Responsible Contractors Newsletter September 2013

Responsible Contractors

Connecting Consumers with Qualified Contractors

PO Box 287 * Milton, WA 98354 * 253.891.1397

Newsletter, September 2013

Welcome to the Responsible Contractors newsletter, a forum for us to highlight company news, feature some of our most highly regarded contractors, and include customer testimonials.

Company News

     Responsible Contractors is now listed on the Women’s Resource Directory, a professional network promoting local businesses and services.

·       On Wednesday, September 25, we will host a booth at the 2013 impressLOCAL Business Expo at the Pacific Sports and Events Center, connecting local vendors and businesses with our contractors’ services.

·   Responsible Contractors is looking for news about upcoming Home Shows in the Snohomish, King, Pierce, Thurston, and Lewis counties. We want to keep consumers informed of opportunities to meet local contractors. If you know of a local show, please email Nikeyla at Nikeyla@responsiblecontractors.com.

Home Improvement Tips

Now is the time to prepare your home for fall weather with these four tips:

1.    Check your heating system – replace filters and clean ducts

2.    Clean debris out of gutters and downspouts

3.    Seal off potential drafts by checking doors and windows; caulk and weather-strip

4.    Clear out the garage so you have a place for your cars, tools, and summer toys when the weather changes!

Featured Contractors               

RCW Construction is based in Gig Harbor and serves homes throughout the surrounding counties with building, remodeling, repairing, and restoring their homes. 

They specialize in custom homes and expert renovations, providing quality service at a great value.

The Fullertons were impressed with RCW’s attention to service, “Thank you for checking on us. That is very much appreciated. Most contractors you don’t hear from again after they are done with the work. Your forman is very talented and knows what he is doing. He knows how to make and do things right. They used materials wisely and were not wasteful. We were very impressed.”

Kanon Electric Inc. understands how sound electrical systems keep homes and businesses running safely and efficiently. 

Kanon’s electricians are trained in installations, upgrades, and repairs, and pledge quality service in a timely manner.

Roxanne P. recommends Kanon because, “I had four different light fixtures to be installed in my project to update the canned lights in my house. Jim was very professional and knowledgeable. He showed respect for my home by protecting the floors and cleaning up. He did an excellent job of installing them. I would definitely recommend Kanon Electric for any electrical needs.”

Olympic Blinds are the window-covering specialists, who offer quality products that complement your home’s overall design. 

They offer a variety of blinds and shades that are generally priced lower than those found in home improvement stores.

Christine O. Gregoire, Governor of Washington, thanks Olympic: “Thank you for the work you did on my shutters and blinds at the Executive Mansion. The work is outstanding. The Sun Room is exactly what we hoped for: the Roman shades provided warmth to the room and the added color makes it a much more comfortable space for breakfast meetings, lunches and small dinners.”

Interested in Listing With Us?

Whether you are a new contractor or an ongoing client looking to renew your membership, Responsible Contractors is always looking for Qualified Contractors to add to our online directory.

If you have three verifiable references, and are licensed, bonded, and insured, you are invited to apply here.

If you’re already a member, please share Responsible Contractors as a resource with your colleagues and customers!

Announcements?

We are happy to post announcements in the upcoming Responsible Contractors newsletter. Email Nikeyla at Nikeyla@responsiblecontractors.com to submit an announcement.

Newsletter June 2013

Responsible Contractors

Connecting Consumers with Qualified Contractors

PO Box 287

Milton, WA 98354

253.891.1397

Client Newsletter, June 2013

Welcome to the Responsible Contractors newsletter, a forum for us to highlight company news, feature some of our most highly regarded contractors, and include customer testimonials.

Company News

·         Responsible Contractors is advertising on Klay AM 1180 once more, a station serving over a million people in the Seattle-Tacoma area. Listeners include high-earning homeowners and business owners.

·         Contractors now have the opportunity to submit photos of your work for Responsible Contractors' new Photo Gallery page. Photos will be tagged, linked, and labeled with your company’s name. Photos will then be pinned to Responsible Contractors’ Pinterest page again crediting your company and expanding your exposure.

·         Our contractors now have access to the local military community through Responsible Contractors’ advertisement in the upcoming publication of the Washington Military Resource Directory. Your listing will reach 145,000 military personnel, active and retired.

Best Home Improvement Tip

             

             Responsible Contractors will award a

         $10 Starbucks, Best Buy, or WalMart Gift Card

                 for your home improvement tips

         and you will get credit on our Best Tips Page!

                Continue to submit your tips here.

Updates

·         

      Rainier View Construction and Roofing has relocated to:

 3702 West Valley Hwy North; Auburn, WA 98001

Featured Contractors

Assisted Custom Construction (A.C.C.) Custom Homes provides people with custom homes, tailoring the design and construction to individual needs and preferences. With over 30 years of experience, A.C.C. builders offer the opportunity for homeowner’s to participate in crafting their own dream homes.

Craig Romney recommends A.C.C. Custom Homes, saying: “A.C.C. Custom Homes maintains the standard of the true craftsman. I have built two homes and one remodel with this company. They are real professionals. A.C.C. Custom Homes would be my only choice.”

Ranger Tree Experts, Inc. use the best equipment to remove trees and clear land safely and efficiently. Ranger Tree Experts have the experience and skill to take down trees to prevent damage to yourself or your home. Call in the professionals for your land clearing needs!

Canterwood Golf Course Superintendant says: “Managing a golf course with over 4000 trees in a housing community with another 5000 trees can be a daunting task for anyone. Ranger Tree Expert has been my only choice since 1998 and will continue to be my selection. The quality and quantity of work at the price they deliver is unsurpassable. Just as important is the expertise that comes with the service. Micah Glastetter is extremely knowledgeable and genuinely concerned about the health of the trees. In my 20 years in this industry I have found no one better. Don't hesitate when it comes to Ranger Tree Expert.”

Millworks Custom Sheds crafts hand-built sheds for a variety of needs, including playhouses, garden sheds, and storage sheds, that are both beautiful and functional. Millworks builds all of its sheds from recycled materials and uses trees from local sustainable forest operations.

S. Marshall was impressed with the playhouse Millworks produced for his grandchildren: “We love the playhouse/lookout you built for our grandchildren. I cannot get over the construction and the quality of the materials you used (I guess it makes a difference when you produce it yourself).  It is unlike any other product I have seen on the market.  It is certainly the ‘leader of the market.’” 

Contractor Testimonials for Responsible Contractors

Contractors who list with us get results, including increased profitability and expanding their exposure to target markets both online and in-person.

“Responsible Contractors has been a great way for our company to gain public exposure both by word of mouth and by search engine optimization.  We have had a number of great business leads and we are extremely impressed with the enthusiasm Nikeyla exhibits with regards to helping our business grow.”

~ Michelle Luna - MyPhd Services

“Thank you so much for helping my company to grow. Your contractors’ website – Responsible Contractors - was my first web presence and I’ve gotten 2 nice remodeling jobs from it. I’m looking forward to many years of working with you to help your web business and my construction business achieve our goals. I will be letting my all of my subcontractors know how happy I am that I signed up to be a part of Responsible Contractors.”

~ Chris Wise - RCW Construction

Interested in Listing With Us?

Whether you are a new contractor or an ongoing client looking to renew your membership, Responsible Contractors is always looking for Qualified Contractors to add to our online directory.

If you have three verifiable references, and are licensed, bonded, and insured, you are invited to apply here.

If you’re already a member, please share Responsible Contractors as a resource with your colleagues and customers!

Announcements?

We are happy to post announcements in the upcoming Responsible Contractors newsletter. Email Nikeyla at Nikeyla@responsiblecontractors.com to submit an announcement.

When is it time to replace your roof?

When is it time to replace your roof? The average roof will last 10 to 20 years. Inspect your roof at least yearly. Look for signs of wear and tear, broken shingles, cracking, curling, bubbling, areas of loose granules on asphalt shingles and heavy moss growth. 

Also, look around the interior of your home for damp or dark spots especially around chimneys and vents. 

Waiting too long to replace your roof can be costly. Moisture damage can lead to expensive repairs. If you think it might be time to replace your roof, contact a professional to check it out. Find a list of qualified contractors at http://www.responsiblecontractors.com/roofing_contractor.html

Kitchen design should be both comfortable and practical.

Kitchen design should be both comfortable and practical.


Kitchen layout, organization and storage determine how comfortable the space feels and whether the workflow is effective for the homeowner’s lifestyle. Lighting in the kitchen is especially important, from how the overhead adds the ambiance that you want, to the task lights that make your job easier. Is your kitchen the hub of family activity, a place where you spend hours preparing gourmet meals, or just a convenience as you grab and go? Determining your lifestyle needs will help with the overall design of your kitchen including color, storage, ease of care, durability, counter space, and selection of appliances.

Choosing a Kitchen and Bath Contractor

Choosing a Kitchen and Bath Contractor:  Whether it's a bathroom or kitchen remodel, renovation, upgrade or repair, an experienced contractor will make all the difference. Consider what you will be needing - cabinets, countertops, new plumbing, new fixtures, floor coverings, lighting, electrical updates, new paint, tile or stonework. Using a remodeling contractor that can make it all happen on time and on budget, while considering the need for permits, floor plans, upgrades to current codes, and help you select the right materials for your bath or kitchen, will make your whole project a better experience. Interview and get bids from multiple contractors -  not only comparing prices and materials, but make sure the contractor you select is someone you feel comfortable working with over a period of time and having in your home. 

Quick Tip: Kitchens and baths are hubs of the home. Be prepared to work around the construction process including times when the power or water may be shut off.

http://www.responsiblecontractors.com/kitchen_bath_contractor.html

Siding for the Average Homeowner

Are you thinking about replacing the siding of your home? Siding beautifies the home as well as protects it from the elements. It’s important to do your research in order to choose the right siding for your home. Fortunately, there are many options available and price ranges that can fit any homeowner’s needs. 

Low Cost Siding: Aluminum and vinyl siding are inexpensive to install and look about the same. Aluminum siding requires more upkeep.
Moderate Cost Siding: Wood siding is easy to install, affordable and beautiful. Keep in mind the upkeep and maintenance is more than most other types of siding and costs more over time. Fiber-cement siding, often known by the brand name Hardie board, is made of wood fibers mixed with sand and cement. It can withstand harsh weather like hail and holds paint years longer than other types of siding. Fiber-cement has a reputation of being durable with little maintenance and homeowners can paint it to change the look of their home. Stucco is also affordable and durable and where it is popular it’s easy to find a reputable company who knows how to install it. Areas where stucco is rarely used may make your home too unique for the neighborhood, which can impact resale value and it may be hard to find a company that knows how to install it.
High Cost Siding: Brick is considered one of the most durable, holding up almost indefinitely and gives any home a classic traditional look. Because it’s costly, some homeowners choose to use a combination of brick and another type of siding or a brick veneer. Stone is the most durable option, lasting for hundreds of years and gives the home a beautiful bold look. It does require a skilled mason for proper installation.
Green Siding: For those concerned about their impact to the environment, going green is a good option that offers vinyl, wood, brick, stone, stucco and fiber-cement. Materials are made from recycled or repurposed content and offer low impact to the environment, energy efficiency, and durability depending on the material.
Research: Besides doing research on the best siding for your home it’s also important to find a reputable contractor. Make your search easier by going to Responsible Contractors that provides a list of licensed and bonded contractors who do siding. http://www.responsiblecontractors.com/siding_contractor.html

Consumers want contractors they can trust.

Consumers want contractors they can trust. They want a contractor who will give them a fair price, use quality materials, show up on time, complete work on schedule, and stand behind their work. Sounds simple but everyone has heard horror stories about shabby work, poor quality materials, unfinished or never started jobs, and additional unjustified charges.

So how can a homeowner find a qualified contractor? Previous experience or a referral from a trusted friend or neighbor is obviously the best bet but often that's not an option. So then what? In the best of all worlds, a consumer will ask for the contractor's license/ registration number, check out their license status, bonds and insurance, ask for references, call and verify the references, ask to see samples of the contractors work and materials to be used, require warranties, etc. But it's not a perfect world and many people have limited time and resources.

And there are sooo.. many types of contractors requiring different types and levels of skills: additions, bath and kitchen remodelers, cabinets, concrete foundations and flat work, counter tops, custom homes, decks, patios, duct cleaning, drain cleaning, electrical, fences, floor coverings, handyman, heating & cooling, insulation, painting, plumbing, general remodeling and renovation, roofing, tile, stone, siding, storage sheds, tree services, windows & doors, and window coverings to name a few.

Real world scenario - people search on line. But anyone can pay for a website, ad, directory listing or referrals. And many of the companies that would have you believe you can trust the contractors on their sites have rigged the system so that the contractors who have paid the most get the best ranking or get the top listings.

The other concern today is privacy. Most online referral companies want some kind of personal information from you. No one wants to get added to another email or phone list, but even if your information is kept private, how secure is it? It becomes more of an issue if you pay for the service and give out your credit card information.

At Responsible Contractors, we are trying to create a win-win for consumers and qualified contractors. It is a open resource directory where consumers can search for free without providing any personal information and find contractors that are licensed, bonded, insured with verified references of at least three satisfied customers. Qualified contractors who have completed the application process, benefit by getting calls from consumers who have serious interest in their services. Contractors are listed alphabetically in their specialty, city, and county areas.

http://www.ResponsibleContractors.com is a starting point, not a promise or a guarantee. Every project is different. Consumers should always verify that all information is current, the contractor is licensed to perform the job they are hired for, and work to be performed and materials to be used are in writing. Be a responsible consumer and use responsible contractors!