Fall/Winter
2003
RPC’s “Value Engineering” Saves Clients Money
It’s not everyday that a contractor gives a homeowner
a list of more than a dozen items related to the project
that could be delayed or substituted to save the customer
money.
But
that’s what Bill rauser did for Glenn and Vella Kendall.
You
see, it all started at the October, 2002 “Home &
Garden” show. The Kendalls were pretty set on what
they wanted to do in terms of renovations to their Monkton
home, and they had even narrowed down their choices in contractors.
But, they went to the home show anyway.
That’s
when Glenn met Bill Rauser… and the rest is history.
Glenn started to explain to Bill the various projects they
had in mind—a kitchen renovation, a garage, family
room addition, and a mudroom/laundry room addition. During
that initial conversation, Glenn asked Bill the feasibility
of even doing a few ideas he and his wife had, and Bill
was quite candid saying he’d have to do some research
and get back to the Kendalls. (The other contractors that
were interviewed previously simply said, “yes,” figuring that would get the job.)
Glenn
and Vella appreciated Bill’s honesty and willingness
to do research, rather than just giving empty assurances,
needless to say. They also appreciated his willingness to
let the Kendalls serve as “general contractor”
on the kitchen portion of the job—understanding that
rauser would still need to do the structural aspect (plumbing,
electricity, flooring, and dry wall).
He
said Bill was even gracious enough to make recommendations
for various suppliers used by RPC, all of which worked very
well for the Kendalls…and saved them money. Glenn also
noted that, “Bill was highly sensitive to the fact
that the design of the additions needed to be architecturally
consistent with the Williamsburg-reproduction main house
and that Bill’s design recommendations were always
aesthetically on the mark.”
And,
that’s how it started—standing at a home show.
From there, Bill went back with the “wish list”
from the Kendalls and did the number crunching to accommodate
their budget. That’s also when Bill introduced them
to some of RPC’s own design ideas to achieve the effects
the Kendalls desired, as well as the concept of “value
engineering”—a growing service provided by RPC
to its clients.
Specifically,
Bill gave the Kendalls places to cut corners at the time
of construction without compromising the structural integrity,
flow, or aesthetics…places they could go back and modify
on their own at a later date—all in the name of saving
them money. For instance, Bill recommended they insulate
the garage ceiling—an expense—but offset it by
doing a slightly smaller garage (28’x24’ versus
30’x 24’) for standard sizes and to not do the
trim moulding or painting of the garage interior now. That
set of recommendations saved the Kendalls $1700.
Similar
recommendations were made for the mudroom in which the Kendalls
wanted a closet. Instead, they did a fin wall with wire
shelving. Bill’s recommendations on the mudroom saved
$1000. His recommendations on the 24’x16’ family
room saved $3000. These savings nearly paid for the gorgeous
American Cherry hardwood floor that was installed in the
family room.
The
list of options—the “what if’s” for
the Kendalls to consider—went on throughout all of
the rooms, which allowed the project to come in at budget
and which permitted the Kendalls to add features that especially
appealed to them (such as the brick-faced exterior of the
family room, an expansive picture window with side casement
windows overlooking the kitchen garden, dental molding on
the outside frieze board, etc.) In short, the rauser approach
to Value Engineering allowed the Kendalls the flexibility
to co-design the project and thereby put their money into
elements that they found desirable.
According
to Glenn, “This up-front, honest approach, coupled
with creativity and sensitivity to our wants, was extremely
helpful and very appreciated.” He added, “I am
sure Bill was pulling his hair out behind the scenes, especially
when we changed our addition plans from the back of the
house to the side, but he never let us know there was any
issue or problem; his flexibility was tremendous.”
Another
aspect to the rauser experience that was noteworthy to the
Kendalls was the management team. Glenn said that it really
made a difference that all three owners are coordinated,
with Bill up front and the design-oriented guy, John in
the office coordinating subs and handling ordering for the
job, and Bob on the site. Glenn noted that, “John deftly
handled all of the change orders and issues that arose in
our complex scheduling needs while Bob, in addition to managing
the subs on site added innumerable touches of value that,
while he probably thought went unnoticed, were noticed and
appreciated.”
He
said, “We wondered how the division of labor would
work, but it did…and very well.” He added, “It
is obvious that they communicate well, which is key to a
smooth and successful job.” Glenn also noted that this
communication extended beyond the immediate rauser team,
as well. Glenn said, “The subcontractors were excellent,
and did what they were to do when they needed to do it,
with excellent work through and through.”
Glenn
added that this communication among the RPC team members
and sub-contractors was especially important, since he and
his wife were not even in the country when the job began.
They came back from a ski trip and work had begun as rauser
promised. And, work continued according to schedule, with
the expected weather-related delays that “were beyond
Rauser’s control.” In addition, “Rauser scheduled
the project so as to accommodate Vella’s night shift
schedule—an accommodation that, while undoubtedly
creating challenges for Rauser, was greatly appreciated.”
Glenn
said the entire project could not have gone better and that
he and his family are “very pleased.”
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