It is tough out there in the marketplace right now and I see many people getting confused about the difference between price and value. Since we are a green contractor we face these challenges quite often. Since we are not the most expensive or the least expensive in price we are able to make our homeowners feel like they are being treated fairly.
So what is this value term that we keep hearing about?
Is it possible to be a higher price and the low cost provider? Yes!
That is where value comes into play. We typically are not going to be the lowest price since we are typically providing more items than other contractors. Can you see the difference in the proposal or contracts? Sometimes, but not all of the time. Here are some key things to look for that may cost a little more but provide a greater value:
Energy Efficiency- this is the low hanging fruit and is easy to sell. By adding a small amount to the budget to make your home or building more efficient you are able to save money on your utilities. If you are financing the project for 15 years or more than you should be cash flow positive immediately. That is VALUE!
Durability- I love the phrase- “You get what you pay for” My wife and I were having a chat this morning about this very subject. She made the comment that most people go for the cheapest price thinking that they are getting a better deal. Well- we did just that a few years ago. We got a dishwasher that was a couple hundred bucks less than the what I should have purchased. We have paid hundreds in repair fees just to get the dishwasher to a mediocre performance. WAS A CHEAPER PRICE, BUT NOT A GOOD VALUE! It cost us more over 5 years than then higher initial price of the better dishwasher.
This does not take into account the mental anxiety that we both have had to go through when we unload the dishwasher and out dishes are not clean. So we have to wash them again- not resource efficient. I finally had enough about a month ago and have ordered a new dishwasher. Last week I got an e-mail letting me know that they just got ENERGY STAR partner of the Year! My clients have used this dishwasher and have been very pleased with the results.
HIGHER PRICE, BUT A BETTER VALUE! It also comes with a good warranty. This is something that we offer to our clients as well that our competition does not. All of our renovation come with a 3 year warranty where our competition stays with a 1 year one. How can we afford to do this? We use better products and install them with good craftsmen. This lowers that amount that we have to fix and pay for! THAT IS A GREAT VALUE!
The brand that I chose to go with for my house was a Bosch dishwasher. Here is the press release that I just received that added even more value to what I just purchased.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jason Avila/Cira Pittman Maria Vargas
The Rogers Group Environmental Protection Agency
(310) 552-4156/552-4194 (202) 343-9178
javila@rogerspr.com vargas.maria@epa.gov
cpittman@rogerspr.com
DOE and EPA Recognize Bosch with 2009 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award for Appliances
Bosch Receives Award for its Continued Commitment to Energy-Efficient Appliances
(Huntington Beach, CA – March 2, 2009) – Renowned for its leadership in developing energy- and water-efficient appliances, Bosch has been named the 2009 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Appliances by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award recognizes Bosch for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturing energy-efficient appliances and helping to educate consumers about those products. Bosch’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 31, 2009.
“The ENERGY STAR awards represent achievements the Department of Energy is proud to recognize as they signify notable progress in working to secure our energy future,” said Richard H. Karney, U.S. Department of Energy ENERGY STAR Program Manager. “In 2009, partners like Bosch receiving these awards demonstrated superb commitment to advancing the adoption of energy efficient products and addressing our environmental challenges.”
American consumers, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $19 billion on their energy bills last year and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 29 million vehicles.
“As a company, we have worked for decades to advance the efficiency of our products in the home and reduce the environmental impact during the manufacturing process,” said Holger Fietz, director of brand marketing for Bosch. “It is particularly gratifying to have our efforts recognized by the DOE and the EPA.”
Bosch is the only U.S. manufacturer to have the ENERGY STAR qualification on all its product models in every major appliance category the program rates. In fact, Bosch offers a combination of eco-friendly product features that distinguish the brand as a high-efficiency champion, including the breakthrough EcoAction™ program on select dishwasher and clothes washer and dryer models. With just a push of the EcoAction button, consumers can enjoy additional energy savings of up to 25% without sacrificing the product’s cleaning results. Moreover, Bosch’s Evolution™ SHE98 and Integra® SHX98 dishwashers are the quietest models in the industry and among the most energy efficient. Both models exceed the minimum federal energy standard by 147%, with a yearly usage of only 190 kWh – approximately the same amount of energy as a dishwasher half their size. Bosch’s high performance refrigeration models combine technology with matchless environmental responsibility.
Bosch’s award-winning microsite, the online Green Resource Center, highlights the brand’s green appliances and informational tools for consumers and builders. Through the Green Resource Center, consumers can learn about Bosch’s ENERGY STAR qualified products and money saving rebates, while builders and designers can access a tool that can be applied to their current projects and guide them through national and/or regional Green Building Certifications. Bosch helps many non-profits, including the U.S. Green Building Council, promote sustainable construction. Bosch products have been included in many of the country’s first LEED homes. Bosch also supports green programs like Earth Pledge, and developers of new concepts in pre-fabricated green housing like LivingHomes®.
The 2009 Partner of the Year Awards are given to manufacturers and retailers that successfully promote and deliver ENERGY STAR qualified products, saving consumers money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
About Bosch
Bosch home appliances is part of BSH Bosch and Siemens Home Appliance Group, the third largest appliance manufacturer in the world. Inspired by the lifestyle of today’s discerning consumers, all Bosch products combine efficiency, quietness, and quality with unrivaled ease of use. Opened in 1997, the company’s appliance park in New Bern, North Carolina is comprised of state-of-the-art factories for washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, ovens and cooktops. Known worldwide for raising standards in efficiency and quietness, Bosch is the only US manufacturer with entire product lines of ENERGY STAR® qualified dishwashers, washers and refrigeration. Bosch appliances regularly receive industry and consumer awards. In fact, Bosch dishwashers have earned the highest ranking in J.D. Power and Associates’ Major Home Appliance Customer Satisfaction Study for three consecutive years. For more information, please visit www.boschappliances.com or call 800.921.9622 to request a catalog. EcoAction™, Bosch ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Evolution™ and Integra® are trademarks of BSH Home Appliances Corporation, all rights reserved.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 12,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937)
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