We just wanted to take a moment to tell all of you who voted for our blog in the “Best Construction Blog” competition THANK YOU! The voting for the competition lasted for two months and we finished in third place. This is even more amazing to us when we consider that we were unaware of the competition until two weeks before it ended. We rallied the troops and you, our loyal friends and readers came through for us as always. Below is an excerpt from the Construction Marketing Ideas Blog which hosted the competition:

“The Best Construction Blog and Forum contest has concluded and the voting results are in, but what do they mean?

Obviously, results from what essentially is a “get out the votes” competition provide a different perspective than we would discover from an independent judging panel.  They suggest, for example, that Bobby Darnell (http://www.buildingnewbusiness.com) in Atlanta has mastered the art of online viral relationships and networking, while Michael Stone (http://www.markupandprofit.com/blog) has the most enthusiastic and loyal followers, certainly judging by the positive comments associated with his votes.  Burgin Construction Inc. in California (http://www.burginconstructioninc.com/blog) , meanwhile, has proven that a local construction business can be a contender in an international competition.”  Click for More

Once again, thank you for your support not only in this competition but in our business in general. The true mark of a great company is not the company itself, but its customers and colleagues. And, we truly have the best of both!

Earlier this week we learned that the Burgin Construction Blog has been nominated for the Construction Marketing Marketing Ideas Best Construction Blog Competition! 39 blogs from across the nation were nominated for this competition and voting ends at 5pm on Sunday, February 28th, 2010. This is a huge honor for our company and it shows us that we are providing a service to our readers that they find informative as well as entertaining.

I have to say, I don’t think I’ve been this excited in a very long time! While Burgin Construction is a fantastic organization that has been honored for their outstanding service and workmanship many times over the years, this nomination is more dear to my heart. I truly love working for this company and enjoy reaching out to our friends, colleagues, and clients each week through the blog. And, before I very blatantly begin to beg for your votes in the competition, I want to thank each of you for taking the time to read our blog and providing your feedback. It is really a highlight of my week and I look forward to being able to share this communication with you for many years to come! Now the begging will commence 

To vote for the Burgin Blog as the “Best Construction Blog” please go to: http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com/the-best-construction-marketing-blog-competition/ and check off Burgin Construction, Inc. (we’re the 9th one down), fill out the info, and then submit. The only information you have to provide is your name and email address and if you don’t choose to be contacted by them or be on their mailing list you will not be. They are a highly reputable group and strictly adhere to their privacy policy.

Thank you again for all of your support!

On April 22nd California’s “Cash for Refrigerators” program begins. The State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program is funded by $300 million from the federal stimulus package but is governed by each individual state. California has been approved for $35.3 million of these funds.

According to the California Energy Commission Website many of the specifics are yet to be determined, however rebates of $50 – $250 are possible for the replacement of old appliances. All appliances must be Energy Star listed and a list of the specific appliances eligible is expected to be released soon. The new cash4appliances website is expected to be launched on March 1st.

If you’re thinking about a remodel and plan to replace your outdated appliances this is definitely the time to start planning. Once the details of the program are released and the dates for eligibility are set, the funds are expected to go very quickly, just as they did with the Cash for Clunkers program. Planning now for that remodel and purchasing the appliances as soon as the criteria are released is the best way to ensure you receive your rebate. If you have any questions about the program please contact us at 714-558-1094.

We’d like to extend our congratulations to Designer Cindy Smetana. Her design on the Harmeyer project won Best Kitchen Design - Gold Award in the November, 2009 special issue of Orange Coast Home Magazine! To see the special November issue click on the magazine cover below. If you’d like to see more photos of the Harmeyer project click on the image from the article on the right.

We are so honored to have been a part of this project and are extremely proud of Cindy for all of her hard work on it. Congratulations Cindy!

Wow! It’s almost here! 2010 is just around the corner and, tonight, we will usher in a new decade. It has been quite a roller coaster ride this past year for us and for many of you as well, I’m sure. We’ve seen so many changes in the world from politics to technology and some major changes have taken place in the construction industry.

Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be touching on some of those changes and talk about what we expect remodeling and design trends will be. We’re looking forward to working with you all in 2010 and wish you a very safe and Happy New Year. See you in 2010!

This time of year is a time for reflection and gratitude for each and every person who has played a role in our lives over the past 12 months, no matter how small. Fortunately for us, there are entirely too many of you for us to do so in person. So, though it may seem impersonal, please accept this as a thank you for each and every one of you.

We could not accomplish all that we do without our wonderful Trade Partners and Vendors. We would never be able to provide the service and excellent quality work that we do without our amazing staff. And, we would have nothing to show for all of our hard work without our fantastic customers and their trust in us.

Thank you all for your part in making Burgin Construction a successful company. We hope you have a wonderful Holiday and we look forward to working with you in the new year!

With the holiday season in full swing we thought it would be nice to take this time to recognize one of our more recent additions to the Burgin Construction Family. Though he’s been a member of the family for well over a year now, he’s recently begun taking a more active interest in the company. He’s jumped into his new position with all 4 feet and seems to love his job. While we normally don’t advocate laying down on the job, it’s a process that seems to work well for him. Here is our new Production Manager, Tiger:

As you can see, he’s very much into his work. We’re pretty sure he’s working on some type of osmosis experimentation as he’s always so absorbed in his work he seems to be in a trance. And, while he’s not much of a talker, he definitely keeps everyone on their toes. Have a look at the photo below to check out Tiger hard at work on a “top secret” project we’re going to be starting after the new year. But shhhh, don’t tell anyone!

It’s time to Deck the Halls and, with the help of Audra Miller from AW Dezynes, we have some tips to make your home perfect for the holidays!

Begin The Show Outside- Pre-lit artificial garland and topiaries will set the stage for the main event waiting inside. Ornaments hung randomly from trees and other plants can add a lovely touch and a large wreath is a must for the entry door.

Set Your Color Scheme- Choose from the colors that you already have in your home to make it easier to decorate. Once you’ve picked a couple of basic colors choose from gold or silver accents to help blend the scheme throughout the home.

Start, Don’t Stop, With The Tree- While the tree may be the focal point of your home it also sets the stage. Barren walls and shelves will downplay a tree, no matter how ornate. Utilize garlands and wreaths on walls, banisters, railings and columns then add simple touches such as hanging stockings, lit villages and other nick-nacks to shelves and mantles.

Time To Set The Table- Whether your place settings will be elaborate or simple, a few small touches will add sparkle and a bit of magic to your dining table. Tie thin gold or silver ribbon into bows around wine glass stems, use matching gold or silver garland ties as napkin rings and place a single ornament in each bowl that will match your overall theme.

Take A “Bow”- No, not a bow for all the applause (though your beautiful decorating may very well deserve one). We’re talking about ribbons, and lots of them! Use coordinating ribbon to tie around chair backs, wind up columns, wrap basket handles, tie back curtains, and top off just about anything else in your home that you’d like to add a bit of holiday cheer to.

These are just a few simple ideas that can help make your holiday decorating smash hit. However, if you’re like me, and just can’t seem to find the time to get it all done you’re in luck! Audra offers holiday decorating services for both residential and commercial clients. She can help ease the stress of the holidays for you by taking care of all the designing, decorating, shopping, installation, tear-down and storage! Her team will utilize your existing decorations, enhance those with a few added touches or create a complete yuletide makeover to create your own personal winter wonderland! Contact her at 714-904-7431 for more information and see examples of her holiday decoration projects at http://www.awdezynes.com/holidaydecor.nxg.

Like most everyone else, we are looking back over the past year and thinking about what we are thankful for. And, while we are always thankful for our customers, employees and trade partners, that is more true this year than in any other. The economic issues that country and our state have faced have cost so many a great deal. Thanks to YOU, we are still here after 20 years and we want each of you to know that you are greatly appreciated!

Here are the things that some of the Burgin Construction team members are thankful for this year:

“I am thankful for my family and friends. In a year that has been filled with struggles they have all been there for me more than I could have ever expected.” ~Rhonda

“This year I am most thankful for our employees and trade partners. They have all pulled together to make our company look great and to provide our clients with the very best in service and quality.” ~Brad

“I’m thankful for my wife and our new baby boy. It’s been an eventful year and I’ve learned that family is the most important thing.” ~Eddy

“I am thankful for the many opportunities both personally and professionally that have come my way this year. I am truly blessed to have the network of friends and colleagues that I do, many of them through Burgin Construction.” ~Shannon

“I’m most thankful this year for my friends and family who are always there for me.” ~Tom

Earlier this week I was laid back and relaxed about the Thanksgiving holiday. Just my husband and I and our two girls. A nice, quiet, family Thanksgiving. I had planned out a simple menu with all the necessities and not a lot of effort required on my part. It would be a wonderful day with no hosting duties, nowhere to go and I was in complete control!

Then, my fantasy bubble burst. I ended up extending a last minute invitation to some friends of ours and their two girls. My Thanksgiving has now doubled in size and duties and, honestly, I’m a wreck! There are a hundred extra tasks on my list now for this week and a much larger menu. I have more cleaning and decorating on my to-do list and actually have to make sure everyone looks presentable at the table!

Don’t get me wrong; I’m happy, elated even, that we will have guests for the holiday. I come from a large family and Thanksgiving was always a HUGE event with more than 20 people each year. To me, it really isn’t Thanksgiving if I’m not making a huge meal, playing hostess and spending time with family and close friends. Though it puts more on my plate (literally and figuratively!), I’m very much looking forward to next Thursday.

In the interim though, I must put on the gloves and battle through the preparations and to-do’s in order to make this a perfect holiday for everyone involved. Here are some tips from Kohler and Susan Serra, CKD, CAPS – Susan Serra Associates, Inc. that can help make it easier whether you’re expecting a large or small group at your table:

Crowd Control- The crowd is at once fantastic to have around, and often, truth be told, in the way. Plan your seating strategy in advance.

Teamwork- Assistant chefs are our friends. Plan in advance what you may need help with. Be flexible. You may wish to assign tasks to a certain family member.

Plan Ahead- “Planning ahead and visualizing all of what you need and when you may need it, is a very big step toward stress-free entertaining.”

And just a few tips from me that always seem to help me maintain my sanity during holiday gatherings:

Make Lists- Lists can be your biggest asset when planning a gathering and will help you to ensure you don’t forget anything.

Allow Guests to Bring Items- Split the cooking and purchasing and it will save you time and money. Don’t require guests to bring anything (after all, you invited them!), but if they offer, jump on it!

Let the Kids Pitch In- They may not be able to help with much of the cooking  but they can definitely help in other ways. Ask them to do some of the special chores that we all try to get to when planning a gathering such as: wiping down baseboards, cleaning the fronts of cabinets and dusting. Putting them at the table with some crafts to do for decorations is a perfect way to keep them out from under your feet and get fantastic, cheap decorations for the meal! Have them create a centerpiece, place cards, and other cute items. You can get some great ideas from Disney’s Family Fun website.