California Dream Builders

Changing The Homeowner’s Perception
of General Contractors
August 2007

In July, Broward County, Fla. police issued a press release announcing they were cracking down on unlicensed, unprofessional contracts. This came after hundreds of homeowners complained about substandard work and contractors who took their money but failed to do the work.

The stories of homeowners who feel they have been scammed are featured on the nightly news often. The problem is not limited to Florida or even the East Coast. Last year, ABC News reported remodeling scams from California to Connecticut with many unscrupulous contractors taking advantage of those trying to rebuild their homes after Hurricane Katrina.

“Unfortunately, not all general contractors are as honest as they first appear to be,” said Shawn Bowman, owner of California Dream Builders, a Silicon Valley company specializing in custom home remodels. “And many people let the bad apples spoil their perception of the whole bunch.”

Since beginning California Dream Builders in 1999, Bowman has aspired to change the negative image of the general contractor. Bowman is the only contractor that offers the unique Sure Bid Proposal which almost guarantees the project will be done on time and for the price quoted. In fact, 90 percent of projects done by California Dream Builders are completed at the price quoted the homeowner at the beginning.

The principals are just common sense, Bowman said, listing four key elements of the proposal.

• It all starts with planning. “My team and I take the time to understand the client’s needs, wants and concerns in the beginning,” Bowman said. “All of those needs and wants are put on paper and are used as a guide during the construction process.”
  
  
•  Watch the budget. “Construction has a lot of variables that can cause costs to escalate if there is no clear understanding of what is needed to do the job,” Bowman said. “The only change in cost is due to unforeseen items such as dry rot, poor framing, wiring, or plumbing that can be hidden at time of estimation. We present these problems to the homeowner in writing.”
  
  
• Meet the deadlines.  “Before a job even starts a construction schedule is created from start to finish,” Bowman said. “The client and sub contractors know when a job is expected to be completed.”
  
  
• We communicate often with our clients.  “We hold weekly meetings with the clients to talk about concerns, decisions and schedules,” Bowman said.

Clients rave about Bowman’s work.

“We felt we always knew the next steps and any questions or concerns were anticipated which was very insightful and helpful,” said Lisa Stein, a California Dream Builders customer.  “The results speak for themselves and we would be proud to show them to anyone who wished to see perfection, quality, and value firsthand.”

Founded by Shawn Bowman in 1998, California Dream Builders is a Silicon Valley construction company specializing in customer home remodels. Bowman can be contacted at 408-588-1541 or at shawnb@californiadreambuilders.com

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Custom Home Remodeling Increasing
in Popularity
July 2007

With home prices increasing and mortgage rates rising, many homeowners are choosing to create their dream home by remodeling their current abode. A good contractor can take an outdated home and make it look totally new.

A custom remodel reflects the homeowner’s style and individual taste, said Shawn Bowman, owner of California Dream Builders, a Silicon Valley construction company.
With home improvement shows now a part of “Must See TV,” many homeowners come to him with ideas he hasn’t seen yet.

“I am constantly amazed at some of the concepts brought to me by homeowners,” Bowman said. “I often have to research these ideas before quoting a price.”

Custom remodeling projects vary from client to client, he said. Bowman and his company recently renovated a 8,800 square foot estate, which included a guest house. This project featured materials from all over the world, including India, Ireland and Italy.

“The project took two years to complete but had amazing results,” Bowman said.

Not all remodels involve massive estates. California Dream builders recently remodeled a 1930s home for a family but only worked with the kitchen, family room and laundry room.

“The neighborhood consists of similar homes that have been modernized on the inside but  maintained the original exterior architecture,” Bowman said. “We modernized the kitchen and added a family room for additional space to entertain. The end result was a functional kitchen with plenty of room to cook and serve. The renovation displayed the client’s individual style and taste.”

Homeowners wanting to remodel their home should be careful when choosing a contractor. Bowman said it is important to work with a licensed contractor. If you are not sure if the contractor is licensed, check the state of California’s website at www.cslb.ca.gov.

If friends recently remodeled their home, ask them who their contractor was.

“A lot of my business comes from referrals from satisfied customers,” Bowman said. “That’s why I go the extra mile for all my clients, no matter how large or small.”

Founded by Shawn Bowman in 1998, California Dream Builders is a Silicon Valley construction company specializing in customer home remodels. Bowman can be contacted at 408-588-1541 or at shawnb@californiadreambuilders.com


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