HIBO’s Reason
Our goal is simple, to help owners, investors and builders get the job done right!
Homeowners and investors spend billions of dollars annually in building and home improvement industries. When creating major home improvements homeowners face a dizzying array of options to help them get started. The most common options are hiring an architect, design/build firm, general contractor or to enter the Do-It-Yourself world. Each of these options have their own implications and pitfalls.
If a project faces too many problems it creates a whirlwind of headache, costly repairs and buyer’s remorse. That’s why it’s necessary for anyone making a major home improvement investment, or building from scratch, go through the HIBO process.
“Having performed in the building industry for over 50 years as a labor, a carpenter, supervisor, design salesman and a general contracting- owner, I feel the climate can use my experience and knowledge to assist, consult and offer what I know “works” and what “doesn’t work”, to those many homeowners that have diversified projects and can have access to a better, safer way to take on a project themselves, but with HIBO as your partner.”
Terry Hamm, Founder and CEO of HIBO
Our Process
The HIBO process comes in 3 phases. The introduction, where we learn about you and your project, the feasibility analysis where we analyze and address the needs of your project, and the Planning & Development phase where we assist the homeowner in designing the plans, scope of work, contracts and monitorization of the project.
Our services help homeowners understand the decisions they make and how those decisions may affect the build. We look at the physical, legal and financial requirements and restrictions. We find the direct cost of materials and fair market value of workers so the homeowners or investors knows exactly where their dollars go. This information helps negotiate and structure contracts. Finally we help the homeowner manage and monitor their projects.
Our process helps the homeowner understand the direct cost, value and process of the build. We also aim to make the entire process easier for everyone involved; General Contractors and Subcontractors included! Our contracts and structuring makes it easy for subcontractors to show up, do the job they are trained to do, and get paid on time. No need to wear additional hats.
Consumers are spending more money now, than ever before in the Home Improvement Industry. With the increased marketing of the major home improvement stores, as Home Depot, Lowes and others, homeowners are considering doing more home improvement projects themselves. The assumption that the same homeowner, who can install a closet system, has the same abilities to do a more involved project does not always ring true.
The home improvement TV shows as, This Old House, Flip This House and others, lend to the notion that a room addition, new bath or kitchen remodel is something that most homeowners can do on their own with little or no experience. Consumers are getting more information about the remodeling and building industry thru watching and reading many of the “Do It Yourself ” literature and watching the Building & Design Shows.
All too often, there are public announcements telling homeowners the continuing concerns of the “Qualified Contractor” and the reminders of those “Remodeling Nightmares.” Homeowners, now in this new Home Improvement environment, are considering undertaking their own home projects and hopefully thinking they might be able to minimizing their investment risks.
Home Improvements By Owner ( HIBO ) was created to assist, aid and protect homeowners who are considering undertaking their own home improvement project(s). HIBO’s owner and creator stated :
HIBO’s Purpose
Through out the website, homeowners will be able to see all the advantages in our approach to identify the owners needs and wants and the investment risks that may be protected by owners taking on a better position with controlling their purse strings. The majority of home improvement projects, regardless of their size, consist of basic components, ie; feasibility, affordability, materials/products, controlled tasks of installation, timely and exceptional completion, etc.
The costs for a contractor to perform all these components of a home improvement project vary greatly due to the contractor’s overhead and profit margins. Not to infer that markup and profit are not due to the contractor, but often times, the homeowner is lead to believe that this markup is to ensure a more efficient and professional operation. This may not always be the case at hand.
By selecting individual tasks from the HIBO menu of services, the home-owner will have more control and perform all the components of his own project. Therefore, offering onto himself less risks to the investment and earning the markup overhead and possible savings by acting as his own general contractor.
HIBO’s Mission
The primary Mission of Home Improvements By Owner is to assist the homeowner in controlling their own projects, providing the mechanisms to complete them correctly and show how we put policies and procedures in place to protect your
investment.
