Episode Transcript
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(00:01):
Welcome to the home Remodeling Show withEdge Construction on News Talk thirteen ten WYBA.
Have a question, Email it toEdge Construction Radio at gmail dot com.
Now here's your host, Sean Friegeon News Talk thirteen ten WYBA is
the boddeling show brought you by EdgeConstruction Online. Edge Construction Company dot com.
(00:25):
All one word Edge Construction Company dotcom. Great website, telephone number
six oh eight six three six threethree four three that number six three six
Edge enjoined in studio this morning bythe owner of Edge Construction, Mike two
eight Mike, how you been thisweek? Great? Sean, It's good
to see you. Great to talkwith you. We're gonna be talking about
questions. Go packers, oh Man, go pack All right, yes,
(00:45):
I they'll be playing tonight. Socoming up at four o'clock coverage starts.
So were you surprised about that?You? Now? Yeah? How was
headed up to moms? Hi?Mom? Uh biggest packer fan I know?
And uh, well, I beforeI left, I tell my wife
told Christy, I said, I'llprobably be back by like six point thirty
because I'm imagining we're gonna be downby like fifty points by halftime or something,
(01:06):
but yeah, it was Packer fansare not used to these blow them
out of the water games, youknow, and I don't think any of
us. My My thing was couldthey win? Yeah they could have beat
the Cowboys where they gonna win likethey did. Never in a million years
I think that that would happen.Yeah, exactly, maybe allready Mike down
there, I just felt sorry forus or that was so exciting stuff and
(01:30):
so an exciting Uh, yeah,it's an exciting time. And you know,
one of the great things about aboutfootball season is having friends over,
having company over, and if you'vehad a new project completed at your home,
kind of showing that stuff off.And I've got to ask, Mike,
is that part of as we talkabout remodeling and just we're going to
get into some of the questions thatconversation to have before you start remodeling.
(01:51):
But is that sometimes like a sparkto get people thinking about remodeling, is
Hey, we're gonna have company over, Maybe we're gonna have a Super Bowl
party. Some people saying, youknow what, we want to entertain more,
we want to have people over andkind of show the place off.
And does that does that start sometimesthe conversation about remodeling. I think it
really does because when you're when you'rein a house that's designed lately, right
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like the past maybe twenty years,thirty years, even even some of the
eighties houses. Okay, they're they'renot as open as we build them now,
but they're they're certainly much a muchdifferent home than you would have seen
any time before that. So,uh, the common space is a common
areas. So the areas that you'regonna you're gonna show your friends and relatives.
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I mean, you're not really showingthem. You're you might show me
your master bath, I guess ifyou got really nice, fancy want.
But but they're they're generitely hanging outin those rooms. So like even when
we design now, we're designing,it's not like you're really designing a great
room or or in somebody's even akitchen. We're designing areas for people to
congregate. So I like doing thiswhen we're when we're messing around in cad
(02:58):
going okay, like we you know, you literally go okay, we get
six people standing around in asland,we could you know, like and and
then another group can be over hereand you're you're going, okay, you
can start to picture how all thisis going to work. And if you've
got one of those older houses,you know, obviously that's what we do.
So people do start, I thinkyou get the holidays. Like our
house, we live in a twoand a dri old farmhouse. It's uh
(03:21):
my wife always jokes that was builtbefore houses had character. So it's not
it's nothing fancy, it's but it'sin a great spots out in the country
and but uh, you know,it's really not designed for for all these
people. And our three kids aregone, right, but now there's seven
grandkids, and then when everybody's comeback, you're like, oh my gosh,
you know, we've never had thismany people in our house, and
(03:43):
you start to see the weaknesses ofit. So with that and with that
that opportunity, I think I'm gonnaguess like the big rooms obviously, the
the the powder room, the kitchen, basement remodels are those oftentimes kind of
fueled by by having company over flexspace as well as that really kind of
fuel that. Yeah, definitely thosethose rooms are happening. And I'm just
(04:03):
looking at back at some of ourmodels. I mean, we still do
lots of kitchens where we just dothat kitchen room. But I would say
more than half now it's almost thatwhole first floor or whole kitchen, common
areas, the great room, ifyou had a dining room, or or
a flex space or a den orsomething. It's hitting all of those spaces
(04:26):
more often now. And I'm surethat's what's driving it, is that people
are entertaining, whether their families havegrown, or maybe they are lots of
friends they want to invite us over. We're always open to invites. You
said two is kind of the economyof scale is saying, you know what,
if we're going to do the kitchen, to do the to add the
living room, or add the bathroom, or add the stuff, Really it
helps the bottom line quite a bit, doesn't it. It does. And
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you know, we're coming out ofthis era of flipping houses, right,
and so we're going to be cleaningup those sins of flippers. Is that
a word. I guess call themflippers, those naughty flippers, because they
they It's still not uncommon for usto come into a house that somebody is
(05:11):
recently bought or or it's been inmaybe a year or two and they're still
dealing with it. There's four orfive different types of flooring in a in
a on a floor, you know, and it's just okay. They they
did upgrade the flooring, but there'sno nothing flows. There's no central design
here. And uh that I knowbothers people. And flooring does drive a
lot of remodeling because you know,if we're gonna if we're gonna do wood
(05:33):
floor through a whole first floor,well then you you really do get to
decide what kind of trim and doorsyou want because all that stuff's gonna get
some of that's gonna get peeled offto do the floors. And now is
certainly the chance. So if we'reif we're if the main project is the
kitchen, if that's what got youin our door, Uh, some of
those secondary projects I always and thisis one hundred percent troy. Uh you
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get those at about a twenty fiveor thirty percent discount. If you can
tag those along because it's all thesame people, I don't have to price
it like we're just coming in todo that floor or just coming in to
do drawl in the kitchen. Wecan also change them to me maybe remove
a wall it's pretty common. Wecan do that there, and it's much
cheaper to do that for us.By the way, I mentioned the kind
(06:18):
of opening up the space, removingwalls and those kind of things. Some
of that too, so you cangot a good site line for the TV
Super Bowl parties and stuff and playoffparties. Does some of that Does that
come into play at all, Sean? I think for you and I that
would come in yes. Like youknow, I think like it's it's more
(06:39):
about your your most important areas.Okay, you've got a great room where
a lot of people are spending time. You've got a kitchen where a lot
of people are spending time. Somuch of the time we're thinking about how
do we get the kitchen to jointhe rest of the house so that whoever
does the cooking, if you dothe cooking, or mom does the cooking,
or I don't know who does thecooking, they shouldn't be alligated to
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the prison of the kitchen in thebackground the house, right. You want
them to be part of the conversation. Since the invention of the air fryer,
I've become a bit more of ahouse off cook Mike. I don't
know if you know this, haveyou we have we got gifted an air
frier for Christmas? Oh have youfired it up yet? I made toast
in there. A little tip ifyou go to uh wally World you get
(07:21):
the pizza rolls. You don't haveto buy the name brand. You can
buy like the wally World giant bagof those things. You just dump a
bunch of them in the basket.Set that guy on four hundred for about
seven minutes. Oh my gosh,you talk about a nice quick anyway,
we'll say we'll save food talking itsounds like a complicated piece of me.
(07:42):
It got ours has two buttons timeand temp, and it just goes,
yeah, I really need stuff,let's talk about so of course, got
my two week here from EDGE Constructionwebsite, Edge Construction Company dot com telephone
number six O eight six three sixthree three four three that number six three
six edge something when I when Italk with like financial people, a lot
of times opportunity to kind of interviewor or get to know them as kind
(08:05):
of an important part to make surethat that kind of visions and strategies and
those type of things align. Isthere a similar type thing with with remodeling,
Like are there people that say,and I know, obviously since you
know we're on the show together,I think a lot of people that have
been listening for a while really knowEdge Construction, really know you Mike and
what you guys are all about.But do you get people that are like,
(08:26):
Hey, I just like to kindof talk a little bit about our
projects, our ideas, what welike, would like almost like an interview
for Edge Construction as Yes, andwe're a little bit the same way,
right, I like looking at thisas a marriage kind of. I mean
there's a lot of similarities, right, I mean, Okay, there's a
(08:48):
much shorter duration and we're not gonnahave an ugly breakup. But we've got
a contract at before we start thisthis marriage, so that that comes together.
You've got to go through this designprocess. It's kind of like a
it's like a pre honeymoon. Ithink, like that's the fun part.
You're doing all this design stuff.So there's a lot of togetherness here.
(09:09):
There's a lot of we're gonna comeinto this house and uh that you have
an emotional connection with and we're gonnaprobably tear it apart and it better turn
out good, right, because you'reyou're I think it's fair for homeowners to
have high expectations and if they duringthis process, it works best if we
(09:31):
like each other, if we havehad I'll be honest, we've had a
couple of people that it was aclear personality conflict almost right from the start.
And I was I'll just say Iwas mature enough for once to say,
you know, what are you feelinglike? This is not a good
fit? And and and literally bothall owners are like, oh, so
(09:52):
glad you said something because we werefeeling that way too, and we parted
as friends and walked away. BecauseI think it is important to like each
other. There's just too much,too much chance for conflict. There's too
many problems, and for homeowners.A lot of times homeowners are they want
you to like their project and theirhouse and their idea. And there's a
lot of homeowners that float this outhere a little bit insecurely, just saying
(10:16):
what do you think is this evenpossible? Is this something you can get
behind? You talk about too,budgets and other things. I mean those
are very like we don't as Americans, we don't like talking about money.
And you've really got to make surethat that that's an open line of dialogue.
And it's interesting when you talk aboutnot only folks interviewing you, but
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you're also probing them to see isthis going to be a good fit to
making sure that starts, but againhaving that comfort level to then start talking
money. That's a big important step, isn't it? It is? And
I think you do go through thison the first meeting. Some of that.
Okay, you're doing all the nutsand ball stuff, you're measuring and
taking pictures and your your brainstorming,but you're also building a relationship together and
(11:03):
I think that's really important. It'snot like, Okay, my wife want
needs a car, and it's likethe most frustrating experience, right Like when
you're trying to buy a car.I can't. I hate that job,
but she tasked me with it,so I'm trying to do the best I
can. And there is an allureto like a Carvana, right Yeah,
where you have you strip out humancontact, you just buy this asset and
(11:26):
it shows up at your door.I guess I don't know I've done it.
I'm probably not going to do it, but I don't know if I
can do that. I'm got togo look at it. But remodeling is
not that way because there's there's justtoo many options, too many directions this
can go. You mentioned the taggerlongprojects before you know. I think for
a homeowner, you want to knowall those options and to that it takes
(11:48):
an investment in time on both people'spart to make that happen. Talking this
morning with Mike two we eg ownerof Edge Construction Online, Edge Construction Company
dot com. That's Edge Construction Companydot com. Great website and resources to
learn more about Mike and the team. Also check out their links Facebook,
Pinterest hows. That's a biggie checkthat out. Edgeconstruction Company dot com delf
number six o eight six three sixthree three four three that number six three
(12:11):
six Edge. We'll continue our conversationwith Mike two Eggo of Edge Construction.
We will do that next as theHomer Modeling Show continues right here at thirteen
ten WIBI. The Home Remodeling Showwith Edge Construction continues now on News Talk
thirteen ten WIBA. This is theHomer Modeling Show, brought to you by
Edge Construction Online. Edge Construction Companydot com. All one word Edge Construction
(12:33):
Company dot com. Check on someof the questions to ask your remodeler before
you meet or kind of on thoseinitial meetings, how to get to know
each other. Some of the questionsimportant questions to be asking. We're talking
with Mike this week. Don't forgetabout the website Edgeconstruction Company dot com.
That's all one word, Edge ConstructionCompany dot com. DELVH number six O
eight six three six three three fourthree. That number so easy to remember,
(12:54):
it's six three six. Edge talkedabout kind of those just a very
initial almost like an interview process,very much like an interview process between both
the homeowner and the homer modeler andhaving that conversation make sure it's a good
fit. The other thing, too, is speaking of things that are a
good fit is doing that type ofwork regularly. And one of the things
I love about about Edge Construction Companydot Com and that house link is seeing
(13:20):
the portfolio you guys have at EdgeConstruction and seeing the type of work that
you do bathroom's, kitchens, additions, basement remodels, those type of things.
That's a real benefit, right,you know, everybody's got a first
day on the job. It's nicethough, when you can go and look
at a portfolio and say they've donethis type before many times before, and
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then you look at the results,you go, this is really going to
set us up for success, isn'tit. It is? And on the
other side of that is lots oftimes people try to talk us into doing
things that we don't normally do andto the point of even getting mad at
me is because we'll listen, it'snot really our wheelhouse. We do some
of that when we're doing other projects, but we just don't do this thing
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as a rule. You know,there's great companies out there. We points
you in the right direction if wecan, but that that is a tough
thing too. So I, okay, I'm gonna put myself on the other
side, right Or if it wasmyself and I didn't have this background,
or my kids were looking to getsome work done, maybe they lived in
(14:24):
a different city, I would absolutelysay find somebody that specializes. Okay,
find and find a You're not goingto call electrician to do a job of
plumber dose like, that's just asridiculous. They speak different languages, it's
totally different training. But yeah,if you if you look on our if
if a model or has a trackrecord like ours is I don't know what
we have maybe one hundred and fiftyprojects on How's I'm assuming we're in the
(14:48):
hundred range. On our website,you can get a really good feel for
the kinds of things we do.And then if you listen to the show,
you can get a feel for someof the things that we don't do,
or or maybe we do once ina while, but we don't we
don't necessarily promote it on the website. Uh, And so that that is
a good thing. I mean,I've had chances to talk to people that
(15:09):
are younger in this business, andyou know, they're asking what way to
go? And I remember when Istarted out, it seemed like Everyd's truck
said they do everything from additions totile work to build a new house to
remodeling, tech commercial. It's like, well, listen, you can't be
good at all that stuff. There'sno way. And so I like it
when when people in this business andour business, you sort of build up
(15:33):
from your strength. Right If yourstrength is doing kitchens and bass, okay,
great, stay there for a whileat least before you branch out.
Is there something too? Is isI look at the team and you know
the folks. At Edge Construction,we talk a lot about the design side.
We talk about the build side.You mentioned electricians and plumbers and those
kind of things. Having these atyour core, you know, you talk
(15:54):
about really what you started doing andthen at you know, some of these
these great folks and great specialties you'vehad it on those areas and having those
you know, those those go topeople. One of the things, I
guess I phrase it better this way. One of the things that's always impressed
me about about working with you andtalking with you each and every week,
is you're not afraid to say that'snot something I know you mentioned. You
(16:17):
don't call a plumber for an electricalissue. Is is for example, going
back to going back to being anelectrician, you have an electrician on staff.
Why because that's not your your specialty. Bringing on an electrician and having
that team on board. These arepeople that that do things and bring things
to the table that you would youwould say, maybe not necessarily your personal
(16:40):
forte right, right, And youknow you don't start off with all these
tools in your bucket, right soyou can be a great Christian. I
mean, I think we're one ofthe only ones probably that has that's an
electrical contractor and maybe does tile inhouse the carpentry side. Some some people
do that, but it's it's prettycommon for builders and remodelers to to sum
(17:03):
things out, to sub all sortsof things out, and we get approached
to do that for other people allthe time. In fact, ten years
ago we would do that for otherpeople. We just didn't have enough of
our own work and and we woulddo it. So those are good questions
to ask. Is uh get afeel for is the person uh just a
pleaser and doesn't want to say no? I mean it's the hardest word to
(17:23):
say really when you're in business,or or do they have a passion for
a certain kind of thing? Isthere is something really in their wheelhouse?
We get asked to replace windows quitea bit. It's just not our our
thing. Even though we probably replacea couple hundred windows in a year that
are in the in the remodeling realm, like we've got other things torn apart.
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Then it's pretty easy for us todo it, and and it's worth
it for homeowners to get us todo it, but it's just not our
our Our specialty is somebody's not gonnacall you say we're gonna we need siding
done or we need windows on,that's there. If it's part of the
project, it's it's part of theproject. But it is what about asking
about do you hire subcontractors? Who'syou know, who are these people that
you work with? And and isthat a is that a fair question as
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far as an upfront kind of questionof how that's all going to work,
who's going to handle the responsibilities inthe work. I think it's very fair.
Uh So I'll talk about us alittle bit first and why we do
it the way we do it,So we don't do concrete. I have
the tools to do concrete. Ihave all the parts that we need to
do concrete in a in a realpinch, we have done it. We
(18:29):
have porta like an addition foundation,or we have we have done some platwork.
But it's it's it's actually a betterdeal for us to uh and for
homeowners. I mean we're more expensivethan somebody that does concrete all the time.
The reason why we've done it isis is our normal contractor just couldn't
(18:52):
get to us, or or orthey had some some major problems in their
company, or they were just overloaded. We to do all of our roofing
on our models, and it wasa pain because we're not It's not something
we do all the time. ButI'm also very picky on how that job
is done. I feel like Iknow what a good job looks like,
and I and i'm and i'm it'sthe it's the things you can't see right.
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Anybody can look up and go allthey nailed on the shingles, okay,
but I want to know how it'sflashed, and I want to know
how it's how we're stopping water fromfrom getting getting into this house. Uh.
And so we found I found,uh, somebody that I'm really comfortable
with and and they're not afraid toask questions or I'm not afraid to take
advice for me to be honest anddo it the way I want it and
(19:37):
want it done. So they're alsofaster and cheaper than than than we could
do it. So occasionally we havea sub like that we don't We don't
do plumbing, but we've we've hadthe same people doing it for years and
we're we have a very predictable job. But everything else pretty much is in
house. We do. We doall the rest of it. What about
asking about kind of who's the pointperson, who's a project manager? I
(19:57):
mean, that's got that's an importthing too. Is we talk about bringing
these different weather you know directly inhouse. You know, your your carpenters,
from edge construction, electricians, thosetype of people. Who's coordinating that
stuff is as as somebody a perspectivehomeowner for a remodel. Is that's what
we asked about two is like,how do we coordinate who's going to be
(20:18):
my who's do you have somebody incharge or who's that is? That?
Is that an important question to beasking about? It is so uh,
if you'd have asked me that questiona dozen years ago, I would have
said, well, I'm your contact, I'm your carpenter, I'm your you
know, like we we we werestill a good sized company. It's just
our remodeling portion wasn't that big andwe didn't have a big team behind us
(20:41):
to get this work done. So, I know homeowners back then we're a
little frustrated. I know we're goingto talk about communication, but if if
the person that is your point personhas a lot of other responsibilities, it's
going to be hard for them toto to probably satisfy that that little communication
thing when you want it as wellas you want it, So that that
(21:04):
is a great question. On ourside. We have in house design and
it's really important. I know peopleprobably design doesn't get the credit that it
that it probably deserves. But ifyou want these great pictures online, it
starts with good design and having itin house is such a great thing.
(21:25):
So we will have a point personthat will it's a designer that will that
will kind of take you through adesign process. There will still be a
resource once you once it gets turnedover to construction, right or once it
gets turned out over to the peopleon the job site that are making things
happen. But yeah, you wantto know what path why you're supposed to
go in a in a perfect role, I say, okay, one,
(21:47):
the contract is signed and we're goingto start. Now. Now you switch
over to a Kyle or a Troyor somebody out in the field because they're
there day to day and the designersaren't anymore. So if you have design
questions, which which they still comeup after that job starts, then you
know you can go back to thedesigner. I'm gonna ask you about communication.
Also want to talk about timeline aswell as we talk with Mike two
(22:07):
Wigg, owner of Edge Construction.Some questions to be asking a Homer modeler
before you before you start that project, before you meet, before you sign
those contracts. What are some ofthose things you should be asking for.
We talked with Mike about that.Just a moment to meet time, you
have a better the website. Whatyou doing? Head on over there now
Edge Construction Company dot com. Allone word Edge Construction Company dot com.
Telp number six O eight six threesix three three four three that number six
(22:27):
three six edge. More of theHomer Modeling Show with Edge Construction is next
right here thirteen ten WIBA. You'relistening to the Homely Modeling Show with Edge
Construction. Email your questions to edgeConstruction Radio at gmail dot com. Once
again, here's Sean Preeble on NewsTalk thirteen ten WIBA. The Solver Modeling
(22:48):
Show brought to you by Edge Constructiononline, Edge Construction Company dot com.
That's all one word Edgeconstruction Company dotcom. And of course teleph number six
O eight six three six three threefour three six three six Edge E d
G E. I mentioned communication andwe live in a world now where we
are, there are so many differentways to communicate, and unfortunately not everybody
(23:11):
takes full advantage of that. Let'stalk about that kind of that question ask
up front is how do we communicate? I know at edge construction, phone
calls work, but I know there'salso a lot of just kind of let's
shoot an email, let's shoot atext. That's been a great benefit,
hasn't it It is it has It'sjust one from from our side is like
(23:33):
when I talk to our people,we're we're living a world. Okay,
Sean, I'll just get a question. Yes, if if you order something
on you know, Amazon, yeah, once or twice, when do you
expect it tomorrow? What happens itdoesn't show up tomorrow? Oh, I'm
a little upset. I'm going whathappened? Does that get you a little
like? Yeah? And so insome ways I think we're a little too
(23:56):
connected, Like from our standpoint,a pit the level of commune. And
I'm not saying the world has tolive like like how be like Mike,
but you the perfect level is Okay, we we get some feedback during the
day, and then especially my peoplein the field, you know, they're
working, they've got a lot ofresponsibility. There's safety issues if they don't
(24:18):
get back to you in a andmaybe they return your text and you know
stuff once a day, right,that's that. I think it's pretty acceptable.
From our side. We have homeownersthat that really don't like that.
They want you know, they're usedto when they shoot a text off,
they get a couple of seconds later, they get a response, and and
they can feel sometimes like Okay,these you're not we're not communicating well no,
(24:41):
no, no no. But Ithink it's it's there's got to be
give and take on this communication thing. There are so many ways, like
you mentioned, to communicate that.It's it's really not hard to get your
point across. So uh, fuelpatient homeowners. Uh, these people in
the field, especially when you're commutingwith them, they're not behind a desk
like like I'll pick on the designers, like a designer in the air conditioning
(25:03):
or the or the heat hopefully rightnow, so they're there. Sometimes it's
a little bit easier for them toget back quickly. Whereas the people in
the field, they love that feedback. They want to answer questions, they
want to deal with things as theycome up. And then if you can
try and get home a little earlyonce in a while, she can talk
to them face to face. Ijust think like out there setting tile or
something in the phones you get fivetext. Yeah, yes, that's exactly.
(25:29):
It's going to take a moment therefor sure. But it's interesting to
you mentioned that the face to facecommunication as well, and having that opportunity
is I know that obviously when you'rewhen you're hiring people at edge construction looking
for skilled people, people willing tolearn. But I know another aspect,
another attribute are people that are thatare good communicators and and are are very
(25:51):
comfortable talking with homeowners. And that'san important and important part of it too,
is saying will I be seeing Wewere talking before the break about kind
of that project maner, that siteleader. Will I be able to see
them? Will I be able totalk to them? And asking that question
will they be on site regularly?Is probably an important question to be asking
as well. It is right whatand and you know, a joke a
little bit about the amount of communication, but maybe that's a worthy topic before
(26:17):
you start and say like okay,what's what's the reason do you do?
You do you want me texting yourpeople on on the weekend when they're off
makes me a little nervous. Ibecause it's not because I I I think
they'll take her on. I justI don't want them working on the weekend.
If you have an emergency, Heyman, let us know. If
(26:37):
something happened and we have to dealwith it, we will deal with it.
But I remember, these people havefamilies, and they're and they're and
they're off time, they're they're fiveo'clock on Friday, they're they're gone about
it, just like you exactly.Talking like two owner at edge Construction online
edge Construction Company dot com. That'sEdge Construction Company dot com. Talking about
some of the questions to ask ahomer modeler before or you meet, and
(27:00):
a big question an important thing toois what is your timeline? And be
honest about And one of the thingsI know about doing the show with you,
Mike is on your side, you'revery honest. Is to the point
sometimes people say, you know,is that gonna? It's that long?
And then when we start to layout what's it, what is it gonna?
You know the process, people like, oh, I see why.
(27:22):
There are some people that'll be like, oh, we'll get to it right
away and we'll get you know,we'll get everything done. It's like that,
there's things that to have a successfulcompletion. Really understanding that timeline and
explaining that timeline. It's probably animportant part too, isn't it. It
is? And we I get askedthat in every first meeting, and it's
a fair question. Okay, well, how what's the process? Like how
(27:44):
long is this going to take?And I said, well, you know,
I want to say, well,that's not really the right question.
Okay, what what is the process? That's a great question because now we
can talk about design and if yourkitchen on an average is going to take
three months to complete, it's probablygonna spend two three moin design. Right,
design goes right up to contract becausewe're not gonna rush you there.
(28:04):
We're gonna we're gonna let this thingunfold and then we're gonna order materials that
contract and we're gonna when that comesin, we'll give you a start date
and then we'll start your job.When you when you talk about things like
that with a homeowner, you gothey do understand because you you say,
well, you don't want to startingyour job without we won't start it without
the cabinets in our hands, becauseyou know, it's one less thing we
(28:27):
we don't. You know, Idon't want to. I don't want to
operate a schedule on promises from asupplier that they're gonna show up on Thursday.
You know, it's just the supplychain has has gotten better, but
it's it's it is, but it'sstill far from perfect. And so I
have been able to tighten up sometimelines this year, and I'm gonna keep
doing that because we're we're we seemto be doing better than our schedule now,
(28:52):
uh, pretty consistently. So Ican start taking out some days here
and there on our on our normalschedules. And I know none of that
probably matters. It's not as noticeableto a homeowner, but it just us.
I mean, there's a lot ofincentive, by the way, for
your modeler to get your job donefast. They don't want your job to
stretch out. We talked about thatuncomfortable subject, the money subject. Well,
(29:14):
if you don't finish jobs, youdon't get paid. So there's you
know, you as a remodeler,as a company, you've got to pay
your people. You've got to payyour suppliers. So when they run well
and get done in a reasonable amountof time, that's really good for a
business like ours. So I thinkall of this stuff is great to talk
about with the homeowner because you know, you're not thinking about it, You're
thinking about TV has kind of giveus this version of her modeling. Right,
(29:37):
Yes, Okay, it looks likeit gets done in a half hour.
Well everybody knows that's not true.But until you've gone through the process,
I think sometimes it is reasonable tothink that it should go a lot
quicker. And I think also Ithink what you highlight there is is being
able to convey kind of the understandingof the timeline of how does this stuff,
that there's a process there that it'snot just like you know, I
(30:00):
would be as a homeowner if ifI I would call you, but if
I were to call somebody else forsome weird reason something happening, and they're
like, yeah, we'll start tomorrow, I'd be really for a number hold
on here, really yeah, exactly, really really nervous about that approach.
Talking this morning with Mike two Eg, owner of Edge Construction online Edge Construction
Company dot com. Ah one wordedge construction company dot com tel forh number
(30:22):
six so eight six three six threethree four three that number six three six
Edge. We've touched on the worddesign a bit, but we haven't really
asked about that. The question tobe asking, which is who does the
design? And I know at EdgeConstruction you have amazing designers and you guys
are working together day in and dayout. That's a good important question to
be asking for a project, isn'tit? Very much? So? So
(30:47):
I'll go back to when Mike wasby himself, he was drying things on
graph paper. And then I kindof and this is pretty common for people
that start out in these in thisbusiness, I kind of borrowed designers from
our like our flooring company, anduh I would just send homeowners over there
and say, you know this,this is we had cabinets back the whole
(31:11):
time, but send them with acabinet door and you'd get to pick out
your flooring and things there, andthey're gonna give you a little advice on
on on paint colors and things,but you're gonna have to probably do more
more yourself than than you might like. Now. The process is you're working
with a designer that designer is kindof filtering options out. You know,
(31:32):
we know there's these millions of optionsnow and it can be overwhelming for most
people. You know, you lookat this literally ten thousand samples in some
of these showrooms, and designers cankind of wade through that. We clear
the trees out of the way soyou can see the forests there by the
things you say in the in thepictures you like, and some of the
(31:53):
things you're gonna you're gonna indicate throughthis design process. And a really good
designer is and they'll also help tokeep you on budget. So it's very
valuable to have this great designer.Is there something too about as we talk
about design, asking about do youallow and I know we've touched on things
in the past about say you hadyour your honeymoon was at uh, you
(32:14):
know, you're in Europe somewhere andyou picked up like a neat tile or
two, asking are you able tocustomize some of these things or are And
I know there's summer modelers that areprobably like, no, we these are
our products, these are what wecarry, this is what we do.
That's it is. It's probably animportant question, especially if you do want
to maybe incorporate a piece of furniture. You want those type of things.
(32:35):
Oh yeah, yeah, what thatactually is really a fun thing for us.
It's gotten me a fun thing forus because you don't like any job,
you can you stay in your lanea lot, right, And uh
so when you and and I feellike people in this trade are have a
little artsy bent, you know,so like they don't want they're here because
they don't want to work in afactory. They don't want to They want
(32:58):
to use some of the they wantto use their skill set, but they
also want to use their brain alittle bit and problem solve. And it's
pretty fun when I know, it'sfun for the designers to have something different
on the table because now you've gotto coordinate with this cool specialty product whatever
it is you mentioned tile from Europeor whatever. I mean, we've actually
done that scenario. Somebody brought backtile from Italy and other places. I
(33:22):
just can't remember them all. Butthat's actually that's actually pretty fun all the
way through, very very cool stuff. Talk this morning. Mike two Wigg,
owner of Edge Construction, the websiteedge Construction Company dot com. All
one word Edgeconstruction Company dot com.Now it's time give them call six o
eight six three six three three fourthree that number six three six Edge will
continue our conversation with Mike two Eggof Edge Construction. We will do that
next here. I'm thirteen ten Wuiba. So the home Remodeling Show with Edge
(33:47):
Construction continues now on news Talk thirteenten WIBA. This is the home Remodeling
Show brought you by Edge Construction online. Edge Construction Company dot com delble number
six away. It's six three sixthree three four three that number six three
six Edge talking about some of thequestions you'd ask a homer modeler before you
(34:07):
meet, and we talked about thewebsite Edgeconstruction Company dot com. By the
way, check out those links Facebook, House, Pinterest especially check out that
house one and and Mike, Iknow howes for example, it's a global
thing. I know you at EdgeConstruction. Your house page gets people looking
at and sharing and what they tagor whatever however that term is with with
(34:27):
hows where they they they take yourprojects to share? You know, people
in Denmark, for example, sayoh I love this kitchen that was done
in Madison, Wisconsin. The area. We are global right now, and
sometimes people wonder about do you workin my area? And it was something
that I didn't really think about,and you said, oh, no,
that's a that's a serious question,isn't it. It is? So I
have friends that are contractors over inMilwaukee and they work from if you know
(34:52):
your geography, are there. Butthey were from West Bend to a Conwalk
to Racine. A lot of driving, but it's very normal for them.
They they're they're used to and theirpeople are used to driving. You know,
if you're in the north side ofMilwaukee going all the way down south
it could be an hour, hourand a half sometimes and they think nothing
of it. My people here ifthey have to go more than fifteen minutes,
(35:15):
No, it's not quite that bad. It's not that bad. But
but Dane County, we are spoiledbecause everything is so close. And for
construction is fantastic because you know,we're ten to fifteen minutes usually we're on
the job and so we don't haveto take work. We we we get
in quiry inquiries from everywhere around Milwaukee. From La Geneva. The farthest job
(35:42):
we did was actually an asside.It wasn't I fought it tooth and nail,
but we finally gave in. Itwas a homeowner up there that saw
our designs and they're very nice houseup there, and they they just couldn't
find somebody to work with up there, and they at first talked to us
(36:02):
into just designing for them, whichwe did, and then about a year
later they came back and said,we just can't find anybody to do that.
I don't I know there's good peopleup there that they just cann't find
somebody basically that goes and so theytalked us into it. We said,
well, okay, if we're gonnado this, we have to pick the
(36:22):
when it's gonna happen. It's gotto be in a you know, downtime.
I think we did it right afterChristmas a few years ago. You
know, you got to be youcan't be demanding. You got to work
with us. We actually have oneit's almost the same situation that we're gonna
do it by ash Gosh. Theseare really kind of one offs. Uh,
but same exact situation. And uh, it's it's not really efficient for
(36:45):
us to do it, and andhomeowner has to has extra charges to deal
with. So if you're if youcan find somebody that is right in your
area to do this work, you'remuch better off. And not to mention,
okay you're if it's not so muchokay, proving that somebody is good
at what they do. Uh,there should be lots of evidence if somebody
(37:06):
is really bad at what they do. So if you're if you're pulling somebody
from far away, you're gonna haveless access to what the neighbors are saying.
I guess interesting, it's funny tobe talking about how spoiled we are.
Is you know for us driving acrosseast side to west side, it's
like, oh my god, sofar. Yeah, to the point that
if like a lot of places willhave a east location in a west location
making it more convenient, and itis it is well speaking up by the
(37:29):
way, kind of area is?Is that a question? And not not
necessarily about area, but I know, for example, in Madison, I
think of the isthmus, I thinkof the downtown area. Are you is
it like the type of home doyou specialized? Have you done this type
of home before? Is? Iknow there's some you know, there's really
good reason they talk about houses onand near the downtown and on the Isthmus
(37:52):
and near the Isthmus is those arethose are just great prime locations. Some
of them have been neglected. Thosehouses are very unique. Is it important
to ask say, hey, haveyou do you have a history or an
understanding of these types of houses inthese in this area. Yes, it's
it's very important because there are uniqueissues with those houses. And by the
(38:15):
way, if you're trying to parka big van down there, have lots
of fun, it's not exactly agreat time. I know contractors friends of
mine that that won't work down therebecause it's just it's stressful, the parking,
the carrying your tools a block andwe have had neighbors call the police
(38:36):
on us because we parked six inchestoo close to a driveway. You know,
you're supposed to be four feet away. There's things like that, and
you know everything's compressed like there's there'sthere's not a place to stage materials,
there's but I think you there.So maybe the question is how do you
feel about working on old houses?Because there are people and you can usually
(38:58):
tell by looking at their face,Uh, do you like working out old
houses? If they you know,grindingly put a yes to that, they
probably don't if they live in abrand new house. I don't know,
maybe not, but uh yeah there. I think that takes a special person
to work on those houses, andyou really have to buy into it and
it and it takes time to getto get good at it. And I
(39:19):
know you guys love actually the exacthouse that has loved these old houses and
some of those some of those challengesand really loving seeing the results. One
final thing, and it may havebeen something you probably should start let off
with, because this is an importantthing. Licensing and insurance. As when
you're talking about working in the city, for example, I start I think,
oh, well, builders permits,and I know each community is different,
but also you mentioned electrical license,electrical contractor insurance and are you fully
(39:45):
insured? Are you covered? Thosethose are really vital questions. They're important
and I would advise homeowners to checkpeople do this for us. It's it's
a it's public information. You're onthe on the city or state's website and
see if you're if a if somebody'slicensing is up to date, generally you
can't get the licensing. You've gotto back it up with a base level
(40:07):
of insurance. Uh, we haveowners that are that are pretty savvy sometimes
that say hey, I want tobe uh named on a certificate insurance that
that is certainly fine. We dothat all the time. It's just a
way to be assured that that thisperson is is doing this right. I
might ask, just a last finalminute, all our all our people that
(40:30):
that we hire and that are onyour job are getting workmen's compaid on them.
And you would think, well,yeah, it doesn't everybody, And
and no, it's pretty actually uncommonin our business. There's a lot of
subcontracting. Uh. Subcontracting is sometimesa way to get a get away without
having workmen's comp workman's comps were expensive, But if somebody hurts themselves on your
(40:52):
job, it goes straight to thatside of things. It doesn't. It's
not like they're the lawyers are lookingaround to see where liability is serily.
So, uh, it's pretty important. It would be important to me if
I was the homwer. Anytime there'sliability questions on your own property too,
you really want to answer to payattention as the homeowner. It starts so
yeah, exactly, great advice,great information. As always, We talked
(41:12):
with Mike two Egg of Edge Construction. Check them out online. Edgeconstruction Company
dot com. That's Edgeconstruction Company dotcom. Dolphin number six O eight six
three six three three four three thatnumber six three six edge and Edge Construction
brings you the Homer Modeling Show righthere on thirteen ten double u IV
Welcome to the home Remodeling Show withEdge Construction on News Talk thirteen ten WYBA.
Have a question, Email it toEdge Construction Radio at gmail dot com.
Now here's your host, Sean Friegeon News Talk thirteen ten WYBA is
the boddeling show brought you by EdgeConstruction Online. Edge Construction Company dot com.
(00:25):
All one word Edge Construction Company dotcom. Great website, telephone number
six oh eight six three six threethree four three that number six three six
Edge enjoined in studio this morning bythe owner of Edge Construction, Mike two
eight Mike, how you been thisweek? Great? Sean, It's good
to see you. Great to talkwith you. We're gonna be talking about
questions. Go packers, oh Man, go pack All right, yes,
(00:45):
I they'll be playing tonight. Socoming up at four o'clock coverage starts.
So were you surprised about that?You? Now? Yeah? How was
headed up to moms? Hi?Mom? Uh biggest packer fan I know?
And uh, well, I beforeI left, I tell my wife
told Christy, I said, I'llprobably be back by like six point thirty
because I'm imagining we're gonna be downby like fifty points by halftime or something,
(01:06):
but yeah, it was Packer fansare not used to these blow them
out of the water games, youknow, and I don't think any of
us. My My thing was couldthey win? Yeah they could have beat
the Cowboys where they gonna win likethey did. Never in a million years
I think that that would happen.Yeah, exactly, maybe allready Mike down
there, I just felt sorry forus or that was so exciting stuff and
(01:30):
so an exciting Uh, yeah,it's an exciting time. And you know,
one of the great things about aboutfootball season is having friends over,
having company over, and if you'vehad a new project completed at your home,
kind of showing that stuff off.And I've got to ask, Mike,
is that part of as we talkabout remodeling and just we're going to
get into some of the questions thatconversation to have before you start remodeling.
(01:51):
But is that sometimes like a sparkto get people thinking about remodeling, is
Hey, we're gonna have company over, Maybe we're gonna have a Super Bowl
party. Some people saying, youknow what, we want to entertain more,
we want to have people over andkind of show the place off.
And does that does that start sometimesthe conversation about remodeling. I think it
really does because when you're when you'rein a house that's designed lately, right
(02:15):
like the past maybe twenty years,thirty years, even even some of the
eighties houses. Okay, they're they'renot as open as we build them now,
but they're they're certainly much a muchdifferent home than you would have seen
any time before that. So,uh, the common space is a common
areas. So the areas that you'regonna you're gonna show your friends and relatives.
(02:37):
I mean, you're not really showingthem. You're you might show me
your master bath, I guess ifyou got really nice, fancy want.
But but they're they're generitely hanging outin those rooms. So like even when
we design now, we're designing,it's not like you're really designing a great
room or or in somebody's even akitchen. We're designing areas for people to
congregate. So I like doing thiswhen we're when we're messing around in cad
(02:58):
going okay, like we you know, you literally go okay, we get
six people standing around in asland,we could you know, like and and
then another group can be over hereand you're you're going, okay, you
can start to picture how all thisis going to work. And if you've
got one of those older houses,you know, obviously that's what we do.
So people do start, I thinkyou get the holidays. Like our
house, we live in a twoand a dri old farmhouse. It's uh
(03:21):
my wife always jokes that was builtbefore houses had character. So it's not
it's nothing fancy, it's but it'sin a great spots out in the country
and but uh, you know,it's really not designed for for all these
people. And our three kids aregone, right, but now there's seven
grandkids, and then when everybody's comeback, you're like, oh my gosh,
you know, we've never had thismany people in our house, and
(03:43):
you start to see the weaknesses ofit. So with that and with that
that opportunity, I think I'm gonnaguess like the big rooms obviously, the
the the powder room, the kitchen, basement remodels are those oftentimes kind of
fueled by by having company over flexspace as well as that really kind of
fuel that. Yeah, definitely thosethose rooms are happening. And I'm just
(04:03):
looking at back at some of ourmodels. I mean, we still do
lots of kitchens where we just dothat kitchen room. But I would say
more than half now it's almost thatwhole first floor or whole kitchen, common
areas, the great room, ifyou had a dining room, or or
a flex space or a den orsomething. It's hitting all of those spaces
(04:26):
more often now. And I'm surethat's what's driving it, is that people
are entertaining, whether their families havegrown, or maybe they are lots of
friends they want to invite us over. We're always open to invites. You
said two is kind of the economyof scale is saying, you know what,
if we're going to do the kitchen, to do the to add the
living room, or add the bathroom, or add the stuff, Really it
helps the bottom line quite a bit, doesn't it. It does. And
(04:50):
you know, we're coming out ofthis era of flipping houses, right,
and so we're going to be cleaningup those sins of flippers. Is that
a word. I guess call themflippers, those naughty flippers, because they
they It's still not uncommon for usto come into a house that somebody is
(05:11):
recently bought or or it's been inmaybe a year or two and they're still
dealing with it. There's four orfive different types of flooring in a in
a on a floor, you know, and it's just okay. They they
did upgrade the flooring, but there'sno nothing flows. There's no central design
here. And uh that I knowbothers people. And flooring does drive a
lot of remodeling because you know,if we're gonna if we're gonna do wood
(05:33):
floor through a whole first floor,well then you you really do get to
decide what kind of trim and doorsyou want because all that stuff's gonna get
some of that's gonna get peeled offto do the floors. And now is
certainly the chance. So if we'reif we're if the main project is the
kitchen, if that's what got youin our door, Uh, some of
those secondary projects I always and thisis one hundred percent troy. Uh you
(05:56):
get those at about a twenty fiveor thirty percent discount. If you can
tag those along because it's all thesame people, I don't have to price
it like we're just coming in todo that floor or just coming in to
do drawl in the kitchen. Wecan also change them to me maybe remove
a wall it's pretty common. Wecan do that there, and it's much
cheaper to do that for us.By the way, I mentioned the kind
(06:18):
of opening up the space, removingwalls and those kind of things. Some
of that too, so you cangot a good site line for the TV
Super Bowl parties and stuff and playoffparties. Does some of that Does that
come into play at all, Sean? I think for you and I that
would come in yes. Like youknow, I think like it's it's more
(06:39):
about your your most important areas.Okay, you've got a great room where
a lot of people are spending time. You've got a kitchen where a lot
of people are spending time. Somuch of the time we're thinking about how
do we get the kitchen to jointhe rest of the house so that whoever
does the cooking, if you dothe cooking, or mom does the cooking,
or I don't know who does thecooking, they shouldn't be alligated to
(07:00):
the prison of the kitchen in thebackground the house, right. You want
them to be part of the conversation. Since the invention of the air fryer,
I've become a bit more of ahouse off cook Mike. I don't
know if you know this, haveyou we have we got gifted an air
frier for Christmas? Oh have youfired it up yet? I made toast
in there. A little tip ifyou go to uh wally World you get
(07:21):
the pizza rolls. You don't haveto buy the name brand. You can
buy like the wally World giant bagof those things. You just dump a
bunch of them in the basket.Set that guy on four hundred for about
seven minutes. Oh my gosh,you talk about a nice quick anyway,
we'll say we'll save food talking itsounds like a complicated piece of me.
(07:42):
It got ours has two buttons timeand temp, and it just goes,
yeah, I really need stuff,let's talk about so of course, got
my two week here from EDGE Constructionwebsite, Edge Construction Company dot com telephone
number six O eight six three sixthree three four three that number six three
six edge something when I when Italk with like financial people, a lot
of times opportunity to kind of interviewor or get to know them as kind
(08:05):
of an important part to make surethat that kind of visions and strategies and
those type of things align. Isthere a similar type thing with with remodeling,
Like are there people that say,and I know, obviously since you
know we're on the show together,I think a lot of people that have
been listening for a while really knowEdge Construction, really know you Mike and
what you guys are all about.But do you get people that are like,
(08:26):
Hey, I just like to kindof talk a little bit about our
projects, our ideas, what welike, would like almost like an interview
for Edge Construction as Yes, andwe're a little bit the same way,
right, I like looking at thisas a marriage kind of. I mean
there's a lot of similarities, right, I mean, Okay, there's a
(08:48):
much shorter duration and we're not gonnahave an ugly breakup. But we've got
a contract at before we start thisthis marriage, so that that comes together.
You've got to go through this designprocess. It's kind of like a
it's like a pre honeymoon. Ithink, like that's the fun part.
You're doing all this design stuff.So there's a lot of togetherness here.
(09:09):
There's a lot of we're gonna comeinto this house and uh that you have
an emotional connection with and we're gonnaprobably tear it apart and it better turn
out good, right, because you'reyou're I think it's fair for homeowners to
have high expectations and if they duringthis process, it works best if we
(09:31):
like each other, if we havehad I'll be honest, we've had a
couple of people that it was aclear personality conflict almost right from the start.
And I was I'll just say Iwas mature enough for once to say,
you know, what are you feelinglike? This is not a good
fit? And and and literally bothall owners are like, oh, so
(09:52):
glad you said something because we werefeeling that way too, and we parted
as friends and walked away. BecauseI think it is important to like each
other. There's just too much,too much chance for conflict. There's too
many problems, and for homeowners.A lot of times homeowners are they want
you to like their project and theirhouse and their idea. And there's a
lot of homeowners that float this outhere a little bit insecurely, just saying
(10:16):
what do you think is this evenpossible? Is this something you can get
behind? You talk about too,budgets and other things. I mean those
are very like we don't as Americans, we don't like talking about money.
And you've really got to make surethat that that's an open line of dialogue.
And it's interesting when you talk aboutnot only folks interviewing you, but
(10:37):
you're also probing them to see isthis going to be a good fit to
making sure that starts, but againhaving that comfort level to then start talking
money. That's a big important step, isn't it? It is? And
I think you do go through thison the first meeting. Some of that.
Okay, you're doing all the nutsand ball stuff, you're measuring and
taking pictures and your your brainstorming,but you're also building a relationship together and
(11:03):
I think that's really important. It'snot like, Okay, my wife want
needs a car, and it's likethe most frustrating experience, right Like when
you're trying to buy a car.I can't. I hate that job,
but she tasked me with it,so I'm trying to do the best I
can. And there is an allureto like a Carvana, right Yeah,
where you have you strip out humancontact, you just buy this asset and
(11:26):
it shows up at your door.I guess I don't know I've done it.
I'm probably not going to do it, but I don't know if I
can do that. I'm got togo look at it. But remodeling is
not that way because there's there's justtoo many options, too many directions this
can go. You mentioned the taggerlongprojects before you know. I think for
a homeowner, you want to knowall those options and to that it takes
(11:48):
an investment in time on both people'spart to make that happen. Talking this
morning with Mike two we eg ownerof Edge Construction Online, Edge Construction Company
dot com. That's Edge Construction Companydot com. Great website and resources to
learn more about Mike and the team. Also check out their links Facebook,
Pinterest hows. That's a biggie checkthat out. Edgeconstruction Company dot com delf
number six o eight six three sixthree three four three that number six three
(12:11):
six Edge. We'll continue our conversationwith Mike two Eggo of Edge Construction.
We will do that next as theHomer Modeling Show continues right here at thirteen
ten WIBI. The Home Remodeling Showwith Edge Construction continues now on News Talk
thirteen ten WIBA. This is theHomer Modeling Show, brought to you by
Edge Construction Online. Edge Construction Companydot com. All one word Edge Construction
(12:33):
Company dot com. Check on someof the questions to ask your remodeler before
you meet or kind of on thoseinitial meetings, how to get to know
each other. Some of the questionsimportant questions to be asking. We're talking
with Mike this week. Don't forgetabout the website Edgeconstruction Company dot com.
That's all one word, Edge ConstructionCompany dot com. DELVH number six O
eight six three six three three fourthree. That number so easy to remember,
(12:54):
it's six three six. Edge talkedabout kind of those just a very
initial almost like an interview process,very much like an interview process between both
the homeowner and the homer modeler andhaving that conversation make sure it's a good
fit. The other thing, too, is speaking of things that are a
good fit is doing that type ofwork regularly. And one of the things
I love about about Edge Construction Companydot Com and that house link is seeing
(13:20):
the portfolio you guys have at EdgeConstruction and seeing the type of work that
you do bathroom's, kitchens, additions, basement remodels, those type of things.
That's a real benefit, right,you know, everybody's got a first
day on the job. It's nicethough, when you can go and look
at a portfolio and say they've donethis type before many times before, and
(13:41):
then you look at the results,you go, this is really going to
set us up for success, isn'tit. It is? And on the
other side of that is lots oftimes people try to talk us into doing
things that we don't normally do andto the point of even getting mad at
me is because we'll listen, it'snot really our wheelhouse. We do some
of that when we're doing other projects, but we just don't do this thing
(14:03):
as a rule. You know,there's great companies out there. We points
you in the right direction if wecan, but that that is a tough
thing too. So I, okay, I'm gonna put myself on the other
side, right Or if it wasmyself and I didn't have this background,
or my kids were looking to getsome work done, maybe they lived in
(14:24):
a different city, I would absolutelysay find somebody that specializes. Okay,
find and find a You're not goingto call electrician to do a job of
plumber dose like, that's just asridiculous. They speak different languages, it's
totally different training. But yeah,if you if you look on our if
if a model or has a trackrecord like ours is I don't know what
we have maybe one hundred and fiftyprojects on How's I'm assuming we're in the
(14:48):
hundred range. On our website,you can get a really good feel for
the kinds of things we do.And then if you listen to the show,
you can get a feel for someof the things that we don't do,
or or maybe we do once ina while, but we don't we
don't necessarily promote it on the website. Uh, And so that that is
a good thing. I mean,I've had chances to talk to people that
(15:09):
are younger in this business, andyou know, they're asking what way to
go? And I remember when Istarted out, it seemed like Everyd's truck
said they do everything from additions totile work to build a new house to
remodeling, tech commercial. It's like, well, listen, you can't be
good at all that stuff. There'sno way. And so I like it
when when people in this business andour business, you sort of build up
(15:33):
from your strength. Right If yourstrength is doing kitchens and bass, okay,
great, stay there for a whileat least before you branch out.
Is there something too? Is isI look at the team and you know
the folks. At Edge Construction,we talk a lot about the design side.
We talk about the build side.You mentioned electricians and plumbers and those
kind of things. Having these atyour core, you know, you talk
(15:54):
about really what you started doing andthen at you know, some of these
these great folks and great specialties you'vehad it on those areas and having those
you know, those those go topeople. One of the things, I
guess I phrase it better this way. One of the things that's always impressed
me about about working with you andtalking with you each and every week,
is you're not afraid to say that'snot something I know you mentioned. You
(16:17):
don't call a plumber for an electricalissue. Is is for example, going
back to going back to being anelectrician, you have an electrician on staff.
Why because that's not your your specialty. Bringing on an electrician and having
that team on board. These arepeople that that do things and bring things
to the table that you would youwould say, maybe not necessarily your personal
(16:40):
forte right, right, And youknow you don't start off with all these
tools in your bucket, right soyou can be a great Christian. I
mean, I think we're one ofthe only ones probably that has that's an
electrical contractor and maybe does tile inhouse the carpentry side. Some some people
do that, but it's it's prettycommon for builders and remodelers to to sum
(17:03):
things out, to sub all sortsof things out, and we get approached
to do that for other people allthe time. In fact, ten years
ago we would do that for otherpeople. We just didn't have enough of
our own work and and we woulddo it. So those are good questions
to ask. Is uh get afeel for is the person uh just a
pleaser and doesn't want to say no? I mean it's the hardest word to
(17:23):
say really when you're in business,or or do they have a passion for
a certain kind of thing? Isthere is something really in their wheelhouse?
We get asked to replace windows quitea bit. It's just not our our
thing. Even though we probably replacea couple hundred windows in a year that
are in the in the remodeling realm, like we've got other things torn apart.
(17:44):
Then it's pretty easy for us todo it, and and it's worth
it for homeowners to get us todo it, but it's just not our
our Our specialty is somebody's not gonnacall you say we're gonna we need siding
done or we need windows on,that's there. If it's part of the
project, it's it's part of theproject. But it is what about asking
about do you hire subcontractors? Who'syou know, who are these people that
you work with? And and isthat a is that a fair question as
(18:07):
far as an upfront kind of questionof how that's all going to work,
who's going to handle the responsibilities inthe work. I think it's very fair.
Uh So I'll talk about us alittle bit first and why we do
it the way we do it,So we don't do concrete. I have
the tools to do concrete. Ihave all the parts that we need to
do concrete in a in a realpinch, we have done it. We
(18:29):
have porta like an addition foundation,or we have we have done some platwork.
But it's it's it's actually a betterdeal for us to uh and for
homeowners. I mean we're more expensivethan somebody that does concrete all the time.
The reason why we've done it isis is our normal contractor just couldn't
(18:52):
get to us, or or orthey had some some major problems in their
company, or they were just overloaded. We to do all of our roofing
on our models, and it wasa pain because we're not It's not something
we do all the time. ButI'm also very picky on how that job
is done. I feel like Iknow what a good job looks like,
and I and i'm and i'm it'sthe it's the things you can't see right.
(19:15):
Anybody can look up and go allthey nailed on the shingles, okay,
but I want to know how it'sflashed, and I want to know
how it's how we're stopping water fromfrom getting getting into this house. Uh.
And so we found I found,uh, somebody that I'm really comfortable
with and and they're not afraid toask questions or I'm not afraid to take
advice for me to be honest anddo it the way I want it and
(19:37):
want it done. So they're alsofaster and cheaper than than than we could
do it. So occasionally we havea sub like that we don't We don't
do plumbing, but we've we've hadthe same people doing it for years and
we're we have a very predictable job. But everything else pretty much is in
house. We do. We doall the rest of it. What about
asking about kind of who's the pointperson, who's a project manager? I
(19:57):
mean, that's got that's an importthing too. Is we talk about bringing
these different weather you know directly inhouse. You know, your your carpenters,
from edge construction, electricians, thosetype of people. Who's coordinating that
stuff is as as somebody a perspectivehomeowner for a remodel. Is that's what
we asked about two is like,how do we coordinate who's going to be
(20:18):
my who's do you have somebody incharge or who's that is? That?
Is that an important question to beasking about? It is so uh,
if you'd have asked me that questiona dozen years ago, I would have
said, well, I'm your contact, I'm your carpenter, I'm your you
know, like we we we werestill a good sized company. It's just
our remodeling portion wasn't that big andwe didn't have a big team behind us
(20:41):
to get this work done. So, I know homeowners back then we're a
little frustrated. I know we're goingto talk about communication, but if if
the person that is your point personhas a lot of other responsibilities, it's
going to be hard for them toto to probably satisfy that that little communication
thing when you want it as wellas you want it, So that that
(21:04):
is a great question. On ourside. We have in house design and
it's really important. I know peopleprobably design doesn't get the credit that it
that it probably deserves. But ifyou want these great pictures online, it
starts with good design and having itin house is such a great thing.
(21:25):
So we will have a point personthat will it's a designer that will that
will kind of take you through adesign process. There will still be a
resource once you once it gets turnedover to construction, right or once it
gets turned out over to the peopleon the job site that are making things
happen. But yeah, you wantto know what path why you're supposed to
go in a in a perfect role, I say, okay, one,
(21:47):
the contract is signed and we're goingto start. Now. Now you switch
over to a Kyle or a Troyor somebody out in the field because they're
there day to day and the designersaren't anymore. So if you have design
questions, which which they still comeup after that job starts, then you
know you can go back to thedesigner. I'm gonna ask you about communication.
Also want to talk about timeline aswell as we talk with Mike two
(22:07):
Wigg, owner of Edge Construction.Some questions to be asking a Homer modeler
before you before you start that project, before you meet, before you sign
those contracts. What are some ofthose things you should be asking for.
We talked with Mike about that.Just a moment to meet time, you
have a better the website. Whatyou doing? Head on over there now
Edge Construction Company dot com. Allone word Edge Construction Company dot com.
Telp number six O eight six threesix three three four three that number six
(22:27):
three six edge. More of theHomer Modeling Show with Edge Construction is next
right here thirteen ten WIBA. You'relistening to the Homely Modeling Show with Edge
Construction. Email your questions to edgeConstruction Radio at gmail dot com. Once
again, here's Sean Preeble on NewsTalk thirteen ten WIBA. The Solver Modeling
(22:48):
Show brought to you by Edge Constructiononline, Edge Construction Company dot com.
That's all one word Edgeconstruction Company dotcom. And of course teleph number six
O eight six three six three threefour three six three six Edge E d
G E. I mentioned communication andwe live in a world now where we
are, there are so many differentways to communicate, and unfortunately not everybody
(23:11):
takes full advantage of that. Let'stalk about that kind of that question ask
up front is how do we communicate? I know at edge construction, phone
calls work, but I know there'salso a lot of just kind of let's
shoot an email, let's shoot atext. That's been a great benefit,
hasn't it It is it has It'sjust one from from our side is like
(23:33):
when I talk to our people,we're we're living a world. Okay,
Sean, I'll just get a question. Yes, if if you order something
on you know, Amazon, yeah, once or twice, when do you
expect it tomorrow? What happens itdoesn't show up tomorrow? Oh, I'm
a little upset. I'm going whathappened? Does that get you a little
like? Yeah? And so insome ways I think we're a little too
(23:56):
connected, Like from our standpoint,a pit the level of commune. And
I'm not saying the world has tolive like like how be like Mike,
but you the perfect level is Okay, we we get some feedback during the
day, and then especially my peoplein the field, you know, they're
working, they've got a lot ofresponsibility. There's safety issues if they don't
(24:18):
get back to you in a andmaybe they return your text and you know
stuff once a day, right,that's that. I think it's pretty acceptable.
From our side. We have homeownersthat that really don't like that.
They want you know, they're usedto when they shoot a text off,
they get a couple of seconds later, they get a response, and and
they can feel sometimes like Okay,these you're not we're not communicating well no,
(24:41):
no, no no. But Ithink it's it's there's got to be
give and take on this communication thing. There are so many ways, like
you mentioned, to communicate that.It's it's really not hard to get your
point across. So uh, fuelpatient homeowners. Uh, these people in
the field, especially when you're commutingwith them, they're not behind a desk
like like I'll pick on the designers, like a designer in the air conditioning
(25:03):
or the or the heat hopefully rightnow, so they're there. Sometimes it's
a little bit easier for them toget back quickly. Whereas the people in
the field, they love that feedback. They want to answer questions, they
want to deal with things as theycome up. And then if you can
try and get home a little earlyonce in a while, she can talk
to them face to face. Ijust think like out there setting tile or
something in the phones you get fivetext. Yeah, yes, that's exactly.
(25:29):
It's going to take a moment therefor sure. But it's interesting to
you mentioned that the face to facecommunication as well, and having that opportunity
is I know that obviously when you'rewhen you're hiring people at edge construction looking
for skilled people, people willing tolearn. But I know another aspect,
another attribute are people that are thatare good communicators and and are are very
(25:51):
comfortable talking with homeowners. And that'san important and important part of it too,
is saying will I be seeing Wewere talking before the break about kind
of that project maner, that siteleader. Will I be able to see
them? Will I be able totalk to them? And asking that question
will they be on site regularly?Is probably an important question to be asking
as well. It is right whatand and you know, a joke a
little bit about the amount of communication, but maybe that's a worthy topic before
(26:17):
you start and say like okay,what's what's the reason do you do?
You do you want me texting yourpeople on on the weekend when they're off
makes me a little nervous. Ibecause it's not because I I I think
they'll take her on. I justI don't want them working on the weekend.
If you have an emergency, Heyman, let us know. If
(26:37):
something happened and we have to dealwith it, we will deal with it.
But I remember, these people havefamilies, and they're and they're and
they're off time, they're they're fiveo'clock on Friday, they're they're gone about
it, just like you exactly.Talking like two owner at edge Construction online
edge Construction Company dot com. That'sEdge Construction Company dot com. Talking about
some of the questions to ask ahomer modeler before or you meet, and
(27:00):
a big question an important thing toois what is your timeline? And be
honest about And one of the thingsI know about doing the show with you,
Mike is on your side, you'revery honest. Is to the point
sometimes people say, you know,is that gonna? It's that long?
And then when we start to layout what's it, what is it gonna?
You know the process, people like, oh, I see why.
(27:22):
There are some people that'll be like, oh, we'll get to it right
away and we'll get you know,we'll get everything done. It's like that,
there's things that to have a successfulcompletion. Really understanding that timeline and
explaining that timeline. It's probably animportant part too, isn't it. It
is? And we I get askedthat in every first meeting, and it's
a fair question. Okay, well, how what's the process? Like how
(27:44):
long is this going to take?And I said, well, you know,
I want to say, well,that's not really the right question.
Okay, what what is the process? That's a great question because now we
can talk about design and if yourkitchen on an average is going to take
three months to complete, it's probablygonna spend two three moin design. Right,
design goes right up to contract becausewe're not gonna rush you there.
(28:04):
We're gonna we're gonna let this thingunfold and then we're gonna order materials that
contract and we're gonna when that comesin, we'll give you a start date
and then we'll start your job.When you when you talk about things like
that with a homeowner, you gothey do understand because you you say,
well, you don't want to startingyour job without we won't start it without
the cabinets in our hands, becauseyou know, it's one less thing we
(28:27):
we don't. You know, Idon't want to. I don't want to
operate a schedule on promises from asupplier that they're gonna show up on Thursday.
You know, it's just the supplychain has has gotten better, but
it's it's it is, but it'sstill far from perfect. And so I
have been able to tighten up sometimelines this year, and I'm gonna keep
doing that because we're we're we seemto be doing better than our schedule now,
(28:52):
uh, pretty consistently. So Ican start taking out some days here
and there on our on our normalschedules. And I know none of that
probably matters. It's not as noticeableto a homeowner, but it just us.
I mean, there's a lot ofincentive, by the way, for
your modeler to get your job donefast. They don't want your job to
stretch out. We talked about thatuncomfortable subject, the money subject. Well,
(29:14):
if you don't finish jobs, youdon't get paid. So there's you
know, you as a remodeler,as a company, you've got to pay
your people. You've got to payyour suppliers. So when they run well
and get done in a reasonable amountof time, that's really good for a
business like ours. So I thinkall of this stuff is great to talk
about with the homeowner because you know, you're not thinking about it, You're
thinking about TV has kind of giveus this version of her modeling. Right,
(29:37):
Yes, Okay, it looks likeit gets done in a half hour.
Well everybody knows that's not true.But until you've gone through the process,
I think sometimes it is reasonable tothink that it should go a lot
quicker. And I think also Ithink what you highlight there is is being
able to convey kind of the understandingof the timeline of how does this stuff,
that there's a process there that it'snot just like you know, I
(30:00):
would be as a homeowner if ifI I would call you, but if
I were to call somebody else forsome weird reason something happening, and they're
like, yeah, we'll start tomorrow, I'd be really for a number hold
on here, really yeah, exactly, really really nervous about that approach.
Talking this morning with Mike two Eg, owner of Edge Construction online Edge Construction
Company dot com. Ah one wordedge construction company dot com tel forh number
(30:22):
six so eight six three six threethree four three that number six three six
Edge. We've touched on the worddesign a bit, but we haven't really
asked about that. The question tobe asking, which is who does the
design? And I know at EdgeConstruction you have amazing designers and you guys
are working together day in and dayout. That's a good important question to
be asking for a project, isn'tit? Very much? So? So
(30:47):
I'll go back to when Mike wasby himself, he was drying things on
graph paper. And then I kindof and this is pretty common for people
that start out in these in thisbusiness, I kind of borrowed designers from
our like our flooring company, anduh I would just send homeowners over there
and say, you know this,this is we had cabinets back the whole
(31:11):
time, but send them with acabinet door and you'd get to pick out
your flooring and things there, andthey're gonna give you a little advice on
on on paint colors and things,but you're gonna have to probably do more
more yourself than than you might like. Now. The process is you're working
with a designer that designer is kindof filtering options out. You know,
(31:32):
we know there's these millions of optionsnow and it can be overwhelming for most
people. You know, you lookat this literally ten thousand samples in some
of these showrooms, and designers cankind of wade through that. We clear
the trees out of the way soyou can see the forests there by the
things you say in the in thepictures you like, and some of the
(31:53):
things you're gonna you're gonna indicate throughthis design process. And a really good
designer is and they'll also help tokeep you on budget. So it's very
valuable to have this great designer.Is there something too about as we talk
about design, asking about do youallow and I know we've touched on things
in the past about say you hadyour your honeymoon was at uh, you
(32:14):
know, you're in Europe somewhere andyou picked up like a neat tile or
two, asking are you able tocustomize some of these things or are And
I know there's summer modelers that areprobably like, no, we these are
our products, these are what wecarry, this is what we do.
That's it is. It's probably animportant question, especially if you do want
to maybe incorporate a piece of furniture. You want those type of things.
(32:35):
Oh yeah, yeah, what thatactually is really a fun thing for us.
It's gotten me a fun thing forus because you don't like any job,
you can you stay in your lanea lot, right, And uh
so when you and and I feellike people in this trade are have a
little artsy bent, you know,so like they don't want they're here because
they don't want to work in afactory. They don't want to They want
(32:58):
to use some of the they wantto use their skill set, but they
also want to use their brain alittle bit and problem solve. And it's
pretty fun when I know, it'sfun for the designers to have something different
on the table because now you've gotto coordinate with this cool specialty product whatever
it is you mentioned tile from Europeor whatever. I mean, we've actually
done that scenario. Somebody brought backtile from Italy and other places. I
(33:22):
just can't remember them all. Butthat's actually that's actually pretty fun all the
way through, very very cool stuff. Talk this morning. Mike two Wigg,
owner of Edge Construction, the websiteedge Construction Company dot com. All
one word Edgeconstruction Company dot com.Now it's time give them call six o
eight six three six three three fourthree that number six three six Edge will
continue our conversation with Mike two Eggof Edge Construction. We will do that
next here. I'm thirteen ten Wuiba. So the home Remodeling Show with Edge
(33:47):
Construction continues now on news Talk thirteenten WIBA. This is the home Remodeling
Show brought you by Edge Construction online. Edge Construction Company dot com delble number
six away. It's six three sixthree three four three that number six three
six Edge talking about some of thequestions you'd ask a homer modeler before you
(34:07):
meet, and we talked about thewebsite Edgeconstruction Company dot com. By the
way, check out those links Facebook, House, Pinterest especially check out that
house one and and Mike, Iknow howes for example, it's a global
thing. I know you at EdgeConstruction. Your house page gets people looking
at and sharing and what they tagor whatever however that term is with with
(34:27):
hows where they they they take yourprojects to share? You know, people
in Denmark, for example, sayoh I love this kitchen that was done
in Madison, Wisconsin. The area. We are global right now, and
sometimes people wonder about do you workin my area? And it was something
that I didn't really think about,and you said, oh, no,
that's a that's a serious question,isn't it. It is? So I
have friends that are contractors over inMilwaukee and they work from if you know
(34:52):
your geography, are there. Butthey were from West Bend to a Conwalk
to Racine. A lot of driving, but it's very normal for them.
They they're they're used to and theirpeople are used to driving. You know,
if you're in the north side ofMilwaukee going all the way down south
it could be an hour, hourand a half sometimes and they think nothing
of it. My people here ifthey have to go more than fifteen minutes,
(35:15):
No, it's not quite that bad. It's not that bad. But
but Dane County, we are spoiledbecause everything is so close. And for
construction is fantastic because you know,we're ten to fifteen minutes usually we're on
the job and so we don't haveto take work. We we we get
in quiry inquiries from everywhere around Milwaukee. From La Geneva. The farthest job
(35:42):
we did was actually an asside.It wasn't I fought it tooth and nail,
but we finally gave in. Itwas a homeowner up there that saw
our designs and they're very nice houseup there, and they they just couldn't
find somebody to work with up there, and they at first talked to us
(36:02):
into just designing for them, whichwe did, and then about a year
later they came back and said,we just can't find anybody to do that.
I don't I know there's good peopleup there that they just cann't find
somebody basically that goes and so theytalked us into it. We said,
well, okay, if we're gonnado this, we have to pick the
(36:22):
when it's gonna happen. It's gotto be in a you know, downtime.
I think we did it right afterChristmas a few years ago. You
know, you got to be youcan't be demanding. You got to work
with us. We actually have oneit's almost the same situation that we're gonna
do it by ash Gosh. Theseare really kind of one offs. Uh,
but same exact situation. And uh, it's it's not really efficient for
(36:45):
us to do it, and andhomeowner has to has extra charges to deal
with. So if you're if youcan find somebody that is right in your
area to do this work, you'remuch better off. And not to mention,
okay you're if it's not so muchokay, proving that somebody is good
at what they do. Uh,there should be lots of evidence if somebody
(37:06):
is really bad at what they do. So if you're if you're pulling somebody
from far away, you're gonna haveless access to what the neighbors are saying.
I guess interesting, it's funny tobe talking about how spoiled we are.
Is you know for us driving acrosseast side to west side, it's
like, oh my god, sofar. Yeah, to the point that
if like a lot of places willhave a east location in a west location
making it more convenient, and itis it is well speaking up by the
(37:29):
way, kind of area is?Is that a question? And not not
necessarily about area, but I know, for example, in Madison, I
think of the isthmus, I thinkof the downtown area. Are you is
it like the type of home doyou specialized? Have you done this type
of home before? Is? Iknow there's some you know, there's really
good reason they talk about houses onand near the downtown and on the Isthmus
(37:52):
and near the Isthmus is those arethose are just great prime locations. Some
of them have been neglected. Thosehouses are very unique. Is it important
to ask say, hey, haveyou do you have a history or an
understanding of these types of houses inthese in this area. Yes, it's
it's very important because there are uniqueissues with those houses. And by the
(38:15):
way, if you're trying to parka big van down there, have lots
of fun, it's not exactly agreat time. I know contractors friends of
mine that that won't work down therebecause it's just it's stressful, the parking,
the carrying your tools a block andwe have had neighbors call the police
(38:36):
on us because we parked six inchestoo close to a driveway. You know,
you're supposed to be four feet away. There's things like that, and
you know everything's compressed like there's there'sthere's not a place to stage materials,
there's but I think you there.So maybe the question is how do you
feel about working on old houses?Because there are people and you can usually
(38:58):
tell by looking at their face,Uh, do you like working out old
houses? If they you know,grindingly put a yes to that, they
probably don't if they live in abrand new house. I don't know,
maybe not, but uh yeah there. I think that takes a special person
to work on those houses, andyou really have to buy into it and
it and it takes time to getto get good at it. And I
(39:19):
know you guys love actually the exacthouse that has loved these old houses and
some of those some of those challengesand really loving seeing the results. One
final thing, and it may havebeen something you probably should start let off
with, because this is an importantthing. Licensing and insurance. As when
you're talking about working in the city, for example, I start I think,
oh, well, builders permits,and I know each community is different,
but also you mentioned electrical license,electrical contractor insurance and are you fully
(39:45):
insured? Are you covered? Thosethose are really vital questions. They're important
and I would advise homeowners to checkpeople do this for us. It's it's
a it's public information. You're onthe on the city or state's website and
see if you're if a if somebody'slicensing is up to date, generally you
can't get the licensing. You've gotto back it up with a base level
(40:07):
of insurance. Uh, we haveowners that are that are pretty savvy sometimes
that say hey, I want tobe uh named on a certificate insurance that
that is certainly fine. We dothat all the time. It's just a
way to be assured that that thisperson is is doing this right. I
might ask, just a last finalminute, all our all our people that
(40:30):
that we hire and that are onyour job are getting workmen's compaid on them.
And you would think, well,yeah, it doesn't everybody, And
and no, it's pretty actually uncommonin our business. There's a lot of
subcontracting. Uh. Subcontracting is sometimesa way to get a get away without
having workmen's comp workman's comps were expensive, But if somebody hurts themselves on your
(40:52):
job, it goes straight to thatside of things. It doesn't. It's
not like they're the lawyers are lookingaround to see where liability is serily.
So, uh, it's pretty important. It would be important to me if
I was the homwer. Anytime there'sliability questions on your own property too,
you really want to answer to payattention as the homeowner. It starts so
yeah, exactly, great advice,great information. As always, We talked
(41:12):
with Mike two Egg of Edge Construction. Check them out online. Edgeconstruction Company
dot com. That's Edgeconstruction Company dotcom. Dolphin number six O eight six
three six three three four three thatnumber six three six edge and Edge Construction
brings you the Homer Modeling Show righthere on thirteen ten double u IV
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