The Kitchen Bath & Renovation Show
Happy New Year to all of our clients and friends of Concierge One! We are gearing up for a very busy 2012 and are currently working on 2 projects with a 3rd one in the wings. We were able to renovate a basement for our client in 2 weeks in December!!! She had family coming in and needed to have her basement turned into a liveable area for her parents. Talk about a time crunch! We are very happy to say that we did it! Now we are working on the finishing touches on the bathroom in that basement. WOW! What a job and we are very proud. I will have pictures up in our Smugmug photo album by the end of this weekend. The other incredibly exciting event coming up for us is the opportunity to exhibit at the Kitchen Bath & Renovation Show at the WInnipeg Convention Centre starting on Friday January 13th and ending on Sunday, January 15th. We will be showcasing our projects from 2011 and talking about our fabulous clients and all the different types of work that we have been involved in the last few years. We will have a nice seating area and some fabulous before and after pictures for everyone to see!! We are so excited! We are going to be in Booth #807 if you happen to be going to the show this year! Come and visit us! For those of you that would like to see some of the before and after pictures as well as some of the jobs we have completed, go to our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Concierge-One/40678348608 or you can also go our our smugmug photo album at conciergeone.smugmug.com Both of those websites highlight our successes. Thanks for a great 2011 to all of our clients!
Time for Indoor Renovations?
As the summer is coming to a close, we begin spending more and more time indoors. For some of us, we start seeing some of the little things in our homes that need some attention or even some change. You may find that your kitchen needs some cupboard doors fixed, the bedroom needs some paint, the basement could use a couple of shelving units for storage and even the bathroom could use a new vanity to brighten it up! Many people will turn to the yellow pages or google to find someone to work on their home. Oftentimes, though, it is frustrating to coordinate all the different trades needed as well as finding a repairman or renovator to do some of the smaller jobs you need to have done. We have been able to service our customers and meet their needs because we can pull all of this together so that they are dealing with just one person - one company. Imagine having all these things coordinated and you don't have to be rushing home to meet with the plumber or the Hydro line locator or the appliance repair person. The benefit of utilizing Concierge One is that we work with all the different trades and we can also provide small repairs and renovations. I can't tell you how many times we have been called in to repair something for a client and we end up with a 'To Do' list! We even had a client say it's like having another husband, except we are handier! If you are starting the fall and winter with some unfinished items on your 'To Do' list that you would like us to provide a free estimate for, call us or use our Request Form on this site and we will be happy to come and help.
Where is Summer?
Well I know that everyone is feeling that winter was very long, snowy and cold this past year and we are all impatiently waiting for spring/summer. It is implausible to believe that we just had snow again today! Ouch to climate change! Eventually it will warm up and everyone will be getting their yards prepped for a lovely growing season. This is the time of the year that we get quite busy with landscaping projects, yard clean-ups, gardening and everything else that goes with maintaining a beautiful yard. We love some of the new perennials and annuals that are coming out - new colours are amazing. I recommend trying some of these new flowers in a planter pot right at your front door. The colours will make you and anyone else that visits you smile!
Contractor, Handyman Or Specialist?
As a second part to this article, where do you look for a renovation expert that will be the right fit for you? It would be great to just go into the yellow pages or on-line to find the perfect one...problem is, you really don't know their background. The number one way to ensure that you have the right person is to get references. Also, asking family and friends who they have used in the past for similar type of projects. Trust me, you will get a very honest answer! The second part to finding the right person for the project you are embarking on, is to sit down with them and go over each part of the project, outlining expectations on each item. For example, if you are having a bathroom renovated, you will want to go over things such as who is purchasing the items needed, what is the time line, who will be working on each part of the project, etc. If you go forward with that company, ensure that everything that you had gone over is written into the contract. That way, you are ensuring that you are truly getting what you want and when you want it. As well, make sure that there is a clause that indicates any penalties for late completion of the project and how monies are distributed during the project. If you have a company that balks at that, you may want to walk away from them. Truly professional companies know their limits and can provide contracts that fulfill obligations to the satisfaction of the client.
Where Did Summer Go?
OK, I am remiss in not having kept up the blog over the summer....or actually since April! Sorry! It has been a very busy summer and it feels like a VERY short summer for us. It all began with a large home renovation project that we began at the end of May and have almost completed as of yesterday. We were both overseeing parts of the project as well as having a hands-on for most of it. In other words, we were busy! We provided a plumber and electrician for all of the necessary trades work. We hooked our client up with suppliers/installers for their tile backsplash as well as all new flooring throughout the home (Thanks to Bill Knight!). We had our landscaper come in a build a new front garden as well as a beautiful stone patio in the backyard (Thanks JP at Fontaine Landscaping!). On our end, Concierge One built a new shed in the backyard, built a new bathroom and tiled the entire tub surround, painted almost the entire house interior, put in a new bar, installed a small area of flooring in the bar as well as fixing many things along the way. In a word, it was virtually a new home when we were done. And WOW, does it look great and our clients are extremely happy. We will post some pictures in the near future as we still have a couple of things to complete. I guess looking back, that is where our summer went!
Contractor, Specialist or Handyman? Part 2
OK, sorry, I know that I said I would be getting this second part out a LONG time ago! No excuses for the tardiness. So where did I leave off? Right, we were talking about the choices we have for home renovations and repairs. Earlier, I discussed the fact that many people try to keep costs down and cut corners. The article I am taking this information from identified the areas that need to be handled by a professional. We at Concierge One, understand and respect our limitations. When it has to do with wiring or plumbing, for example, we call in the professionals! (Hi to Joe the Plumber) Also, a professional or specialist will know when permits are needed. Many projects can be handled by a handyman (handyperson?). Home repairs, cosmetic changes, modernizing some of the rooms in the home, etc. A GOOD hanydman will provide you with an estimate and scope of the project with respect to time, materials and additional labour requirements. As well, make sure that the person you are hiring has liability insurance, is licensed, is bonded and has a solid reputation. Always ask for references and testimonials. The benefit of a handyman is that there is not as much disruption in your home with multiple tradepeople tramping through your house. The project may take a bit longer, but you are always dealing with the same person. As well, that person can oversee any subcontractors so you don't have to worry. Multiple projects can also be done by the same person, again within their professional ability. We are very lucky with the network that we have for professional tradespeople. As we have built our reputation as a very professional and trusted company, our ability to bring in the best and highest quality subcontractors is what distinguishes us from our competition. Next excerpt I will talk about project nightmares that you can avoid!
Contractor, Specialist or Handyman?
There was a great article in the Winnipeg Free Press on the weekend, written by Mike Holmes. This article gave a very good set of guidelines that could help many people to understand and decide whom they should be hiring for any project(s). When cost is a factor, often people will try and keep costs down and take shortcuts. This can ultimately backfire on you because it can end up being more costly to fix if there are problems. We are asked all the time about what we are capable of doing for our clients. Believe me, there are some projects that we would love to take on, but for our clients, we always want what is best for them and so we look at the project objectively. First, as Mike says in his article, we look at the scope of the project. Do we have the skills to do this project? This is obvious for us, but often other companies might take the project on for the money and not do the best job. This is one of the biggest headaches that we have seen with our clients. The work that is done is sub-standard and we sometimes either fix it ourselves or provide our client with a professional. Unfortunately, they have now paid twice for their project. A project that requires re-wiring, for example, would definitely require a specialist: here, an electrician. The benefit that we have been able to provide for our clients is that we have a handful of electricians that we know and trust who we can access very quickly - often with faster service because we support them. We also know the quality of work these specialists provide which is an absolute must for us. (This is our name that is associated with the success of the project as well!) We also can then oversee the workmanship provided for our clients and ensure that the job is done as quickly as possible from a cost standpoint. This is the beginning of a series of blogs that we hope will provide some solid guidelines and suggestions to help you with your home projects. Look for the next blog on Wednesday, February 24th. Until then, keep warm and safe! Concierge One Team
2010 Expectations & Promises
Happy New Year to everyone! We are excited about the possibilities for 2010. Moray and I are grateful for all of our support from clients and friends alike. We are very blessed to have had so much success in 2009. So here we are in 2010 and looking forward to some busy times ahead. What are we doing now? We have been working on various properties, either cleaning, fixing walls, some miinor repairs and plumbing, painting, more painting, and finishing some wood floors. It has been a whirlwind! We are also working with the Manitoba Homebuilders' Association on their two home shows. The Kitchen Bath and Renovation Show is coming up very quickly on January 22nd and then almost immediately afterwards, the Home Expressions Home & Garden Show March 18th. Whew! Again, thank you to all for making 2009 one of the most exciting and challenging years both Moray and I have experienced!
What Is It We Do?
Moray and I get a lot of questions about 'What is Concierge One'? At the beginning of our company, we had an idea that we wanted to provide the busy family, home owner, professional, senior or anyone the ability to have someone take over the mundane tasks and chores that kept them away from enjoying family and friends. The tagline "Free your time, Live your life" was born. We both believed that helping people find time to enjoy life was a service that would be embraced - particularly with the hectic lifestyles most people have. Boy, did we get our eyes opened! What we started with and what we are today are different animals - in a VERY good way. We have found that the clients that we have had and continue to work with have such a variety of needs, that we often don't know how to explain our product. In essence, we have become what you, our client, needs us to be. Now our answer when someone asks us 'what we do' is "Whatever our client needs us to do. If we can't do it ourselves, we have a large network of contacts that can get it done". We have rarely, if ever, said we are not able to help our clients or potential clients. What that means to you is that we are a very reliable company that only requires a phone call to get things done for you. Just ask our clients!
Fall/Winter Clean-Up
Even though we can't really call it a 'fall clean-up, in essence it is. We have had our first snowfall already, so we know snow staying on the ground is right around the corner. Have you had a chance to clean your eaves? Have you cleaned the yard of leaves or added mulch to your garden? What about the storing of all your summer items? Although it sounds daunting, that is why we are here to help! We can help provide you with the services you will need to be prepared for winter. We can even put up your Christmas lights for you! Just give us a call and we can provide you with a free estimate for the services you require.
What about this snow?
OK, we all know it is inevitable, but don't we all just hate the first snowfall? It always reminds us that we are going to have cold for the next 6 months and we all had hoped that somehow, miraculously, we would have tropical conditions instead. Oh well, we are tough and hardy and will get through the winter with a smile on our faces! Now is the time to set up a contract with Concierge One to do your winter snow clearing. We can take care of the one thing that most of us hate to do - shovel our driveway and sidewalks. Well, we can make it easy for you and provide you with the best snow clearing service you can buy. Give us a call now and we can go through the different services we will offer this year. Save Your Back!
Contact Us
We look forward to answering any questions you have about our services, rates, membership benefits and more. We answer any questions or comments within 4 hours.
Phone: 204.223.1710
Toll-Free: 877.223.9099
Fax: 204.489.9035
Email: info@conciergeone.com
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