Project Spotlight - Fairfield, NJ Bathroom Renovation
It’s hard to imagine, but this “bathroom” literally started out as just a toilet and a vanity. We were so excited to have the opportunity to work on such a major project and are overjoyed with the results.
It was obvious that the entire room would need to be re-built. We started by digging up the cement to change the draining system. Check it out!
The next step was to add a shower stall. These pictures visually walk you through the process.
We moved the washer and dryer and custom matched the door and the wood paneling.
All of the hard work that went into this one paid off with the ending result. We couldn’t be happier with the outcome and the homeowners share the same sentiment.
Call RWC at 973-227-7123 today to get a free consultation on your next bathroom or kitchen renovation. RWC - Relieving home improvement stress since 1959!
Why RWC Avoids High-Pressured Sales Tactics
A common mistake companies make when marketing their products or services to gain new customers is to approach their target consumers with aggressive sales tactics. Year after year these aggressive forms of marketing are having the opposite effect. Some of these aggressive methods are inappropriate and downright rude. It makes you question whether or not these sales agents ever put themselves in the shoes of the consumer.
Would you ever give business to someone who you feel is harassing you? I wouldn’t. In fact, I much prefer to seek business than to have business seek me. It can be argued that some of these methods are a form of psychological manipulation. If the main objective of marketing is to create customer value by building relationships through various methods of communication, then isn’t it time to question the method in which that is being conveyed? Perhaps value needs to be examined from the point of view of the customer.
One of the industries that have been negatively impacted due to high-pressured sales tactics is the home renovations industry. The competition is high but the sales profits are low because of the vast number of businesses who are approaching consumers rather than consumers seeking the right fit for them. Consumers like to take their time and select what works best for them when shopping around to improve or renovate their homes. Home improvement companies should keep that in mind when reaching out to consumers for business and here’s 5 reasons why:
1. When a customer wants to renovate their home, it is safe to assume that they are under the pressure of selecting the right quality of products, planning out the labor, and in most cases a tricky budget. The last thing they need is an exhausting sales agent at their door or on the phone. That should bring in to question the effectiveness of door to door selling or similar campaigning. Is it possible that the aggressive approach is to lock in the customer’s sale before the customer shops around and learns that the pricing is way above the competition? Many home improvement companies will offer you a free estimate that becomes a 2 hour sales pitch to convince you to spend every last dollar you possibly can. Your customer may feel they are being tricked out of their children’s college fund and turn you away.
2. Approaching someone aggressively creates a sense of false expectation. The aggressive approach seems to include promising a service or product that just sounds too good to be true. One of the key factors of marketing is building a trust between the company and the customer. If a customer doesn’t believe in you, they won’t believe in the product either. An estimate appointment should consist of a sales person really listening to what the customer needs, wants, and can afford. Then build an estimate based on what was requested in order to secure a sale rather than lose one for being too ambitious.
3. Knowing your customer and what they are used to or are comfortable with is key in landing a sale. According to Dr. Lars Perner, PH.D. of the University of Southern California who conducted a study on consumer psychology, some cultures tend to adopt new products more quickly than others. That should be kept in mind when pitching newer more expensive products to a customer. Pitching the bigger sale ticket items may scare them away. If you are looking for a higher sale, pitch newer products that resemble what they are used to only a bit more modern and functional. It shouldn’t be a product that they don’t understand at all or that is far from what they had in place already. Of course, if they are asking for a completely different look, this does not apply.
4. A more modern form of pitching products is through social media and email ads. Many companies tend to overload their profiles and websites with false pictures of products along with fake testimonials. Misrepresenting your company by featuring photos that are obviously stock photos can really hurt the chances of convincing a customer to trust in your business. Most consumers turn their attention away from a company that constantly posts these types of photos. They want to be able to relate to your previous customers and they can’t relate to photos that don’t seem real. When emailing ads, it is never a good idea to email potential customers dozens of times in one week. Most people are not interested in getting any more spam than they already do. In fact, you stand a grand chance that the email will be deleted without being opened.
5. Cold calling potential customer’s homes has to be the absolute worst form of pitching to someone who is looking to renovate their home. Sales agents tend to forget that many industries use this method of marketing as well so the chances that the person you are calling has already been bothered at least one other time during the day are pretty good. Most people are not expecting a sales call when answering their phones so depending on your opening line, you may be at risk of being turned away immediately or even hung up on. If cold calling is the only option to get sales, be very mindful of sounding like you’re reading from a script which creates a form of disconnect between the sales agent and the potential customer.
Project Spotlight - Clifton, NJ Kitchen Remodeling
When arriving in Clifton, NJ, the first thing we realized was the fancy scribblings above the doorway that read, “We may not have it all together…”
We were excited to help the family finish the fragment with, “...but together we have it all”.
This kitchen desperately needed a re-modeling, and RWC was more than happy to take on the project.
Although the original dimensions worked as a kitchen, it was obvious that the family needed more space. With an adjacent dining room, we knew the best idea moving forward was to go ahead and knock down that wall! It was time to turn two rooms into one - making it a dining room/kitchen combo that for both aesthetic and practical reasons, made much more sense.
And so it began…
We removed the wall separating the kitchen and the dining room without hesitation. Next, we installed cabinets against the back wall. We then moved the refrigerator, oven and dishwasher. It was all starting to come together.
The last step was to rebuild the center island and relocate the sink inside of it. We are proud of the results and so are the homeowners! For a free consultation or just to say hello, give us a call at 973-227-7123. RWC - been relieving home improvement stress since 1959!
Why You Might Want to Reconsider that Kitchen and Bathroom DIY Project
Most home renovation projects start out pretty much the same way. First the happy homeowners have grand ideas of what the new space will look like and then they start to work on creating the bathroom or kitchen of their dreams. Too often, not enough forethought is put into the project and that can cause some problems down the line. Another reason homeowners run into problems with their home remodeling project is that they incorrectly assumed they would be able to complete the job themselves without consulting a professional contractor, planner, or construction specialist. Trying to tackle a huge home renovation project without the assistance of a skilled professional can often lead to disastrous results like the ones below.
Decorating Disasters
Decorating disasters are all too common with home remodels. Sometimes the disaster is a result of two people having differing opinions on how to decorate the new space with the result being a ghastly compromise. Other times it is a question of an inability to cleanly combine the old décor with the new result being a hodgepodge of designs that are mismatched. Rather than taking a shot in the dark and hating the final results, a better option is to consult a professional designer to help with the process so the new design can seamlessly transition into the existing décor of the home.
Fizzing out on phases
Most homeowners who decide to undertake a remodeling job don’t have unlimited funds. So, in order to fit an entire remodel into a budget, it gets done in phases. The big problem with this course of action is that too often there is a huge span of time between the beginning of the first phase and the end of the last phase. The end result could be the décor and fixtures in each phase are decades apart in style. No one wants to have a kitchen that was remodeled in the ‘70s, and a current dining room. If an entire remodel job can’t be done at the same time, be sure to choose timeless design features that will work with any décor and any new trends that come around.
Lack of storage space
The kitchen and bathroom are both areas in the home where an abundance of storage space is a must. Nothing will make a homeowner unhappier with their new space than not having enough room for everything when the project is complete. Kitchen remodel plans should include ample storage space for cooking utensils such as pots and pans as well items such as cookie sheets and baking pans. Also, it is essential to make sure there is plenty of room to store perishable food items such as canned and boxed foods. Storage space for the bathroom should include room for everyday toiletry items such as toothpaste, soap, and hair products. If the home does not have a dedicated closet for towels, there needs to be space for those in the bathroom as well. A professional design consultant can help homeowners determine how much space they will need to allow for enough storage.
Unfinished work
One of the biggest problems homeowners run into with a DIY remodel of the kitchen or bathroom is that they run out of money before the job is done. Everyday homeowners generally aren’t realistic about how much a project is going to cost and they tend to not factor in allowances for mistakes that need to be fixed. The result ends up being a renovation that cannot be finished. A professional contractor will be able to make a more accurate assessment of the work that needs to be done as well as budget more accurately. Another trick professionals tend to practice is padding the budget a bit to allow for unexpected expenses or fixes that need to be made. Homeowners generally don’t take this precaution, which can cause them to go over-budget. Unfinished renovations of bathrooms and kitchens are inconvenient and frustrating. Having to live in an unfinished house can take its toll on the people who have to live through it. Further, having unfinished walls or other structures can waste energy, which adds to the cost of the renovation and the overall household expenses. Therefore, it is in the best interests of the homeowners to forgo doing a bathroom or kitchen rehab on their own and leave the work to the professionals instead.
Taking on huge bathroom and kitchen remodels can be time-consuming and complicated. Unless a homeowner is a skilled professional or an extremely proficient DIY-er, large renovation projects to bathrooms and kitchens are better left to the professionals. Even though the initial output of money may be more than a homeowner might want to spend, there will be less money wasted on mistakes that could have been avoided and therefore more money saved in the long run.