Study: Finding The Right Contractor

This is from a Press Release on MarketWire.
It is so good, and self-explanatory, I am just posting it verbatim.

Peggy

Finding The Right Contractor – Home Improvement Survey Points To The Best Ways
July 11, 2007

In a recent national study of 1,015 US homeowners, Consumer Specialists found that 66% of them had used a contractor for a home improvement project in the past. Overall levels of satisfaction were high with 76% saying that they were either extremely or very satisfied with the project. On a 7 point scale, the average rating was a 5.9 – almost to the level of very satisfied.

It is the 5% who reported that they were very or extremely dissatisfied that we hear about. The question often raised is how to improve your odds of being one of the highly satisfied customers? According to this survey, how the contractor was located had a marked impact on homeowner’s overall satisfaction with the project.

Those who used a contractor with whom they had previous personal experience were the most satisfied – significantly besting all other methods of finding a contractor. Referrals from family, friends and neighbors placed second in satisfaction followed by getting a recommendation from another contractor.

Having the contractor supplied by a home improvement store, finding them in a telephone directory or via advertising turned out to be significantly less satisfying than the top two locating methods.


“Nothing beats personal knowledge or independent referrals to get the best results for home improvement projects," said Fred Miller, President of Consumer Specialists. "Surprisingly, those that used a home improvement store provided contractor did about the same as those that used advertising as they way they found their contractor.”


This data comes from “In the Beginning” a special research project focused on understanding how homeowners approach that critical starting period in their projects. Included is the identification of three groups of consumers with different focuses to seeking information. They are (followed by the % of homeowners they represent): online (17%), personal network (23%) and contractor (23%) focused. The report on this study is available in a unique combined presentation/report format.

Please contact us for full information on this research report..



For More Information Contact:

Consumer Specialists
8265 Green Holly Cove, Germantown, TN 38138
Tel: 901 757-5865

Email to Fred@ConsumerSpecialists.com

Baingan Kurma

Things Needed

Brinjal - 1/2 Kg
Onion - 100 gm
Tomato - 200gm
Curd - 1/2 cup
Oil - 2 tbpsn
Garam masala - 1/2 tspn
Salt

Grinding -1

Garlic - 50 gm
Ginger - 1 inch piece
Chilli powder - 1 tbsp
Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
cumin seed - 1/2 tsp
khus khus (poppy seeds) - 2 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Grinding -2

Grated coconut- 1/4 cup

Prepration

Cut the brinjal into long pieces. Apply little chilly powder,turmeric and salt. Keep it for 15 minutes.
Heat oil in a pan and shallow fry the brinjals till light brown and remove.
In the remaining oil, fry onion till soft.
Add the grinded masala 1 to it and fry till aroma comes.
Add the chopped tomatoes and salt
When tomoatoes are cooked, add the fried brinjal and add little water.
Cook for 5 mts till the gravy thickens.
Add the grounded coconut paste and beaten curd.
Cook till it boils.
Sprinkle garam masala powder and remove.

Yossawat's Villa

I came across a lovely new blog tonight and just have to acknowledge it, even though the creator Yossawat is mysterious and I can't figure out where he/she is from.

I was drawn there by an image of Villa Näckros : Modern floting home. A stunning home on the water by Swedish architect Staffan Strindberg...My dream as long as someone else maintains it.


The bedroom is on the bottom (split) level, so you are sleeping right at the water level. I am so in love with this concept.

Peggy