Bill Simone, president of Custom Design and Construction, a major Los Angeles remodeling firm, believes it is good business to offer something extra at no extra charge to prospective clients—whether or not they sign his company up as their contractor. And that ‘something extra’ is worth much more than the traditional gift just for calling in.
"Our free offer simply involves making an extra effort to provide helpful information and advice at no obligation," he explained. This is particularly appropriate for our business, and extremely valuable to homeowners in the long run, because they are usually unfamiliar with all the pitfalls and ramifications of remodeling. We want to help them know what they’re getting into—before they get into it."
One widely-appreciated example of this help is Custom Design & Construction’s "Six Secrets to Successful Remodeling," a specially-compiled consumer awareness report. The report comes down hard on unscrupulous and incompetent remodelers who prey on unsuspecting homeowners, charging them high prices for shoddy, often uncompleted work.
In addition to stating the problem in no uncertain terms, the report suggests solutions. It highlights the most critical mistakes made by homeowners when selecting a remodeling contractor and during the remodeling process; then provides tips on avoiding these mistakes. " Six Secrets To Successful Remodeling" is available free of charge in unlimited quantities.
"To date, we have given out hundreds of copies," Bill Simone said. "Some of them, of course, have helped us obtain new business. Just as important, however, is the helping hand we have extended to people in the form of important facts and useful recommendations. This material helps create more informed homeowners throughout Southern California. As a result, many people are less likely to be hurt financially and psychologically by unethical contractors."
Valuable information and advice are also disseminated at free seminars held jointly by Custom Design & Construction and Wells Fargo Bank. The seminars are designed to acquaint homeowners with all aspects of remodeling—from financing to the final walk-through of a completed project.
Experts from the bank and Custom Design and Construction attend each session to discuss and describe their particular specialization and to answer any questions homeowners might have.
"You might call this a crash course in home remodeling— carefully planned so that when those in attendance leave the room they are well prepared for one of the most significant experiences they will ever encounter as homeowners," Simone said.
"Preparation" is the key word for another example of Custom Design and Construction’s helping hand policy. This one is not even aimed at potential clients. Instead, it involves preparing high school students for the future. Recently, Simone was a judge at the Dick Edgley Model Building Contest. The contest is sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Southern California, Los Angeles County East Chapter, along with Chicago Title, Norwest Mortgage, Inc. and Southern California Gas Company. Competing students are usually interested in a career in the construction industry. Each entrant is required to build a scale model of a home, building or special structure. Models are judged on craftsmanship, architecture and site work. Trophies are awarded for first, second and third place.
"The contest gives us, as members of the profession, a vehicle by which we can both critique and encourage a group of talented, enthusiastic youngsters in pursuit of their chosen careers. I find this project most gratifying," said Simone.
Injecting a genuine, ongoing concern for others into the competitive day-to-day challenge of growing a business has actually contributed to steady expansion at Custom Design and Construction.
According to Simone, "proving that you care builds goodwill which, in turn, frequently translates into added business at some point down the line."
The facts seem to bear him out. Business volume has increased since Custom Design & Construction opened for business 15 years ago. And 2002 is expected to maintain this pace. The year 2001 has also seen Custom Design & Construction become one of the most honored companies of its kind. It has garnered five major industry awards—including current ranking as one of the 50 top remodeling companies in the United States. The two latest achievements are a Master Design Award plus a listing among the nation’s leading 500 remodelers in terms of annual sales volume, number of years in business and quality of service. Both honors are given by Qualified Remodeler magazine.
Custom Design & Construction is a full service remodeling firm, specializing in design/build remodeling, kitchens, baths and whole house remodeling. Clients may take advantage of a program in which the company carries financing and conducts the entire financing process in-house for its clients on the projects it builds.
"This results in true one-stop shopping, assuring our clients maximum convenience," Simone noted. In addition to convenience, clients enjoy the highest level of individualized service—a further reflection of the "helping hand" concept.
"We don’t believe that a quiet client is necessarily a satisfied client. By nature, some people are simply not complainers even if they have reason to be. Consequently, when a remodel is in progress, one of our staff members not directly connected with the job periodically calls the homeowner for whom the work is being done.
"Our caller actively solicits questions, opinions or problems the homeowner might have, which he or she might otherwise be reluctant to express to someone who is working on the premises every day. This fortifies our client’s confidence in our desire to meet expectations, and we take one more step toward the total success of the job at hand."
It all adds up to a pleasant, productive relationship which is the overriding objective of every project undertaken by Custom Design & Construction. To obtain further information on your particular remodeling project, or to order a free copy of "Six Secrets To Successful Remodeling," contact Custom Design & Construction at 3652 Overland Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90034 or call (310) 815-4815.
