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(Re)Model Citizen
Improvements Plus is a remodeling and renovation company owned by Robert Bankowski. Founded in 1989, the company is in the process of relocating to new quarters at 1 Raccio Park Road in Hamden.
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Business New Haven
11/29/1999
By: Priscilla Searles
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What type of renovation
and remodeling work does your company do?
We do a lot of kitchen remodeling, bathrooms, windows and doors - anything to do with a house. We offer a full-service approach, one-stop shopping from start to finish. We're making some changes now. We had a small kitchen showroom in Milford for five years, but I wanted to be closer to Hamden and the greater New Haven area, where most of our work is. That's why we're about to open the Raccio location. Right now we have three full-time employees and two part-time. My son Bobby joined the company full-time in 1997.
How did you end up in the remodeling and renovation business?
My father was a builder in Stamford. I was in the property-management business for 15 years, mostly residential condos and apartments. The company I worked for also did condo development; then we would manage the property. There was always something in some building that needed to be dealt with. But I made the move because I wanted to better myself and at the same time give people the quality they were looking for. We need more people in this business who are going to do it the right way and professional. Making the decision to open my own business was a hard one. I took a big chance in 1989, starting a new business in hard economic times. The country was in a recession.
How did you build the business?
I placed ads in some small newspapers, and word-of-mouth helped me build the business. Of course, money was tight in the beginning. I did draw off money to survive, but it certainly wasn't a salary. We still get a lot of business through word-of-mouth. You know you're doing something right when you get repeat customers and referrals. Personalized, professional service is a must - whether it's an addition, a new kitchen, whole house renovation, door or windows replacement or multi-unit commercial renovation.
How do you approach a project?
People often don't know exactly what they want. For example, if a customer wants to remodel a kitchen, I begin by getting input from them - finding out what their needs are, what they like and don't like, what style they want. I take measurements, show the customer catalogues. Once I have the necessary information, we use a computer and digital design software to create the kitchen. The customer can see what the finished product is going to look like.
How to you compete with the large discount stores that sell everything from kitchen cabinets to lumber and tools?
We provide quality and service. And it works, because people keep coming back. The large stores have employee turnover. You don't know who you're talking to day to day, and you can't be sure how expert they are. Then you have to lug your own stuff out and if you need help, hire a contractor. You don't always get the quality and value for what you are spending. We provide a quality product and service. We stay with a project until the last nail is in and the customer is satisfied. That formula works.
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