If you are a contractor, you probably own 2,345 caulk guns. Whenever you need one, you never have it in your truck. The only thing that dulls the sting of having to buy a new one, is finding one that costs less than $2.
3. Azek's Procell Decking: The only thing that would make this product better is if it flew through the air and installed itself on your newly-framed deck. It's light, easy to work with, doesn't split or crack, is stainproof and virtually scratch proof. Oh yeah, customers love the way it looks too. For decking boards, it doesn't get any better than this.
4. Three-inch screws: If you have a pound of three-inch screws in your truck, you are pretty much prepared for any situation. I have yet to come across any problem that can't be fixed with a 3" screw.
5. Bobcats: If you have a Bobcat loader on your job and a guy who can drive it well, you can pretty much do anything. It's like having 20 extra guys on the jobsite. Good Bobcat operators are like ninjas and they deserve to make as much as drywall finishers.
6. Geo-Thermal HVAC systems: Pretty much the coolest and most common sense system for heating and cooling your home. It costs a bit up front, but on the long run it can save the homeowner a ton of money. If you don't know anything about it, just Google it.
7. Stamped and colored concrete: If you are thinking about getting a new patio or driveway and haven't looked into stamped concrete, you are missing out on an amazing product. It offers everything pavers can, but no weeds!
8. Ridgid-brand power tools: The light-up power cords are such a simple feature but so cool!
9. Carriage house style garage doors: It used to be that if you wanted to have an automatic garage door, the only choice you had was whether you wanted windows or not. Today, there are so many stylistic choices available you don't have to settle with the ordinary. With so many houses out there designed with the garage facing the street, this advancement is well appreciated.
10. Stanley FatMax tape measure: This isn't your father's tape measure. 11'+ standouts are common now. It makes it much easier to work when you're not directing someone on the dumb end.
Anyway, that's 10 for now. All of my recommendations are given freely, I'm not making any endorsement money on these. However, I am open to offers!
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Thursday, January 29, 2009
People hate to be sold, but they love to be educated
(Unlike most other home-improvement related blogs out there, here at Project Turtle, we offer advice for both the consumer and contractor. Today's article is mostly directed at contractors.)
There is no other type of sales like in-home sales. People open up the door to their home and let someone in who wants to take large amounts of money out of their bank account. Why would anyone agree to this?!?
In the old days of the Tin Men, salesmen had the advantage of an uneducated customer. Not uneducated in regards to scholastic achievement, but uneducated as it related to product knowledge. These days, however, the internet allows everyone instant access to information about pretty much any product available. In 2009, salesmen are often confronted with customers who already have quite a bit of knowledge about the products being offered.
Customers aren't always interested in just hearing about "amazing feature #27," they want to know if you know about it and what your opinion is of it. Many times, contractors will face customers that "know enough to be dangerous" about a certain product, or one that has been misinformed by another contractor. In either case, a firm display of product knowledge goes a long way in gaining the trust and confidence of the customer.
In today's soft economy, people are very leery about dealing with a "Sham-Wow!" type of salesmen. It's insulting to their intelligence and quite frankly inappropriate in the home-improvement industry. When you are in a customer's home, nothing sells your product better than your own knowledge, respect and courtesy. People buy from people they feel comfortable with, it's that simple.
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There is no other type of sales like in-home sales. People open up the door to their home and let someone in who wants to take large amounts of money out of their bank account. Why would anyone agree to this?!?
In the old days of the Tin Men, salesmen had the advantage of an uneducated customer. Not uneducated in regards to scholastic achievement, but uneducated as it related to product knowledge. These days, however, the internet allows everyone instant access to information about pretty much any product available. In 2009, salesmen are often confronted with customers who already have quite a bit of knowledge about the products being offered.
Customers aren't always interested in just hearing about "amazing feature #27," they want to know if you know about it and what your opinion is of it. Many times, contractors will face customers that "know enough to be dangerous" about a certain product, or one that has been misinformed by another contractor. In either case, a firm display of product knowledge goes a long way in gaining the trust and confidence of the customer.
In today's soft economy, people are very leery about dealing with a "Sham-Wow!" type of salesmen. It's insulting to their intelligence and quite frankly inappropriate in the home-improvement industry. When you are in a customer's home, nothing sells your product better than your own knowledge, respect and courtesy. People buy from people they feel comfortable with, it's that simple.
::
Friday, January 9, 2009
Vote for ProjectTurtle.com!
Projectturtle.com was reviewed by Killerstartups.com a few days ago and, as a result, we have been getting a lot of positive feedback from folks all over the country about how they can best utilize this service and benefit from it. We'd like to thank the folks at Killerstartups.com for their support and encouragement.
If you like what you've seen so far and are thinking to yourself, "How can I help?" ...the answer is simple:
Go to http://www.killerstartups.com/ and go to the "Top 10" tab. Look for Project Turtle and vote for us.
Thanks!
::
If you like what you've seen so far and are thinking to yourself, "How can I help?" ...the answer is simple:
Go to http://www.killerstartups.com/ and go to the "Top 10" tab. Look for Project Turtle and vote for us.
Thanks!
::
Some basic advice about contracts
"The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away."
-Tom Waits
By the time you are sitting down to sign a contract with your contractor, the last thing you're interested in doing is reading fine print while pretending you have any idea what all the lawyer-speak jargon means. Most good contractors will offer to read through the contract with you, some may just offer you time to look over it and answer any questions you have. Here's some free advice about home-improvement contracts:
1. ALWAYS have a contract when hiring someone to perform work on your home. (There's a reason they call themselves "Contractors.") Although home-improvement contracts are written to mainly protect the contractor, there are also things within them that define your rights as well.
2. Always have a contract when hiring someone to perform work on your home. This bears repeating.
3. Make sure the contract specifically spells out what work is being performed. Getting a new roof? Well, are the old shingles being stripped off first? Is any sheathing being replaced? What brand, type and color of shingles are being used? Is the flashing going to be replaced too? If you are having a new addition put on, what are the exact dimensions? You don't need to clarify how many nails are being used, just use common sense and ask for any clarification offered to be written into the contract.
4. Is the payment schedule laid out clearly? When are draws required to be paid? Always make sure there is some money left on the table at the end so that you have some leverage. It doesn't have to be a lot, but it's much easier to get someone to return a call when you owe them money.
5. Who's responsible for what? Are you pulling the permit? Do you have to be home? Who's handling utility issues, if any?
6. When is the work being done? How long will it take, and when will it be finished?
7. Make sure the deposit is not more than 1/3rd of the total cost of the contract. There is no reason it should ever be over 1/3rd.
The purpose of a contract is to clarify terms for both you and the contractor. You should never assume anything, I'm sure you've heard what assuming does. Take some time to review the contract. Many contractors will e-mail you a copy of their standard contract ahead of time if you request it. Also, you should have a grace period of a few days if you choose to cancel the contract. Check with your local govenment to see what the law is.
Remember, a contract is only as good as the relationship you have with your contractor. You should feel comfortable with the people you hire. If the salesman is late for meetings, doesn't answer his phone when you call or runs over your cat in the driveway, a contract isn't going to fix it.
::
-Tom Waits
By the time you are sitting down to sign a contract with your contractor, the last thing you're interested in doing is reading fine print while pretending you have any idea what all the lawyer-speak jargon means. Most good contractors will offer to read through the contract with you, some may just offer you time to look over it and answer any questions you have. Here's some free advice about home-improvement contracts:
1. ALWAYS have a contract when hiring someone to perform work on your home. (There's a reason they call themselves "Contractors.") Although home-improvement contracts are written to mainly protect the contractor, there are also things within them that define your rights as well.
2. Always have a contract when hiring someone to perform work on your home. This bears repeating.
3. Make sure the contract specifically spells out what work is being performed. Getting a new roof? Well, are the old shingles being stripped off first? Is any sheathing being replaced? What brand, type and color of shingles are being used? Is the flashing going to be replaced too? If you are having a new addition put on, what are the exact dimensions? You don't need to clarify how many nails are being used, just use common sense and ask for any clarification offered to be written into the contract.
4. Is the payment schedule laid out clearly? When are draws required to be paid? Always make sure there is some money left on the table at the end so that you have some leverage. It doesn't have to be a lot, but it's much easier to get someone to return a call when you owe them money.
5. Who's responsible for what? Are you pulling the permit? Do you have to be home? Who's handling utility issues, if any?
6. When is the work being done? How long will it take, and when will it be finished?
7. Make sure the deposit is not more than 1/3rd of the total cost of the contract. There is no reason it should ever be over 1/3rd.
The purpose of a contract is to clarify terms for both you and the contractor. You should never assume anything, I'm sure you've heard what assuming does. Take some time to review the contract. Many contractors will e-mail you a copy of their standard contract ahead of time if you request it. Also, you should have a grace period of a few days if you choose to cancel the contract. Check with your local govenment to see what the law is.
Remember, a contract is only as good as the relationship you have with your contractor. You should feel comfortable with the people you hire. If the salesman is late for meetings, doesn't answer his phone when you call or runs over your cat in the driveway, a contract isn't going to fix it.
::
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Never hire unlicensed contractors. Always pull a permit.
Before I move on with any other subjects, I feel the need to stress the importance of only hiring licensed contractors and ALWAYS pulling a permit. A reputable contractor will have absolutely no problem supplying you with his/her license number or have a problem with pulling a permit.
In addition to the obvious, here are some practical reasons to follow this advice:
LICENSES:
1. Getting a contractor's license is not difficult for someone who knows what they are doing. Think of it as a hurdle they have to pass to be able to work on your home. Your local government makes them pass a test, checks their financial stability and generally forces them to go through enough red tape that you can rest assured that they are a legitimate business.
2. Most local governments provide an insurance fund for homeowners who use licensed contractors. That's right! If something does go wrong, most licensing agencies maintain a fund to reimburse you for your losses up to a pre-determined amount. It's like having free insurance.
3. A license number provides a consistent identification mark to research your contractor's history. Sometimes, you may be dealing with John, who works for "Floors R Us," which is owned by "Conglomco Industries." Who's ultimately responsible for holding up John's end of the contract? Well, the license number will point you directly to who you need to deal with.
4. There's just no reason not to. If someone has a sad story about not being able to get a license, you shouldn't hire them... it's that easy. When you buy steaks to grill, do you go to a grocery store and look for the USDA stamp or do you just walk down the street and buy them from some guy in a truck?
PERMITS:
1. Would you prefer to have a 3rd party look at the work you're paying for and give their expert opinion about whether it's done properly, or would you rather just guess and hope it's correct? Well, with a permit, you don't have to guess. Make sure your final payment is contingent on an approved final inspection by the local permit authority, and you are covered.
2. Would you rather stay home all day and measure footer holes to make sure they are the right depth or would you like a professional to come have a look and issue his or her approval? How about testing your knowledge of carpentry and structural engineering? If this is you, I know a good way you could save money on dentist bills... do it yourself!
3. Here's a good analogy: Someone sells you a diamond ring. They put it in a box and hand it to you in exchange for your money. They only thing is, you are not allowed to open the box to make sure the diamond is in there. Now imagine the same scenerio except this time, your local policeman gets to look in the box before you hand over your money in order to confirm the diamond's presence. Which one sounds better to you?
Remember, it costs a contractor a little extra time & money to wait in line at the permit office and pull your permit. It also can cost him payroll money to have his guys standing around waiting for an inspector to arrive before moving on to the next stage of construction. You should keep this in mind when choosing a contractor. You could save a tiny percent by going with someone who doesn't want to pull a permit, but you would only be hurting yourself in the long run.
Not all home improvement projects require a permit, but these days most do. Take 5 minutes and call your local permit office and simply ask if your project falls under their guidelines for needing a permit.
That's a great question. The answer is that it would just be an incredibly daunting task for us to verify that information. There are thousands of counties & towns in the United States, each with slightly different policies and procedures. In addition, we want to stress that it is the homeowner's responsibility to verify everything themselves. Just like any responsible contractor will have a license, any responsible homeowner will take 5 minutes to verify it!
::
In addition to the obvious, here are some practical reasons to follow this advice:
LICENSES:
1. Getting a contractor's license is not difficult for someone who knows what they are doing. Think of it as a hurdle they have to pass to be able to work on your home. Your local government makes them pass a test, checks their financial stability and generally forces them to go through enough red tape that you can rest assured that they are a legitimate business.
2. Most local governments provide an insurance fund for homeowners who use licensed contractors. That's right! If something does go wrong, most licensing agencies maintain a fund to reimburse you for your losses up to a pre-determined amount. It's like having free insurance.
3. A license number provides a consistent identification mark to research your contractor's history. Sometimes, you may be dealing with John, who works for "Floors R Us," which is owned by "Conglomco Industries." Who's ultimately responsible for holding up John's end of the contract? Well, the license number will point you directly to who you need to deal with.
4. There's just no reason not to. If someone has a sad story about not being able to get a license, you shouldn't hire them... it's that easy. When you buy steaks to grill, do you go to a grocery store and look for the USDA stamp or do you just walk down the street and buy them from some guy in a truck?
PERMITS:
1. Would you prefer to have a 3rd party look at the work you're paying for and give their expert opinion about whether it's done properly, or would you rather just guess and hope it's correct? Well, with a permit, you don't have to guess. Make sure your final payment is contingent on an approved final inspection by the local permit authority, and you are covered.
2. Would you rather stay home all day and measure footer holes to make sure they are the right depth or would you like a professional to come have a look and issue his or her approval? How about testing your knowledge of carpentry and structural engineering? If this is you, I know a good way you could save money on dentist bills... do it yourself!
3. Here's a good analogy: Someone sells you a diamond ring. They put it in a box and hand it to you in exchange for your money. They only thing is, you are not allowed to open the box to make sure the diamond is in there. Now imagine the same scenerio except this time, your local policeman gets to look in the box before you hand over your money in order to confirm the diamond's presence. Which one sounds better to you?
Remember, it costs a contractor a little extra time & money to wait in line at the permit office and pull your permit. It also can cost him payroll money to have his guys standing around waiting for an inspector to arrive before moving on to the next stage of construction. You should keep this in mind when choosing a contractor. You could save a tiny percent by going with someone who doesn't want to pull a permit, but you would only be hurting yourself in the long run.
Not all home improvement projects require a permit, but these days most do. Take 5 minutes and call your local permit office and simply ask if your project falls under their guidelines for needing a permit.
"That all sounds great, Michael, but why doesn't ProjectTurtle.com require all contractors to have licenses?"
That's a great question. The answer is that it would just be an incredibly daunting task for us to verify that information. There are thousands of counties & towns in the United States, each with slightly different policies and procedures. In addition, we want to stress that it is the homeowner's responsibility to verify everything themselves. Just like any responsible contractor will have a license, any responsible homeowner will take 5 minutes to verify it!
::
Monday, January 5, 2009
How much do you want to Shell Out?
Welcome to the TurtleBlog, the official Blogsite of Project Turtle. My name is Michael and I'll be giving you some insight into what's going on behind the scenes at Project Turtle, new ideas that we're thinking about, Shelling success stories, my own analysis of what's going on in the home-improvement industry and much more.
The site has been up and running for a few months now. Thanks to all of our beta users and testers for their help working out the bugs and offering suggestions to improve the site. Project Turtle is, at its heart, a community site. It is designed to help everyone involved in home-improvement whether they are a customer or contractor. It's also a great place to do some research and get ideas for your own project.
Thanks for stopping by.
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The site has been up and running for a few months now. Thanks to all of our beta users and testers for their help working out the bugs and offering suggestions to improve the site. Project Turtle is, at its heart, a community site. It is designed to help everyone involved in home-improvement whether they are a customer or contractor. It's also a great place to do some research and get ideas for your own project.
Thanks for stopping by.
::
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