Joe's Blog
Joe has been blogging about the remodeling process and experience since 2011.Levco Does Green Remodeling
Green Remodeling means that we inject sensible practices and materials into our remodeling process. To accomplish this, we picked the 4 pillars of Green that suit our style of remodeling. These are: ENERGY EFFICIENCY INDOOR AIR QUALITY RESOURCE CONSERVATION WATER...
Remind Me Again Why You Enjoy Remodeling
At a recent client visit, I was sharing a glass of wine and rehashing the project when I was asked a direct question that had my clients wondering: why I do like to remodel? The implication was that it is extremely difficult and challenging. They figured that there...
Should I Fire My Contractor?
Late one Saturday afternoon I received a call from a homeowner that had just fired his contractor. My first thought was : Danger-Danger!!! yellow flags Warning- Warning!!! He wanted to hire me to finish things up. It turns out he had fired his carpenter which is...
Kitchen & Bath Project
The Challenge: This is a home on a hillside in Boise's North End that had a bathroom between the tight kitchen and the view. It also had a raised platform for a dining area that was a tripping hazard. We needed to relocate the bathroom and open up the kitchen. The...
There’s a Fly in the Ointment
As I get more completed projects under my belt, there are still powerful lessons to be learned. Some are expensive, some are painful. As I say in my Selecting a Remodeler Booklet, it is wise to select a seasoned remodeler. The problem is, "if you always do what you...
Post Tensioning & Residential Remodeling
Where is the joy and excitement in remodeling the same thing over and over? Bathrooms and kitchens are fun, don't get me wrong, but the super creative juices only get flowing when big problems need solving. Give me a second story addition, a basement excavation on a...
A Tale of Two Purchases
I just had two customer experience adventures and, being a very observant person, I thought I should quantify them. Although both were OK, one was considerably better. The stakes are higher than you might imagine once something goes wrong. At Levco, we get it! Every...
Rip It Out & Start Over
If you only knew what could go "Rong" (I think wrong should be spelled r o n g, don't you?) in a remodeling project. Anyone who says this sort of thing doesn't happen on their projects is either lying, hasn't been remodeling long enough, or has been fired by a client...
How Do You Pass Your Enthusiasm on to Your Staff?
During a recent visit with a potential client they were clearly interviewing me when they asked this excellent question. They appreciated my attitude and eagerness to get the work. "How do you pass your enthusiasm on to your staff?" Wow, I had to stop and think....
Leave Rake Marks
My brother, Maurice just told me a story of a park ranger that had retired but before he did he mentored his replacement. All in all the new ranger was doing the same thing the previous one did but there was something missing. The park goers were not as happy, and...
