Contrary to popular belief, all contractors are not all created equal. As a matter of fact, you would be hard pressed to find two contractors in this entire valley who operate their businesses the same way. They are as different as the owners’ personalities.
Having said that, I believe that most of us realize that in reality, you only get what you pay for. Consumer Rule #1 – If you pay less in a service industry, you will receive less in some way, shape, manner or form. That is why 80% of Roadrunner clients have remodeled before. They tried it the other way and decided it wasn’t worth it.
Take the Big Box Stores for instance. You may pay $5 less for that item, but just try to find somebody with any knowledge about anything in those stores. Don’t even get me started about special orders or using their pool of so-called contractors. Conversely, go to your neighborhood hardware store and you will pay that $5 more, but there is someone around every corner to help you, and the stores are usually immaculate. Now to some people, saving the $5 is worth the lack of service. Now others (like myself), would rather pay more and get the service needed to alleviate headaches, because headaches are not worth saving money. This is the business model that I followed when I started Roadrunner 10 years ago. Stay small, use dependable and skilled labor, perform one job at a time, and make every customer a happy customer. Can I offer the lowest price with this philosophy? No, and I accept that. The way Roadrunner does business is not for everyone.
Having said that, some other contractors could be considered price contractors. They juggle multiple jobs at a time utilizing the wonderful low priced (and low skilled) labor we have here in Arizona. You will get a good price that will tempt you to use their services, and many people do. These low price contractors usually don’t need to look for work, it is always there because they have low prices. They really don’t care how happy you are when they are done because there are always more people just like you waiting in line for their low price. They don’t need your referral thank you. Your complaints about how long the job is taking, or the wrong materials being installed, or the workers 1974 pickup truck leaking oil all over your nice concrete driveway will fall upon deaf ears. Now go back and review consumer rule #1. If you are the type of person that doesn’t mind paying in headaches to save money (or maybe you don’t have any choice because of budget), then go ahead and hire the price contractor. However, get out your industrial size bottle of ibuprofen and strap yourself in for a really interesting ride. If you know it is coming, that’s half the battle. I respect your decision and wish you good luck.
Now of course everyone would like to have both low price and great service when improving their home. I am here to tell you that this is IMPOSSIBLE in the remodeling industry. We are a service industry. We do not sell a product that can be reduced in price simply because of volume buying (The Sam Walton concept). In remodeling, volume pricing does not create a lower price, quite the opposite. The higher the volume, the higher the price HAS TO BE because of increased overhead (Employees, trucks, showrooms, sales and office staff, Etc.). Been there done that.
So in no way is Roadrunner an expensive contractor, that is not the point I am trying to make here. Our overhead is low, and we pass that savings on to our customers. But by performing one job at a time with skilled craftsmen, we also can’t be a low price contractor.
So, what kind of contractor are you looking for? Of course you want low price and great service, we already went over that. You can’t have that. So what is your second choice? If it is LOW PRICE or you are on an unrealistic budget, click out of this web site and look elsewhere. If you want a SERVICE contractor that performs one job at a time with skilled and courteous labor that completes quality jobs on time and within budget, and simply does not have one single unhappy customer in its 10 year history, than call me at 480-816-0788 or click on the e-mail link right now. We are a perfect fit.
Patrick Benkowski,
CR President and NARI Certified Remodeler
For help in comparing contractors, click on the “Educate Yourself”. To find out how to get started with Roadrunner Remodeling click HERE.