Checklist

I recently visited a prospect’s home to assess it for a bathroom remodel. Their vintage home had been renovated within the last 15 years, and they were proud to say that their last remodeling contractor, who had remodeled their home several times, had retired; they were now searching for a replacement. They trusted that guy so much, and she kept saying he was “a good guy.” I asked her to unpack that idea for me, and this is what she said.

What Matters

1. He was clean and organized,
2. He was genuinely invested in our project. (He showed that he cared.)
3. He was a good communicator.
4. He gave us good advice.
5. He was fair. 
6. We trusted him. 
7. He stood by his work.

She Created An Advertisement For Levco

In that short and sweet interaction, she shared what mattered to her, and I believe she spoke volumes about what makes a legacy contractor. One that you feel comfortable referring to your friends and family. As we orbit the sun for the 20th time, Levco has earned that reputation among the handful of clients we have remodeled for. Her sense of appreciation that she could get the contractor to work for her was a precious relationship that balanced the apple cart. If each party feels a sense of responsibility to uphold their end of the bargain even when it hurts, then that is when the magic happens.

When The Stars Align

The 5th Dimension said it best in their song Age of Aquarius. in 1969. The beauty of a significant relationship between contractor and client is vital to peace and harmony. Let the sun shine in! And the dancing may begin. This is something that I have grappled with over the years, and why I am reluctant to do insurance work. Nobody is ever excited to have a flood, fire, or a tree fall on their home.  So when it comes to putting it back together, we get the brunt of their frustration. Then the insurance company is a reluctant 3rd party. Where is the joy in that?

Growing Into Our Paws

Levco reminds me of a happy puppy with huge paws completely disproportionate to the rest of its body. The clients we remodeled for saw far more potential in us than we did. I recall that in the early days, we were a band of friends remodeling for fun during our days off, when we were paramedics. Turning the clock forward a few decades, we have been around the block. Our professional organization has weathered some brutal storms and emerged victorious by never losing sight of its goal.

The Goal

Levco has set its sights on becoming a legacy contractor. The jungle drums play loudly as the referral network grows to friends and family. The sacred trust of living up to expectations is happening as we speak. Being the go-to referral contractor is a sacred responsibility. A prospect just said in a phone interview. Why Levco? They said, “We have been watching your company remodel beautifully in the North End for years. When we were ready, we knew you would be our contractor.” Mic drop. Here comes the tears.

It pains me that we have some negative online comments. Most have never had us remodel for them. There have been some scrapes and scratches along the way, which is part of life. I prefer that we stay true to our ethics and values, often under the radar. A contractor with a backbone, A strong moral compass,  and who shoots to exceed expectations for those who trust us to alter their homes to make them function better for years to come.

Your comments are welcome. To ask questions or get more information about remodeling, click here to email me directly, or call 208-947-7261

If you or someone you know is considering remodeling or just wants to speak to a trustworthy remodeling contractor, please contact me. You’ll be glad you did.