EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
I'm a General Contractor. I do remodels, repairs and handy man stuff. I keep busy by word of mouth and my previous clients. As a result, I haven't advertised in quite a few years. With the economy goind downhill, I want to hedge my bets with a website that future clients can go to if they like before hiring me. I do wear a t-shirt with my info and website on it, and I have signs on my truck with that information too. So far, I've only handed out business cards from the shirts and signs, but for what it costs, one job will more then pay for it, plus it makes me look more professional. I also think clients like it when I'm at their home and parked in front for everyone to see. Lets the neighbors know there is a profesional there and not somebody who might be robbing the place. At least, that's what I've been told a few times.
My reason for this thread is that I'm trying to write some stuff about myself that future clients will read. Below, I've posted a copy of what I do. It's on the Home Page of my website. I've been working on it and got to wondering if I've over done it, or if it's any good. Call it self doubt, but sometimes it's better to hear what others have to say and make the corrections. It's not about what I want, it's about what the client is looking for. When reading this, please do so as a potential client looking to hire me. The I'd really appreciate any and all comments. Critisism is expected and appreciated.
Thank you,
Eddie
My name is Eddie Walker and I'm a Licensed General Contractor. This is what I do for a living, and to support my family. To do this, I will do the best job possible to satisfy you. When I am done, it is my goal for you to want to hire me again and even more importantly, to tell your friends about me. I will never make enough money off of one job to not have to work again, so it痴 extremely important to me to make you a satisfied client.
To do this, I will meet with you without obligation and listen to what you want done. My goal is to do your project the way you want it done. While you more than likely won稚 know all the details of how to build what you want, or what it takes to make it happen, you know what you want. You are the one who will live with it, you are the one paying for it, and my goal is to achieve that goal for you.
I feel it is my responsibility to offer suggestions that may save you money, and/or that might improve the overall finish of the project. Sometimes it痴 a simple change that I might suggest, other times, it can be significant. I致e been doing this for most of my life, and have a good idea of what will work and what wont. While style and taste are strictly up to you, what sells and what doesn稚 sell are things that I will bring up during our initial meetings. Other considerations are items that have a history of failure or high maintenance. I would rather not do the job then to do a job that will fail or come back to haunt me. While I guarantee all my work that is done my way, I will not guarantee something that I don稚 feel will last or will require continuous maintenance.
On most projects, I work alone. For bigger jobs, or if time becomes an issue, I have several friends that I can call on to help out. I will either include their pay in the original bid, or if it痴 something that comes up during the project, will advise you on their pay and additional expense before bringing them in. Again, I will never surprise you with an addition expense without your approval beforehand.
After our initial meeting, I will create a materials list. Depending on the project, it might include a budget for certain items. An example would be tile. If I知 setting the tile for a floor, I will offer a budget of what a nice tile will cost. You then will decide on what tile you want. You will know that if you pick out a tile that costs less then what I put in the budget, you will be under budget. Or if you chose a tile that costs more, you will be over budget. My materials list will include everything that we need to do your project and what it will cost. I tend to round up my numbers to create a safe amount on my bids. I would rather bid it a bit high and come in under budget, then to try to sneak in a lowball amount and then make up excuses why we are over budget. Again, my goal is to keep you as a client and for you to tell others about me, to do this, staying under the budget is very important to me. I do not make a profit on materials, and as a result, I do not have to pay any taxes on a profit that I do not make. You pay exactly what I pay for materials.
On your bid sheet, I will put down what I will be charging for the project. Sometimes, due to the nature of the job, I will tell you that I will only do the job on an hourly basis and give you an estimate of how long I expect it to be. Jobs like this usually have an unknown factor to them, which makes it impossible to know exactly how long I will have to work on it to get it right. A good example is termite damage. Until I tear apart the wall, I have no way of knowing to what extent the damage is. Sometimes you get lucky, other times; it痴 a surprise that the wall is still standing. This is also true with 鏑ists that you may have for me to do. With jobs, families and a limited amount of time, I often get lists from clients on what they want done to their home. Things installed, fixed, removed or The lists have been from half a page, to many pages long. From the beginning, I will ask what the priority is on the list and work at completing everything on your list. Sometimes I finish the list, other times, we get so far and have to put the rest off until more money becomes available. Allot of times, once I get started on your list, other things come up. While I知 working for you, we can change the list as often as you want. It痴 your list, so I知 fine with anything that you want done. If I need help, I値l let you know beforehand, and we値l go from there. If it痴 something that I知 not comfortable with, or think that another contractor can do it better, faster or cheaper, I値l advise you of this. A good example of this is roofing. While I do some roofing, I can稚 do a full house for what those who specialize in it can. The same is true on many things and I never hesitate to let you know these things.
On bigger projects, I will bid the job with a set amount. I will tell you up front what the materials budget it, and what my total labor cost will be. If it痴 on the smaller scale of things, it might be just one payment for labor at the end of the project. If it痴 a bigger project, I will break down the payment for labor over the course of the job. Most commonly, it will be at the completion of a stage of the project. An example would be on a bathroom remodel. I would put down that a payment for labor in a certain amount would be due when the tile is installed, grouted and sealed. This way, when you see that this is done, and you are satisfied with the results, that it痴 time to pay for that portion of the project.
If you decide to make a change to the project, or add to it, we will discuss if there will be any additional labor charges. Sometimes, if it痴 a simple change that really doesn稚 make any difference for me in time, there won稚 be any additional labor charges. Other times, if it痴 more time to make those changes, then that time will create a change of order to the project, which I will submit to you in writing before moving forward. Again, I will never surprise you with additional labor fees without your prior approval. This is extremely important to me. Before I ask you for payment, I will show you what has been accomplished and invite you to inspect what has been done. I do not want payment if you are not 100% satisfied with what I致e done.
My approach to the money of this is very simple. I get paid for what I do. If it痴 hourly, then I charge you for the hours that I spend working on your project. This will include shopping time when I need materials to do you project. If it痴 a project that last for several weeks, I will submit my bill for labor at the end of the week. For projects that I submit with a set labor fee, that will be due the day that I give you the bill for that labor.
Before we start the project, we will have an agreement on materials. On some jobs, I will gladly buy the materials that I want to do your job. You will be responsible for reimbursing me for those materials the day that I give you the bill for them. If I pay for them, I will keep the receipts, but you are welcome to inspect them and even make copies of them if you wish. I have nothing to hide, but need to keep the original receipts for my tax records. Sometimes, you will be required to pay for materials. Usually it痴 a specialized item, or of a high dollar amount. You will be advised of this well beforehand so there will be no surprises.
I will never ask for upfront money. Too often, clients hire a contractor to do some work for them and they are asked for a deposit or money upfront. The reasons given are to buy supplies for the job, or that痴 how they operate, or they are broke and just need some money. Whatever the reason, it痴 where allot of clients get burned. Giving money up front to a contractor is a gamble that they will never show up for the work. I had one client tell me that he gave a guy $800 to do a job. That guy left the state and he was out the money with nothing to show for it. Unfortunately, I hear this with family members more than contractors, but because of my desire to only be paid for what that I actually accomplish, I do not want any money from you until it is due.
I look forward to working with you and achieving 土our goals. It痴 never about me, and I知 not the one who will live with the results. It is my job to give you, what YOU want. When I do this, it is my hope that you will become a friend and want to tell your friends about me.
Thank you,
Eddie Walker
My reason for this thread is that I'm trying to write some stuff about myself that future clients will read. Below, I've posted a copy of what I do. It's on the Home Page of my website. I've been working on it and got to wondering if I've over done it, or if it's any good. Call it self doubt, but sometimes it's better to hear what others have to say and make the corrections. It's not about what I want, it's about what the client is looking for. When reading this, please do so as a potential client looking to hire me. The I'd really appreciate any and all comments. Critisism is expected and appreciated.
Thank you,
Eddie
My name is Eddie Walker and I'm a Licensed General Contractor. This is what I do for a living, and to support my family. To do this, I will do the best job possible to satisfy you. When I am done, it is my goal for you to want to hire me again and even more importantly, to tell your friends about me. I will never make enough money off of one job to not have to work again, so it痴 extremely important to me to make you a satisfied client.
To do this, I will meet with you without obligation and listen to what you want done. My goal is to do your project the way you want it done. While you more than likely won稚 know all the details of how to build what you want, or what it takes to make it happen, you know what you want. You are the one who will live with it, you are the one paying for it, and my goal is to achieve that goal for you.
I feel it is my responsibility to offer suggestions that may save you money, and/or that might improve the overall finish of the project. Sometimes it痴 a simple change that I might suggest, other times, it can be significant. I致e been doing this for most of my life, and have a good idea of what will work and what wont. While style and taste are strictly up to you, what sells and what doesn稚 sell are things that I will bring up during our initial meetings. Other considerations are items that have a history of failure or high maintenance. I would rather not do the job then to do a job that will fail or come back to haunt me. While I guarantee all my work that is done my way, I will not guarantee something that I don稚 feel will last or will require continuous maintenance.
On most projects, I work alone. For bigger jobs, or if time becomes an issue, I have several friends that I can call on to help out. I will either include their pay in the original bid, or if it痴 something that comes up during the project, will advise you on their pay and additional expense before bringing them in. Again, I will never surprise you with an addition expense without your approval beforehand.
After our initial meeting, I will create a materials list. Depending on the project, it might include a budget for certain items. An example would be tile. If I知 setting the tile for a floor, I will offer a budget of what a nice tile will cost. You then will decide on what tile you want. You will know that if you pick out a tile that costs less then what I put in the budget, you will be under budget. Or if you chose a tile that costs more, you will be over budget. My materials list will include everything that we need to do your project and what it will cost. I tend to round up my numbers to create a safe amount on my bids. I would rather bid it a bit high and come in under budget, then to try to sneak in a lowball amount and then make up excuses why we are over budget. Again, my goal is to keep you as a client and for you to tell others about me, to do this, staying under the budget is very important to me. I do not make a profit on materials, and as a result, I do not have to pay any taxes on a profit that I do not make. You pay exactly what I pay for materials.
On your bid sheet, I will put down what I will be charging for the project. Sometimes, due to the nature of the job, I will tell you that I will only do the job on an hourly basis and give you an estimate of how long I expect it to be. Jobs like this usually have an unknown factor to them, which makes it impossible to know exactly how long I will have to work on it to get it right. A good example is termite damage. Until I tear apart the wall, I have no way of knowing to what extent the damage is. Sometimes you get lucky, other times; it痴 a surprise that the wall is still standing. This is also true with 鏑ists that you may have for me to do. With jobs, families and a limited amount of time, I often get lists from clients on what they want done to their home. Things installed, fixed, removed or The lists have been from half a page, to many pages long. From the beginning, I will ask what the priority is on the list and work at completing everything on your list. Sometimes I finish the list, other times, we get so far and have to put the rest off until more money becomes available. Allot of times, once I get started on your list, other things come up. While I知 working for you, we can change the list as often as you want. It痴 your list, so I知 fine with anything that you want done. If I need help, I値l let you know beforehand, and we値l go from there. If it痴 something that I知 not comfortable with, or think that another contractor can do it better, faster or cheaper, I値l advise you of this. A good example of this is roofing. While I do some roofing, I can稚 do a full house for what those who specialize in it can. The same is true on many things and I never hesitate to let you know these things.
On bigger projects, I will bid the job with a set amount. I will tell you up front what the materials budget it, and what my total labor cost will be. If it痴 on the smaller scale of things, it might be just one payment for labor at the end of the project. If it痴 a bigger project, I will break down the payment for labor over the course of the job. Most commonly, it will be at the completion of a stage of the project. An example would be on a bathroom remodel. I would put down that a payment for labor in a certain amount would be due when the tile is installed, grouted and sealed. This way, when you see that this is done, and you are satisfied with the results, that it痴 time to pay for that portion of the project.
If you decide to make a change to the project, or add to it, we will discuss if there will be any additional labor charges. Sometimes, if it痴 a simple change that really doesn稚 make any difference for me in time, there won稚 be any additional labor charges. Other times, if it痴 more time to make those changes, then that time will create a change of order to the project, which I will submit to you in writing before moving forward. Again, I will never surprise you with additional labor fees without your prior approval. This is extremely important to me. Before I ask you for payment, I will show you what has been accomplished and invite you to inspect what has been done. I do not want payment if you are not 100% satisfied with what I致e done.
My approach to the money of this is very simple. I get paid for what I do. If it痴 hourly, then I charge you for the hours that I spend working on your project. This will include shopping time when I need materials to do you project. If it痴 a project that last for several weeks, I will submit my bill for labor at the end of the week. For projects that I submit with a set labor fee, that will be due the day that I give you the bill for that labor.
Before we start the project, we will have an agreement on materials. On some jobs, I will gladly buy the materials that I want to do your job. You will be responsible for reimbursing me for those materials the day that I give you the bill for them. If I pay for them, I will keep the receipts, but you are welcome to inspect them and even make copies of them if you wish. I have nothing to hide, but need to keep the original receipts for my tax records. Sometimes, you will be required to pay for materials. Usually it痴 a specialized item, or of a high dollar amount. You will be advised of this well beforehand so there will be no surprises.
I will never ask for upfront money. Too often, clients hire a contractor to do some work for them and they are asked for a deposit or money upfront. The reasons given are to buy supplies for the job, or that痴 how they operate, or they are broke and just need some money. Whatever the reason, it痴 where allot of clients get burned. Giving money up front to a contractor is a gamble that they will never show up for the work. I had one client tell me that he gave a guy $800 to do a job. That guy left the state and he was out the money with nothing to show for it. Unfortunately, I hear this with family members more than contractors, but because of my desire to only be paid for what that I actually accomplish, I do not want any money from you until it is due.
I look forward to working with you and achieving 土our goals. It痴 never about me, and I知 not the one who will live with the results. It is my job to give you, what YOU want. When I do this, it is my hope that you will become a friend and want to tell your friends about me.
Thank you,
Eddie Walker
But break it down into sections, make the headings for each section bold, and within each section, add in bullet points instead of all long sentences. Bullet points make such documents succinct and precise.
