Seasonal Pricing / Discounts for Home Improvement Services?

Can anyone else provide feedback on their experience with seasonal discounts?

I've received feedback that siding materials are typically discounted 15-20% during the winter months but haven't heard back regarding other products and services.

Thanks!

I get my chimney cleaned in the spring or summer because they are much busier in the fall.

This site only allows recommendations of sponsor services, so recommending anyone/thing outside of that is prohibited.

Read the topic: "Is this site losing interest" thread and it tells why you won't, can't get a response you "wish" or "need". Here's the link: http://eichlernetwork.com/chatterbox_lounge/viewtopic.php?t=1271

Plus the purism of too many on this site stifles many from posting, IMHO. Read the topic: "Open Letter to Eichler Owners-are U Hurting Housing Values?" thread. OEM level or nothing else, will be tolerated. Here's the link: http://eichlernetwork.com/chatterbox_lounge/viewtopic.php?t=1113

As always, there needs to be a middle ground. Too many take things in an absolute term (either it bad, or good....ONLY). This site is for profit, so they do have to protect their revenue stream, but I think that can also have some middle ground, but only management can make that decision, IMHO.

On your question topics, sorry, I've no realy experience in them.

I've turned off my boiler and replaced it with a fireplace insert. Burns wood pellets and heats most of the house. The outer limits make do with small electric portables. My heating bill for a whole year is around $500 bucks (that includes the electric heaters). This unit is EPA certified and uses a renewalbe fuel source. It is allowed to burn during EPA clean air days where other sources of fire place burn is prohibited. I burn just under 2 tons per year and it's currently selling for around $199/ton if you shop for that price.

I"ll be re-siding my house soon and will then have some info. Main thinking is to make my own siding. Have done it before for some repairs, but the previous owner let it go too far and it's in need of new.

Am also looking at AC of some sort. Then I'll "maybe" putting in a forced air system. I've figured out HOW2 run the ducting "inside" the house, but it's just a thought for now. Real plans need to drafted and that will be much later.

Good luck!

I always enjoy posts by Ben. I agree that some hardline Eichler purists are too tough on the 'uninitiated'. This can drive participants from the site, which is bad for everyone.

Regarding seasonal discounts. The price for materials is not seasonal, so I look for times when labor is most abundant in a trade. For instance; Most people paint in summer and fall. Spring might be a better time. I have found that A/C companies are busier in the spring than late in the summer. This seems true also for solar pool heating.

We can give customers a break in springtime. This is the slowest time of year for us. If we bid a labor intensive job, it can help keep our crews busy. In the fall, a labor-intensive job might keep us from finishing two other roofs.
We try to finish re-coating past customers' roofs by July or August. We feel re-coating is elective while re-roofing is urgent. 2005 was strange. It rained a lot into July. We had to push several re-coat jobs into next spring. Re-coating takes better weather and our most experienced labor.

Hi Ben,

I'm interested in your impressions that a number of site posters are too hardline ("OEM only"). I hope my posts don't come across that way but would be interested in discussing futher--never hurts to gather constructive feedback. Perhaps you could add your email to your profile for easier communication. Otherwise, feel free to ping me:

eichfan at rawbw dot com

Cheers.
Jake

I don't/won't list names or accuse anyone, as that gets "personal", which is not a good thing for this type of forum.

Take the second link I posted above and the "current" last post, which says it all:

Why would someone think "Eichler Lovers" would/will mandate only one way to do anything Eichler? Of course they feel that way because of what has been posted by a few....."THAT" is of what I speak...