December 21, 2011
First, I would like to say, "Thank you" for stopping by our website and showing interest in Spiker Bros., Inc.
Whether it is because you stumbled across a house plan, brochure or were directed to this site, I am glad you are
here.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Katie and I am Joe Spiker's Daughter. You can find me in the office or at any
time of the day on the job site snapping pictures of the latest home being built. This letter is stemmed from a
conversation I just had today with a couple that decided to walk through the Model Home ...so here goes.
Today's market is a buyer's market, no doubt about that. If you are wanting to re-locate, future invest or just have a
common meeting place here at Deep Creek, now is the time to buy. What makes our market somewhat different then
other areas is we are a tourist market. We rely solely on the tourist coming into the county to survive in this economy.
We are very blessed to live in an area that can sustain the massive amounts of visitors we get each season. I explain
it as we have 2 sets of customers. Those that run from the snow and never come up in the winter, they stay home.
These customers usual visit and enjoy the lake in the summer. Then you have the ones, that can not wait until the
snow is flying so they can hit the slopes. These customers are usually busy in the summer time at their full time
residence and never visit here unless there is snow. Last but not least you have the ones that LOVE the area all year
round and visit many weekends out of the month no matter what the weather is like here.
With it being a buyers market there are many other developments that are offering Incentives or Bonus Packages. I
will be honest, we can not compete with those packages. Sometimes these other developments have stock in the
resort that they are getting these bonus packages from so it is a win/win for them to offer such deals. Please don't
take this wrong, I LOVE my ski slopes and LOVE the Lake. I grew up on both, I am just going to tell you what WE can
offer you here at Spiker Bros.
I can offer you piece of mind while building your home.
We do this by taking pictures of the home as the construction is happening. These pictures do NOT happen every
day, that within itself would be a full time job but I try to get out every week or 2 weeks. In the middle of construction
when wire is being pulled, pictures don't change much. This offers our customers the "inside" look even though they
maybe 3-5 hours away. This has saved a lot of time and also we are able to make slight changes mid-build that we
see would benefit the customer. I get the call from Dad, go snap the picture and load it up, this way the customer can
see with their own eyes what we are talking about and makes the final call. I have also offered video at times when
pictures just won't do.
I can offer you a Custom Built Home.
You read this above and say, well anyone can offer a custom built home but wait, let me tell you about OUR custom
built homes. We start with a concept or kinda an idea of what you may want. We take that "rough" sketch and make
your OWN custom home. I can honestly say, I don't think we have built the same home twice in the last 15 years. We
have come close, but not exactly the same. You tell us where you want the light switches or outlets, you have a say in
the entire process. Usually, the sketch takes about 3 times to get right, it goes back and forth, gets tweaked until it is
just right and then we start the contract process.
I, myself, type and send out the contract after Dad and I have gone through it to change and modify it to fit your
home. This also takes about 3 tries....there always seems to be something that needs to be tweaked.
When the final stage is completed and we are given the green light, we RUN out of the gate and start. It is my dad
who is out there in the back hoe digging the foundation. He will be the one all the way through, he is a hands on guy.
He lays the pipe, pours the foundation, he is always around. The pride in his work shows, not only in the houses he
produces but in his face when he talks about building.
We continue the building process, each of us having our own part in the family business. My brother, Joey, is on the
job running the crew on the house. Joe, my father is out on the job over seeing and moving dirt...he seems to like this
part. I, myself, am the one in the office trying to keep them all on budget and answering email's. On occasion you will
see my children out on the job learning life lessons that they will carry on with them forever.
Most importantly is the glue, my mother. She is the lady you will pass weeding out the flower bed in the
developments, weeding eating the side of the roads, or painting boards. She is the one that keeps us all afloat.
I can offer you Pride in what we do.
Our work, I usually let it speak for itself when we are walking through a home. I understand for different people our
style may not fit theirs and I respect that immensely. I can walk through our homes and point out all the custom trim
that is sanded down, polyed and then beveled just to almost perfection by my Brother, Joey. The same lady that
painted for us 20+ years ago, is still painting for us now. I have never known anyone to get wood walls as smooth as
Kathy does.
We have certain trade marks that you can find throughout our homes. The Kitchen has to be number one. We have
learned over the years, everyone always makes their way to the Kitchen. We try to make this an inviting place by
having an open country kitchen. Then you can usually flow right into the Great room to either relax in front of the TV
or fireplace. The same man that has been putting up stone 20+ years ago, is still doing that for us too.
If kids are around they usually can be found downstairs. We have learned, make the basement's tough because the
kids are getting put down there to bounce around. In Garrett County you need to run a De-humidifier all year round
for dampness. We use to have to go around and empty customers machine, just one more service we offered, so
they could keep running. However, we have figured out a solution. We now put a drain and spot directly into the wall
so it can always drain straight out.
We have also learned little hands can have a hard time grabbing onto that down stairs railing, so we try to make sure
we have that custom beveled edge already for them to grip with their fingers.
I can offer you Honesty and Integrity.
This is something that only a list of customer references can prove. I make sure when asked for such a list I provide
the client asking with customers that are newer to the ones we still do work for when we started in our first
development, "The Gleanings Village". We are not perfect and have learned a lot over the years but we have to face
everyone every day right here in our own back yard. My father started this business over 34 years ago. My life has
been growing up watching houses being built and deals being made. It is in our blood and we truly care. We are not
ones to get in and out once we develop. Joe cares if you can get in and out in the winter time. Even if it means
getting up at 400am to plow the road way. Some would say, well he gets paid to do it and I say, yes he does.
However, he does far above what he gets paid to do. This is who he is and who he will always be.
In closing, I can't offer a dock slip, ski pass or golf package but I can offer the little things. Like, going out and helping
tie up the boat when your husband is out of town and it keeps getting loose. Or turning up the heat because you are
on your way up here and just dread coming into a cold house. Making sure your driveway is plowed so when you get
in late at night, you can get in. Giving you a quiet place to let your children ride their bikes, or you take a walk with
your dogs. I can offer you where to go and what to see when you just don't know what to do with the kids. Most
importantly I can offer you the security of knowing my family will do it's best to look out for your family.
First, I would like to say, "Thank you" for stopping by our website and showing interest in Spiker Bros., Inc.
Whether it is because you stumbled across a house plan, brochure or were directed to this site, I am glad you are
here.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Katie and I am Joe Spiker's Daughter. You can find me in the office or at any
time of the day on the job site snapping pictures of the latest home being built. This letter is stemmed from a
conversation I just had today with a couple that decided to walk through the Model Home ...so here goes.
Today's market is a buyer's market, no doubt about that. If you are wanting to re-locate, future invest or just have a
common meeting place here at Deep Creek, now is the time to buy. What makes our market somewhat different then
other areas is we are a tourist market. We rely solely on the tourist coming into the county to survive in this economy.
We are very blessed to live in an area that can sustain the massive amounts of visitors we get each season. I explain
it as we have 2 sets of customers. Those that run from the snow and never come up in the winter, they stay home.
These customers usual visit and enjoy the lake in the summer. Then you have the ones, that can not wait until the
snow is flying so they can hit the slopes. These customers are usually busy in the summer time at their full time
residence and never visit here unless there is snow. Last but not least you have the ones that LOVE the area all year
round and visit many weekends out of the month no matter what the weather is like here.
With it being a buyers market there are many other developments that are offering Incentives or Bonus Packages. I
will be honest, we can not compete with those packages. Sometimes these other developments have stock in the
resort that they are getting these bonus packages from so it is a win/win for them to offer such deals. Please don't
take this wrong, I LOVE my ski slopes and LOVE the Lake. I grew up on both, I am just going to tell you what WE can
offer you here at Spiker Bros.
I can offer you piece of mind while building your home.
We do this by taking pictures of the home as the construction is happening. These pictures do NOT happen every
day, that within itself would be a full time job but I try to get out every week or 2 weeks. In the middle of construction
when wire is being pulled, pictures don't change much. This offers our customers the "inside" look even though they
maybe 3-5 hours away. This has saved a lot of time and also we are able to make slight changes mid-build that we
see would benefit the customer. I get the call from Dad, go snap the picture and load it up, this way the customer can
see with their own eyes what we are talking about and makes the final call. I have also offered video at times when
pictures just won't do.
I can offer you a Custom Built Home.
You read this above and say, well anyone can offer a custom built home but wait, let me tell you about OUR custom
built homes. We start with a concept or kinda an idea of what you may want. We take that "rough" sketch and make
your OWN custom home. I can honestly say, I don't think we have built the same home twice in the last 15 years. We
have come close, but not exactly the same. You tell us where you want the light switches or outlets, you have a say in
the entire process. Usually, the sketch takes about 3 times to get right, it goes back and forth, gets tweaked until it is
just right and then we start the contract process.
I, myself, type and send out the contract after Dad and I have gone through it to change and modify it to fit your
home. This also takes about 3 tries....there always seems to be something that needs to be tweaked.
When the final stage is completed and we are given the green light, we RUN out of the gate and start. It is my dad
who is out there in the back hoe digging the foundation. He will be the one all the way through, he is a hands on guy.
He lays the pipe, pours the foundation, he is always around. The pride in his work shows, not only in the houses he
produces but in his face when he talks about building.
We continue the building process, each of us having our own part in the family business. My brother, Joey, is on the
job running the crew on the house. Joe, my father is out on the job over seeing and moving dirt...he seems to like this
part. I, myself, am the one in the office trying to keep them all on budget and answering email's. On occasion you will
see my children out on the job learning life lessons that they will carry on with them forever.
Most importantly is the glue, my mother. She is the lady you will pass weeding out the flower bed in the
developments, weeding eating the side of the roads, or painting boards. She is the one that keeps us all afloat.
I can offer you Pride in what we do.
Our work, I usually let it speak for itself when we are walking through a home. I understand for different people our
style may not fit theirs and I respect that immensely. I can walk through our homes and point out all the custom trim
that is sanded down, polyed and then beveled just to almost perfection by my Brother, Joey. The same lady that
painted for us 20+ years ago, is still painting for us now. I have never known anyone to get wood walls as smooth as
Kathy does.
We have certain trade marks that you can find throughout our homes. The Kitchen has to be number one. We have
learned over the years, everyone always makes their way to the Kitchen. We try to make this an inviting place by
having an open country kitchen. Then you can usually flow right into the Great room to either relax in front of the TV
or fireplace. The same man that has been putting up stone 20+ years ago, is still doing that for us too.
If kids are around they usually can be found downstairs. We have learned, make the basement's tough because the
kids are getting put down there to bounce around. In Garrett County you need to run a De-humidifier all year round
for dampness. We use to have to go around and empty customers machine, just one more service we offered, so
they could keep running. However, we have figured out a solution. We now put a drain and spot directly into the wall
so it can always drain straight out.
We have also learned little hands can have a hard time grabbing onto that down stairs railing, so we try to make sure
we have that custom beveled edge already for them to grip with their fingers.
I can offer you Honesty and Integrity.
This is something that only a list of customer references can prove. I make sure when asked for such a list I provide
the client asking with customers that are newer to the ones we still do work for when we started in our first
development, "The Gleanings Village". We are not perfect and have learned a lot over the years but we have to face
everyone every day right here in our own back yard. My father started this business over 34 years ago. My life has
been growing up watching houses being built and deals being made. It is in our blood and we truly care. We are not
ones to get in and out once we develop. Joe cares if you can get in and out in the winter time. Even if it means
getting up at 400am to plow the road way. Some would say, well he gets paid to do it and I say, yes he does.
However, he does far above what he gets paid to do. This is who he is and who he will always be.
In closing, I can't offer a dock slip, ski pass or golf package but I can offer the little things. Like, going out and helping
tie up the boat when your husband is out of town and it keeps getting loose. Or turning up the heat because you are
on your way up here and just dread coming into a cold house. Making sure your driveway is plowed so when you get
in late at night, you can get in. Giving you a quiet place to let your children ride their bikes, or you take a walk with
your dogs. I can offer you where to go and what to see when you just don't know what to do with the kids. Most
importantly I can offer you the security of knowing my family will do it's best to look out for your family.
| Sacrificing the Loffers for the Customer's Picture....:( it was a muddy day! |