Morrison Contracting Company

Summertime

2011-09-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

Summer has come and well, we are in the south so it's still here. Time flies by flowing from job to job week to week. It is hard to believe that fall is almost here. The arrival of fall should also bring another Formosan termite swarm so one more thing to look forward to this time of year. We have wrapped up several large projects and are currently working on several small but work is work no matter what size the contract. We look forward to cooler days and nights and of course, college football. I did mention we are in the south, right? So with cooler weather in mind, here are a few suggestions for "winterizing" your home:
1. Check your roof, gutters and downspouts. Be sure they are free of debris and leaves.
2.Check your windows and doors. Be sure there are no gaps for warm air to escape or cold air to enter.
3.Check your heater/furnace. It sounds like common sense but if you check it now you will not be stuck on the first super cold night with no heat if there is a problem. Consider changing your thermostat to a programmable one and keep filters on hand to change at least every 6 weeks.
4. Call a chimney sweep if it has been a while since the fireplace was cleaned really well. Be sure the damper opens and closes properly and you have plenty firewood.
5.Check existing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors or install new ones.
There are many more tips on savings and efficiency for winterizing your home on the internet. It always pays to be prepared ahead of time rather than waiting until the last minute to perform these or call a professional in.
Enjoy these nice days while we have them.

Summer, summer, summer

2011-07-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

Well long time no blog once again. It is amazing how busy we have been. My days have been filled with contracts, plans, proposals and bid documents and of course lots of Quickbooks. These are all good problems to have. We have many projects going from Pensacola to Citronelle, so we are all toiling away on our different task. The termite swarm this year came a little late but when it came, it came with full force. We can speak from personal experience in our own home, there is nothing that can freak you out more than to have a swarm of termites IN YOUR HOME. We survived and figured out the key, they were coming to the light. After many nights of sitting in complete darkness, they moved on. Summer is in full swing and wow is it a hot one. We should probably buy stock in Gatorade. We finally had our website professionally done and have been SO very pleased with it. If you have not checked it out, please go to http://www.morrisoncontracting.com/ TODAY.
Enjoy your summer, and stay cool and hydrated if you must work outdoors.

Tips for a successful project

2011-05-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

So as I was looking for inspiration for the blogging process, I read an article in a trade magazine that was spot on. I will try to summarize and make it a little more consumer friendly. There are certain factors that make a project successful. By successful I am meaning on time, on budget or under, and with minimal strife. These factors are directly related to the owner of the project.

Know what you want. Even if you do not have blue prints before the initial meeting, know exactly what it is you are asking for and not a rambling list of items that sometimes do not even relate to each other.
Know your budget. This goes hand in hand with the first. If you know what you want, your budget is directly a product of the structure you want. A set budget you have in mind will set what you can actually get for that amount of money and sometimes certain features may not be attainable in the price point an owner has in their head.
Be decisive. When presented with choices such as colors, flooring, plumbing, etc make a quick informed decision. A contractor is going to give notice when these choices are coming up so that you can become informed about your different choices. This means the time is at hand to give a decision. You getting your selections together in a timely manner keeps the subcontractors lined up and on time. Also this goes along with the budget, if you are told your budget for tile is 4.50/square foot don't go select 10.00/sq ft flooring and expect there not to be a change order.
PAY ON TIME. This is probably the number 1 controlling factor a client has. When presented for a draw, pay within days-hours if you can. A contractor has alot of out of pocket expense because we have to pay our subs when they are complete-not when we are paid. If a payment is not made in a timely manner, it can shut a job down because at a certain point it becomes not feasible to continue work. A happy well paid contractor is going to be more out to go above and beyond to help you.

A contractor's job is to keep your project on time and within budget-HELP US HELP YOU.

On a personal note, PLEASE pray for all the storm victims spread throughout the Southeast. Do something to help someone else today whether it is a monetary donation, clothing, supplies, or donate blood. We will get through this time together and rebuild.

‎"So shines a good deed in a weary world." William Shakespeare

You get what you pay for

2011-03-04T08:41:00.000-08:00

Sometimes in life you learn lessons the hard way and some people just seem to know beforehand. If you want a fly by night bill, you hire a fly by night company and get stuck with whatever you get. On the other hand if you want a professional job done by professional people, you hire a professional. It is true that you may pay a little more but the end result will be worth the added expense and you can enjoy the benefits for years to come. So along the lines of my last post, know your contractor and what to expect.

Expect a professional appearance that does not include cut up shirts, sweat pants or cut off jean shorts. It is sad to say but that is how we see alot of our "colleagues" dressed. What does that say about how your job will be treated? To me that says alot.
Expect your job site to be kept clean and don't settle for anything less. ESPECIALLY if it is a remodel/renovation. We tell our crews "This is not JUST a job site, this is someone's home. Treat it like you would want your home treated."
Expect courteous employees that are willing to go that extra mile to be sure you are satisfied. A professional contractor's job is to be sure your project is completed quickly, proficiently and with superior craftsmanship. If something is not how you expect it, say something so it can be remedied.
Expect superior craftsmanship. There is alot of talk in the industry that craftsmanship is a lost art and some don't worry about what their name goes on, and to some extent that is true. There are some that just do it for the paycheck with no thought to how the end result will turn out. Those are the ones who need to be weeded out and a professional contractor will not use those people.

You will be treated and get the end result you EXPECT, so expect the best and do not settle. That sends a message to the fly by nights. They need to be weeded out and if they don't have work to do, that will solve the problem.

Long time no blog.

2011-02-21T11:35:00.000-08:00

I have failed and quite miserably I might add at this whole blogging thing. I find it very hard to find things to write about. I am in the office so really if I wrote about the aspects of the business that I see it would be all about paperwork, contracts, spreadsheets, and QuickBooks, NOT so much fun. If I were writing about just my personal life and my family, boy could I go on for days or what. So I am choosing to write a bit of advice on how to choose a contractor.

There are a lot of people who will refer to themselves as general contractors. Though some of them actually are LICENSED general contractors there are several that mean they do "general" construction. There are some who fall into the latter category that say they are licensed, and what they mean by licensed is they have a city business license. I can not stress enough to check with your state agency in charge of licensing contractors and verify they are licensed. There is a HUGE difference in the two. A contractor licensed by the state to perform construction duties (certified general contractor, certfified builder,etc) has passed a licensing exam and also met certain criteria after financial and personal background checks.
Also be sure that your contractor carries liability insurance and workers comp or an exemption election card and ask for proof. A certificate of liability insurance and workers compensation card serve this purpose. This is to protect you in case of an accident or catastrophe.
Be sure that you "mesh with" your contractor. If you are not comfortable enough to ask questions or discuss the project, that is a clue that you are talking with the wrong contractor.
Make sure your contractor is able to be reached at most all times. Of course we are all human and there are times that answering the phone is not feasible. That also does not mean you should call your contractor at 2AM to discuss paint colors. But is he/she accessible?
How long has your contractor been in business? Everyone has to start at some point but if your contractor is new be sure to ask for references and to view some work that has been completed. Even if it just a deck you can still see the craftsmanship.
Do you plan to be on site everyday? This is a big mistake we have seen in jobs that we have had to go behind other contractors and repair. If you are not on your job site how can you TRULY see what is going on?

These are just a few of many things I could think of to ask or figure out but they are a good starting point.
We have been so very blessed to be staying busy and are very thankful for these opportunities int his market.
Call us for any of your home improvement or home construction needs.
251-445-8604
850-528-7248

So close but so far away

2010-12-07T07:30:00.000-08:00

Wow, time flies whether you are having fun or not. Projects are complete, new projects are starting, our house is beginning to seem like the never ending project. We have spent alot of nights, weekends and days working on getting it complete. We are so close but at moments seem so far away. We had the Thanksgiving that will be forever remembered. Our Thanksgiving consisted of waking at 5:30 am going to Waffle House for breakfast then going to our house to work. Our Thanksgiving "feast" consisted of a rotisserie chicken from Bruno's with green beans, and macaroni cheese as we sat on the front step covered in dust and paint. Something we will ALL remember for a lifetime. MG thought it wasn't Thanksgiving until Saturday when we went to a family reunion. Now Christmas is rapidly approaching and I have to say it has been nice to focus on the house. It shows how insane it is to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season and lose focus of what we are even celebrating. We are praying to be in our new house the weekend before Christmas. My mother is coming down and hopefully we will have a place she can lay her head. This will be her first time to spend actual Christmas day with MG so I am excited about that. We will bake our cake and decorate it and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and burn our Christmas candle in remembrance of Him and His birth.
So fingers crossed and prayers said we will wrap this project up for Christmas and it will be our Christmas present!

Just another mundane Monday

2010-11-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

Monday must be my blogging day because I find that is always the day I do it. It is rainy and sort of dreary out. We have a short work week and that is good and bad. Good to have a break from work but bad because that means more remodeling. ha We accomplished ALOT at our new house this weekend. Steve got the kitchen cabinets in, the kitchen completely trimmed, trim started in other parts of the house and I single-handedly removed all the tile in the house so we are back down to the slab. I say single-handedly but my favorite daddy in law did MaryGrace's room to give me a break. MaryGrace was able to spend the day wearing her Mimi out while we worked so that was wonderful for all involved.
We will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week at our new home even though it is torn apart and we are excited. We are very thankful to have our new home and look forward to many, many more memories there-hopefully with it all remodeled and complete.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Take time to remember ALL you have to be thankful for.
"Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" Ephesians 5:20

These are the best days of our life.

2010-11-15T08:59:00.000-08:00

As we approach Thanksgiving I have been listing something I am thankful for everyday now for 15 days and wow when you stop and think about we have so many things to be thankful for. We are thankful to have this business which has flourished beyond our wildest imagination. Though it capitalizes on someone else's misfortune of having termites, the clients luckily have an awesome termite policy with a reputable company who stands behind their policy fully. There has been a little lull in projects beginning but really, who wants their house torn apart for Thanksgiving so we really expected it. It has given us time to wrap other small projects up and work on our personal home. We are praying to be settled in somewhat for Christmas. We had quite the weekend finishing sheetrock. I can wholeheartedly say now that I love football Saturdays MUCH MORE than sheetrock finishing Saturdays. MaryGrace even got in on the action and was "smackling" the walls as she calls it. Great family time though, I must say, to complete projects together and have a real sense of teamwork and unity. We were all united in wanting to be finished-ha. We will soon begin trimming and painting and then the fun of flooring. Many more family times are acoming!
What are you thankful for today? Get rich quick......count your blessings!

When life gives you lemons....

2010-11-08T09:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I had high hopes that we would escape this "sick season" with minimal casualty but I am typing from home on Steve's laptop at this moment. MG has been sick all weekend and it continues on into the week.
We made progress wrapping things up in Pensacola-hallelujah! We are relieved that job is complete. There is just something about taking over a job after one contractor is removed and then having another contractor working simultaneously on other projects in the home. There were way "too many cooks in the kitchen". We survived unscathed and are relieved. Pictures to follow of the beautiful surprise flower arrangement. I joked with my mother when I walked through the door with the arrangement that I had won wife of the year. I guess you get over the top flowers when you work on an ex senator/current MSNBC news anchor's home. They are brightening up my kitchen and my mood now.
We are coming along with our house. The electrician is almost finished, cabinets will go in, paint, and flooring and we will be in SOON. I so want to be in for Thanksgiving and be able to be halfway settled. I am afraid that will not be the case. But we will see.
SO long for now.

What a week

2010-11-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

I don't know about where anyone else lives but it has been doing some serious downpuring this week. This is great for our vegetation but not so great when trying to accomplish construction related task. I guess you have to take the good with the bad.
We started demo on our own home this past weekend and are so excited with the possibilities. I will be posting pics as soon as I can get Steve to stop knocking out walls and pick up the camera. ha We think it will turn out to be a nice quaint home for MaryGrace to grow up in.
We have many projects wrapping up right now and look forward to new ones that are set to begin. It is nice to not be doing the same exact thing everyday because no two houses are identical even if they are "the same". It also helps that termites are unpredictable (to some degree) in where they eat so you never know what kind of "treasure" we will find when we open the walls. I say "to some degree" due to the fact that where we find live termite infestation or previous damage you can just about bet there is a water leak from somewhere. So the best advice if you suspect a water leak from any source have it addressed ASAP. Better safe than sorry.
Until next time.......

And attempt number 2

2010-10-26T09:07:00.000-07:00

I always underestimated the work that goes into blogging. Not all of it in the words but setting up the blog and then trying to think of things to blog about. I read a funny cartoon over the weekend that said "I am a blog blogger. I blog about blogs." Whoever came up with the term and what does it truly mean.

Anyway, as I said in my first post we have been very fortunate in this market and there is not a day that goes by that I do not thank God for this opportunity. He is the only reason we are able to feed and clothe ourselves. We have had an overwhlemingly busy summer being between Mobile, AL and Jacksonville, FL and spread every in between. There were times we did not know how we would finish projects but somehow someway we always made it work and completed them. Now is the time of year that things will slow down and we are relying on small projects to keep us going as we wait for the termites to become active again.

One of these will be a little side project that we will be working on probably morning, noon and night-our new house. We are buying an older home and by older I mean like mid 1940's. I LOVE older homes, Steve NOT so much. I love the character and history ,and he just sees a bunch of work. He is, however, excited because this is the first time he will have a workshop to tinker on things at home. We are hoping to have things halfway settled before the holidays get into full swing. We will be posting pics of this project and it's transformation along the way.

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home. ~Author Unknown

Welcome to our humble abode

2010-10-22T11:15:00.000-07:00

I am currently experimenting and trying to figure this whole blogging thing out so indulge me for a few weeks if there is nothing really earth shattering on here. I am practicing. We are a building firm based in Mobile, AL. We do work in Florida, Alabama , and soon to be Mississippi. We landed here after being in Florida for a number of years. We have been very fortunate in this market to be staying busy thanks to a little help from the unwanted pest of termites. We love the job we do and we love seeing the satisfaction of customers after a job well done. We can build from the ground up, remodel or repair. Just give us a call. 251-445-8604
Have a great weekend!