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Market Pulse { Readers' opinions on industry-related issues } T he difcult part of long-range jobs is dealing with a diferent set of subcontractors who are not up to speed on the details of how I like things done. The other problem is related to clients. Face-to-face time is harder to pull of, and that can cause mistakes in what clients think they are getting versus what subs are doing." Ron Lucas, owner R Lucas Construction and Design Columbus, GA W e select long- distance projects based on work we specialize in and can be efcient in pro- ducing. We want our clients to receive the greatest value possible, and if a particular project cannot produce the efciency required to ofset the driving distance, then the best direction should be a lo- cal contractor. Another key factor is that we have project managers on staf and have long-term relationships with our trade associates, allow- ing for more communication and efciency in the feld and less downtime, leading to projects remaining on sched- ule regardless of distance." Nathan Wachtl, senior design consultant S.J. Janis Company, Inc. Wauwatosa, WI W e have worked on projects from all over the U.S., all made pos- sible because of technology like Skype, email and being able to scan and send plans. The biggest challenge is not being able to sell the ideas in person and talk with the plans in front of both of us. When using email it is easy for the client to reject or give up on an idea when they don't fully understand it." Rosemary Merrill Casa Verde Design Minneapolis, MN O ur goal is to ofer the very best remodel- ing experience in Atlanta, and we can't do that with- out being onsite every day. With that said, many of our clients travel extensively for their work, so they may be absent during both our de- sign phase as well as the build phase. But, because of our processes of 3D design development, fxed price and craftsmanship-driven con- struction, they have peace of mind knowing they will get exactly what was promised them." Peter Michelson, CEO Renewal Design Build Decatur, GA W e have done proj- ects in Florida, Virginia, Nantucket and St. Louis. In most cases, the cli- ent visited us here in New Canaan during the design process. The biggest issues were dealing with builders at the remote locations. We have to get correct measure- ments from the builders, some of whom do not want to commit to measurements they would be held account- able for. We must also make sure the builders know how to install our cabinets based on our design." Ken Pascal True North Cabinets, LLC New Canaan, CT N o, we do not do long-distance projects. We did one in the past and it took a toll on my employ- ees, who spent over a year commuting an hour in each direction. That's a long time by Wisconsin standards and it had a big impact on morale." Abe J. Degnan, president Degnan Design Builders DeForest, WI W e consider long distance to be any- thing 30 and 50 miles away. We are likely to turn down most projects further than that. Project supervision is the biggest challenge when management and supervi- sors can't quickly and easily check in on the project and the day's progress. There is also a greater cost to the cus- tomer due to travel and gas expenses." Rachel Peterson, operations manager Simply Baths, Inc. & Showcase Kitchen Monroe, CT D oing a long distance job has never been easier between the Internet, Face Time, next-day air and multiple apps. Internet sites such as Houzz and Pinterest provide online scrapbooking that gives us an idea of what style they desire. It is also a way to send ideas for them to approve. Door samples and fnishes can be sent ef- fortlessly by UPS or FedEx overnight. The client must have a local contractor to measure and confrm the space. If not, for a separate fee, we will fy out to the home to do a survey." Nancy Foreman, creative director Performance Kitchens Philadelphia, PA C ommunication is vi- tally important when working long distance. We try to include lots of detailed information in our messages. Email is a great tool because it makes it easy to keep re- cords of conversations that can be referenced at a later time to keep things from fall- ing through the cracks." Karl Keul, president Cameo Kitchens, Inc. Falls Church, VA W ith factories based in Europe and Asia, and with the ability to cus- tomize products to meet project requirements, we fnd we are well equipped to sup- port long-distance projects. We really don't fnd any ad- ditional challenges – perhaps with the exception of difer- ent time zones! Projects we have worked on from Dubai to the Philippines have all proceeded smoothly." Michael Gottschalk, founder/CEO Blu Bathworks Vancouver, BC "F or kitchen and bath ren- ovation projects, I stay fairly local. However, I have taken on a few long-distance interior design projects and imagine it might be possible to use some of these strate- gies for kitchen and bath projects. When clients moved across the country, they few me out to help with their new home. Through my industry network, I was able to con- nect with showrooms in their city and preview selections before the trip. With planning and focus, we selected furni- ture and paint colors over the course of three jam-packed days. After my return home, I continued to follow up." Tracey Stephens Tracey Stephens Interior Design, Inc. Montclair, NJ L ong-distance projects come with a variety of challenges. Depending on the location of the project and distance, we will set up temporary residence near the site for our crew so we can ensure the same quality we provide on local projects. Other scenarios have in- cluded outsourcing to local trades, while we maintain project management. This allows us more fexibility in estimating and can help when dealing with local jurisdictions." Jonathan G. Eklund, owner Ecostruct, LLC Brooklyn, NY T he biggest challenge I fnd is during imple- mentation of the project. I like to be 'all hands on deck' when the project goes into the demolition and remodel- ing stage, and I set myself up to be the go-between for the client and the contractor." Allison Jafe Allison Jafe Interior Design Austin, TX Kitchen & Bath Design News recently posed this question to dealers and designers in the kitchen and bath industry: "Do you accept long-distance projects? If so, what challenges are faced when taking on long- distance jobs?" Designers Discuss Long-Distance Projects 6 | Kitchen & Bath Design News May 2014 KBD_6-7_MarketPulse.indd 6 4/16/14 11:38 AM