Author Archives: dzadmin

07.12.17
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Qualified Project Leads in the Construction Industry

Lead Generating Companies

The other day I was driving in my truck and I hear an advertisement from a well-known company offering a place for listeners to go and check up on contractors.  Not five seconds after this commercial started to play, my phone rings.  On the other end of the line was a sales person offering me the opportunity to get QUALIFIED project leads from folks right here in my work area; all for mere pennies on the dollar!  If that is not proof positive that there is a lot of money at stake in the lead generating business I don’t know what is.

We have all heard the heart-breaking story of the single parent or the elderly that gets beaten out of their hard-earned dollars by the mean old contractor.  I can already hear some of you saying to me, “Marc, we NEED companies like that because contractors are notoriously corrupt”.   If this is your thought process, believe me when I say, you are not alone, but also listen to me when I tell you this is a bunch of hogwash!

Have you ever heard the old saying, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”?  Growing up, I heard that one and many more from my grandfather.  I didn’t understand him at the time because granny made me as many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as I could eat and never charged me a penny for them (well, she would steal a kiss or two).  I learned it’s meaning as I got older.

In the referral game, a 3rd party is putting their greedy little mitts into the cash flow.  To you, the customer, they tell you it will not cost you a penny for their services, but just as my granny always managed to get her kiss on my cheek, these companies have ways of getting paid without you knowing about it….

Lead Generating Companies | Construction Quotes

Let’s say a contractor agrees to use one (or more) of these “lead generating” companies.  Finally, after driving all over 3 counties and talking to anyone that would hold a door open long enough for the contractor to say hello, they get their first “qualified lead”.  This means he beat at least 20 other contractors to the customer and the customer actually wants a job done.  So, in addition to all the gas spent driving around, and time wasted talking to all those other “customers” that really didn’t want any work done; the contractor now gets the opportunity to “bid” on a job that actually exists – with 20 other contractors!  Yea!  Oh, and let’s not forget, the contractor had to pay for that lead (and all the other bad ones).  Do you think he might be inclined to add a little extra onto your bid to help offset some of his prior losses?

This is but one method that these companies employ to get paid for their services.  Keep in mind, they got paid by EACH and EVERY ONE of those contractors that wanted that lead!

And what about that contractor that made it to your door?  How do you know they can even drive a nail into a piece of wood?  I bet you that lead generating company told you they had those contractors checked out, didn’t they?  Folks this is a topic for another day, but the short story is; don’t believe it.

Another “saying” that my grandfather had was, “you have to do your own work”.   Most customers like the lead generating idea because someone else is supposed to be doing their work for them!  Checking out the contractor to make sure they have proper licenses and insurances.  Sending out a quote form for a job and getting the estimates back and maybe they will even offer to come and wash your car on Friday.  Point is, don’t believe everything they say.  You can do each of these things yourself; here’s how.

How do I research a construction company?

License and Insurance Requirements for a Contractor

Licensing:  In the state of Florida, all state certified contractors will be listed on the State’s web site under the department of business and professional regulation.  Simply go to http://www.myflorida.com/directory/ and click on the link to “business and professional regulation” and on the next page click on “verify a license”.  At this point it’s going to ask you for some information about the contractor; Company name, phone number, the city or county they work in or the license type. If you don’t know the answer to one of these search options, call the company and ask them.  Any reputable contractor will have no issues giving you the information.

NOTE:  This same process can be done for contractors that hold “local” licenses, however, the process may not be available online.  You may need to call the local government agency for verification.

Insurance:  This one is the easiest of all.  When you have selected your contractor, ask them to provide you with a copy of their General Liability and Workman’s Compensation insurance policies.  Folks, we must have these insurances to do our job.  I can have copies of these certifications sent to you within a few hours.  And make sure you don’t fall victim to the contractor that tells you they are exempt from having workman’s compensation insurance (once again, another topic for discussion)!  If you have questions, call your insurance agent and ask; If they don’t know, chances are they know someone that does.

Project Quotes:  Now things get a little trickier.  For me to provide you with a project quote I’m going to need a bit of information.  Which means I’m going to be asking you questions about your project.  Which means you need to have spent some time thinking about your project.  And, you should spend some time talking to your spouse about your project; I definitely will.   The more you know about your project the easier it will be for me to assemble the needed information and provide you with a firm fixed price quotation.

What does a contractor need in order to provide you with a firm fixed price quotation?

  • First off, they need to know what you want to do; be specific.
  • Secondly, they need to know when you want the job to be done.
  • Third, they must know who will be making the buying decision.
  • And finally, they need to know what your investment budget is for your project.

I will address each one of these in more detail in later blogs.

When you provide me with definitive answers to these questions, I am happy to provide you with a rough estimate to complete your project.  If you want a firm fixed price quotation, we would move to the design agreement which will get plans drawn up by an engineer or architect.  I use those plans to prepare a detailed takeoff, solicit bids from subcontractors and material suppliers and get answers to any questions I may have with the building department before construction startsl.

As you can see, there are many steps involved to arrive at the firm fixed price for your job.  You have work you need to do and I have many questions that need answers.  You should not push this work off to a lead generating company whose only interest is adding more zeros to their bottom line.

When you take the time, you will find there are many qualified contractors out there waiting for your work.  I hope you will take that time to look for them because I like to see the good guys (and girls) win.

My best to you all,

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07.12.17
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P.U.: WHY DOES MY DOG HAVE BAD GAS?

Ugh! What is that smell? Aw man, it’s the dog again! Her farts are lethal! Does this sound familiar to you? Dogs are animals, so it makes sense they can be stinky. However, excessive flatulence isn’t too pleasing on your nostrils and it may be a sign of something going on in your pup’s digestive system.

 

There are many reasons why your dog can have excessive and extra stinky farts. Some reasons for your dog’s gas may include:

  • A diet with high fat
  • Foods that are too hard for your dog’s body to digest.
  • Your dog is overeating.
  • Your dog eats too fast.
  • Your dog lacks exercise.
  • A change in her diet
  • A gastrointestinal disease or virus
  • A diet filled with beans, soy, milk, wheat, spices, or high-fiber

 

So, what can you do to get this rotten smell out of your home, or at least down to a minimum? Passing gas is natural after all! Before you do anything, bring your dog to the vet to rule out anything serious like irritable bowel disease or a virus. Once you and your find figure out the potential culprit of your pup’s gas, you can begin to change things in her daily life that will hopefully reduce the number of farts your smelling or hearing per day! Some things you can change are:

 

  • Keep the fat in her diet low
  • Purchase dog food that has ingredients that is easier to digest.
  • Schedule exercise time with your dog daily.
  • Make sure your dog isn’t stressed when eating, so she will slow down (less air gulped in the stomach).
  • Serve her smaller portions and monitor her intake.
  • Make sure she doesn’t have an allergy or sensitivity to certain meats or dairy products.
  • Purchase a probiotic to help your dog digest food easier. Ark Naturals sells Gentle Digest capsules and soft chews, which promote the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria by helping to aid digestion by breaking down food into nutrients that can be easily absorbed. To purchase Gentle Digest, click here.

 

It might take some trial and error to determine the cause of the gas, but it’ll be worth it when the stink is gone! Remember, changes in diet or taking probiotics are great if they work, but if your dog doesn’t get better, you’ll have to have another conversation with the vet.

 

If you’re looking for other wellness products for your dog, Ark Naturals also offers products for joints, grooming, dental and more! Click here. Click here to view and purchase all our health and wellness products for dogs.

 

 

07.05.17
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HAS YOUR CAT GOTTEN A LITTLE STIFF?

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No! It’s… just your cat flying across the room.

Cats love to run, jump, leap, spin, and move in almost every way possible. The average house cat can jump five times its own height.  Cats have strong back legs and are extremely flexible, which makes them very agile and active. Unfortunately, there are a few things that can slow these fast felines down, including injuries and old age.

When a cat has an accident, injury, is overweight, or is old, he can experience joint problems. Usually, these joint problems are caused by arthritis that has developed. Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that causes inflammation in the joints. Some signs your cat has arthritis or joint issues include: stiffness, limited movement, trouble getting up or laying down, trouble climbing stairs, trouble jumping, and joint swelling. Cats can also experience joint issues from infections or an autoimmune disorder.

Although dogs are commonly known to develop arthritis, your feline friend is not immune to this disease, either. In cats, joint problems, including arthritis, progress slowly, so it isn’t always easy to catch pain and problems from the beginning. If your cat is slowing down or his behavior in movement changes, don’t ignore it! It’s best to talk to your vet about any change in your cat’s mobility to make sure his joints are doing OK. Unlike humans, cats can’t express to you when they have aches and pains!

So, what can you do to help your cat feel better?  There are a few things you can do!

  • Bring your cat in for regular vet checkups. He or she will be able identify early signs and symptoms of joint issues.
  • Manage your cat’s diet to make sure they stay in a healthy weight range. Excessive weight puts pressure on the joints.
  • Use anti-inflammatory medications for the cat to manage symptoms prescribed by your vet.
  • Opt for surgery if the joints are a serious, advance case of arthritis or other joint disease.
  • Give your pet a joint supplement per your vet’s OK to do so. Ark Naturals sells Joint Rescue Super Strength Chewable joint supplements that offer support for cartilage and joint function. This product contains glucosamine, herbs, and botanicals that provide comfort to your cat with stiffness, and age-related mobility issues. Ark Naturals also sells Sea Mobility Joint Rescue, which are soft chews that contain glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin and seas cumber; these chews help with mobility and flexibility for pets with active lifestyles or age-related joint issues.

Many house cats can easily live into their teens and early 20s, so joint problems aren’t always preventable. Also, accidents happen, and knowing how to treat your cat’s joint issues is important, so they don’t get worse. If you pay attention to your cat’s mobility and bring him in for regular vet checkups, you’ll be able to catch any early symptoms of joint issues.

At Ark Naturals, we take pride in creating products that promote pet health so they can live longer, healthier and happier lives. Click here to view and purchase all our joint products for cats. For other wellness cat products, click here.