Very Kind words just two days into the Bathroom remodel

“Your team had our best interests at heart every day…”

Like most people, my husband, (name), and I approached our remodeling project with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, having heard many stories about remodels gone wrong. Every time I look at my house now, it is with a mixture of delight and happiness, and your company is responsible for that.

When I first met Michael Snow and he showed me your company’s portfolio, I wondered for a moment if Strite would be the right fit for us. After all, we were contemplating an interior remodel of a 1,300 square foot 1977 ranch house out in the Barber Valley, not an addition to a gorgeous home in the Highlands. Even though I’m sure our project was a small one by your standards, the level of customer service that we received from your staff every day made me feel like this was the most important job you had.

Michael had wonderful ideas for our kitchen remodel, and as I use the cabinets and the space months later, I still cannot think of anything I would do differently. In our design meetings, Michael’s excellent interviewing skills brought our needs into focus, and he designed a space that fits our lives. In the dinner parties I’ve held since, I have been amazed at how well the kitchen, dining room, and living room work together. Through-out our remodel, I was deeply impressed by Michael’s collaborative approach to problem solving and his focus on our budget. His catchphrase, “that’s high budget, low value; let’s find something low budget, high value,” became our remodeling mantra.

Ed Lee was our project manager, and he and Bob Mundy were consistently available for even the smallest questions. I knew by their actions that our day-to-day remodeling experience was just as important to them as the final product. Ed’s sense of humor and his enthusiasm for the construction process was unmistakable, and affected the entire team at my house, including tradespeople. When I’d come home in the middle of the day for a question or to check on something, I entered the house to sounds of hammers, saws, hard work, and laughter. (my husband) and I did the painting ourselves, and Ed went beyond the call of duty to provide painting tips and ideas. I learned a great deal about the way our home is put together from Ed, and I deeply appreciated his knowledge.

Michael, Ed, and Bob were absolute watchdogs for quality. Two of my friends were remodeling their houses at the same time with other companies. Both would tell stories of needing to explain to their contractors why they were unhappy with something. Either something came in the wrong color, or wasn’t quite straight, or simply not right. I never had to bring up a quality issue. On the one or two occasions when an issue cropped up, Ed would point it out to me and say, “Bob and I looked at this, and we think it needs to be re-done,” and they would do it. Not once did I feel I had to argue with anyone.

I must share one last story about Michael. One of my remodeling friends was having a difficult time with her contractor, and was at wit’s end. I suggested that she talk to Michael, hoping he would have some ideas. She and I both talked to Michael on the phone, and he listened, did some investigating, and called her back with advice that she found helpful. Now, as her remodel is wrapping up, behind schedule and over budget, she doesn’t recommend her contractor to friends. She recommends Strite.

Your team had our best interests at heart every day, whether the topic was budget, functionality, quality construction, or aesthetics. We are delighted at the result, and admire the top-notch way your business operates. Thank you so much for a positive experience.

Sincerely,
(owner)

“…Our expectations were not only met, they were exceeded in every respect.”

Hi Michael -

Just wanted to thank you, Jim, and the entire Strite team for our beautiful remodel. We began this project with great anticipation and high expectations. We can wholeheartedly state that our expectations were not only met, they were exceeded in every respect. Strite sets a very high standard or service, quality, and customer satisfaction, and you do truly stand by your work in every way, start to finish.

When we first began thinking about this project we set some guidelines in choosing a remodeling firm.

1. We wanted a well-respected, quality oriented, and professional firm.
2. One whose focus was on the client and in creating an addition to our home that was complementary of the existing architecture and neighborhood.
3. Provide a remodel that was cost-effective (on budget), again quality in construction and materials, and carried out in a timely fashion, and finally,
4. Work with our specific needs and somewhat nebulous ideas – turning them into a great end result.

Strite met our needs and desires in every way. Additionally, we were so impressed with all of the Strite people and contractors in their care and concern for us living in the house. We experienced little in the way of disruption of our lives – not any more than would be expected in a major remodel. The remodel was done in steps to insure we could go about our daily lives and still live in the home.

We interviewed quite a few remodeling firms and Strite won hands down. Every discussion with the Strite team reinforced that Strite’s goals were exactly the same as ours. With so many horror stories in remodeling we began this process with a little bit of trepidation. However, everyone at Strite is so professional and dedicated to the client that any fear we had was immediately put to rest – and never resurfaced during or entire remodel. The true measure of a company is how one deals with small problems that will inevitably crop up AND in taking steps to prevent most problems in the first place. Strite is top-notch in both areas.

Part of this is due to Strite’s great communication. Every aspect of the remodel was well discussed, documented, and outlined in a dated timeline and cost sheet – before construction began!  This certainly aided in staying within budget and on schedule.

We feel proud to have met and worked with trades people and professionals who take such pride in their work. Who also executed a project in such a way that when all is finished, it looks like that is how it should have originally been designed – true credit for an excellent job. Strite Design and Remodel is one of the few firms – in any profession – living their mission statement, promoting ideals of customer satisfaction, pride in work, and quality work environment. Your company’s various awards are well deserved.

Our highest praise and heartfelt thanks to all at Strite and your wonderful team, we look forward to working with Strite again in the future. Our highest compliment that we can pay your firm is to work with you again in the future and recommend you to our friends. We plan on doing both.

Thanks again – for helping to turn our house into our home.

“Strite…it’s a name that stands for quality.”

July 8, 1996

We continue to be delighted with the remodeling job that you did for us in the summer of 1987. Guests to our home invariably comment on our wonderful, bright and airy kitchen, and how beautiful and functional it all is. The three bathrooms you remodeled also serve our family well, and they continue to look fresh and up-to-date.

We’ve never regretted a dime of what it cost us to do that remodeling, because we have so enjoyed our updated house. However, now that [we] must sell our home and move out of state, we are more pleased than ever, for remodeling has turned out to be a terrific investment! We have just received an offer on our house that is two-and-a-half times what we paid for the house nine years ago. Even when you factor in the remodeling costs, this represents an excellent return on investment.

Our real estate agent was so impressed when he learned that Strite design and remodel had done the work that he put your company name right in the listing. It’s a name that stands for quality.

Jim, it’s been a pleasure to do business with you. I hope all goes well for you and for the company. I just wish you had a branch office in our new location!

Sincerely,

[Owner]

“…Thank you for our beautiful home.”

July 31, 2001

Most of all I want to thank you for our beautiful home. I couldn’t be happier and certainly never dreamed nine months ago it would turn out this nice. Everyone [on the Strite team] was such a pleasure to work with, which is what made the whole project possible.

With our sincere gratitude,

[Owner]

“Wow!”

December 5, 2001

Dear Strite Team Members,

Wow! Thank you again for being so good to us throughout the whole remodeling process. We appreciate how professional, high-quality, on-time, low-impact, communicative, well-organized and over-all considerate you were. We have been telling everyone what a positive experience we had with your team. We will definitely recommend your outstanding company to everyone. You are all top-notch people, and it shows!

Sincerely, [Owner]

“The actual finished product was truly perfection.”

February 10, 1994

It has taken me far too long to write this note to you. I want to compliment you and your associates on a job well done.

As we discussed, it is very difficult to find anyone interested in a “small” job. The fact that you were not only interested but treated the job as if it were a large one was most impressive. When we first met I stated how surprised I was to see a business actually have a Mission Statement and plans developed to follow it. I was also quite surprised and pleased to see the obvious concern over detail right down to a specific schedule for each [activity].

Now when it came to the actual work being done everything that I had seen was followed right on through to the end. What a pleasure. Everyone who came to our home was neat, clean, professional and polite. They arrived when they said they would, they called ahead of time, there wasn’t a lot of unnecessary chit chat between the craftsmen and they moved right along. They didn’t even take breaks and the lunch break was the shortest I had seen for a long time.

The actual finished product was truly perfection. In fact, my next door neighbor comments on what a terrific job was done every time she comes over.

You should be very proud of what you have set in motion. I do believe that you’re certainly a minority in your profession not to speak of others as well.  Everyone would be wise to check out what you have done and see if they couldn’t learn something. In fact, I don’t know anyone who couldn’t learn something from you and your team.

Thanks again for a great job!

Sincerely,

[Owner]

“Michael and Bob made the whole experience much less painful than I anticipated.”

January 6, 2001

Dear Jim and company,

Thank you for attending to the damage to my house caused by a leaking roof. Your prompt attention to stemming the leak limited the damage and contained what would have been a very large expense.

The roof repair and ceiling would appear fine. I particularly appreciate the attention provided by the supervisory team lead by Michael Snow and Bob Mundy. They made the whole experience much less painful than I anticipated. They accommodated all of my schedule constraints, delivered everything as promised and were a pleasure to work with.

I will be pleased to recommend your services as appropriate and will certainly contact you regarding any future projects I may have.

Thank you very much for a job well done.

[Owner]

“Our remodel job was really stress free.”

The only bad part about having work done by Strite design + remodel is that is spoiled me for working with other contractors.  Our project took about four months and I never had one incident of something not done when I was told it would be done or something not corrected immediately if needed.  The hassle one sometimes has of having to battle about each little detail, and call and then call again simply didn’t happen with Strite.

Our remodel job was really stress free.  It was a pleasure working with all the people in your organization.  (My wife) and I thank you for a great job.

“Strite  does it right the first time, you get what you pay for.”

“Our home couldn’t be any more perfect…”

We had 13 [guests ]here yesterday – all sitting at one table together (2 long tables and 3 card tables pushed together) thanks to your design and Strite’s awesome work in 2004-05.  Then we adjourned to our music room (thanks to your design and the Strite crew’s awesome work) and played music together (Lowrey, guitars, drums, kazoos).  Our home couldn’t be any more perfect for the kinds of ways we want to spend time together as a family.

Thank you Mike, Amy and the Strite team.

SDR note: In 2005 we completed a large Kitchen/Family Room/Garage addition.  Recently we opened up the interior of the home, soon to be featured here.

“I’m in love with the deck!”

I’m in love with the deck!   I was skeptical about Bob’s grid (or whatever it’s called) at first – but it really DOES help in the afternoon – and, of course, even a week after summer solstice, the sun is falling sooner so we’ll be just fine.  Also the railing MAKES the whole thing!  wow!  Love the design, love that it’s less bulky than what we had before, love that I can see “thru” it, just great.  VERY good!!  (Name) brought the person who is organizing the big reception to see it and she is thrilled – that’s good news but now I fear we’ll start needing to rent out the deck as the “perfect location for your reception/party needs….” (then again, maybe that’s not bad….might help us pay for it then!?)

Hope you are having a good weekend.  we’re having a deck vacation!

SDR Note: Pictures will be featured soon.

“I feel that I have made new friends.”

Dear Strite design + remodel Team Members:

My family and I want to thank you for your involved, concerned, and courteous attitude. Rather than feeling stress about having strangers in my home, I feel that I have made new friends. Ed, Troy and Smokey, in particular, have gone out of their way to be helpful and informative even in matters that did not relate to the bathroom remodel. Everyone that we have been involved with on the Strite team has been a pleasure to consult with. I have enjoyed watching you work and wish the entire Strite Design and Remodel team much success.

Sincerely,

[Owner] and family

“I always felt like a valued client and not just a person who was writing a check…”

Dear Michael, now that the addition work has been completed on my home, I wanted to express my appreciation to you and all of the team at Strite not only for the quality of the work, but also for exceeding my expectations all along the way.  From the first meeting we had, through the design and construction phases, I was continually impressed with the availability and responsiveness of each member of your team.  Those qualities alone would be enough for me to recommend you to friends or use you for a future project on my own home, but there was more; I felt like each of the Strite employees I met really put themselves in my shoes and did the work to the very best of their considerable abilities.

“Strite exceeded our expectations in all aspects.”

When we hired Strite, we believed they were the best contractor not just for our remodel but also for our family. They exceeded our expectations in all aspects. We chose to live in our home with our three young children during the remodel. Strite went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable and taken care of. Each team member was sensitive to our children’s safety and health concerns. The daily crew was incredibly friendly and professional and treated our family and our home with respect. “The workers” catered to our children’s endless curiosity and fascination. Even their trades people were friendly and respectful. Strite touted themselves as a professional team and they truly are.

The entire team works incredibly hard to provide top-notch service and good communication is at the heart of their success. Staying on budget was also a high priority for us and Strite was right on. Our home is now wonderfully updated, contemporary and comfortable and we look forward to watching our children grow up here.

Visit before, during, and after pictures of this remodel here.

“…We will continue to recommend your company.”

Please accept our appreciation for another job well done. Your company remodeled our home at [address] in 1995. When our home was inspected by prospective buyers they discovered a copper tube under the bathroom sink that they nor us could guess its purpose. In a very short time the Strite team visited us and discovered that they had stored it there in case we wanted to hook up an ice maker instead of having it laying behind the refrigerator.

After more than three years after you completed your work, to have this type of customer service response is remarkable. This was the type of service we experienced throughout the remodeling process and we are grateful that you continue to excel.  As always we will continue to recommend your company anytime we hear of someone considering a remodeling project.

During the showing and selling of our home we mentioned to different Realtors, who had performed the remodeling and never failed to get a positive response to both the quality of the work and your company’s reputation.

[Owner]

“The workmanship was excellent…”

I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the recent remodeling project on our home.  The workmanship was excellent and the “aim to please” attitude made the whole project a pleasant experience.  The sub contractors were very reliable and conscientious.

Best Regards,

[Owner]