Posts tagged with "2020"

8 Things to Never Say to A Contractor


Hey, if you’re a San Diego homeowner and wondering what questions you should ask or not ask, check out these eight hot buttons that you'd be better off avoiding. 


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1. Never Say "I'm Talking To Five or Six Contractors"

Dead give-away that you're either kicking tires or just surveying professionals to get oriented in your local market.

There's nothing wrong with checking things out...BUT...if you want accurate estimates, each estimate will take time and a lot of collaboration. If the contractor gets the sense that you're doing research and not ready to buy, he'll find a way to bail.

What you should say: Share that you are either doing research to get general ballpark ranges, or that you're serious about selecting the right person and collaborating with them to get a detailed line item estimate

2. Never Say "I Just Need A Material Installer"

I'm sure your heart is in the right place (Bless your heart!) but it's insulting to lump general contractors into the same group with a material installer. Here is what she's thinking when you tell her you have your materials and you just need labor costs for installation.

"No"
"Heck no"
"Call a handyman."
"You don't need a GC apparently...you are acting like your own GC."
"Good luck if you need a permit"
"Have fun with finding qualified tradesman if you need a subcontractor or specialty material"
"So you're planning to have no snags or problems throughout your project?"

What you should say: Ask if you have called the right firm. Is this a general contractor? Is this a design-build firm that's a one-stop shop? Do you have a service labor department? Here is my scope; what type of firm would you recommend?

3. Never Say "I Need To See All The Pricing Options"

Quality estimates take time and different materials have different installation styles/types, and different labor costs. Most of your questions can be answered in conversations and design options should be considered. However, the options available to you range from the dozens into the thousands. It is unwise for the contractor to begin estimating with no information from you to serve as his direction.

Work from the macro to the micro and make the big decisions first. For example: choose your kitchen style and layout first (macro), and then look at, for example, all the design and selection options for your cabinets (micro). 

Don't Say: "I'd like to see three different pricing options for my kitchen, please."

Do Say: "I'm shooting to keep the kitchen between $XY,000 and $XYZ,000 and here is a list of what I know I want, and what I'm not sure about." 

4. Never Say "Cost Is Really The Biggest Factor"

If cost is the biggest factor, you are putting yourself in a loosing position. As a friend, he might help you out and give you an "estimate" or "bid" but it will not reflect the level of effort and thoroughness that you'd like. It will simply reflect what you told him mattered; a number.

Shift your mindset with the following questions:

"What makes a remodel as painless as possible?"
"What makes some families trust their contractor with multiple projects, in multiple homes, over multiple years?"
"What type of firm is most compatible with my project and what systems make them most compatible?"
"What are my assumptions and expectations regarding communication, my experience of my project, etc."
"If I get what I pay for, will I be happy with the product if select mostly based on price?"

Take It From Our Happy Customers


"Kevin had the work done as if it were his own house and the project was completed before the contractual completion date."  - Jack B., San Diego, CA

“This is our second remodel with Kevin. Once again, done on TIME! Great job! Just sorry we’re out of bathrooms! 🙂 He’s on speed dial in case we have another project.”   - Gary G., Encinitas

“Kevin told me to allow 25 days and it was done in just over two weeks.”  - Gina H., San Diego, CA

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

5. Never Say "We Need This Done Next Week or Next Month"

Remodeling takes time and usually more time than you think it will. Heck, for most contractors, it takes longer than they think it will.

First, you've got to interview and select contractors. Then you've got to go through design & selections followed by building an accurate estimate, signing your contract, ordering product, and then you can begin after your materials have been delivered. Material ETA's are not the contractors responsibility, be it credit or fault.

We'd recommend cooling down your expectations; a lot of good contractors are lost because a client flies off the handle about how "long everything takes" when in reality, the owner should have started their process much sooner. Ask about timeline before the first day of demo.

6. Never Say "We Don't Have A Budget"

This is for a different reason than you'd think. Most think it is because you don't want the contractors to take advantage and build an astronomical estimate, just hoping you're a sucker. In reality most families that say "We don't have a budget" mean that they don't know how much things cost in general, so they aren't there yet.

Solution: understand that there are two separate categories of "estimates". It's impossible to give you a price, but it might be possible to give you a general ballpark range based on their experience.

Each project is different, but aside from the costs associated with your remodel, you'll need to know that you won't spend more than $20,000, more than $50,000, or more than $160,000. There may be flexibility, but you still need to have an accurate understanding of your budget for yourself. 

7. Never Say "We Want You To Use My Brother"

You may know a few tradesman, your brother may be a plumber, and you may have grown up around construction because your dad was a contractor. Please keep this experience separate from your project.

Every contractor will have established relationships with his tradesman and crews. The efficient cost and timeline you desire will come from trusting one ecosystem to produce results, not from breaking your project apart to avoid paying markup. 

Find someone that you can trust. Then deploy your trust.

8. Never Say "Can You Provide A Discount For Early Payment?"

This goes against the law and common sense.

By law in the state of California, a contractor may not invoice you for labor or materials not yet delivered. Their payment schedule will reflect this. 

By common sense, you want peace of mind and paying someone in advance to get peace of mind from a discount, actually discounts the peace of mind you will get from paying at regular installments as the project meets benchmarks.

Why choose Teknik for Your Kitchen or Bathroom Remodel?

For over twenty years we've been helping families to walk through the remodeling mine field safely. The most common three mines that families hit are:

  • Late Completion  
  • Going Over Budget 
  • Use of Subcontractors

Call today for your free consultation!

1 - Dream Design

Step 1: Dream Design


We’ll collaborate with you to transform your dark and outdated space into bright and inviting space.  It all starts with your free consultation so book now!

Step 2 - True Quote

Step 2: True Quote


You can trust our service agreement!  We get to know your home intimately before working on it to ensure we stick to budget with no change orders.

Step 3 - Complete On-Time

Step 3: Complete On-Time


We'll make your dream come true and do it on-time and on budget!  Then it's party time!  Perhaps leave out your friends who get jealous easily.

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Finding Out What You Need for Your 2020 Bathroom Remodel After Quarantine

Hey, if you’re a homeowner and wondering how you should be making decisions about your 2021 bathroom remodel in light of COVID-19, we know these questions may be at the top of your mind:

  • how can I make sure I get the highest quality?
  • what if I can be flexible with my project schedule?
  • I don't want to compromise on quality - what should I focus on?
  • running a project myself; is this a viable option to save money?

Man, we know how it feels to be recovering your rhythm from self-isolation, being in quarantine, and being #TogetherApart. We know you need to move forward with fixing what is broken in your home, yet appropriately, you are still be concerned for family, friends, and loved ones who are on the front lines, helping to battle the spread of the Coronavirus. 

Don’t worry. You’re in the perfect place! First, breath. You don't need to rush. There is plenty of time.

In this article, we’ll answer these four questions so you can make a great decision about your 2020 bathroom remodel for you and your family.  

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How Can I Make Sure I Get The Highest Quality?

It will be tempting to save money on tile, but know that you should be aware of how different types of tile may affect your cost in specific ways.

Different tile types withstand different levels of force.

  • Ceramic tile is the most brittle since it is essentially baked clay. It can be more affordable but you'll pay for it in lack of durability.
  • Porcelain tile is the most common to be purchased and installed in homes in 2021. Italy and Spain produce most of the world's porcelain tile and the product is both beautiful and durable. Italy takes first place in this competition! 
  • Stone tile is a premium option and the beauty shows through. If you're concerned that it might be too pricey, consider that your bathroom might be the smallest room in the house, which would keep your quantity down!
  • Glass tile is a stylish option. It can be more challenging to cut so you may need more tile and you may need to consider additional labor to account for tedious cutting.


What Happens If I Can Be Flexible With My Project Schedule?

There are many factors that impact the relevance of this question. Eighty percent of the time, the flexibility of your schedule will not impact anything. But 20% of the time, you may have a situation that allows the contractor to work with you on price based on your availability.

Why might this happen in 20% of cases? You might have the option to be out of the house which can positively affect efficiency. You might have the option to extend the project timeline and save money by using all in-house labor and no subs; an option not available in rushed scenarios

.

I Don't Want To Compromise On Quality - What Should I Focus On?

You've got to choose the right company and that company will help you to choose the right materials.

Focus on the following items to ensure you keep your priorities straight:

  1. Choose to interview contractors in detail over the phone so you save time on site visits
  2. Get two to three general ballpark ranges so that you know what your cost range will be.
  3. Based on the general ballpark, choose to work with only one contractor on getting into the nitty gritty details of design, layout, selections, and scope increases if desired.
  4. Ask the contractor to actively give you feedback in real time, if you have a tight budget, when you are selecting materials that might entail excessive labor.

Running A Project Myself; Is This A Viable Option To Save Money?

Families do not always ask this question out loud...but it is often running across their mind. "Can we just run this project ourselves?"...the answer is unequivocally NO...IF you want your project to run smoothly of course.

Do you want an average or excellent surgeon to operate? Perhaps an average teacher for your kids? How about an average mechanic? We know that 10% of challenges cause 90% of our headaches in any area of life. Opening up one or more rooms in your house is complex and putting it back together requires finesse. That last 10% matters. Choosing a professional contractor is not mandatory and it's not optional. 

You can decide for yourself. You can only have the results of hiring a professional if you hire a professional.

Take It From Our Happy Customers


"Kevin had the work done as if it were his own house and the project was completed before the contractual completion date."  - Jack B., San Diego, CA

“This is our second remodel with Kevin. Once again, done on TIME! Great job! Just sorry we’re out of bathrooms! 🙂 He’s on speed dial in case we have another project.”   - Gary G., Encinitas

“Kevin told me to allow 25 days and it was done in just over two weeks.”  - Gina H., San Diego, CA

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!

Style Notes On 2021 Bathroom Remodels

White subway tile are still a classic look!

  • White grout in the kitchen makes for a clean look...but...
  • Never use white grout in the bathroom since excess steam can call long term mold that is difficult to clean out of bathroom grout. 

White shaker style doors are gorgeous. They are a classic choice. You can customize choices like:

  • cabinet pulls
  • inserts
  • face panels
  • size
  • arrangement
  • and more!

If you want a bright kitchen or bathroom, the white shaker style will not let you down.

Why choose Teknik for Your 2020 Bathroom Remodel?

Look, not every phone call, conversation and interaction is about closing a sale.

Call our office if you have questions. Call us if you're wondering about a few ideas. Call us if you're tired of reading and scrolling and would like to chat with a real local about your home! 

The point is, you don't have to feel ready to start a remodel process to have a phone call. We have lots of free resources and we would love to be of service to you weather you're wishing we could start yesterday or just kicking tires and checking things out.

If you'd like to know more about our process, we'll share with you how we've avoided these industry stereotypes for two decades and counting:

  • Late Completion  
  • Going Over Budget 
  • Overuse of Subcontractors

What Is The Perfect Remodel Process?

1 - Dream Design

Step 1: Dream Design


We’ll collaborate with you to transform your dark and outdated space into bright and inviting space.  It all starts with your free consultation so book now!

Step 2 - True Quote

Step 2: True Quote


You can trust our service agreement!  We get to know your home intimately before working on it to ensure we stick to budget with no change orders.

Step 3 - Complete On-Time

Step 3: Complete On-Time


We'll make your dream come true and do it on-time and on budget!  Then it's party time!  Perhaps leave out your friends who get jealous easily.

Call (888) 747-2013 or click here for a free consultation now!