In these tougher economic times that are challenging so many people, great service is all the more important to set yourself apart. I think it is always about people and always about service regardless of the economic atmosphere, but these days an attitude of service and caring is especially vital.

I have a good friend who installs kitchen cabinets for Home Depot and also does his own remodeling jobs. In these times where many construction people are really hurting for work, my friend Peter is booked well into next spring, is turning away work, and has raised his rates.

What is his secret? Service. He always delivers a real quality job and stays focused on completing his projects in good time. He devotes himself to the given job, and his customers love him.

Peter is rated as one of the top cabinet installers nationwide for Home Depot. In hundreds of kitchens the only feedback has been praise and thanks. Not one complaint.

Great service is a way to win work and a loyal following, but in putting the cart and the horse in correct order, more work and a loyal following are byproducts of great service. Great service is an attitude.

I am coming to the end of a long remodeling project in which my loyal, patient customers have lived in their house almost the entire time that we literally work in every room of their house. This is a massive inconvenience for them, but it is also tough on us doing the work. We adjust our work schedule around their presence in the house, and there is much we have had to dance with.

The last couple of weeks have been the big push toward completion, and as I see my customers excited about their home and all the changes, I am excited right along with them. So are the guys working with me. The lady of the house recently said that we are part of their family, and yesterday with a twinkle in her eye and a smile she said, “It’s a new house.”

I know that my intention is to deliver a great project to them for their enjoyment. I don’t have to manufacture this intention, but I do have to work on the commitment to keep pushing to completion.

We are having fun as we do the work and check things off the final list. It is awfully rewarding to have my customers walk in on us working and have a bit of a look of wonder on their faces.

I told them I want them to walk into their new kitchen and their new main bathroom and see their new doors and redone floors and everything else we have worked on for them and feel it was all worth it. I want to make them smile when they experience all the changes, and their life is happier for all the work.