 The major objective is to convince the customers to employ a General Contractor (GC) to manage the remodeling project. ie., "Why turn the project over to a GC?" then convince them to use LBJ Construction.
The all too typical scenario
The average remodeling customer (or add on customer or customer home builder customer) assumes that they can save money and manage the project themselves. They go to random vendors and use a random salesman/ woman and pick out materials without knowledge of installers of whether they all work together or not. The customers also may try to do some or all of in the installation themselves. There is no integrated plan; no logically phased installation plan. With the customer as the GC they also had to know how to get the various installers to work together in a properly phased project plan. The customer has no leverage over any of the vendors or installation contractors since this was their only contact with their contractors. But, the customer though that using a professional GC would just increase the cost. The customer as the GC generally increases the length of the construction and leads to headaches in scheduling seven or eight different contracts, and getting response from the vendor and installation contractors as the time wears on.
The advantages of using a General Contractor
Reduced risks - There are many advantages of using a GC to mange your remodeling job. The main reason is having individuals that reduce your risks monetarily, structurally and esthetically. Remodeling should not be too long or arduous, and mistakes can be serious or permanent.
Installation crewing and subcontractor selection - Customers seldom have knowledge of local subcontractors that are available, are trustworthy, and will respect you and your job sufficiently to get it done on time. There are usually at least four or five contractors needed to do each remodeling job. A good GC will have trusted crews (they have to get the GC's trust because the GC gets them work regularly). Also, the GC can pick contractors that specifically fit this job's required skills. A good GC will also have access to crews or subcontractors that have worked for the GC before or for a long times. Vendors and service contractors can be the best measure of trust and respect for the GC; ask them.
Integrating the crews or subcontractors - The GC is skilled at scheduling the various skills and crews so they are ready and there at the right times; so they are done in the right order and do not get in each other's way. It is important to phase them and have access to them so that the scheduling and phasing can be changed if necessary.
Quality control and quality assurance - The time to control quality is during design, selection of materials, and installation. All elements must be compatible and the quality of work, particularly during installation, must be controlled real-time. It is always more costly in time and costs to have to tear new work out and start over. A good GC has managers on the job several times daily, or full time, and assures that the work is done well and compatible with other crews. Finally, the quality has to be assured at the end, not only physically, but in a way that makes the customer pleased.
Vendor selection and material selection - A good GC will provide the customer with a list of recommended multi-selection of vendors and type of materials that will assist customers in selecting areas vendors to check out and who to talk to in that vendor that knows the GC and will work with the customer on a valued-customer basis to pick materials and compatible selections in a different way than just another customer walking in the store. The contacts in the vendors are also not just wait-staff but long term designer and support personnel, but schedule-compressed as much as possible.
Budgeting and dynamic cost control - A good GC will present the customer with an accumulative cost proposal for the entire project. It will have "allowances" for materials such as sinks, tile, and lighting fixtures. This will be designed to make the customer stick to the budget and know how much is expected to be spent on items. It helps determine the estimate for the entire costs and what the installation should cost. If the customer shops at the recommended or participating vendors or contractors, the GC gets discounts that would not normally be available to the customers. That means that the GC itself will actually cost less overall since having one will mean that appliances, materials, and even services will be used at discount prices which reduced the overall costs of using a qualified GC.
Clean up and salvage removal - At the end of each day a good GC will remove salvage and clean up the job sit sufficiently to keep the dust down and to permit use of the house as much is possible during the construction. Since most customers choose to remain on premises during construction this little practice is a welcome service of a GC.
Guarantees and Rework - Most GC's provide the customer with a two year warrantee on all work and all materials selected by and installed by the GC. This is something that an individual does not get if managing the work him/herself. This is in addition to the warranties of any of the materials or appliances themselves from the various vendors and service contractors. The GC can be instrumental in recovering these individual warranties or rebates if dealing with one of their regular vendors or subcontractors.
Why select LBJ Construction as your remodeling or add-on General Contractor?
Previous projects and endorsements - LBJ Construction offers hard examples of previous jobs of all types and sizes to give the customer some idea of the complexities and finished work experience. They also have references with some of those projects that are willing to endorse the company and its work. Maybe more important is that you can check with some of the reputable vendors of materials and services and find that vendors have worked a long time for LBJ and have very respectful endorsements to gladly share. LBJ is "on the job" as necessary and in real-time watches the quality and the interfaces of the subcontractors. Their costs can actually be reduced because LBJ gets the customer discounts on appliances, materials , and services; as well as assure that the service contractors are there at the right time and only for enough time to get the job done right the first time.
Change orders - There probably be change orders on any significant projects. The minute they are identified by LBJ writes them up and submits them to the customer immediately for their signature and agreement. That way there are no surprise change orders (whether expansions or reductions of existing scope, or new scope) or surprise costs.
Professional awards and memberships:
Professional Awards
GHBA 2004 - Remodelor of the Year
GHBA 2006 Prism Award - Best Large Remodeling Project
Memberships
GHBA
Remodelors
TAB
National Remodelors
NAHB
Loose-leaf endorsements - LBJ might put each endorsement on a separate page so that they can be included in the sales brochure as appropriate for that sale call. It should include a picture of the work and brief description of the time ands scope; then the endorsement. It might also be good to include endorsements from vendors and subcontractors as appropriate. Don't be shy and stress integrity. |
