Dawson Builders | 2016 Winter Newsletter
 | 847-846-4463 | 
www.dawsonbuilders.com



,

Thanks for your business and referrals. You are the reason for Dawson Builders' success.

This year, Dawson Builders was honored to be invited to join the Harvard Business School Joint Housing Committee in Boston, MA. It is a national organization of 60 companies made up of top USA remodelers like Dawson Builders and suppliers such as Home Depot, Pella, Apple, Google, Houzz, etc., serving the $300 billion remodeling industry.

Being able to network with organizations around the country on trends, styles, and operational issues is invaluable to Dawson in helping us strategically plan. Knowing whether the market is going to expand or slow down is critical. Harvard's analysis will help Dawson grow smarter. The good news is the remodeling industry is expected to continue to be strong for the next several years. Look for changes at Dawson as we prepare to meet this growth.

Striving for 100% customer satisfaction has always been our top priority, whether it is a small or large project. In our rapid growth this year, we experienced some growing pains causing us to slip on our promise to you of 100% satisfaction. Here are a few things we are doing to get back on track.

We hired a quality control manager. We had done a pretty good job on the first 90% of projects, but had fallen short on the final 10% on some of our projects. Nancy Schumm will manage the important last 10% of the projects to ensure projects are finished with the quality we expect at Dawson Builders. We participated in the Willow Creek job fair where we found 2 quality additions. We are also "growing" our own employees having recently hired 2 younger employees who are training with our senior staff.

Even though we have been a little slower in our start to finish timeline, the lasting impression of quality and fairness will continue to be our most important focus. When given a choice in a busy time, we believe it is better for things to take longer with quality work than to go for speed with poor quality. This has always been, and will continue to be, our mantra in explosive or slower times.

From all of us at Dawson Builders we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanks,
John

Welcome to the New Dawson Employees


Over the past several months, we have hired several new employees to help keep up with our continued growth. We would like to officially welcome them to Dawson Builders:
  • Gabby Armbula - Painter and Dry Waller.
  • Alex Barcharz - Carpenter and Apprentice working with Manny and others.
  • Kelly Bond - Accounting..
  • Zlatko (Z) Hromic - Project Manager.
  • Will Lewis - Electrician Apprentice working with Jeff Stinek.
  • Allison Meier - Project Manager, teaming with Erica Shein in bidding/selling projects and ordering materials.
  • Nancy Shumm - Quality Control Manager and Manager for Customer Small Project requests.

 

D awson Builder's Spotlight on All Services

Many of our customers use the "Dawson Builders" list, instead of using the general "Angie's List." Our customers trust us and know our reputatio n of being "fair and honest." 

When an odd job or repair pops up, call us directly and we can help solve your issue. We can complete any job relating to your home,  your yard, and  your land.   

Not only can you trust that we will complete any home project job for you, but we will guarantee the work! We also have a one-year warranty on the service of our sub contractors. 

If you have any questions regarding a project in your house, contact us!

Winterize your home

As the cold is here to stay, be sure to do these things to help winterize your home: 

1. Don't Be Freaked Out by Small Drafts.
  • Cold air can sneak into your house through a variety of energy-zapping openings; including doors, windows, attic hatches, fireplace dampers, ceiling-to-wall joints, gaps around light fixtures, pipes leading outside and electrical outlets on exterior walls. If you feel a cold draft in your home, seal it. 
  • Properly caulked doors and window sills can drastically cut down on your energy costs. Create a draft snake by rolling up a towel and placing it along the bottom of the door.
  • However, you do not have to seal every air leak. As a matter of fact, a little fresh air in your home in the winter is not a bad thing. Airing out your home once a month for 15-20 minutes could be just what the doctor ordered. 
2. Fix Your Furnace and Tame the Temperature.
  • Changing your furnace filter regularly increases air flow throughout your home; Having your furnace serviced can reduce your heating costs. 
  • To be safe, make sure carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries. 
  • Reverse your ceiling fans to circulate heat downward in a room, for a little extra warmth.  
  • Programmable thermostats can also help regulate your home temperature when you are not home. For every 1 degree you lower the temperature in your house, you can lower your heating bill up to 1-3%.
3. Take Care of Your Water Heater.
  • Drain your water heater through the drain valve annually until the water is clear. This will help to remove the sediment from the bottom of the water heater and improves the efficiency of the water heater.  
  • Lowering your hot water heater from 140 degrees to 120 degrees can reduce heating costs by 6-10%.
4.  Prep your yard.
  • Be sure to disconnect your water hoses to prevent the copper pipes on the interior from freezing.
  • With a standard sillcock, the water needs to be turned off and drained out to prevent freeze damage.
  • Cover your outdoor furniture, shut off water valves, and store your garden hoses. 
5. Protect Your Driveway.
  • Use Ice Melt, not salt, to avoid damaging your driveway and sidewalk. 

 

 


Performing a few basic home maintenance tasks make this winter cheaper and safer.  









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Dawson Builders | 113 North Cook Street | 847-846-4463 | 
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