What does “pre-qualified preferred industry vendor” mean?
Simply put, we have long-term relationships we have created over decades with all our subcontractors and distributors. Since we began our business, we’ve been seeking out the best in the business and pre-qualifying them before they ever work on a client’s project.
Most companies will go looking for the cheapest plumber, electrician, or whatever trade is needed on the project. Partnering with companies that do the right job, stick to scheduling, have the same business morals, and are there when a problem occurs is what is important.
We partner with companies for the quality of work they perform, their business processes, and how they work as a team with Golden-Eye Construction. Each sub-contractor company must sign our sub-contractor agreement, hold harmless agreement, and supply us with the proper general liability, workers’ comp, and disability insurance policies, listing us as additionally insured. All of this helps protect our clients.
Did you know the average commodity contractor price goes up 50-100% from the estimate they give customers or prospects? We have yet to find a company that will give a fixed price proposal like we do at Golden-Eye Construction. There are many reasons for this. Some contractors just have no clue how to estimate to begin with, while others do a WAG, (Wacky Ass Guess) on the good old yellow pad of paper. They give prices that sound too good to be true … because they are. And as soon as these contractors realize they are in too deep, here comes the change orders for things that should have been included in their “estimate.”
Yes, it’s true that a fixed-price proposal will appear to be a higher cost up front. That’s because everything is included. We call it Project Development. We develop the project for Golden-Eye Construction to build for you. Doing everything from the architectural plans, to picking out all the homeowner-selected products, to the interior design and soft finishes. You don’t know what the labor cost is to install a product if you don’t know what the product is, right? This and our computer based in-house estimating system get the numbers spot on every time.
I was once asked by Shawn McCadden when discussing estimating, “would you rather go to bed at night knowing you’re screwed or wake up in the morning hoping you’re not screwed?” What he meant is, if you go to bed knowing you’re screwed, you can get up in the morning and work on fixing the problem. I equate this statement to hiring the commodity contractor that gives you an “estimate.” Every morning you will wake up hoping you’re not screwed.
That’s why, at Golden-Eye, we use fixed-price proposals. It protects you, the client, from any unforeseen change orders or surprises that often come with contractor estimates.
It’s always been amazing to me that most contractors don’t have legal contracts in place. A contract protects both parties; they hold each party accountable for their end of the deal. Let’s face it, when doing a large renovation, you are probably spending the most amount of money you have ever spent on something. If you feel comfortable spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a handshake, you are a better person than me. I hear horror stories all the time about contractors doing large scale work with handwritten notes on a loose-leaf pad and sending out text messages when they need a payment. Do you feel it would be smart to spend so much of your hard-earned money without a contract in place?
Certifications are also important and are key to progression. The remodeling industry rapidly changes with new products, best practices, and new techniques. We feel education through certifications set a great company apart from the pack. Golden-Eye Construction employees hold more certifications from the National Association of the Remolding Industry (NARI) than any other remodeling company in New York State. Certifications our employees hold include:
CR (Certified Remodeler)
CKBR (Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler)
CLC (Certified Lead Carpenter)
CRPM (Certified Remodeling Project Manager)
UDCP (Universal Design Certified Professional)
Some of our employees hold multiple certifications. These certifications are 16-week courses and require an intense 4–5-hour test to earn. The certificate holders are required to do additional hours of training every year to renew their certifications. Make sure you ask the prospective contracting company what certifications they hold.
And always remember, “It’s the business process that is most important to get a project from design to finish!”
There are so many contracting companies out there, but would you agree on the following:
They are all great
They all offer the same services
They are all continuously improving their skills and earning certifications to show for it
The answer to all three questions is a hard “no.” Although there are more good companies in the industry than bad ones, it’s important to weed out the bad from the good. Here are some important things to look at when deciding who to partner with.
How you heard about the company. Was it the internet, a TV commercial, a friend or family member? Did you see their trucks or jobsite signs? Or maybe you found the company through social media. However you found the contractor, make sure you check to see that the company has a real presence in their marketing material and that it is consistent in the company’s culture. Finding the company’s website and ensuring that it lays out their business process is the first place to look. Then, make sure that their social media, customer reviews, and Better Business Bureau standing all show that the company is not only legit, but has a solid reputation in the community and favorable business processes in place. The business process is the key to any good company in any industry.
Licenses: When asking a contractor if they are licensed, make sure they answer “yes” and it’s not because he has a driver’s license. There are many different types of home improvement licenses one can earn. Make sure the company you partner with has one that is for the work that they do and for the work you need done.
Insurance: 89% of contracting companies do not carry the proper insurance to cover themselves or their clients. “We have known of contractors doing large scale projects with an interior painting liability policy. Obviously, we will not write such policies that the chuck in the truck or fly-by nights look for. Golden-Eye Construction is one of the few companies on Long Island that is properly insured. Owner Mike Emmert sees the value in making sure his company is insured properly,” says Ed O’Toole from Edwin J. O’Toole Insurance Agency.
W2 employees: Did you know many trade companies pay their employees off the books? This means their employees are not covered under workers comp if they get injured. In that case, the homeowner and contractor will likely both be sued. Our employees are not only fully on the books, but they receive paid time off and a 401k. Offering benefits attracts and retains the best in the business. We believe that if your employees are happy, they will enjoy coming to work in your home every day. Paying our employees proper wages on the books also protects them if they were to get hurt on or off the job.
At the end of the day, look to partner with a company that does the right thing. Do your homework. Do not just trust that the company is fully legit. Ask for documentation and proof.
As a father, husband, son, brother, coach, and business owner, I have taken time to reflect on all the good things I have in my life and how I have gotten to this point. Reflection is a great tool that allows me to put into perspective the life lessons I have learned. Whether good or bad, we can learn so much from our experiences if we just take the time to.
As a wrestler, I was taught at a young age to “always be the hardest worker in the room.” This mantra — and the foundation that my loving parents instilled in me — allowed me never to let fear keep me from reaching for the stars, and since a young age, I have set goals and worked hard to achieve them.
As a father, I have instilled in my three young children the same loving foundations that my parents instilled in me and the philosophy to “always be the hardest worker in the room.” Being the hardest worker in the room may not make you the best at something, but it will make you your best at whatever you do.
In business, I have been fortunate enough to surround myself with people who share the same philosophy. The mentoring that we do to keep us all on the same page is a testament to how our company works from within. Through many hours of education, certifications, and mentorship, we have been able to build an award-winning company that has essential processes in place, advanced skill sets, and an incomparable work ethic.
Winning the “Contractor of the Year” awards was a goal I set early in my career. Without the partnership with our wonderful clients and the hard work of our team, we could not have achieved such an honor. I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make this happen!
If you are looking for an award-winning, trusted advisor to partner with you on your upcoming project, contact us to see how we can help. We’ll always be the hardest workers in the room.
