Timber Framing Buyer's Guide
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5
Chapter 2: Contractor/Remodelers
Dear Contractor/Remodeler,
You face many challengers in a day's work. Not only explaining to your clients why your service and products have the highest return on investment, but also managing the minefield of daily communication between you, your employees, your subcontractors, and your clients.
Not to mention, getting critical decisions from the owners in a timely manner, (every decision eventually becomes critical to finish you job, no matter how small!), dealing with increased bank and building officials red tape, and balancing the monetary needs of your clients, employees, and your business.
I can't magically make the aforementioned disappear all together, But... I've experienced many very rewarding projects in which competency, enthusiasm, and teamwork has alleviated the lion's share of these headaches. Spectacular results don't just materialize out of thin air! Shared expertise, vision, and teamwork are required to consistently create very satisfying results. Imagine... No pain. No agonizing decisions. No back and forth. With the right mix of talent, it becomes as Easy as 1-2-3.
Like you've experienced, everything becomes easier after solid customer relations and team work have been established. Your projects seem to take an effortless, and even fun path of their own! More often than not, Lemons (glitches) are turned into lemonade, when a cohesive team works together. Ultimately you, your clients, and I want a fair exchange in which they get the customized dream home which surpasses their expectations, and you and I both generate enough profit to earn a living and reinvest in our respective businesses.
Communication
As a craftsman who has worked as a subcontractor for 15+ years serving builders like yourself, I know and understand the challenges that you face. Regarding your communication with your clients... I believe I can lighten your load in 2 ways:
A) I have a mini-guide questionnaire, which can be used to establish a communication baseline for you, your clients and myself. Communication regarding the particular atmosphere feel or the timber style they would like to achieve. (It's also available on the member's page)
B) In a less tangible way, I believe the core values we at Arrow Timber have, are very quickly and easily noticed by your clients. I believe this is consistent with the honesty, flexibility, and creativity and your company, which draws your clients to you.
When your customer can see that we re-enforce your values, their trust for you is also re-enforced, which means that you have to talk less about why your product is worth more than your competitor's. You are less of a price commodity. More trust is established and everything works better with mutual trust.
I also have no objections to reducing your load even further, if you are comfortable with me communicating directly with your client.
Decisions, Red Tape, & the Money Triangle
You'll be happy to know that the other 3 common headaches for Builders, can be alleviated. They don't have to be so problematic.
1. Getting the information and decisions you need in a timely manner
2. Dealing with bureaucratic red tape
3. Balancing the monetary triangle: The needs of your client, the needs of your company, and the needs of your employees
Decisions...You'll find that our mentality for making decisions fun is infectious! The actual system we use here at Arrow will remove a lot of the decision making fear and inject some fun back into the process for your clients. Your clients can have access to a reverse order decision check list (designed by a woman for women!) They can also use our decision process for virtually anything that becomes a little bit sticky. I also suggest you do your clients a favor and give them a deadline accompanied with a grace period. Late decisions will cost them. By doing this, you will help them avoid unneeded charges, from expedited shipping to lost sub construction time.
Bureaucratic red tape...We both know that it serves a purpose, but how aggravating it can be! I really wish more latitude would be given so the whole system would have some capability to reason and use common sense! But I also wish I could fly... I can only do a few things for you. I can tweak my payment schedule and negotiate with your bank. I can also help them find comparable real estate so your client gets a fair loan. I'll also deal with any questions or concerns your local building department may have.
Your responsibility meeting the needs of your business clients and employees is a sizable task and I in no way am implying that hiring Arrow will magically balance the triangle. I only hope that:
- We can put a smile on your clients face by delivering exactly what they wanted... And then some!
- We can work hard, be on the lookout for effective solutions, and make your employees' job easier
- We can lower your costs and increase your profits so you can win even more customers
So, here is to solid customer relationships and mutual benefits! May you find abundance in the near future!
Welcome Aboard,
Bert Sarkkinen
P.S. As an Arrow member You can send your clients here to use the decision tools which will relieve agonizing decisions and hopefully inject some sun into the process. Because the home building process is a dark, spooky jungle of decisions without a guide and right mentality towards decisions.
