I’m currently working for a home elevator company. Where we provide installation, maintenance, and repair services. Doe’s anyone have any suggestions on how we can effectually position ourselves to be considered by Home Builders?
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Replies
You're primarily going to be looking for builders either doing Upper-End homes or builders who cater to the elderly/handicap I would assume.
If I were you I would be out knocking on doors and making phone calls to these builders in your area and trying to get some face time, come prepared with information and rough pricing if you can.
I would also suggest talking to remodeling contractors, if you can locate a list of CAPS certified remodelers in your area I'd target them a little harder, again you're looking for the upper end professional companies and not Jimmy-Joe and his pickup.
In my opinion getting 30 minutes or so of time in front of these guys is going to put you in a better position then a direct mail or similar method.
If it were me I would want to know, how you operate in terms of the services you provide and how easy you make it on me for the install.
We've installed a few elevators into existing homes and the company I've worked with makes it pretty painless.
Thanks for your advice.Chief of all sinners.
Yes! Answer their requests for information
Send me anything you got. We've contacted elevator companies and got zero response.
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Your profile says you are from Texas. Do you have any projects in the Washington DC area? We service Virginia, DC, Maryland, and Delaware.
Chief of all sinners.
Jim,
Try Thyssen Krupp Access. We have used them on 2 projects and their local office in Kansas City has been great to work with. I'm not overly impressed with their base-line elevators that we used in terms of finish quality. They are 5/8 Melamine board for the box construction around a steel frame. On the other hand I have not seen their upper-end elevators with better finishes, both of my earlier clients wanted to keep cost down as possible.
Other then the interior finish the mechanical and construction aspects of the elevators seems good to me. That said I have little experience with elevators.
What has made me happy is the quality of service I've recieved with with questions, support, and the ability to service one of the elevators quickly when there was a problem.
Looks like they have a few offices in Texas, not sure what part you're in though.
http://www.tkaccess.com/directSalesOffices.asp
Thanks CAGIV, I've already sent them a request for information.Do you know how much extra cost these units and their framing add to a house? My wag would be 25k. I'd hope it could be 15k. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Jim,
The cost of the basic elavator we have used is around 12k installed. We provide the shaft, the doors, power to the unit, phone line, etc.
The model we've used is the Windsor. http://www.tkaccess.com/ResidentialElevators/ELwindsor.asp
It's about as bare bones as you can get.
The framing is basic for that model, make a shaft the exact size they dictate, and install a couple Doug Fir 4x4's for the elevator frame to mount to. Not sure on exact cost when incorporated into a new construction home. I would not suspect you spend more 1- 1 1/2 days labor building the chase using 2 fairly skilled guys. The electrical maybe a few hundered plus one additional phone line. The interior of the shaft needs to have sheetrock installed and at least fire-taped. Oh yeah, you also need to provide a light for future service on a seperate circuit so if they turn off the juice to the elevator they can still work.
It's been a while and I'm probably making it sound to simple but you're WAG of 15-25K is likely not to far off. Cheaper if you can incorporate into the existing building plans envelope more expensive if it's outside and you had additional siding, insulation etc..
Neil
Edit to add this was for a two stop unit.
Edited 1/15/2008 11:04 am ET by CAGIV
Oh yea. I forgot about that product. We sell that too. You're right, that is the cheapest unless you're talking about a vertical wheelchair lift which is even cheaper. Unfortunately, the cheaper you go the uglier it gets.Chief of all sinners.
Thank you for your additional reply... We are a dealer for TkAccess. I was looking for some good marketing angles. The compnay I work for is Freedom Elevator. Below is our web address.http://www.freedomelevator.comChief of all sinners.
I took a look at your web-site, looks nice and easy to navigate.
Is there anyway to better describe your process of dealing with builders and how you make it easy on them in your Builder section?
Maybe spell out the steps you take and the process you have for estimate, sale, and isntallation?
I'd also suggest putting in a form to fill out for information requests, the e-mail address is good, but a form that will get their contact information as well as the type of information they are looking for (Stair Lift, Elevator, etc) should make it easier and quicker for you to send information and make the initial contact.
"I took a look at your web-site, looks nice and easy to navigate."Thanks. I can't take credit for it. It was put together by someone who knows allot more about computers than I do."Is there anyway to better describe your process of dealing with builders and how you make it easy on them in your Builder section?
Maybe spell out the steps you take and the process you have for estimate, sale, and isntallation?"It's pretty simple really. We set up an initial visit with the client to discuss what their needs are and how we can accommodate them. We explain who we are and provide them with color brocures, specifications, drawings, and a 'planning guide' to aid them in how to construct the hoist way. We make ourselves available for any questions, provide periodic inspections to make sure it is built to specs. Then follow through with installation of the elevator. Concerning estimates we typically give a price range and formulate actual price when selections are made concerning the type and upgrade options.Is that what you were thinking?"I'd also suggest putting in a form to fill out for information requests, the e-mail address is good, but a form that will get their contact information as well as the type of information they are looking for (Stair Lift, Elevator, etc) should make it easier and quicker for you to send information and make the initial contact."I agree. I'll pass that suggestion along to my boss. Thanks!
Chief of all sinners.
What state are you in?
We have an office in Virginia and in Maryland.Chief of all sinners.
This is off topic, but what is the price range for an installed residential elevators? From bare bones to fancy. I have NO idea, but have occasionally seen a monster of a house that could use one.
jt8
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." --Upton Sinclair
It depends on wheather it is for a homeowner(one unit/client), or a contractor (mult. units/client). Roughly you are looking at 18k-22k for a 3-stop, type-1 (enter/exit same side), base model (chaindrive)
Chief of all sinners.
Correction: It doesn't depend on the "weather" just the other reasons I stated. ;-)
Chief of all sinners.