Getting the most bang for the buck

By Patricia Nugent

Bob Gallese, owner of Acclaim Renovations & Design, recently read something on a T-shirt that pretty much sums up his business: “Skilled labor isn’t cheap, and cheap labor isn’t skilled.”

“When it comes to estimating costs on jobs, yes, we work to fit into clients’ budgets, but what we don’t do is cut corners on superior quality or craftsmanship,” he says.

When he first sits down with new clients, Bob gets a ballpark idea of their budget. He’s adept at helping them come up with that figure and getting as much bang for the buck in terms of return on investment, taking into consideration things like how long they plan to stay in the house.

After he’s fleshed out the countless details that go into a kitchen or bathroom renovation, he invites the clients back to his showroom. They are presented with a cost projection and a CAD design with many different perspectives shown on a big screen. Together they discuss possible modifications to the design.

“At that point, if they opt to go forward with us, a design retainer or full deposit is required. We walk over to the displays and they begin making selections of cabinets, flooring, countertops, etc.,” he continues. “If they don’t see what they want in our showroom, an appointment is made at one of our suppliers’ showrooms, where an expert guides them through the selection process. Homeowners should not have to know all that we, as renovation professionals, know. That’s why they hire us.”

After that, he provides a detailed proposal which will include the selections that were made. With the deposit in place and selections made, it’s time to order the materials.

Bob says that at every point in the renovation process, keeping things in the clients’ best interest is key.

For example, they do not begin a job until all of the materials have been delivered to their warehouse. And he mentions that unlike many contractors, once a project begins, his tradesmen work everyday without gaps in time.

“We understand the stress of renovating a kitchen or bathroom. With our system in place, our selection of quality materials and our expertise, we hope to make the process as smooth as possible,” he says.

Acclaim Renovations & Design powered by One Man and a Hammer is located at 8550 East Avenue in Mentor. Call 440-974-8082 or visit AcclaimReno.com for more information and to view some amazing before-and-after galleries of room makeovers.