Last month I talked about the bad rep that remodelers have because of a few bad ones out there so I won’t rehash that again.  I want to talk about the fear of not knowing what do to first.

“How do I get started?”  That’s a great question and we hear it all the time.  And without sounding like a big commercial, I would say simply, “Call Cipriani Remodeling Solutions.”  And here’s why.

As soon as you pick up the phone to call, you’ll get a person, not an answering machine.  Kathy will answer your questions and work with you to set up two appointments – one at your home and one here in our office/showroom.  She’s not a high pressure salesperson (we don’t have them here) but someone who will listen to your questions and concerns and make you comfortable.

At the first appointment, your personal remodeling consultant will come to your home and listen to what you have in mind for your kitchen, bath or home addition project.  They will learn how you live in your home, what you need and what you want in your new space, and get an idea of your budget.  Then they will discuss a few design ideas and take measurements.

At the second appointment, you will visit our office/showroom and your remodeling consultant will review the design they have created (in some cases, this will include a 3D view,) show you some of the products used to generate the estimate, and review a detailed budget.  They will also give you some background on the 30 years that we’ve been in business and how our customer focus philosophy is the reason for our longevity.

Our goal is to take the fear out of remodeling.  And we’ve had lots of practice at it.

Jay Cipriani, President of Cipriani Remodeling Solutions

The headline in a recent Courier Post article read: “Home Improvement Contractors Top Consumer Complaint List.”  The article gives the stats:  of the 12,240 complaints filed in 2011 with the State Division of Consumer Affairs, 937 (7.6%) were about companies in my industry.  The next highest category was motor vehicle complaints.  Read Article Here.

So why was I mad?  Because home remodeling is an honorable industry and there’s no excuse for bad contractors continuing to be in this business.  This article goes on to say that contractors should be registered but that alone does not guarantee good service.

Good contractors are professionals who take their business seriously.  They don’t jump in and out of the industry because of the economy.  They are committed to developing best practices and delivering a quality product and quality customer service.

Good contractors stayed informed about new products and installation techniques.  They use trusted subcontractors for specialty trades like electricians and plumbers.  They also provide experienced job site supervision so a customer’s home is protected and cared for.

Good contractors talk to their customers, they don’t hide.  They listen to their concerns and follow up like a professional.  They provide information, advice and make sure their customer understands what to expect during a renovation.

Good contractors should be mad about the fact that there are too many bad contractors out there giving us all a bad name.  I know it makes me very mad…

~ Jay Cipriani

Jay Cipriani, Kyle Baptist - 2011 Top Gun Award winner

Last August Kyle was among the “40 professionals under the age of 40” recognized by Professional Remodeler magazine as one of the young leaders of the industry.  In an interview at that time, Kyle cited his use of today’s technology as one of the reasons he connects with his customers.  He uses is IPad to show the “idea library” he has created so that customers can visualize the various choices they can consider when remodeling their home.  And later in the planning stage, he demonstrates the new space with 3D technology allowing customers to actually feel what it will be like to be in the new kitchen or bath.

In presenting Kyle with his Top Gun award, Jay said, “Kyle is the youngest remodeling consultant to deliver over $1M of work in a year.  We’re very proud of his achievement and of how he represents the values of the company.”

Family Room Before

Simon and Emilie are a young couple who moved to the United States to grow both their business and their family.  They bought a “fixer-upper” because they loved the South Jersey area and the homesite.  But they needed vision to achieve the home they want for the family they intended to have.

The project involved a total house renovation – inside and out.  One of the proposed plans from a former architect, added a family room to the back of the home.  While it would have added the space they wanted, there was no real creativity to the plan, nor did it bring the rooms of the home together the way they imagined.

Cindy Cipriani immediately realized the value of being able to enjoy the private back yard from both inside and outside the home.  She suggested removing the wall between the kitchen and the great room (which they had been told they could not do.)  A steel beam solved that problem and the work began.

Family Room After

The result is a beautiful space that includes a gorgeous, modern kitchen, powder room and family room with giant, oversized windows to the world outside.  Even the finish fixtures are unique and reflect the homeowners’ European style.

Beautiful Kitchen After

This “fixer-upper” is now a place where Simon and Emilie proudly host their family when they come to visit from abroad.  And they look forward to starting their own family here in South Jersey.

Woodbury, NJ – We are proud to announce that Cipriani Remodeling Solutions has been recognized again for its outstanding customer service with the 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor given only to approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on Angie’s List.  Cipriani received this award in the Kitchen & Bathroom category where they achieved and maintained a Superior Service Rating on Angie’s List throughout 2011.

Cipriani Wins Again!

Jay Cipriani attributes the company’s success to its commitment to its customers.  “Everything we do at Cipriani is done with the goal of providing an excellent customer experience.   And we do what we say, whether it’s returning a call promptly, or beginning and ending a project on schedule,” says Jay.  “It’s important to remember that homeowners are present and very involved with every stage of a renovation.  They appreciate an honest relationship and being informed along the way.”  This type of commitment has resulted in a high rate of repeat customers and referrals from satisfied customers who are happy to share their Cipriani experience with others who are considering a remodeling project.

This is the second year in a row that Cipriani Remodeling Solutions has earned the Angie’s List Super Service Award.  Cipriani is proud to receive this recognition because it comes from their most important constituency – their customers.

What percentage of homeowners who rave about their remodeling project chose the contractor who gave them the lowest price?

Unfortunately we don’t have any research to provide a real answer to that question.  But you probably get the point.

Something done well is probably not done cheaply.  Your home is the single most significant investment you will ever make.  And while it may not provide the equity  return it did during the real estate boom years, it’s still important to protect that investment.

So, how do you determine value?  In the end, only you can answer that question.  By doing the work to interview several contractors and comparing them on all the features that we’ve discussed over the past 5 articles, you should have the information you need to make an informed choice.

Homeowners who are unhappy with their remodeling job probably feel they paid too much.  And they probably feel that way because the project didn’t turn out like they hoped or the contractor didn’t fulfill their obligations.  Their expectations were not met.

However, a homeowner who paid the exact same amount for the same project but who worked with a contractor who took the time to educate them, present them detailed plans, specifications and schedules, shop with them to make the best selections, most likely is thrilled with the results of the project.  Their expectations were met or possibly even exceeded.

When you decide to remodel your home, which contractor will you trust?  Which will guide you through the process, step by step?  Which will ultimately be the best value?

How do you know you can trust your remodeler?

Well, there are lots of ways to know if your remodeler is trustworthy and the last few articles about what constitutes an appropriate estimate are some of the ways to judge.  Another way is to see how much time your remodeler takes to educate you on what you are buying and on how they separate themselves from other contractors.

Among other things, a good remodeler will talk to you about:

• what to look for when hiring a contractor
• the process of remodeling
• the renovation schedule
• payment plans
• how they will protect your home
• insurance requirements (both yours and theirs)
• contractor qualifications

Remodeling is complicated and not all remodelers are tuned in to the details.  Make sure the one you hire is.

Next Article:  Determining Value

Many remodelers will give you an “allowance” and send you off to the tile or flooring company to choose your colors.  If you’ve ever been to a showroom of a flooring distributor, you’ll know how overwhelming it can be.  And since most homeowners aren’t experts in carpet specifications, it will be almost impossible to make a choice.  And what happens if you choose tile in one store and need to match it to appliances or cabinets sold in another store.  This process alone could take weeks and cause a lot of unnecessary stress.

We know of one remodeler (us!) who takes their homeowners shopping.  We personally walk you through the selections you need to make, explaining the features and benefits of the options and helping you make the choices that will work with the budget.  What a relief!

In addition, a thorough remodeler will provide product recommendations and options for you to consider.  Based on your budget, you may have to prioritize where you want or need to spend more money and where you can save.

When it comes to seeing all these selections in the proposal, do not expect to see prices attributed to each item.  Think of how you buy a car.  The sticker on the window lists what’s included in that car:  heated seats, moon roof, the “sports package” or steel wheels for example.  The price quoted is for the total package, not an individual cost for each feature.  That’s how a remodeling estimate is presented.  It’s the entire package of the design, the selections you made and the cost of labor that determines the cost of your project.  The house is a system.  You can’t purchase siding without also buying caulk, j-channel, vapor barrier, etc., etc., etc…

Next Article:  What a Remodeler Should Teach You

#2 – Make sure your new space is adequately demonstrated to you before your start tearing out walls.

A contractor cannot properly estimate the cost of your project without a proper design.  As you engage in discussion about what you want, need and hope to be able to afford, your remodeler will provide you with options on layout and materials.  These should be formulated into a formal design so you can see what your new space will be like.

An architectural drawing will show you where the cabinets and appliances are, where there will be outlets and light switches and how much floor space you will need to cover.  A plan like this is the basis for project “take-offs” which becomes a detailed list of the materials needed for the job.  Some architectural drawings are more complex than others, depending on the complexity of the project.

Your contractor may not provide this level of detail on more than one layout/design because there is a cost involved.  Expect to pay a design fee, which is not refundable, to the contractor to create these plans.

In addition to the 2-dimensional plan, a good remodeler will create the space on a computer program so you can see the area in 3-D.  The better programs make you feel like you are in the space itself and you can turn “physically” turn around and experience the room.  Not all remodelers have this virtual reality capability.  But if you are embarking on a big home renovation project, you should require it.

Next Article:  Detailed List of Materials for your Project

Everyone says “get three estimates.”  Good advice.  But how do we know what to look for in those estimates and how do we differentiate one from another?

Over the next few weeks, we will focus on project proposals – what to look for, what to expect and what to avoid.

#1 – Estimates are based on a design, the materials used in the renovation, and labor.

Let’s talk about design first.

While many areas of your home cannot be modified when it comes to moving walls (internal and external), what you do within those walls can vary greatly.  In a kitchen, for example, the location of your sink, refrigerator and stove/oven should be located in a proximity to one another that is convenient and doesn’t require too many extra steps to move from one to another.  The location of the plumbing may determine the location of a sink and dishwasher but even that can be changed to achieve a better flow.

Kitchen cabinets come in all sizes.  Some have drawers, some only cabinets.  And some are a combination of both.  There are also special configurations that will maximize use of space in a corner, fill in a narrow area and take advantage of space over a refrigerator.

Cooking takes makes forms so your kitchen may require a single stove/oven appliance or it may accommodate a double oven and a separate cooktop.  And of course, there’s always the microwave.

And the area for cleaning – sink and dishwasher – provides another area for lots of decisions – single or double sink?  50/50 or 70/30 configuration?

When looking at your estimate, what is the design of your new kitchen?  How many alternatives and options is your remodeler giving you?  And how do these options affect the cost of your new kitchen?

Lastly, how is your remodeler demonstrating the design?

Next article:  “Walking” you through your new space.