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I’ve subscribed to
i Fine Homebuilding
for well over a decade and have kept all my old issues handy in my office for reference. I get the magazine not because I am a contractor, but because I believe that at its best, a building, and specifically a house, can become something very special. The kind of people who build those special, occasionally extraordinary houses are represented in the articles of FH and on this board. When I finally reached a point in my life where I could afford to have my own “fine home” built, I didn’t look for someone who had been to every sales seminar known to man. I didn’t seek (and would not even meet with) any firm that wanted their “sales professional” to talk to me about the job. I wasn’t interested in business owners with showrooms for their cabinet line but who no longer carried a hammer. Instead, I wanted, sought out, and hired a contractor who enjoyed showing up to my job every day. I hired a contractor who was probably a lousy businessman, but who had the ability to listen to what I wanted, pay attention to what I could afford, and build it with an eye for detail and quality that was what I expected. We had no need for twelve step conflict resolution programs because he wasn’t afraid to talk and get feedback as often as necessary so that we were always on the same page.
The recent events on this board bothered me particularly because I saw in the CCN posts an attempt to homogenize the truly skilled people who build the kind of houses that interest me into a group of slick salesmen. CCN might as well stand for Cookie Cutter Network. There may well be a place for Cookie Cutter Contractors in todays marketplace. I don’t doubt that many contractors could use a little help in honing their business skills- and there are many good, legitimate places to get that help. But I believe there will always be good, well paying work for those of you who are not just another salesman with a hammer.
Thanks for throwing the bozo off the board.
Replies
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Amen Chris!
And well said.
James DuHamel
*Chris,You post has some interesting comments, especially the anti-cookie cutter remark.Chris - “I hired a contractor who was probably a lousy businessman.”Richard – Is this something to be proud about? Is it possible you took advantage of him because he didn’t know any better, or did you help him become a better businessman where it was a win-win? Was your project profitable for him? Would he want to repeat the experience?Chris – “I saw in the CCN posts an attempt to homogenize the truly skilled people who build the kind of houses that interest me into a group of slick salesmen. CCN might as well stand for Cookie Cutter Network.”Richard – How you come to your conclusion is unknown since a remodeling business is built on a three-legger stool, i.e. Sales, Production and Administration. Sales is just one leg.Cookie Cutter, in the professional business world is called “Systems & Procedures.” “Standard Operating Procedures” etc. This is what most companies strive for.Standardizing business practices is EXACTLY the format and formula for achieving 100% Client Satisfaction and predictable results for the contractor.Today, standardized business, or specialization, is the proven practices that prevails in the successful most detailed and custom environments, as well as, the traditional market.“System & Procedures” is what Henry Ford used in order to help have every family in America have an automobile. It is called the assembly line. “System & Procedures” is what Ray Kroc used to revolutionize the diner-restaurant market.Specialization is what Doctors have done to improve health care. We see the results with people living much longer. I would sure hope the Doc knows step-by-step when he/she is doing so we have a predictable outcome. Could you call heart surgery Cookie Cutter? I sure hope so. I wouldn’t want someone flying by the seat of his or her pants doing the surgery.It is interesting to note that none of these Cookie Cutter breakthroughs were accomplished until the sale was made. You can build a better mousetrap but people don’t beat a path to your door. The lack of sales training is why many first class remodelers don’t have enough work, or are not paid commensurate with their art and ability. Instead they find themselves competing with lesser quality contractors.The more a remodeler can standardize his/her business the better it is for the Client and the contractor, but nothing happens until someone sells something. You can be the greatest artisan in the world but what good is that skill if you can’t sell your work for what it is worth?The home improvement business is the last billion dollar highly fragmented industry in the US. This industry suffers a high level of consumer distrust and dissatisfaction.In response to the need for predictable quality the industry is now being consolidated by mass merchandisers, large companies acquiring others, and franchises. CCN simply combines the best of all three consolidators for the independent contractor, but without the large overhead or franchise fees.To solve the current lack of trust and reputation for a high level of consumer dissatisfaction the industry will evolve to be Cookie Cutter like. This is good, not bad because quality will improve.We can see that evolution now with Home Depot moving into the high-end custom market with their Home Depot Expo, the consumer market with the Home Depot Stores, and the contractor supply market with specialized Home Depot Contractor Entrances. It is all part of standardization or what you might term cookie cutter. According to the research shared with me today the mass merchandisers control over 50% of the custom kitchen market. That didn’t happen because they were highly fragmented without systems and procedures.Better quality & lower prices should be the result of advanced cookie cutter techniques.Food for thought……….Richard Kaller
*Warning.Beware, poster and lurker alike.This man is trying to sell you something. Do not listen to him. He is very convincing. He can make a splinter under your fingernail sound like a good idea. Do not be fooled. He wants to sell you a 'program'. You pay outrageous 'fees' for the right to listen to this person's advice. His advice is all smoke and mirrors. He and his company are the amway of construction sales advice.He claims to be selling advice. What he is actualy selling is an addiction. Listen to his 'advice', and he will string you along with 99 percent bullshit, and 1 percent real advice. The 99 percent bullshit is there just to inflate the 1 percent into seeming like more than what it is, and to keep stringing you along so he can get you to pay for even more of his bullshit.If you need advice, you can most likely get whatever advice you need, from the people of this forum, for free. Just by posting a question. If your problem is not solved here, there is undoubtedly a book that specifically addresses your problem. You can get a book on just about any construction, or construction sales subject under the sun, at the Taunton books site. Or at Crafstman books, JLC Bookstore, or NAHB bookstore. Or even your local library. Start here... http://www.taunton.com/store/index.asp For an average of 35 dollars each, you will get a book that you can hold in your hand, that you can refer to any time you want to. And that will cover in depth, not only the question that you would have asked here, but many questions you might not have thought to ask. Books written by real life people with real life experience in the subject of the book. People who do not have an ongoing 'program' to sell you. Books will not give you a tiny bit of information, then make you accept a neverending drain in your wallet, to get just a tiny bit more. Do not be fooled by this salesman. Do not 'drop him an email'. Be afraid, be very afraid.
*Richard:It is tempting to argue with you on a point-by-point basis, and a few weeks ago I would have yielded to that temptation. Fortunately, I have had the experience of reading your previous posts, and I have no intention of dignifying your sales pitch. I will tell you this however; that I am insulted by your insinuation that just because I said I hired a contractor who was probably a lousy businessman that means I took advantage of him. My point was the exact opposite: that I hired him for his skill and talent, not for his sales pitch. Your attempt to portray me (and by extension all customers) as being out to screw the poor dumb contractor is offensive in the extreme. You don’t get it, and you never will. Your totalitarian vision of assembly line remodeling is frightening. Your analogy that quality custom work can be managed like a McDonalds is laughable. If you took the time to read Fine Homebuilding, or even to look at the projects in the Gallery here, you would see that this is not about mass production. It is not about standardization. The cookie cutter crap you push is not what I, the customer, wants; and as you can see from the comments all over this board, it is not what these fine contractors want. I hesitate to say that there may be a market for what you are selling, but it isn’t here.Chris
*Chris,Where did you see a sales pitch in my post? What is there to argue?Insinuation – There were only questions in my post about the contractor that built your home. There was no judgment about how you handled that contractor. It is interesting that your interpretation caused you to think what you thought. I simply asked you if it was a win-win. You did not answer that question instead got defensive. What is that all about?.Quality Building - I live in the Mail Line of Philadelphia where there is a ton of old money and super quality homes, so I don’t need much help appreciating quality. I worked on these fine mansions for 30 years.In my neighborhood new homes are popping out of the ground like weeds. Today they start selling for $1.5 million. The craftsmanship and the materials in these homes are the best you can buy, and the process of building the home is a virtually assembly line with subs tightly coordinated. I am amazed how much they can build in such little time.For example. A new street was connected to my street. Thirty to forty new homes all well over $1 million have been built and are fully occupied in what I believe is less than two years. Now that is high quality assembly line-like production. These are not look alike homes there are numerous styles. The interiors are very custom. I am also involved in a new home sales business in Southern California. Again, high-end homes, not nearly the quality as east coast, but nonetheless built using professional assembly line like processes, and they often cost more than east coast.My brother just built what is rumored to be a $3 million dollar home. I believe the house was built within 3-6 six months as well as the another dozen homes on his street. This is another example of professional assembly-like like construction. In fact, I was visiting during the punch list process. It was a perfectly timed and executed assembly line like process.Based on my experience to suggest quality furniture, quality cars, and quality homes do not follow proven business assembly practices is simply incorrect.Have you visited a Home Depot Expo? I hear they are making great headway in the high-end market. Do you think they will operate without an assembly line and predictable outcomes?This is just my 2 cents, not trying to sell you anything.Richard KallerCertified Contractors NetWork
*Even a thread begun to thank Andy (incorrectly, unfortunately) for throwing Richard off the site, he sticks his nose and his unwanted propaganda in twice.This guy lives in a neighborhood of $1,000,000 homes, his brother just built (it is rumored) a $3,000,000 home, but he's willing to spend his valuable time amongst us to show us the error of our ways. And for the pittance of a mere $3,500 he'll let us in on his Proven Secrets for Getting Rich with Win-Win Change Orders.I see no hope of this clown vanishing of his own accord, he is convinced that there is money to be made if he stays here annoying one and all, posting his drivel in whatever thread has an opening, or none, as evidenced by his intrusion here.Gabe, I think you were too subtle. Joe H
*I wonder if Richard (I think I'll just call him Dick for short) is a member of ANY reputable professional organization? NAHB, BBB, Chamber of Commerce?Doubtful.Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the guy your mother warned you about.
*Alan, my mother warned me about bad girls. She never even thought of worrying about me and other guys. Joe H
*Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan?Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan?Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan?Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan?Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan?Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan? Maybe you gotta be a disreputable contractor to be part of Richard's plan?
*you guys are boring me... ..i find richard's posts to be informative.. lemme see... none of you need any help with the business end ?so .. don't send him any money.... but let's have a discourse...instead of spending all your time and effort trying to censor him and drive him off the board... why don't you talk about BUSINESS... that's what this section is for..you could also ignore him...or add to the general body of knowledgehey , blue, have you looked at Foliofn yet ?http://www.foliofn.com/
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I've subscribed to
i Fine Homebuilding
for well over a decade and have kept all my old issues handy in my office for reference. I get the magazine not because I am a contractor, but because I believe that at its best, a building, and specifically a house, can become something very special. The kind of people who build those special, occasionally extraordinary houses are represented in the articles of FH and on this board. When I finally reached a point in my life where I could afford to have my own "fine home" built, I didn't look for someone who had been to every sales seminar known to man. I didn't seek (and would not even meet with) any firm that wanted their "sales professional" to talk to me about the job. I wasn't interested in business owners with showrooms for their cabinet line but who no longer carried a hammer. Instead, I wanted, sought out, and hired a contractor who enjoyed showing up to my job every day. I hired a contractor who was probably a lousy businessman, but who had the ability to listen to what I wanted, pay attention to what I could afford, and build it with an eye for detail and quality that was what I expected. We had no need for twelve step conflict resolution programs because he wasn't afraid to talk and get feedback as often as necessary so that we were always on the same page.
The recent events on this board bothered me particularly because I saw in the CCN posts an attempt to homogenize the truly skilled people who build the kind of houses that interest me into a group of slick salesmen. CCN might as well stand for Cookie Cutter Network. There may well be a place for Cookie Cutter Contractors in todays marketplace. I don't doubt that many contractors could use a little help in honing their business skills- and there are many good, legitimate places to get that help. But I believe there will always be good, well paying work for those of you who are not just another salesman with a hammer.
Thanks for throwing the bozo off the board.