If you thought traffic in Orlando was bad, well…you thought right. Orlando has experienced a steep increase in traffic congestion year after year. Two other Florida cities made the top 20 for traffic congestion in the United States. Tampa and Orlando ranked 15 and 16.
“‘Lots of traffic. No matter what time or day or what season, there’s always a lot of traffic. Lots of road detours. Lots of roads under construction, ’” complained Jeffery. “‘And let’s not forget the traffic that gets backed up about a mile or two.’”
Downtown Orlando is growing up. The skyline has more than doubled in the last ten years. Downtown Orlando has risen higher into the sky. “‘When I saw they were building another high-rise on the corner right by us, I knew it was time for us to go,’” Evelyn added.
None of us likes to be stuck in traffic. And sadly, our new clients, Jeffery and Evelyn were spending an increasing amount of their lives stuck behind the wheel, in congestion. As far as traffic, yes South Florida has big wide roads and four-level stack interchanges, but it helps keep the traffic moving. That’s what Orlando needs. Meanwhile our new clients had enough. They were tired of the congestion and population in Orlando. They weren’t going to wait around for this city to get big wide roads and four-level stack interchanges. So, they flocked from Orlando to Rotonda West.
In late November of 2020, Jeffery and Evelyn purchased a lovely Rotonda West home. Rotonda West sits near the Gulf of Mexico, in southwest Florida, between Sarasota and Fort Myers. It’s a great place for those who enjoy the warm weather and the outdoors. Thirty miles of ponds, lakes, and canals make their way through the city, offering plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water. There are beaches, parks, wildlife, and five golf courses to explore.
After unpacking and settling in, it didn’t take Evelyn long to discover the 1999 built home lacked sufficient storage space. While this kitchen had plenty of countertop surfaces, it unfortunately, sorely lacked on pantry and closet space. The kitchen pantry-closet could fit one human inside with no room to lift your arms. Evelyn wanted to have some pantries with roll out trays. The laundry room was right off the kitchen. She came up with an idea to convert their laundry room into a butler pantry. Right after they had the washing machine and dryer moved to the garage, they called me at Just Counters & other stuff.
I designed what was once a tiny laundry room into a butler panty for this deserving couple. This small room had its challenges. With two doors: one leading out to the garage and another one that led to the kitchen. There was also a window which brought in natural light, brightening the small room. On each side of the window I proposed to have tall pantries installed with roll out trays. Underneath the window would be a three-drawer cabinet with a solid surface countertop. I also suggested we install a third pantry inside the kitchen closet. They were pleased with the designs. At the end of my presentation, after all the details and cost were presented, Jeffery asked, “Is that the best you can do? Is there any way you can lower the price?”
At times like this my mind wanders (which it will because that’s what it does). It goes back to something that happened about thirty years ago. I had a salesman from a window business come to my house to give an estimate on windows. The salesman measured all the windows while he was at my home. After he finished his presentation, he told me the price. I don’t remember the exact number, but I do remember nearly collapsing at the outrageous number. There were only nine windows in my ranch-style house. He wanted something like $27,000!!!
I tried to compose myself. I looked down at the salesman’s open briefcase with its contents scattered all over my coffee table. “I’m sorry,” I began. “I had no idea windows were so expensive.” I automatically went on the defensive, “I’m a single mom with two young boys. I simply cannot afford these windows.”
The salesman said, “Let me see what I can do.” So, then he proceeded to tap a bunch of keys on his handheld calculator. I had a strong suspicion that he was up to something. When he finished, he presented a smile. His smile struck me as phony. “I’ll tell you what I can do…just for you. I can offer this fantastic window package for $21,000.” I remained silent.
Thirty-seconds of excruciating silence later, the salesman told me he would cut me a better deal. I watched him pick up his calculator, once again. He tapped away. When he finished, he forced another phony smile. “Just for you, I can offer this fantastic window package for an unbelievable price of $15,000.”
He was right. The price was unbelievable. He used every trick in the book to try to make a sale. I was absolutely furious! I wanted to scream and yell. But instead I demanded, “Pack your things and leave immediately. I want you out of my house.” I was outraged! Without delay I picked up some of the items that had been scattered on my coffee table and tossed them into the briefcase. I wanted to help him pack up. I needed this conman out of my house. Now!!!
The conman’s phony smile came and went. In fact, he stopped smiling altogether. “But I offered you the fairest deal possible.”
Snap! Let’s get back to my presentation with Jeffery and Evelyn, shall we? Back to when Jeffery asked, “Is that the best you can do? Is there any way you can lower the price?” I told him I was sorry, but that the price I offered them was the best value package. I clarified that there were no hidden fees or padding in the price. If they wanted to reduce the price, we could remove one of the three pantries. No, they insisted they wanted everything that I had presented. Jeffery assured me that if I didn’t lower the price, they would leave. Our prices are fair. I had no wiggle room to reduce the price of cabinetry, countertop, or installation. There are some items where negotiation is generally expected, such as with real estate and auto dealerships. But cabinets are not one of those things. Well, folks, this is pretty much what happened. Our clients walked out the front door. Yes, you read that right. That was not a typo. They told me they were going to Home Depot.
I was disappointed. But I also think, it’s worth noting that, I had been honest and authentic. About two weeks later Jeffery and Evelyn returned. They signed the proposal.
In the small, yet very functional butler’s pantry we used simple, streamlined metropolitan Eclipse Cabinetry. The slab door style with a pearl white finish closely matches the homeowner’s existing contemporary style kitchen cabinets. Oh…the closet. Remember it? We turned this small space into an efficient storage wonder.
On the day I took “after” photos, Evelyn thanked me and Just Counters for the renovation work that was carried out in their home. She and her husband are both very pleased with the workmanship and storage we’ve given them. She said they will definitely recommend Just Counters to family and friends
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