Fall 2000

When a Kitchen is More than a Kitchen

“They made it feel like our project was the most important project in the world,” says Connie Kozak about Rauser Professional Contracting. She adds, “I’m sure it wasn’t their only one and certainly not their largest one, but that didn’t matter. They made us feel important to them and they cared about every detail...just as we did.”

That’s how Connie describes the company she coincidentally “stumbled on by blind luck.”

She explains that soon after she and her husband moved into their Rosedale home, they realized the 10 x 10 dining room and 10 x 10 kitchen (which were separated by a wall, making them even smaller feeling) had to go. They started interviewing contractors and just weren’t finding one that felt like a good match. (She had interviewed six before she heard about Rauser, including one that said, “Well, when you’re ready to spend $40,000, call me back.”)

In the midst of the frustrating interview process, she and her family went to a graduation party and liked the family room in the host’s home. She asked who had done it and if they were pleased. They, like the Kozaks, couldn’t say enough “good stuff” about Rauser.

Connie immediately realized that such enthusiasm was a sharp contrast to the usual word-of-mouth about contractors. That’s when she mentioned Rauser to a co-worker. Another coincidence cinched the choice in Connie’s mind—the co-worker was equally positive about Rauser, who built her two-car garage a few years earlier.

So, with the decision made, the Kozaks and Bill Rauser began the process of discussing the details of the project, which resulted in a 20 x 20 country kitchen that is “just so incredible that my husband loves to show it to people, saying ‘come see our new kitchen.’”   She quickly explains that it is not just the spectacular result that is so impressive about Rauser either.

For starters, she said the Rauser team, and even their subcontracted electricians, were very astute (before and during the construction) about what the family wanted to accomplish. They asked questions and suggested, on several occasions, alternatives to achieve the Kozak’s goals.

They also made numerous detail-oriented suggestions which the couple would not have thought of. For instance, dimmers in different areas of the kitchen were added so a dinner could be lighted more intimately than a normal kitchen. The crew also asked about what shelf height variations she wanted in the pantry to accommodate certain boxes and bottles. Connie said, “whatever is standard,” and was quickly advised that she and her husband should think about what their storage needs are and mark the heights where they would like them.

That brings up the pantry, too. Connie commented that she and her husband had planned on “lots of cabinets” for “lots of storage.” After seeing the plans and the budget, Bill Rauser made the suggestion that they could save money and probably would be happier with two floor-to-ceiling pantries. So Rauser did another drawing, the Kozaks liked the revisions, and work began.

Even after work began, changes were welcomed by Rauser. For example, instead of putting lights outside the pantries, which the couple had planned, the electrician suggested putting the lights inside the pantries.

The details go on and on, but the result is simple: a recommendation for a pantry which they “are so pleased that they not only have great storage, but accessible storage.” And they saved $7,000 thanks to Bill’s recommendation.

This really is custom, Connie decided. And, she knew that for sure when the crew offered her a paint palette instead of just painting her kitchen “glorious builder beige” (which is what she expected).

The paint is another area where Bill’s expertise played a great role. He suggested that the Kozaks include an archway between the new addition and the living room so the walls would not all run into each other—making it much easier to paint the kitchen one color without concern about where the line ends or if it ends...or having to paint everything the same color.  Again, another fine detail thanks to Rauser.

Top all the attention to detail off with the fact that the crew was neat “and like family,” and the project was within budget. And, it was finished two weeks ahead of time, despite some unforeseen problems with the flooring and roof—problems which Rauser explained as they were discovered and made recommendations for fixing the problems. Connie and her husband, Steve, were thrilled and more than happy to show off their finished project at the 20-person Easter dinner she had planned—counting on a timely completion but always wondering if it would happen. It did.

Besides the excellence of the recommendations and work, Connie further commented that everyone was extremely professional and easy to work with, even when she would ask questions in the middle of a project. She also said that Bill Rauser has the unique ability to ask probing questions and offer suggestions without making you feel funny—“to make sure you’ll be happy.”  She adds in summary, “They are very honest, professional and down-to-earth...We don’t think we’ll need them again, but we sure do recommend them.”

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