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Can you provide us with references from your past
clients?
Absolutely! All proposals presented by a reputable
contractor should provide references. One of the most
common reasons the public gets “burned” on a contracted
project is that they either didn’t get references or
didn’t check on the references that were given.
Quality Home Improvements provides a list of references
of past clients who have had similar work done at their
homes. Please, before you accept any proposal for work
to be done, call some or all of the references provided.
Not only ask them about their experience with the
contractor (timeliness, cleanliness, quality of work,
communications, easy to get along with, etc) but also
how they learned of the contractor in question. If they
were referred, ask if you could call the referring
person. This is the absolutely best source for a
reference
Will you provide a design/build package?
Quality Home Improvements uses the Design/Build approach
to many of their projects. We have an on staff interior
designer who will work with the client to design their
project, with in a given budget and to their
specifications. The budget amount is the guideline for
the design only – not the target of the proposal. Many
times Quality Home Improvements comes in lower than the
budged amount and the client gets everything they
desire. Sometimes we need permission to exceed the
budget to add all of the “wants” or “must haves”.
Sometimes we may need to back something out of the
design to meet the “do not exceed” amount. Quality Home
Improvements will produce the needed drawings, via
computer software or hand drawn by an architect, to
provide a visual perspective of the project. These
include, but not limited to, a top view and all
“face-on” views of the project. Once these are
completed, we have a design, either at or below the
budgeted amount. Given the go ahead, the production
drawings are produced, permits obtained, and the work is
scheduled for production. Quality Home Improvements is
know for their quality of work and has won many awards
over the years (see the awards button on the main menu).
Does your work have a warranty?
Quality Home Improvements provides a one-year warranty
on labor and a one-year warranty on materials that we
purchase and install from the date your project is
completed. Also, if plumbing, electrical, heating or
air-conditioning delivery systems are installed, they
carry a two-year labor and materials warranty.
The manufactures warranty for all appliances or fixtures
purchased by Quality Home Improvements still apply and
may extend beyond the one or two year warranty period
provided by us. Their warranty may or may not include
replacement labor charges
Remodel projects that Quality Home Improvements is
contracted to do, over the value of $10,000, is
registered with the Texas Residential Construction
Commission (TRCC) even though the law only requires
projects over the value of $15,000 to be registered.
Once a project is registered with the TRCC, the
homeowner has more coverage on structural components
added to the home: ten year warranty for major
structural components of the home and ten years for
habitability in the remodeled area.
Being registered with the TRCC gives the homeowner a
“finished product” standard that the remodeled project
must meet or exceed. You may visit the TRCC website at
www.trcc.state.tx.us.
Are you insured?
The state of Texas does not require a remodeler to carry
insurance of any kind. However, Quality Home
Improvements does carry a third-party (not the Texas
Workers Compensation) liability insurance for its
workers. Also, Quality Home Improvements does require
that all sub-contractors carry their own liability
insurance. Quality Home Improvements started business in
1991 and with its worksite standards and quality
personnel; we have never had a major accident, and only
a few very minor ones. Also please know that Texas law
prevents hired contractors/or workers in or around your
home from suing the homeowner due their negligence or
due to the normal risks occurred in the execution of
their tasks.
Do you have a showroom?
Yes, more of a selection center than a show room. We
have on display many of the products that we recommend.
Products that have a proven track record of keeping
their beauty, functionality and reliability. We have a
fully functional kitchen with granite, undermount sink,
Moen faucet, undermount cabinet lights, tumbled marble
backsplash, etc. to show what a finished kitchen could
look like. We also have a large selection of ceramic and
porcelain tile, tumbled marble, granite,
kitchen and lavatory faucets and kitchen and bathroom
sinks. All of the rooms in the office are finished with
a different texture and or color to show effects of
different textures, faux finishes and glazing.
Depending upon the size of your project, Quality Home
Improvements will provide up to a stated number of
hours, on a signed proposal, to help design, make
selections for materials, appliances and fixtures.
Interior design help is also available on a per hour
basis.
Will I receive a written estimate?
Yes, with out a written proposal or contract, how do you
know what you are actually paying for?
Quality Home Improvements will provide a detailed
proposal, with pictures where needed, covering all of
the items to be completed, the manufacturer of fixtures
and appliances to be installed including their product
numbers, etc.
We advise all of our prospective clients to carefully
read our proposals and insure that everything they want
or believe is being provided is recorded in the
proposal.
Why was Quality Home Improvements estimate higher than
some of the other estimates I received?
There are a lot of reasons for a difference! Generally,
it’s the ol’ adage, “You get what you pay for”.
Firstly, Quality Home Improvements will only have
trained and highly qualified personnel doing the work on
your project. Along with the high skill level of the
workers also comes a higher rate of pay. I’m sure, if
you have talked to very many people in the area, you
have heard the horror stories of poor workmanship, etc.
Take a look at the awards section of our website and
you’ll see that Quality Home Improvements has won many
awards from professional remodeling organizations (our
peers). They speak for themselves.
Secondly, Quality Home Improvements only uses premium
products in their construction. There is no “corner
cutting” in our work practices. Corner cutting may not
be noticeable immediately, but after a few years of use
they will generally become known. This is where a
contractor’s reputation becomes important. Quality Home
Improvements has won six Better Business Bureau Awards
of Excellence, five “Winner of Distinction” awards and
two “Pinnacle” awards. Once again the awards speak for
themselves. The company has an impressive list of
satisfied clients.
Thirdly, sometimes the difference is that the
contractors bidding on the project do not have the exact
same set of plans or specifications. What the client
wants for the project may change after talking to one or
more contractors. Without a set of plans or written
specifications, the bidding process may be like
“comparing apples to oranges”. Spending the time on the
details of what is wanted for the project will help
narrow the gap in pricing. If you need help, hire an
interior designer. Quality Home Improvements has
designers on staff as part of our design/build
operation. Still, you need to consider the comments made
in the first or second points above.
Fourthly, some contractors will provide a “low ball”
proposal to entice you to sign with their company. They
will have wording in the proposal that is purposely left
vague in some areas or have items deliberately omitted
that you must have. Once they have you locked in with a
signed proposal, here come the upgrades. To make up for
the “low” estimate, these contractors will charge
outrageous mark-ups for the items added (change orders).
Leaving you with a higher priced finished product than
any of the other proposals you may have received.
Quality Home Improvements tries it’s best to include
everything in writing, even including pictures of items,
giving product numbers, etc. to ensure you know exactly
what you are paying for. We must do a good job, since we
have such high marks with the Better Business Bureau.
You may go the Better Business Bureau website at
www.bbbhou.org.
What type of workers do you employ?
Quality Home Improvements is an equal opportunity
employer. That being said, we do have a high standard
for all of our personnel and sub-contractors.
First off, they must be citizens of the US or have a
valid work visa.
Secondly, we do background checks on our personnel and
require that the owner/sub-contractors to do the same.
In fact, it is required by law in the State of Texas to
do the background check and not allow any known felon on
a residential property under your employment.
Thirdly, to be a team leader on our projects, our
personnel and/or sub-contractors must speak fluent
English. It may not be perfect English, but
understandable. At no time are team members to be left
on the worksite without an English speaking person
there.
Fourthly, all of our workers treat the client with
respect and are courteous, listening to their requests
and concerns. Our workers are well groomed and dressed
properly for the work they are to perform.
We receive a lot of compliments on our workers during
the jobsite visits and on our customer survey forms.
If you would like to read some, come by the
office and you can scan through hundreds of them.
Why don’t you travel out side of that specific service
area?
It’s all about cost! When any company tries to service a
large area, such as “North Harris County”, the travel
expense (labor, gas, vehicle, etc) for the proposal will
distort the cost of all of the proposals produced by the
company. Remember, part of the cost of every project has
some of the overhead cost of running the company. We
must make enough profit on all of our projects to keep
our doors open. Also the costs incurred for all of the
personnel to travel back and forth (portal-to-portal)
for long distances must also be added into the proposal.
After we add all of the extra overhead for long distance
commute, companies in your area will be more competitive
than us every time! Just a note, when selecting a
company, whether in your area or across town, be sure to
check there references, check with the BBB, check to see
if they are insured and are members of a professional
trade organization that will hold them to a high code of
ethics.
Should I be required to put a deposit down and pay
scheduled payments through the project?
It is a common practice to have a deposit upon signing
of the proposal; it shows the contractor that you have a
sincere interest in working with company. What is not
known to the consumer, is the number of times a contract
is signed, no deposit given, the contractor purchases
items, schedules the workers only to find out on the day
the work is to begin that their client has changed their
minds, did the project themselves, or simply not going
to do it. Now the contractor has a loss of time and may
have materials he can’t use.
It is also common to make payments through out the
project. This allows the contractor to pay the workers
in a timely manor with out putting themselves in a cash
flow position. By using the deposits and scheduled
payments the contractor does not have to borrow money
and pass that cost on to you.
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