Have you ever wondered if the economy is influenced by our expectations? What I mean to say is, if we all believe that the economy will be great next year at this time, might such beliefs - coupled with actions consistent with them - become self-fulfilling? Might our expectations about our economic future actually operate to create it?
I hasten to inform the reader that I don't really know anything about economics. I might have attended three or four class meetings of the obligatory Econ 101 & 102 courses I completed as an undergradate. When did attend, I was usually under the influence of intoxicants. Still, I have wondered - for quite a long time - if fears about the economy, taken together with negative talk, cut-backs on personal spending and investment, etc... might fuel or actually create economic downturns. Could it be that we actually make a horribly uncomfortable nest and then sleep fitfully in it until we begin to have happy thoughts about our financial future? If so, is it rational to believe that when that happy day dawns, a virtual explosion of home remodeling, new-business start-ups, and brisk retail sales will result?
Continue reading ""The Economy is Gonna Be Just Swell Doris -Let's Remodel Right Away!" »
Indeed! What were these ladies thinking? They appear to be annoyed. Perhaps they hired a contractor who turned out the be unsatisfactory in some way. Or, maybe the contractor abandoned the job-site. Wouldn't that be exciting!
There are many reasons that contractors and their clients argue and fight. Today, I'm going to address one issue that causes problems for contractors and their customers. Just one. Its very simple: Many homeowners select the wrong kind of contractor. That's right, the wrong kind of contractor.
"How can this be", you ask? "Don't they all have the same license? They have to be know what they are doing if they call themselves contractors, right? Doesn't the State of California require all contractors who accept work exceeding $500 to meet all sorts of qualifications?" I'll begin by addressing these questions.
Do you feel that you have been treated badly by your contractor? If so, you are not alone. In fact, thousands of people - perhaps millions - loathe contractors. Many negative characteristics are attributed to General Contractors:
They are widely believed to be imbeciles who drop out of elementary school to smoke cigarettes and hang-out at pool halls - louts and ruffians who annoy with loud talk, poor dental hygiene and tobacco products. Others hold that contractors are grifters - outright criminals - who work tirelessly to manipulate the wallets of unwary homeowners, dashing their hopes, and leaving them without funds to complete their projects. Still others see contractors not so much as criminals, but rather as lazy, incompetent clods who are skilled only in meeting only the lowest acceptable levels of personal industry and workmanship.
Are these attributes of character unfair stereotypes or is there a kernel fo truth in them?
First, it is obvious that there are plenty of bad contractors. Some of the bad ones mean well, but they simply have no talent. When you find an excellent contractor, you will very likely find that he or she was first a superb tradesman first. Highly talented carpenters, plumbers, electricians and the like, generally make the best contractors. Their feet are firmly rooted in the trades. Those with little or no aptitude for the trades tend to make poor contractors.
Continue reading "My Contractor Ripped Me Off and I'm Mad as #$@*! " »
WIth facilities in Watkin's Glen, NY,and Orland,CA, Farm Sanctuary is among the nations finest farm animal protection organizations.
Here's some information from the organizational overview appearing on their website:
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary operates shelters in Watkins Glen, NY and Orland, CA, which provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals.
In my last post, I promised to discuss three (3) popular business models used in the remodeling industry today. These represent very different alternatives - each having good points and bad. At Mills Builders, we find that many homeowners are acquainted with only one such model - "competitive bidding". My goal for this series is to acquaint homeowners with all three.
Today, I'll review the "Negotiated-Bid" method and wrap up in a few days with a third post that points-up the pros and cons of the popular Design-Build option. With this said, let's get started!
In the first installment of this series, we learned that the "competitive bid" model - is being challenged as inefficient, subject to abuse by unethical contractors and flawed in that it makes "apples to apples" comparisons of bids very difficult.
Even worse is the fact that many of the best contractors will no longer bid on a competitive basis. The preparation of a good bid takes time and money. The bigger the project, the greater the resources consumed in preparation of an accurate estimate. Given the competitive disadvantages associated with the process - especially large numbers of competing bidders and those who submit "lowball" bids - there is often no good reason for a quality contractor to participate.
Negotiated Bidding provides a reasonable alternative to the many problems associated with Competitive Bidding.
Continue reading ""Negotiated Bidding? Hmm.... What's In It For Me?"" »
Someone, somewhere, at some time decided that one must solicit bids from "at least three contractors" for every remodeling project.
An astonishing number of people have come to believe that soliciting multiple bids is an essential part of the remodeling or building process. Why is this so?
It is undoubtedly true that homeowners believe they will pay too much if they fail to introduce the element of competition into the process of choosing a contractor. Does this make sense? Certainly. A well-organized bid process can result in savings. But, as with many other things in life, there are two sides to the story!
There are several distinct business models used in the remodeling industry. This is the first in a series of posts in which I will explore diverse remodeling business arrangements and contracts. Each has merit. Each has shortcomings. It is my aim to provide you with sound information you may use to decide which model is best for you.
Continue reading "What to do When Contractors Say "No Thanks"." »
At elevations of more than 10,000 feet, in the remote White-Inyo Mountains of eastern California, one finds very few living things. The climate is brutal and constantly changing. It is difficult to move about as millions of tons of dolomitic bedrock, broken into jagged pieces, are constantly underfoot. Visitors are peppered by airborne clouds of sand and ice, driven by relentless winds exceeding 60 mph. There is no water. No food. It is among the most rugged, inhospitable places on earth.
Enduring all the hardships presented by their environment are the world's oldest inhabitants - Bristlecone Pine trees (Pinus Longaeva).
In their remote home, these trees largely escaped notice until 1953 when Dr. Edmund Schulman of the University of Arizona undertook to study and date them. Schulman - and the scientific community generally - were shocked to learn that one tree, called the Pine Alpha was more than 4,000 years old. Later, in 1957, Schulman dated another tree, aptly named Methuselah, at 4,723 years old! It was, and is, the oldest living organism on our planet.
In 1958, National Geographic brought Sculman's discovery to the attention of the world. Sadly, he suffered a heart attack and died that same year at the age of 49.
Today,a special area within the 28,000 acre Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest bears the name Schulman Grove. The Methuselah Tree is located within the grove, but its identity is not disclosed by the U.S. Forest Service.
If you have seen these great trees, share your experience with us!
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By Paul Mills
I'm often asked,"Say, what is that building in your logo? Looks like a tower of some kind!"
The structure in our logo is, in fact, a tower - a water tower.
Here's a photo of a similar water tower, still standing in Yolo County, CA.
These towers dotted the landscape of California's Central Valley for decades. Today, a few remain. If you look closely through the hole in the top of the tower, you will see the water tank inside.
Rooted in the rich history of the Valley and Delta, the old wooden water tower is a fantastic architectural form. We love them - hope you find them interesting too.
