Jun 03 2009
It pays to step back and review
One of the best ways a business can improve is to take a step back and look at how it’s grown over the years – look at what’s worked, what hasn’t worked and what’s on the horizon.
Herlong & Associates Project Manager Rodd Heinlen says while the firm doesn’t always have all the answers, it is willing to learn and improve.
One of the ways Herlong is changing is by making homes more energy-efficient, a practice that wasn’t done a few years back, Heinlen says. Now, more thought and planning go into sealing the entire envelope of the house, including using spray foam insulation and better planning for the duct work.
“We’re thinking more upfront about the home and the many systems that go into it,” he says.
The firm also works to understand which trends make sense – or don’t make sense – for a client. For example, four to five years ago, homes were outfitted with all sorts of bells and whistles for home theater systems, surround sound speakers, music, lighting and Internet access. People could “turn their homes on” from a distant location or control the music in the living room from a switch in the kitchen.
But most people have found those gadgets and gizmos too complicated, particularly for those of a certain retirement age who aren’t used to a lot of technology and just want a simple lifestyle and home to go with it, Heinlen says.
This is where Herlong can step in and recognize what makes the most sense for the client, based on feedback from other clients or changes in the marketplace.
“We’re talking some clients out of doing some of the high-tech,” Heinlen says. “The people who have had it know exactly what they want. And if they haven’t had it, they probably don’t need it.”
