Spring/Summer 2005

Use the Internet for Quick Research,
But Then Do Your Homework

Who would think that something so simple could be so important? Well, Rauser Professional Contracting did. The “something” to which we refer is the company website (www.rauser.com).

Dave and Michelle Johnson, clients for whom RPC turned a rancher with no distinctive front entrance into an inviting contemporary home, commented that when they began calling builders (after Michelle compiled a list of potential builders from her internet research), RPC won hands down. Dave said that RPC was the only one that not only had a website, but “an informative site that explained the firm’s experience and philosophy.” That information, and the way it was presented, told the Johnsons enough about RPC that they went ahead and scheduled an interview.

That’s where Bill Rauser’s experience and candor cinched the decision for the couple. Dave says that from the first meeting, it was a clear choice that RPC was the one to choose for their project. Dave, who works for an architectural engineering firm, was able to speak the same language with Bill. He presented plans that he and his architect, Kevin Nikiel had designed, and Bill was able to give opinions and suggestions from the very beginning.

Dave also said that Bill’s experience allowed him to give some ballpark figures right away, which sent Dave and Kevin back to the drawing board—now understanding the need to revise the plans to make them fit the budget. He commented that Bill’s “value engineering” allowed him and his wife to prioritize the components of the project that were most important, and to then modify or eliminate other elements that were impacting the budget yet not that important to them.

In particular, Michelle, knew she wanted a big closet. Dave did, too. Those were two features of the project that had to stay. They recognized, however, that they could live without a sunken shower, so out of the plans it went. Another decision was to eliminate some of the windows (there were 50 + on the original plans). The money saved from this change allowed them to have a more dramatic foyer/front entrance and Hardy Plank siding, a premium exterior finish which Dave preferred over less expensive vinyl siding.

A bonus to the value engineering approach offered by rauser was just that -a bonus room. With Bill’s input, the couple looked at some options for dealing with grading issues. The decision was made to build a basement, which gave Dave room for his woodworking shop.

Additionally, Dave commented that RPC’s flexibility in allowing him and his son to do some of the work really showed the company’s commitment to making the dream a reality, but within a set budget. Dave and his son laid the ceramic tile in the foyer and also laid the hardwood floor to save money, so they could afford to pay RPC for other services.

As a result of working with RPC, the rancher without a distinctive front entrance (Dave said some people couldn’t even find the front door) now boasts a beautiful, clearly defined entry, a new master suite, enlarged living room, foyer, and a full basement.

The Johnsons are thrilled!

They also commented on the process of working with RPC, stating how easy it was to work with the company and its subcontractors. Everyone was neat, friendly, and helpful. The site was always kept clean of debris. Dave said, “Even when there was an issue, it was never a big deal.” He elaborated, saying that when the hot water heater did not work one day, he called RPC, and within the hour, the subcontractor was calling to schedule a time to fix the problem.

When asked about the internet research and advice for other people, Dave mentioned that he was glad he interviewed other builders. The comparison reinforced for him that he had made the right decision, since RPC was so clearly different from the others.

While he would recommend RPC to anyone considering a renovation or custom home construction, he did mention that if a person is going to do web research for such an important decision, always check references, drive by projects they’ve completed at the very least, and definitely interview the contractor to make sure the company and family are comfortable together and that the builder’s experience dovetails with the project you are considering.

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