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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