Homeowners considering remodeling can get so excited about their dream projects, they can become too confident about life altering decisions. The most common question is "How much does _________cost and how quickly can it be completed?"
I do not desire to minimize these important questions. They are important and valid. Unfortunately, it is easy for unscrupulous contractors to promise more than they are able to deliver when a homeowner is focused on cost alone.
Let's begin with some very important questions and critical considerations that touch on value versus price. How important is the safety of your family, pets, and belongings to you? Have you considered exactly who will be working in your home? How much have you considered the work habits, organization, order, and cleanliness of the project space and surrounding areas everyday when the build team leaves? Are you a smoker? What are your boundaries around profanity, cigarette butts, loud music with questionable lyrics being played around your property and children? Do you want peace of mind knowing the build team is trustworthy on your property in your absence? Are you confident the contractor you selected has the experience to complete the project on task and on budget. What if something unexpected comes up in the midst of the project. Have you done your due diligence to know the team you contracted with has the skill, education, experience, and reputation of following through no matter what? All these considerations are topics that represent value as well as cost.
Most of the time remodeling is done to update and make your home more comfortable and functional.
The workmanship will impact your satisfaction. It will also impact the monetary value of your home. Cutting corners to save a few bucks may cost you much more when you list the home for sale.
Yes , there are so many important considerations. Plus it is extremely important you like the contractor you will be inviting into your living space for months.
Every professional remodeling contractor has had the experience of being contacted by a homeowner who is in an emergency situation because they hired the guy with the cheapest price. No, they were not expecting bad workmanship or criminal behavior. In fact, the contractor they hired seemed great. He sounded safe, experienced, good, and honest. Yet, there are countless stories of homeowners left high and dry, minus thousands of dollars paid as a deposit. Sometimes contractors who start the demolitian, perhaps begin the build phase, never show up again. Your deposit money may be gone and you may be left high and dry, looking for someone to finish the project. The remodeling and construction business can be high risk for shady dealings. To protect yourself and your property, it is imperative to get reviews and referrals from people you trust.
I learned this lesson the hard way in the past six months. My experience about value vs price happened when I needed dental work and wanted to save money. It was a hard, frustrating and very expensive life lesson for me. There actually are some similarities to what I hope to alert you to in this article. So, here I go with the painful embarrassing saga.
Two years ago I realized it was time to get important dental work done. I did not have a local dentist so I asked a friend for a referral. She told me about the only dentist she would trust with her mouth and teeth. She worked in the industry and was knowledgeable. Right up front she told me her dentist was not going to be the least expensive. He would be competitive yet his level of skill and experience commanded respect and would probably cost a little more. She assured me of his integrity and reputation, which I confirmed reading reviews online. Yet, I decided I would be good going to a less expensive dentist. At that point, my dental needs were fairly routine. I did not see the value of her recommendation. What does this have to do with construction or remodeling? Hold on , I think you will get my point.
I googled retail dental offices. Based on web page marketing and a few phone calls, I decided on one of the local offices of a well known national chain of dentists. Since my presenting issue was very basic I felt their services and expertise would be fine. I will say, for basic care, my experience there was sufficient. I especially liked the lower price. However, it did not take long to realize the quality of care was no equal to my previous dentist. I ignored a nagging sense, I might be making an unwise choice. I would have been smarter to leave this nationally recognized chain at that point. I knew they might not have the best equipment or provide the highest quality training and supplies to their staff. However, I liked spending less. I liked the staff and especially the dentist. I became complacent and comfortable settling for less than the best. I kept going back.
Eventually I had an emergency arise. Since my dental was being supplied there for over a year, I went to them for the emergency need. I unwisely trusted they had the expertise. Long story short. I was incorrect. Although the dentist was personable and experienced, the corporate policies tied her hands. She did not have freedom to treat me appropriately. Price versus value became glaringly apparent. I ended up with a fractured root from the inadequate equipment of the office and limited choices of care she had to respond to my emergency situation.
Ultimately, I was forced to pay more than double due to my goal of "saving money," shopping price rather than value. I ended up going to the dentist I rejected earlier based on his higher pricing. If I had gone there in the first place, I am confident the expensive emergency would have been avoided.
Value is made up of so many factors that are all important. Training, experience, expertise, customer service, quality selections offered, dependability, reputation, the safety of your personal belongings and your loved ones. All of these intangibles are truly the most important ingredients. When everything goes perfectly, they do not come to mind. However, when any of them are missing, their value is glaringly obvious.
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