JK Best Construction Loveland and Cincinnati, OH

So, you want some added living space and are thinking of finishing your basement?  You want your basement to be new enjoyable space.  You want that “basement” feeling gone.  Maybe you will entertain in your new basement, maybe it is for the kids, or it could be that space to go to just get away.  Well, it is pretty easy right?  Hire a contractor and get going already.

HOLD ON A SECOND…PLEASE

Finishing a basement is very similar to building a new house.  Not many contractors can finish a basement from start to finish.  Why, you ask?  There is plumbing, electrical, framing, drywall, and finish carpentry to do and that is just the beginning.  So how do most contractors handle the task of finishing a basement?  In today’s environment many construction company’s have resorted to firing all their employees and have begun utilizing sub-contractors.    So for most homeowners this means that they will have up to and maybe even more than 10 different contractors representing many different companies in their home.  Homeowners are sent on long scavenger hunt like shopping sprees that stress out even the calmest of shopper.  This is not only messy it leaves a lot of liability on the homeowners shoulder, which simply is not fair.

At J.K.Best we employ our team of contractors and they have been hand picked with specializing skills.  If needed some key part-time help is utilized.  There is one company to work with, one company shouldering the responsibility, one company looking out for you; J.K.Best.  If you allow us the opportunity to walk you through the process I promise you will be very happy that you did.  IT’S FREE TO CALL!

J.K.Best 513-239-8400

I know what you are thinking, “No one is perfect”, and you may be correct.  I was raised by a single mother who pounded in my head for me to have clearly defined written down goals, then work like crazy to accomplish them.  We have adopted that thinking at J.K. Best Construction.  We hold each other to high standards and believe, “If you strive for mediocrity then that is where you will be, but if you strive for perfection you will certainly be well above average!”

We are working with a client in Indian Hill on a complex covered porch enclosure design.  There have been others that have given them very economical options but do not provide real aesthetic or structural solutions.  We are all taking our time to ensure that the process leads to an end result that our client will be proud of for many years to come.  We told them, “We have to have you say to us and everyone you know that J.K.Best scored an A+ on this or we have failed.”

That is the goal for every project.  Let me share with you a little secret about construction projects.  Ready?  ”Most construction projects look nice the day they are completed.  The real test is what they look like 5-10 years from completion.”  says Brian Martin of J.K.Best.

“You get what you pay for” may be more true in the construction industry then in any other industry.  When you buy a car or furniture you have very similar makes and models to choose from.  Depending on your expectations of quality and comfort you can spend more, but the basic models do what they are supposed to do for the most part.  In the construction industry things are a bit different.

“Knock, knock,” you hear at the door.  You open it and a man stands there in a uniform, “Hi, I am here from ABC Construction, here to look at your windows.”  he says with a smile.  You can see the nice company labeled truck in your driveway and the guy looks nice enough.  Well, get a good look at this guy because you may never see him again.  Once you buy from this guy the “mystery’ trucks show up with guys that don’t look anything like the guy you signed the contract with.  These guys are what we call “subcontractors’, guys that see you and your home as just another job to do so they can receive another check.  Sometimes these guys are good contractors; sometimes they are not.  In this case ABC Construction was a bit cheaper; no workers compensation, no insurance, little taxes, and ZERO care for you and the experience you will have.

JK Best believes that the ONLY way to control the process and the experience you will have is to have their own employees and even then Dan and Brian stay intimately involved.  When Brian and Dan come knock on your door; don’t worry, you will see them throughout the process with their JK Best trucks.  No Mystery vehicles with strangers running through your home.  Just JK Best guys who care about you and your investment.

We recently installed some Marvin Wood windows for a client here in Loveland.  When a screen didn’t fit just right we called Marvin and told them about the issue we were having with the screen.  ”No problem.” said the girl on the other line, “We will ship a new one out right away!”  She did not need an explanation and she did not need us to try to talk her into sending a new screen out at no charge; she just did the right thing.

At JK Best Construction we have the exact same culture.  We will always do the right thing for our clients and we will do it without having to be talked into it.  Dan and I know that we are not always the cheapest option; we simply cannot be.  Typically the cheap options include all the things that JK Best works so hard to protect our clients from.  We hear stories about disappearing contractors, damages, messy job sites, inflating costs, surprise after surprise.

We strive for perfection and I can honestly say that most of the time we are very close and sometimes we are right there.  When something needs our attention, we call all hands on deck, and we take care of the issue.  No questions, not a lot of dialogue needed; we just handle it.  So, when comparing estimates, please keep in mind that most contractors can perform the work, however, very few can deliver an outstanding experience and the customer service that you deserve.

It is always difficult to know who to trust these days.  My grandfather owned a furniture business and in those days a hand shake meant everything.  Today, unfortunately some homeowners have come across dishonest contractors desperate for a check.  I thought it may be helpful to  list a few things for area homeowners to be on the look out for when interviewing contractors.  Each item listed is a window into the contractors thinking and should help you to see if their focus is on your happiness or selfish ambitions.

1. Are they on time for scheduled meetings?
2. Do they show respect for your home?
3. Do they give multiple pricing options?
4. Do they promise that the contracted price will not change through the process?
5. Does the contractor walk with you through the entire selections process?
6. Does the contractor show “situational awareness”?
7. Is there daily communication on the building process?
8. Are start times communicated and adhered to?
9. Are multiple references given from a variety of types of jobs?
10. Use of employees rather than subcontractors.

Ultimately, the experience is as important as the end result.  Choose a contractor that you can have an enjoyable relationship with; your contractor should respect you and your investment.  At JK Best; we would expect nothing less!