Plan now to enter the 2019 Remodelers Tour

September 21 & 22, 2019 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The Remodelers Tour has been created to offer you a great remodeling marketing opportunity. It is a tour which displays a variety of remodeled projects throughout the Rochester area. All remodelers are eligible to participate.

The Tour will be held the first weekend of the Fall Showcase of Homes. This will bring the Tour extra awareness and visibility.

The Tour is a great way to get exposure for your company and your projects. You can show your remodeling experience and expertise to the consumers in this exciting venue.

Remodelers participating in the Tour say: “Participating in the Remodelers Tour is the number one marketing tool I use with Beyond Kitchens. It is an opportunity to show the creativity and quality of the work we do on an actual project. It is an amazing experience to have people visit your project for a weekend and tell you how fabulous it is. Why wouldn’t you want to allow potential clients to begin a relationship with you and your company in this way?” -Diane Quinn, Beyond Kitchens, LLC

“The Remodelers Tour has been a great source of quality jobs for Master Builders. Since it began we have had at least one project in the Tour every year. It is a big help in building trust with future customers for them to be able to see our work first hand. I believe the potential customers that come through the Tour understand the level of comfort that the homeowners have with us at the end of the project in order to allow their homes to be shown to the public.” -John Lindahl, Master Builders

You can enter any remodeling project that you have completed during the last three years. Many of your customers will be thrilled to show off their “new” home to the public.

We encourage remodelers, designers, landscapers, and architects to consider participation.

The Remodelers Council will be promoting the Remodelers Tour through a multitude of media:

• Post Bulletin: Inserts & Advertising • Additional Print Media including Rochester Magazine & Rochester Women Magazine • Radio & Television • Social Media such as Facebook and Instagram

ENTRY FEE

Early Entry Deadline:

July 18, 2019 5:00 PM

$525 1st entry

Final Entry Deadline:

August 22, 2019 5:00 PM

$625 1st entry

Additional entries $300 each

Co-Sponsor of Entry

$100 / entry

Not a Council member?

Add $60 to the entry fee to become a member of the

Remodelers Council.

For more information call:

Rebekah Nielsen Rochester Area Builders, Inc.

(507) 282-7698

Or

Diane Quinn Beyond Kitchens, LLC

Committee Chair (507) 281-3992

Presented by

ROCHESTER AREA BUILDERS, INC.

2019 Remodelers Tour

Entry Check List and Timeline for YOUR Use Check List

The following items MUST be submitted to the Association office no later than

AAuugguusstt 2222,, 22001199,, for each entry: 2019 Remodelers Tour Entry Form and Participation Agreement – ALL forms MUST be completely filled out or they will not be accepted and will not qualify for the discount! Check or Credit Card for Entry Fee $525 (by July 18th) or $625 (after July 18th) Additional entries - $300 Advertised Co-sponsor of Entry (optional) - $100 * NEW THIS YEAR

The event is open to RAB members only – non members add $60 to join the Council (please note the $60 is a discounted rate of the normal $120 dues)

Security Deposit Check or Credit Card - $400 per project to cover the items you will receive 1 Before and 2 After photos of project Home Owner Agreement signed by the owner of the property Waiver & Indemnification Agreement Certificate of Insurance Map from telephone directory or MapQuest showing exact location of house

Timeline

July 18th Deadline for receiving the Early Bird $525 Entry Fee

August 22nd Deadline for entry of project

August 30th Deadline for submitting pictures – 1 before & 2 after

Rochester Area Builders – Remodelers Council 2019 Remodelers Tour

Questions & Answers

What is the Remodelers Tour?

The Remodelers Tour is an annual tour of newly remodeled homes in the Rochester area. The Tour is sponsored by the Remodelers Council of Rochester which is the remodeling branch of the Rochester Area Builders. RAB is the same organization that sponsors the Spring & Fall Showcase of Homes and the Builders Home Show. The 2019 Remodelers Tour is scheduled for September 21st & 22nd. The Tour will be held the first weekend of the Fall Showcase of Homes providing added awareness from the public. Why participate?

The Tour provides the perfect environment to display your finest work and reach potential clients. And potential clients enjoy the Tour because it offers them the opportunity to walk through actual remodeled projects, viewing the workmanship and design while meeting the remodeler face-to-face. How is the Tour marketed?

There will be Remodelers Tour inserts that will be included in the Post Bulletin and will also be available at each remodeled home. In addition there will be promotional campaigns with radio, television, Rochester Magazine, Rochester Women Magazine, RAB website and social media. Asking your homeowner?

Many remodelers may hesitate to enter the Tour because they’re not sure their homeowners will agree to have their home on the tour. The remodelers that participate find that there are many ways to make the Tour a win-win situation for both the homeowner and the remodeler.

1. Ask your homeowner well in advance of the Tour’s deadline dates. This gives you plenty of time to get the approval from the homeowner so that you can begin preparing your presentation.

2. Offer them incentives. You may decide to offer the home owner free house cleaning, a weekend away, dinner out, or some other attractive benefit.

3. Most homeowners like to show off their project. “We’ve identified your home as one of our top projects.” Many remodelers think that most homeowners do not want to show off their home, but most do. They like to show off the work that you’ve done and also like to help you promote your company. It’s beneficial both now and down the road.

4. Sell them on the Tour. Explain the benefits for you and them, and don’t be hesitant. Most people will say “yes”. Have some fun with it. This is an exciting time for your homeowner to really show off their home and for you to gain wonderful marketing.

5. Don’t hesitate to ask. If you don’t ask them for the remodeling business on their home, you never would have gotten the project. If you don’t ask them to be in the Tour, you’ve already lost. What’s the worst thing they can say? No?

Rochester Area Builders – Remodelers Council

Tips for a Successful Remodelers Tour ISOLATE THE AREAS

Rent attractive ropes and stanchions

Close doors to adjacent rooms or use professional signage

PROTECT THE AREAS

Use attractive vinyl or carpet runners to protect flooring

Build attractive “dock sections” to protect lawn areas

Remove personal articles

Cover or use signage to protect furnishings and counters

Have vacuum, broom, and cleaning supplies available for staff

STAFFING

Have a person available to greet the public

Have sales personnel to speak with potential buyers and to answer any questions

Have a guest register

Have staff keep traffic within defined areas and keep the home clean.

Have company brochure and literature available

SIGNAGE

Use professional signage and brochures

Promote your product and protect your client’s home

PROMOTION

Promote your product

Mail announcement of Tour to your client lists

Advertise your participation in the Home Tour

Tell associates, friends, and family

Use signs and banners at the house HOMEOWNER PERKS

Send them on a two-day vacation to an area hotel

Order fresh flowers for the house during the Tour and leave them for the homeowner to enjoy

Be sure to leave the house clean and everything in place

Send a note of thanks after the event is completed

Provide the homeowner with comments made by the public

Suggestions for cooperative clients

Experience has shown us that many homeowners are pleased to participate in the Remodelers Tour. Satisfied clients are very proud of the work done in their homes. If you appeal to their pride and show your professionalism, you shouldn’t have difficulty getting their permission. Providing “perks” can also help show your appreciation. Do whatever it takes! ISOLATE THE AREAS

Rent attractive ropes and stanchions

Close doors to adjacent rooms or use professional signage

PROTECT THE AREAS

Use attractive vinyl or carpet runners to protect flooring

Build attractive “dock sections” to protect lawn areas

Remove personal articles

Cover or use signage to protect furnishings and counters

Have vacuum, broom, and cleaning supplies available for staff

STAFFING

Have a person available to greet the public

Have sales personnel to speak with potential buyers and to answer any questions

Have a guest register

Have staff keep traffic within defined areas and keep the home clean.

Have company brochure and literature available

SIGNAGE

Use professional signage and brochures

Promote your product and protect your client’s home

PROMOTION

Promote your product

Mail announcement of Tour to your client lists

Advertise your participation in the Home Tour

Tell associates, friends, and family

Use signs and banners at the house HOMEOWNER PERKS

Send them on a two-day vacation to an area hotel

Order fresh flowers for the house during the Tour and leave them for the homeowner to enjoy

Be sure to leave the house clean and everything in place

Send a note of thanks after the event is completed

Provide the homeowner with comments made by the public

Rochester Area Builders, Inc. 2019 Remodelers Tour

Rules & Guidelines

ENTRIES IN THE REMODELERS TOUR

Only builders and appropriate associate members can enter a project in the Remodelers Tour and they must be members in good standing of Rochester Area Builders and the Remodelers Council.

All entries in the Remodelers Tour must have been completed within the past three years. The builder or representative must be on the premises during all Tour hours.

Projects may be shown either furnished or unfurnished.

It is suggested that owners NOT be present during Tour hours – sometimes negative comments can be made about their home that could cause a problem.

The Waiver & Indemnification Agreement must be signed by the member company submitting the entry.

The Homeowner’s Participation Agreement must be signed by the owners of the property.

Members agree that the project must be completely finished on or before September 6, 2019.

Tour projects that are not ready by Friday, September 6, 2019, will not be open for the Remodelers Tour and the member will forfeit half of the security check.

SIGNAGE

Official Remodelers Tour signs will be furnished by Rochester Area Builders. They will include one outdoor sign for the front yard of the Tour project and five directional signs for members to place as needed to direct visitors to the Tour project. Signs must be returned in the same condition as they were checked out. Missing signs for any reason will be the responsibility of the member and will be invoiced to the member.

Signage can only be used for the project that is entered in the Tour event.

Subcontractors and suppliers will be permitted to advertise their firm providing there is not more than one sign per room per company.

FEES

The entry fee is set by the Remodelers Tour Committee. A $100 discount is available if the entry is received by the July 18th deadline. This discount is eligible on the 1st entry only since there is an automatic $300 fee for the second entry. In order to qualify for the discount all information including completed entry forms and checks must be in the office by 5:00 P.M. on July 18th. There are no exceptions. Pictures must be submitted by August 30th. Members are to provide 1 before photo and 2 after photos, along with the most current logo for the business.

No substitutions are allowed after August 22, 2019.

We require a security deposit of $400.00 per project for the items that you receive. Each participant will be required to pay with two separate checks. A credit card may also be used. The first check represents the entry fee and will be deposited upon receipt. The second check will be held by the association office until signs, flags, shoe covers, and containers are returned. The deadline for returning all materials is Monday, September 23, 2019. At that time invoices will be sent to cover the cost of the missing items. Replacement cost for the large sign is $250.00, for each small sign is $35.00, for the string of flags is $15.00, and for the containers and shoe covers is $15.00. Deposit checks will be returned when all outstanding Remodelers Tour invoices are paid or all items are returned.

NEW THIS YEAR: 1 co-sponsor can be included in the advertising of your entry for an additional $100. Company must be a member of RAB.

CANCELLATION

If the remodeler wants to cancel their participation in the Tour, that request must be in writing – no phone cancellations are acceptable. Requests postmarked prior to August 2, 2019 will receive a 75% refund of their entry fee and their entire security check. No refunds of entry fees will be made to requests postmarked on or after August 3, 2019, but the security check will be returned.

SCHEDULE

Dates and Times for the 2019 Remodelers Tour

Deadlines:

Thursday, July 18, 2019 Early Entry Deadline 5:00 PM Thursday, August 22, 2019 Final Deadline 5:00 PM Friday, August 30, 2019 Picture Deadline 5:00 PM Tour Dates:

Friday, September 20, 2019 Signs Picked Up 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Saturday, September 21, 2019 Entries Open to Public 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday, September 22, 2019 Entries Open to Public 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday, September 23, 2019 Signs Returned 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM