A question we often hear from clients is whether they can use their own plumber or electrician on an Aleto project. Often, it’s because the client has a friend in the trades, a longtime favorite contractor from a previous project somewhere, or because the client thinks he can trim the budget a bit. Pretty much universally, Aleto’s answer to this question is “no,” though it’s worth explaining why.
Aleto has been building and renovating homes large and small for more than 70 years, and over that time we’ve built a concierge-style slate of contractor partners in all trades who have proven the quality of their work—and their character. When Aleto is managing your project, we can only deliver our best work when we use tradespeople who are familiar with our policies and standards—and are capable of working with us and the homeowner with seamless communication and total respect.
There have been cases where schedules or labor shortages have forced us to look outside our trusted network, and we’ve found that those outside tradespeople whose work and reputation are up to our standards (and yours, we believe) tend to be the same cost or more than our own partners.
Hiring outside contractors is no money-saver
If the client insists on using a tradesperson outside our trusted partner network, Aleto must add management hours to account for the extra supervision involved with a contractor who’s unfamiliar with Aleto’s practices, process and standards—it’s the only way we can guarantee the final work. This means extra overhead billed to the client—that’s you—and any savings realized can be eaten up fast.
When Aleto calls on our own proven tradespeople, they answer the phone on the first ring. We’ve found that outside contractors aren’t so responsive, and not nearly as flexible in scheduling.
Skimping on materials and fixtures can be costly, too
That same coordination applies when it comes to procuring materials for the project. When Aleto helps map your vision to the practical reality of a construction plan, it’s done with specific projects, materials and finishes in mind. We have years of experience in knowing how long procurement will take, how much it will cost, and what it will take to make the finished product as perfect in your home as it was in your imagination. We have connections with suppliers that help us ensure timely delivery and good prices and ensures that the client continues to enjoy a quality experience for many years to come.
Also—to be completely frank—Aleto has access to materials that no big-box store can provide, at any price. This is especially true for fixtures like faucets, which cost a little bit more at our plumbing supply wholesaler, but these are built of all-metal parts that won’t wear out like the plastic parts often used in consumer-grade fixtures sold at home improvement stores. Similar examples apply to other materials.
And while it’s easy to fall in love with a nice photo and a low price on some home improvement website, it can be a nightmare to deal with lost pieces, incomplete or incorrect shipments, measuring or ordering errors that disqualify your purchase from refund. That costs money, time and aggravation.
Finish it yourself? You bet!
All that being said, there’s plenty of ways a homeowner can put his or her own mark on the project. Aleto is happy to shell out a project, and let you finish it yourself with paint, shelving or lighting, for instance. We call it our DIY Collaboration Service. But we’ll never leave you biting off more than you can chew—which is why, in order to offer our five-year warranty, Aleto always recommends using our concierge tradespeople and suppliers. You can trust us on this—we’ve been doing it for more than 70 years.
