TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RECESSION PRICING WHILE IT LASTS!!
Excuse me. What? WHAT?
Please, let's not confuse what's going on in the home remodeling business with what's been happening in the retail business (see GAP, Bloomies, et al for the 40% and 60% markdowns). You are familiar with the term "apples to apples," right? It doesn't apply here.
Prices have definitely dropped for commodities produced overseas for a pittance and marked up to an extravagance back in the old US of A. I need not point out (but will anyway) that REMODELING is neither an import nor a commodity. It is primarily a service. As Gilday practices it, it is a suite of professional services--advice, ideas, design and craftsmanship provided by smart, skillful people working together for the benefit of the client. And, yes, we are currently doing business (if you can call it that) in a "recession changed landscape."
Listen to me. The "landscape" may have "changed" due to the "recession." The cost of doing business (recession or no) has NOT changed. Once again: Landscape changed. Cost unchanged.
So okay. Times are tough. We've noticed that. We have tightened up wherever we can. For example, if the going price for some building products or certain sub-contracted affiliate services has become more "competitive" we pass that savings on to our clients. Hey. We're nice, but there is a limit.
Here's a new buzz word for you: Financial Viability.
Financial Viability. Consider this. If a contractor under bids or under charges for the scope of a given project, there are three possibilities. And they are:
- the contractor is inexperienced and would rather please than make a profit
- the contractor is desperate and is trying to postpone the inevitable (bankruptcy)
- the contractor is taking a huge calculated risk in the hopes of making up the loss later in the year
Don't kid yourself. If the contractor under charges for his services he is on a fast track to bankruptcy. He won't be around to fulfill the warranty on your project--presuming the job gets finished before he is finished.
Here's the thing. Forget the bargains. They aren't real. Hire a company that is fiscally sound and charges an honest fee for the valuable services they provide you. Be smart. You won't regret it.
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