Bed Bug Removal

Bedbugs are quickly becoming a huge issue within the North American landscape.  Once thought to be eradicated from Canada, these relatively harmless bugs are cropping up everywhere.  Yes...I said harmless!  There does not seem to be any evidence that they carry disease or cause any effects to humans, other than a possible bite mark and an itch. 

It is thought that 1 in 5 homes in the USA has had a bedbug infestation at one point or another and treating to remove these little creatures can be tricky and costly in some cases.  A study reported on msn.ca this week lists bedbug removal as the second out of seven most costly pest infestation - right behind termites.

All DKC members in Canada have a process where we can remove bedbugs from a any size of infestation.  The cost will vary by size and scope of the project, but the results are staggering to say the least. 

R&F Construction Inc is the local DKC member within Simcoe County and has offices in both Barrie and Orillia to help service the restoration industry dealing with mainly floods, fires, mould, asbestos and disasters of all kinds.  We also service the areas of Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Midland, Penetanguishine, Cookstown and Innisfil.  You can call R&F Construction Inc at 1.800.228.7739 any time of the day and a live person will always answer.

The CBC has done a quick video that explains some common facts about bedbugs in a great way.

How does a property insurance claim process work?

     After receiving the assignment or call we will contact you immediately to determine the severity of damages and set up a convenient time to inspect the premises

There are 2 phases to most insurance claims

- an Emergency and a Restoration phase 

Emergency

If required, this phase refers to the immediate efforts required

to effectively mitigate the loss to prevent any further damage

·        We will need a Work Authorization form signed to give us consent to work at your premises

·        We will work with you and your insurance company to determine the extent of Contents that are damaged and then photograph and inventory these items

·        Specialized equipment may be necessary and this may be disruptive to your every day life but it is very important to keep this equipment running.  Our trained staff will monitor as required

·        If an environmental issue such as Mould or Asbestos arises during the process, we will inform you and your insurance company of the details.  We have trained technicians to work in these environments

Restoration

Once the emergency phase is finished it is time to begin the process of restoring the property back to its pre-loss condition

·        We will determine a schedule that works for all parties

·        A general scope of repairs will be produced and agreed upon

·        We will communicate with you and your insurance company throughout the claims process

·        We are available 24 / 7 at 1.800.228-7739



Christmas Giving

Each year we choose worthy organizations to receive Christmas turkeys for those in need.  This year we supplied turkeys to the following:

• Salvation Army
• Lighthouse Ministries
• Orillia Youth Centre
• Christmas Cheer - Barrie
• 5 families directly in need of assistance

It is with great pleasure that I would like to personally thank the ownership of R&F Construction Inc for their kind hearted philanthropy during this holiday season.  If more companies and individuals acted as such, there would be many more cheerful faces in every community.  It is this type of selfless giving that has prompted ME to dig deep and react positively when I can to help those in need.

Theory of 3's

A wise old Bear once said..."Before beginning a Hunt, it is wise to ask someone what you are looking for before you begin looking for it."  Winnie The Pooh

One of the many insights the above sentence bares (pun intended), is that networking is a must.  You need to have someone to ask where you are going before you go looking for it.  Having a network of trusted colleagues and associates is a key value in any marketing plan within the construction service industry.  As we know, we do not have the ability to advertise for impulse buying as our purchase price generally keeps us from that kind of market. 

The ability to continually create relationships within your market will lead to far more long-term profitability than any other media or plan.  That is not to say that building your brand within your market is not part of your planning process...because it of course needs to be, but it needs to be done systematically with an end goal in mind.  And that end goal needs to be a long-term plan to create a trusted brand with deep roots and expertise within your market place.

It has long been known that repetition builds reputation and that repetition sells.  But if selling today is teaching and educating, can we learn something form the teachers about the amount of repetition necessary?

How do we teach?

• Tell the kids what you are going to tell them
• Then tell them
• Then tell them what you told them

Research has shown that your advertising should follow a similar formula or it may fail to give you a return on your investment.

How do we communicate or advertise?

• Audio - Radio, phone, etc...
• Visual - TV, e-mail, direct mail, etc...
• Physical - Face to Face, Relationships, etc...

It generally takes 3 visits to gain trust.  And when I say visits, depending on the seasonality of what you are selling, it may take 3 years to make your first sale as you may only get your opportunities but once a year.  So be patient and think long-term growth.

1. First you begin to build recognition
2. On the second visit you begin to build trust and they may try you out
3. Third time, if  you have trust and  if there is room (budget or vendor list), the you may get a fair chance

The Theory of 3's is a Sales Fundamentals training module that I developed based on the knowledge I've gained over the years and have since began to instill in the management and staff at DKC-R&F Construction Inc.  The above is just a snippet of the original but has some good insight into how relationship building can be a huge part of your marketing plan.  It isn't always the easiest to monitor and relate to actual sales, but in the end it usually creates more long-term and loyal clients than try to make the a quick buck on a short-term one off sale.