Stephanie: What sets Quality Advantage Home Products apart?
John: One thing we pride ourselves on is that we are family owned and operated. The others are franchises, and not all are locally owned. With a franchise, you pay 7% more to cover their fees. Our representatives that show product, most of them have been with us for over ten years. We’re not hiring just any slick sales guys. The slick “blue suede shoe guys” don’t fit our model and the way we like to treat people. We like to treat people the way we like to be treated.
Next, we have all in-house installers. All of our guys are actually employees paid by the hour. I specify that because a lot of our competition pays piece rate and that means the faster they work, the more money they can make. Our guys are paid by the hour. We have a process we follow, start to finish, no corners cut, so we know what our end result is. I don’t care if it takes them five hours or eight hours, he’s getting paid by the hour, so actually he makes more money by slowing down and doing it right. That gives us the reputation and the good, quality results we’re looking for. As opposed to paying piece rate and having somebody cut corners and rush through it to make more money in a shorter period of time.
Stephanie: Plus, don’t you normally complete a job in one-day?
John: Correct. We’re not in your home for the week, tearing up and making your life miserable. We come in on a Monday morning. We start the demolition. We re-work any plumbing we need to re-work. We put in new drywall and the blocking behind the drywall for the grab bars, put in the base, put up the new wall surround, put up any door or accessories you might have purchased like shelving units. We can usually accomplish all of that in a day; if we start at say, 8:00, we’re done by about four or five at the latest.
Stephanie: As a homeowner, that would be a huge selling point for me. Are there other ways you stand apart?
| John: We don’t just take on anyone who fills out an application and say, “You’re our new crew chief.” You have to have certain skills. We check your driving records. We run you through a background criminal investigation. If you don’t pass it, we can’t hire you.
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| Stephanie: Of course; you’re going into people’s homes!
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| John: We’re going in people’s homes and usually they’re elderly and a little concerned about who may be coming. All of our employees will carry a Quality Advantage ID badge with a picture. When our guy shows up, all of our trucks are lettered with a company name and logo, so you can look out front and say “Yes, that’s Quality Advantage,” and you can ask them for their ID. They’ll produce a picture ID, and they’ll have your paperwork showing, “Here’s what we’re going to do today.”
Stephanie: Anything else? John: None of the competition has a transferable warranty. We’re the only ones with manufacturers that stand behind their products and transfer that warranty to a new owner. They’re just that much more superior. Also, they embed silver shield in the product during the manufacturing process. Stephanie: What is silver shield? John: Silver shield is a product that actually resists mold and mildew growth. It’s about as maintenance free as it comes. The materials we’re using are all non-porous and easy to clean. Very rarely do you even have to use any chemicals on it. Simple Green, a non-toxic… anything without ammonia. Ammonia eats away at the finish. All of our products have a life-time guarantee on them that are transferable to the new owner should you sell the home. Stephanie: Everything I’ve heard today makes me wish Quality Advantage Home Products was in my area. How can people find you? John: They can find us online at http://www.UpdateMyBathroom.com where our representatives are available through live chat, or they can call us at (757) 722-2284. Stephanie: Thank you so much, John. |
