blue river blog

There are so many reality home shows on TV. Shows that create drama where none really exists, shows that skew the reality of the situations, and shows that feed on your emotions - all to keep you watching until all of the problems are resolved at the end of the 30 minute time slot.

I have mixed feelings about these shows. While I gained my interest in this trade by watching shows like “Hometime,” “New Yankee Workshop,” and “This Old House, ” I have seen the dynamic shift to a more drama inspired programming from a how-to mentality.

While there is much to learn from certain shows, you still need to keep in mind the one single reason these shows exist: to keep you tied to the television set long enough to watch the commercials that pay the bills. They somehow find ways to edit in extra drama to make the star contractor or designer a hero.

Because I am a realist and a no-nonsense contractor, I am going to give you my reality home show perspectives:

1. Mike Holmes is Canadian. While it appears that he does great things for homeowners who were dumb enough to hire their contractors from the moron division of the human race, you need to know that he isn’t always right. I can’t count how many times that I have heard him give “advice” that is just purely wrong and misleading to viewers. While it is great that he exposes poor craftsmanship, the viewer needs to understand that there ARE good contractors in the world.

2. Candice is also Canadian - perhaps that is why what she does really isn’t inexpensive. If you have a staff of contractors who work for free, you could also design it for a Canadian dime.

3. If you can just look at 3 homes and decide on your future in 30 minutes like they do in “House Hunters,” good luck to you, my friend.

4. “Extreme Makeover, Home Edition” used to be one of my favorite show until I had the experience of being involved in an episode. The community effort is so emotional and exhaustive to the people involved. Literally hundreds and thousands of people want to give their all for an unfortunate family without sleeping for nearly a week. They give 150% of themselves for a cause that is larger than life. Myself and many colleagues worked next to Ty, Paul and Paige relentlessly to create a masterpiece only to be taken advantage of by the Hollywood production crew editing table. The show that I was on 4 years ago was the last episode that I ever watched. So many contractors with huge hearts realized that we were simply duped into creating something to hold the viewer’s attention until the next commercial.

5. David Bromstad, keep smiling…

I recently have had a couple of potential customers who decided to go with lower bidders. No big deal. That happens often in my trade. The interesting part is that in an effort to save a small amount of money, they both ended up hiring less qualified (and uninsured) contractors. I really hope you can see where I am going with this.

If the project is simple and nothing goes wrong, then I suppose the risk may be worth the savings. If the project has any complexities or Murphy’s Law gets involved, there is a different story all together.

The construction world is much different than what HGTV or “Extreme Makeover” depict. On TV, things go wrong but are sure to be fixed by the end of the hour with someone else’ money. In the real world, the wrong contractor may not ever finish the job - and still file a lien against your property - all while leaving your home worse than when the project began.

In the case of one of the prospective customers that I mentioned, a couple hundred dollars saved in the front ended up costing more than 125% of the initial bid because the bargain contractor damaged the structure and did not have insurance.

The other potential customer ended up calling me at night trying to fix what the contractor had damaged. Of course I helped him out of his predicament without charging for my time, but honestly not without a tad bit of hidden frustration.

I have seen many other contracts in the past from competing bidders that fail to include the entire scope of the project in hopes to beat out the next bidder. The customer chooses the lowest number and ends up paying for more because the scope was sparse or vague. Sometimes the lower bidder was able to use cheap materials because the scope did not dictate the quality of materials to be used.

The moral of this blog is that a Penny saved may end up costing you a Quarter, if not more, by the time you finish the project. Specify the scope of work, elaborate on the materials expected, and don’t be afraid to say “no, thanks” to a smooth talking contractor. Check references, check insurance certificates, and check your gut.

JB

“I know that I didn’t give you the dimensions, but I thought you knew that I was getting a bigger TV to put in there.”

We have put men on the Moon, cured diseases, built skyscrapers more than a half mile tall, harnessed micro technology, and reduced computers from what used to take up whole warehouses to fit inside cell phones. Even with all of these tremendous breakthroughs, we can’t seem to cure the pandemic ailment of assumptions.

If you can discern these 2 fundamental, yet crucial assumptions in the world of contractors, your success and accomplishment on you next project will be quite impressive:

1. Your contractor can’t read your thoughts. Mind reading is an art that you need to reserve for Sister Suzie the Psychic. Communicate your thoughts and desired outcome. You have an end result in mind (if not, see #2) and you need to make sure that you are able to convey your dream. Sketches, diagrams, product numbers, magazine clippings, pictures, and any other detail will help you and your contractor come to a mutual thought process.

An added benefit of “syncing” these ideas with your contractor is that the bid will be more accurate and limit change orders and add-on fees during the project. A competent contractor will take all of your clippings, sketches, etc. and put them in a file to refer to during the project. This is VERY important - so that you can both refer back to it when (not if) a conflict arises or when (again, not if) new ideas and changes surface. Communicate to your contractors face, not behind his back. DISCUSS ways to find a mutual resolution.

2. There is a slight possibility (I state this facetiously) that you don’t know how to do it best. That’s why you hired a contractor in the first place, correct? Why do you hire an accountant? Because they have the experience and education to organize your financial information and get you the most deductions when the tax man collects his shekel pile. Why do you go to the doctor? Because he has the experience and education to fix your ailments. Why do you take your car to the certified mechanic? Because he has the experience and education to get it back on the road. Should I keep going or do you get my point? You hire a contractor because he has the education and experience to create your masterpiece.

Listen to the expertise of your contractor. Take advice. Explore options. DEVELOP A TRUST. Your contractor has the education and expertise to guide your project to the finish line. Believe it or not, they really do want to make you as happy as possible - contractors live on referrals. Remember, contractors ARE humans and can make mistakes. At the end of the day, your contractor wants you to be happy enough to recommend them to your friends and family. Hopefully, you are using the contractor that YOUR friend or family referred. Use their expertise - don’t fight it.

Many people, especially in the Denver area, are concerned about the environment and have interest in building “green.” What’s not to like about making an effort to maintain the planet that we have been entrusted with. There are many labels and certifications like Energy Star, International Energy Code, and LEED that can confuse you with actually building “green” and finding a contractor that understands how to incorporate energy efficient products into an overall system.

An important factor to consider in your quest for energy efficiency is the price tag. If you go into a project thinking that you can have your green cake and eat it too, you may need a reality check. In my role as a home-builder, I discovered that a majority of people would rather spend a couple thousand on amenities such as expensive counters than a high-efficiency heating/cooling system or high-performance insulation.

A problem is that homeowners and guests can more easily SEE counters made of recycled products or beams made of reclaimed lumber - even though those products, while thoughtful, don’t really have any significant affect on our Earth. In fact, sometimes the environmental impact is actually greater than using standard products.

In contrast, an efficient HVAC/insulation system combined with compact florescent bulbs are not only better for the planet, but they save the owner money in the long run. Unfortunately, these items don’t really start many conversations when guests come over for a visit, therefore get overlooked in lieu of your mosaic backsplash made from glass that was salvaged from a penguin refuge somewhere.

You may sense some cynicism as you read this blog - with good reason. I want to make every project that I do have a minimal residual impact on this planet. Unfortunately, many consumers are more concerned with the “label” of something green than the effectiveness of a green system overall.

Key Thoughts:

1. Think systems and big picture rather than gimmicks or novelties.

2. There is a financial difference to build green. You pay more up front and regain savings long-term. You are paying your contractor for a superior product and should not assume that the price will be the same as a generic project.

3. Sometimes projects that may appear to be environmentally friendly actually have a harsher impact than you think. Make sure that you ask your competent contractor about the product origins and manufacturing processes.

“I’ve been doing this for 27 years. Of course I’m an expert!”

What are your impressions when you get this line from your potential contractor? Does time served mean quality? Does it mean competency? What about correctness? You would think that a veteran contractor with nearly 3 decades would be more qualified than on with closer to one decade, right?

In my experience working along side and in charge of many contractors, I have had the chance to pick up on some very important nuances. Flexibility and ability to adapt is far more important than longevity. I recall being a green superintendent on a job site and thinking that all these old guys knew everything. Confidence would exude from their burly beings as they would tell me that they have done it this way for ‘X’ years. Every contractor is right in their own eyes. Every contractor swears by their own methods with utmost confidence. It is so easy to mistake this confidence for competency.

It wasn’t until the company I was working for decided to push quality and efficiency initiatives that I realized how steadfast these guys were in sticking to their old ways. Energy efficiency, waste reduction, quality engineering, and accountability; I may have been speaking Greek to these guys! They fought tooth and nail to make these logical improvements. The world was changing and their heels were dug into what they knew.

I learned quickly that these guys that had been around forever and talked themselves up had one thing in common; they learned the trade long ago and stopped learning as soon as they ventured out on their own. In essence, they were stuck in a time warp and had not changed willingly since day 1. Does doing it this way for ‘X’ years mean that it has been done RIGHT for ‘X’ years?

Key thoughts:

1. Sitting on the beach for 30 years doesn’t make someone an oceanographer :: wearing a tool belt for 30 years doesn’t make someone a craftsman.

2. The construction trade and building technology is slow to evolve. What does it matter if I have an deft contractor? - True that it evolves slower than other disciplines - but faster than you may think. The only differences in the framing techniques of a house from 30 years ago may only be minor code changes but the insulation and energy techniques from 5 years ago are out of date. Solar panels were financially out of reach to the common consumer just 2 years ago. Now they are more affordable than ever. Mold litigation and mitigation hit the industry as hard as asbestos and lead paint. There are constant discoveries that affect your health and investment. Make sure that you are dealing with someone who is willing to adapt to product/process improvement.

3. Contractors do not provide goods - they provide a service. You can Google a product and get the identical best priced one shipped to your front door. Don’t mistake contractors for goods. You can find a pretty cheap one on Craigslist - but it will not equate to the more expensive one that came with a good reference. You’ll pay a bit more up front but will save much more in the long run. Get it done right the first time.

Let me introduce you to the world of contractors. I have worked with literally hundreds, if not thousands of contractors, subcontractors and vendors in my time as a business owner, project manager, and contractor. I state this only to validate my experience - not to blow my horn. Contractors are a different breed. You need to know how to speak their language - and not get sucked into their lair.

Us contractors have a bad reputation. That may be an understatement - instead of a bad cherry in the bowl, we’re lucky to present a good cherry out of the entire bowl. You guys don’t like us - and we haven’t given you many reasons to do so. Hopefully this blog series will help you in your search for the good cherry in the bowl.

contractor or zombie?

Volunteering is an important resource. There is always a need for free labor. I have donated time and labor to many causes and have realized from my observations of others that there are two types of volunteering; “this makes me feel good” and “this makes someone else feel good.” This article is focused towards the leadership role of a volunteer opportunity. My expertise is in project management and I love to share my knowledge and experience to create the best use of resources. If you are in a leadership role - take note. If you are an abused volunteer, stand back up. Jobs pay the bills but volunteering creates a better world.

The picture above was taken on an “Extreme Makeover, Home Edition” episode that I spent some time on. I actually built the bed in this room and worked with some other awesome craftsman on various projects here. This was definitely a “makes me feel good” even though I went into it hoping to make someone’s life better. I think the kid probably enjoys his new bedroom - he should, we went sleepless for 4 days making it. But in the end, here I am talking about it with pride for what I did and the TV stars that I met and interacted with. I don’t even remember the family’s name on the project. I spent more thought about how I would be on national television than what I was actually doing for good.

I think that as good citizens, we need to focus more on the “this makes someone else feel good.” We should take a little more selfless attitude to the tasks we perform for others. I can’t count the number of times that I have heard someone come back from a church missions trip talking more about what they suffered through than who they actually helped. I recall several events where there was a mandatory “volunteer day” by a company”s management for a good community public relations event. Is the focus on someone else’s needs or selfish ambition?

I want the main focus of this post to be ambition. Why do people volunteer? What makes volunteers productive? Often organizations (churches, non-profit organizations, etc.) wonder why their volunteer events are a flop or why not much gets accomplished. So called “work days” turn into 3 die hard old-faithfuls getting anything done and the rest just show up for obligation’s sake. Leaders need to look at ambitions and skill sets in order to harness productivity and pride.

People have things that they love to do - yet I have seen so many times that work assignments kill the enjoyment of volunteering. For instance, lack of leadership sends a guy who is skilled at handyman projects to a task of serving drinks to others. Likewise, a skilled chef is overlooked and is asked to fix door hinges or change light bulbs. People love to volunteer within their comfort zone or skillsets and they are more productive and effective if they are tasked accordingly.

Again, this comes down to leadership and determination of ambitions. Someone initially goes into a volunteer opportunity to make someone or something else better. In the end, their motivation wains from a lack of accomplishment. The event turns into a negative experience because either they were not used to their full potential (skill sets) or not coached to be as effective as they had hoped to be. This severely impacts the volunteer’s desire for the next opportunity.

If anyone is interested, I have several great tools for leaders to use in volunteer coordination and organization. Volunteering is so much more than having people show up. People want to make a difference. People want to be effective. As leaders, the ability to harness that desire for a cause can turn the “do it for me” into “do it for a cause.”

I have recently been hunting down some unique antique furniture to refinish. Through my ventures into the second-hand stores of downtown Denver, I have found some very awesome pieces to refinish for clients and consignment. The most interesting discovery, however, is how many George Foreman grills are for sale at these places. Not just a few - we’re talking TONS of these grilling wonders lining the shelves with cords wrapped and tangled everywhere. Some heavily used and some still in the boxes. The lean, mean grillin’ machine has seen its days, I guess.

Unlike the fate of Baldy’s great miracle cooker, there are many pieces of furniture that have a second or third round still left in them. Stay tuned for pictures of some of these pieces as they reemerge into their new beauty. Keep me in mind if you are looking for a new life for your favorite furniture. It is amazing how cyclical styles are. Today’s design lines are just refinements of yesterday’s.

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