These days, it seems as though honesty is perceived as the last resort, rather than the best policy. Too many companies are so focused on the bottom dollar that they seem to forget the customers that are necessary to provide that dollar.
We’re in the middle of dealing with one of those companies, and it’s the same old scenario, with promises made in advertising, delays in the fulfillment of those promises, and now, unanswered phone calls and emails, as we pursue the “guaranteed results.” Do we ask too much, in requiring what was promised? What happened to the now apparently forgotten overriding business philosophy that held a man to his word?
In the midst of all the business shortcomings around us, it’s refreshing to come across a company like D.R. Hartman Construction, Inc. (DRHCI). This Bethesda-based contractor, on the home page of their website, pledges the following:
- great service and courtesy
- responsiveness to your requests
- diligent and prompt work schedule
- clean and safe work environment
Go figure…. It seems only yesterday that this was the norm, and crummy customer service was the exception, indicative of a business destined to fail.
Not only do they guarantee everything in their power for a satisfying experience with them, D.R. Hartman Construction offers no-obligation quotes–another apparently vanishing aspect of service-based businesses. If you’re considering a kitchen renovation in Potomac or adding a back deck in Arlington, DRHCI would be delighted to talk to you, to see if their work suits your needs. It looks as though they haven’t yet done whole-house new construction, but they do build home additions in Gaithersburg. On their website, they have a link to an on-line photo gallery, with pictures of many of their projects, including some of the steel structures they’ve built.
This is a company that prefers to work with a customer from the planning stage through to the very last fixture’s being installed–the Design Build solution. With this kind of mindset (i.e., in it for the long haul), a contractor is bound to be more customer-focused, since he will be the one to deal with any negative consequences of his actions. There’s a great security in knowing that the same company that frames the room will have to deal with any irregularities when setting the tile in that room; the later-on hassle of dealing with early-on poor workmanship makes every step of the project more noticeably worth doing right.
Not only does the owner/president of D.R. Hartman Construction have a history of a solid work ethic, with plenty of experience in the field, but his sons work with him, and they have since they were young. It’s great to see sons following in their father’s footsteps, especially as they’re working with him. Besides, the expectation would be that a family business is going to be more trustworthy, since the family name is at stake. Judging from the testimonials on their website, DRHCI is no exception.
Granted, nobody is perfect, and mistakes happen, but it’s refreshing to see that there are companies that recognize the value of integrity in business, especially in the construction industry.