Cross Roads Podcast
Mark Zakem with West Shore Home for all you quality replacement needs for your home.
Have you ever found yourself having to replace a door, bathtub, windows. Mark Zakem shares how his company West Shore Home not only provides top quality doors, windows and bathrooms they stand behind their work with a lifetime warranty.
Have you ever found yourself having to replace a door, bathtub, windows. Mark Zakem shares how his company West Shore Home not only provides top quality doors, windows and bathrooms they stand behind their work with a lifetime warranty.
Cross Roads Podcast for those who want to be in the know! Good morning Cross Roads. This is your host Steven Killfoil. And on the show today is Mark Zakem representing West Shore homes. Thank you for coming on the show today Mark. Mark is going to be sharing with us about his company West Shore home and the quality and services they offer for our area. Back in 2018. Mady and I contracted Lennar homes to build our house right here in Cross Roads. For many who have a Lennar home, we found out quickly how shoddy some of the construction was. That is why I reached out to Mark with West Shore home. Mark, would you tell us a little about yourself and how you became involved with West Shore home here in Texas?
Mark Zakem:Yeah, absolutely. First of all, just want to say thank you, Steven, for having me on the show. And thank you to your listeners. Mark as they come here. I've been with West Shore home for a little over a year. Great company. I'll get to get to that in a second. But just a little bit about myself. I'm 43 years old, married with two children that live out in Rockwall, Texas, and to do work all over North Texas. So what's your home just as a company, tell you a little bit about us. We are we do home renovations remodeling with that. So we focus on windows, doors, and then the wet space and bathrooms. But we're actually expanding in the future towards full bathroom. So we'll get to that in a little bit. But been with them for a little over a year a great company, very admirable, reputable company in this industry. And you had me out a couple of weeks ago. And you and I kind of hit it off. And here we are right now. So ask away and I'll answer any questions you guys need.
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Steven Killfoil:All right. Well, how long have you lived in Texas?
Mark Zakem:My whole life all 43 years. So I was raised in Houston, moved up to the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex at the age of six and have been in this area since then. So Texas, born and bred and love it here in Texas, so no other way.
Steven Killfoil:That's great. Well, on the Facebook page, West Shore home, the company shows three core services that you offer throughout the year. Would you tell our listeners a little a bit about your services?
Mark Zakem:Yeah, absolutely. So we do, like I just mentioned a second ago, we're going to do windows doors, and then we do the wet space in the shower and bath. So just to talk specifically about each one. With our doors, we're going to give you the custom full replacement meant an entry system with those, we use a door manufacturer called Provia, which makes a really quality high quality door. And you're gonna get that in a Sugarcreek, Ohio. Those doors are custom made for every customer, whether we're doing the front doors, or we're doing the patio doors or any doors that needed for that. So we do all entry doors with that our windows we do is actually manufactured here locally in Frisco with EMI is the window company. And that's going to be a really high grade 100% Virgin vinyl window with Aragon gas, extremely high rating as far as energy efficiency. So great windows, they actually make a custom window for West Shore, which is a white label window. So with a lot of companies, you're gonna get a, you know, a builder grade window, and then you're gonna get a premium window. The problem is you may signed up for the premium window day of installation, you don't know if you got the premium window or the the builder grade that the lower till tear window. With West Shore, we do everything with excellence. So you're gonna get that top grade window throughout no matter what you do. And then also we focus on the whitespace we do a lot of our shower baths are going to be doing dealing with accessibility, or with mold and mildew. Those are the two big things that we kind of really hone in on. And then we can do any of those three projects. We can do that 93% of the time in a day. So we are in your house, we get it done, get it taken care of. But that's a little bit about that. And then obviously I like if anyone would like to reach out to me for more information. I can certainly provide that.
Steven Killfoil:Yeah, and you say that 93% Because I'm assuming that's on that story, you told me where you pulled the guy's bathtub out. And he didn't have any floor. Correct? Yeah, every now and then there was dirt.
Mark Zakem:Yeah, every now and then you'll get something has a void, there's there's no foundation underneath it and or somebody pulls it up and they realize they have major foundation issues. You know, that happens every now and then. But really most of the time that 7% is because we as a company are going to pull those permits for you as a customer. So depending on what city we're in, in the area, and I'm not sure with Crossroads how it is here, but we have to pull permits, and so we're just waiting for the inspector. So that's what takes too long if he's going to show up or not. But we're desert dedicated to get that job done as quick as possible, which is really helpful for a customer that only has, you know, a single bath or a double bath and you know, getting that done for them as quick as possible. Same thing with Windows, if they had somebody has 24 windows they need to be taken care of, we're actually going to send six crews out to get those windows taken care of because they can handle about four windows per crew. So a day. Yeah.
Steven Killfoil:That's amazing. Well, well tell me Mark, what is your favorite service to offer?
Mark Zakem:For my? That's a great question the three different types of bat, let me let me let me go back on that. Shower bath is I feel like I'm helping people more specifically, because a lot of time we're going into a home that somebody needs it for accessibility, whether it's an injury, or getting a little bit older. So that can be really rewarding, being able to help with that and have a customer who, you know, they because we're gonna put a shower pan in, it's gonna have a four inch threshold, your standard tub has a 15 to 17 inch threshold. So it can get difficult for somebody to step over step in and out. So I like the shower bath personally, doors are fun, too, because doors are the gateway to your home. So as you drive past your neighborhood, you know, if somebody has a good door, and are not there, you know, and that look. So those are fun. Windows are probably the most non emotional product, because typically with people when they're gonna call you on Windows, they've made a decision, we need to get Windows, you know, and it's for draft or energy efficiency, but it's not typically because they're excited to purchase windows. So hopefully that's helpful on that.
Steven Killfoil:Oh, yes, definitely. What do you like most about West Shore home?
Mark Zakem:I get that asked every day when I'm in a house and specifically 95% of companies. So we're in the service industry, obviously. And doing remodeling 95% of companies are going to subcontract their work. Okay, so for those who are listening and don't know exactly what that means, subcontracting means you would have a company A come out and tell you about their products, let's just say it's a door, they'd come out and tell you, Hey, we got this door, blah, blah, blah. And that customer gets excited about it. But day in and day of installation, it's going to be two guys in a white pickup truck that are installing your door that actually don't work for the company who just sold you the door. So that's what would be subcontracting. Okay, the challenging thing you run with that is there's a disconnect, who's responsible if there's a problem. And a lot of these companies and these home centers also have within their warranty system that if something is installed by a subcontractor, it will void that warranty. So because they're not taking ownership of that, what's different with West Shore, and what I personally love about West Shore is, we are not never going to subcontract our work. So all everybody who comes in to install that shower bath for you that door, that window, those are going to be company installers that have been background tested personality tests, drug tested, gone through rigorous training, they've 52 weeks a year, six days a week, these guys are doing that project. So they're specialists in what they do. So they're not going to get in there and see a shower bath, where they pull out the walls and see something they've never seen before, or with Windows or with door. So that's, you know, in a nutshell, what I liked most about West Shore is I know, because on the back end, we're going to do our job, essentially.
Steven Killfoil:Definitely. Those other companies are sneaky little devils.
Mark Zakem:Yeah. And I always tell people, when I'm in a house, it's like, Hey, you and I can have a great time. You can you know, we can banter all day long and had a good appointment, but I'm not installing your shower bath. I'm not installing your door. So you want to have somebody who knows what they're doing. And with that they're doing what I always tell people there. They we go through rigorous training, they actually do a personality test. And people always kind of perk up and like why personality tests because they have to be able to solve problems. They have to be able to be under pressure, know how to respond to do things. So we are hiring the best when it comes to that we ever install guys or install lead or install managers. And it's a career for these guys. So with all eyes on deck making sure everything's working properly, but they show up with a West Shore truck, West Shore shirt greet you, when we keep your house in a broom swept condition for sure.
Steven Killfoil:Oh, wow. Well, do you specialize in any specific service?
Mark Zakem:I specialize in connecting with the customer? Now get seriously, no, I can hit it all. If you'd asked me which appointment Do I like to run the most, I would say, shower bath, which is kind of what we talked about. But as far as specialized. I'm pretty versed in all three of the products that we offer. So, but yeah, I like to run, I like to run actually a variety of all three of them. So if you gave me a shower, bath, the door and a window every day, that would be
Steven Killfoil:Well, have you ever come across somebody that perfect. you just were totally floored? And just, oh my God, what do I do? Yeah,
Mark Zakem:Yeah, more than one. So it what's really interesting is and so for your listeners, you know, if you wanted West Shore to come out, because we're going to come out and give you a quote, that's good for a year. And then, you know, typically, if we have a promo, we're gonna help you out with that. But with that, it's very interesting, as we'll have customers call us to come out. And then when we come out, they're just like, why are you here? I'm like, in my head. I never say it to the customer. But I'm always in my head, like, you guys called us out to come see, you know, why, why the hostility? And I think it's just people. You know, a lot of people aren't comfortable with having people in their home. So they get kind of defensive at the beginning or thinking that we're going to sell them something. And with us, we're design consultants, so we're not sales, guys. So our job is not to come out and sell you. We're here to help solve a problem and kind of help design through that. Specifically stories. Let me think for a second, if there's anything that I've had, that's kind of off the wall. No, I mean, a couple times, I've had customers who maybe elderly that have had, We'll see our commercials and we'll just call and then forget that they call them will come out and that kind of stuff. But that's pretty standard. Couple of other reps. I've had that I've had some crazy stories, but mine mine have been pretty, I go pretty much go with the flow. I know how to take it so I can I can pivot in any situation and figure out something.
Steven Killfoil:Yeah. Well, well, not to name names, but I did name I did call out Lennar Homes on this because in my in my own personal HOA, it's unbelievable how many crappy things are happening to all of my neighbors. And it just it it makes me mad. And then I come to find out that there's actually a web site that Lennar owners across the nation have put together with the launch complaints. So I see a future class action lawsuit coming up in the near future.
Mark Zakem:We'll let you guys handle that.
Steven Killfoil:Right anyway without naming names. Can you give some of the challenges that you face? When you're presenting services to a homeowner some of the examples that you've come across?
Mark Zakem:Yeah, so specifically, and I was in real estate real estate for 10 years. So I kind of have a pretty good approach on that. But every home that's typically built and what I say are going to be that a non custom home, we'll just say we'll use those terms, right? So we'll leave companies out, but they're going to give you a builder grade quality. So you're going to get builder grade materials when it comes to a shower bath when it comes to Windows and when it comes to doors. Well, the last thing you're thinking about when you purchase a home, truthfully is especially if it's a new home, is what is this door gonna look like in five years? Or what is this window gonna look like? You're happy that you got a house, everything's new, everything's working functioning properly. What most homeowners don't realize is that after the fact, those warranties wear out and you find out that door, because like a door from a home center is going to only have a warranty for like one to three years difference with us is you're going to lifetime warranty on the frame and components of our doors. And then you're going to have a like, let's just say you did a steel door painted look, you're going to have a 10 year finish warranty on those. And because we're preferred dealer, we're going to be able to back that warranty with you. If somebody was to move forward with our shower bath, we're going to give you a lifetime warranty on that product. Same thing with Windows, we're going to give you a lifetime on the components and on the frame and then a 20 year warranty on the glass package. Well, most homes, you know, specifically with your home here, those are just that builder grade materials. So cheaper materials, same thing you're gonna find at a home center. They're just cookie cutter mass producing those windows mass producing those doors, mass producing just the shower bath, or they're just throwing tile up or whatever, whatever the quickest, and most, you know, cost efficient for them on their back end to save money, that's what they're gonna do. But a homeowner is not going to be educated on that or to know that upfront. So that's the, that's the challenge we run into situations, specifically, is is people not realizing how much things costs, right, everything's gone up. But as a homeowner, you know, you purchase a home, let's say in 2017, right? Before we had that real estate boom, and you purchase a home for $275,000? Well, you don't realize when it's time to go ahead and replace all those windows, you're looking at 15 to $25,000, just for your windows, and then a door, a door can cost anywhere between $3,500 and ten grand for a door, same thing, shower bath, you can be 12 to 20, you know, wherever that is. And so, it's it can be a little shocking for a, you know, a customer not realizing that, oh my gosh, that's what things cost. I bought this house for this at this point. So yeah. And then you you know, you're dealing with home centers, home centers are always going to be that what we call builder grade, cheaper materials. And I always say you can, you can do it cheap. You certainly can. But you know, you get what you pay for in this industry? For sure. Yeah.
Steven Killfoil:Well, in regards to the cost of materials, man after COVID, everything just went crazy. I remember when you used to be able to get a three quarter inch sheet of plywood with treated on one side and finished for 18 bucks. I mean, you can't touch one now for less than $85 $90 bucks. And this is why I found some tooth and lock poly urethane plastic flooring, and I put up in my attic because I wasn't planning on building a bedroom up there. But I did need to put something up there that I wasn't willing to throw down 90 bucks per eight foot panel.
Mark Zakem:Well, we've had a massive flux of just increase in prices since 2020. Across the board. I mean, you think about labor, you think about gas, you think about everything. But even just this past year, I don't know if you were able to see that meme from Home Alone meme where they say when Kevin goes to the grocery store, he paid 19 I think it was $19.92 for all those groceries when he was there. Right? If they said last year, at that same time those groceries would have cost $45. Okay, this year, just in this one year from 2022 to 2023. Those groceries now cost $72. Yeah. And that was on Fox News. They showed that and I'm like, people don't realize just this past year, just a massive increase that we've seen yet the board.
Steven Killfoil:Go Brandon Oh, Lord, yeah. Well, my wife working in, in the gas industry with Atmos Energy. They, she's sometimes only able to get a quote for materials that's good for 30 days. Oh, yeah. And I mean, you know, that's impossible. It sometimes takes six months to build out a single station, for sure. And you know, they're given her bid prices on materials to build that station. And it's only good for 30 days. And then the bosses are like, well, how come? You know when you put the bid in for the project? You locked in here and it costs us you know, 30 $40,000 more well, materials that just keep going up, not down. It's they're not lining out. They're going up and up and up. Yeah. And at some point they've got to stop. It's hopefully
Mark Zakem:Ever ever changing game for sure on that.
Steven Killfoil:Oh, goodness. Gracious. Yeah. Well, when Mady and I met you for the first time, it was to replace the horrible wooden Home Depot door that Lenore left with us. I had done my research and found out that West Shore home was the closest company to Sears that I could find. I was impressed with your presentation and the positive energy we felt while you were in our home. We had a Sears and Roebuck door put on our house, we had an Irving and I would have done it again except they are longer in business. So this is why I was happy to find your company. So what is your inspiration for going out day by day and meeting with homeowners? Great
Mark Zakem:Great question. So I got into this field. I had worked in real estate for a really long time and had a co worker who had switched over to West Shore and had done really well. And she absolutely loved it. So I was like what what is this about? So I actually interviewed with them found out the West Shore was the company who they say they are. So you a lot of companies, you know, advertise one way, but they're different behind the scenes. And West Shore certainly is who they advertise. But I have always had a heart for people and helping people. And so it's, I have the best of both worlds, I get to be in a house every day for an hour, hour and a half, meet somebody new, and kind of connect to them, and then help them with their needs. And so, you know, just I love to problem solve and connect with people. So really, that's my inspiration. I love every appointment, whether it's somebody who's a West Shore customer, or somebody who's not a West Shore customer, I meet incredible people got to hear you and Mady story that was, you know, really moving for me and, and so it's a really connect, and my customers actually just become friends after that, too. So that's, I think that's the inspiration and what keeps me going every day meeting somebody new and kind of touching their life.
Steven Killfoil:Yeah, well, Mark, would you share with our listeners out here, in this area, the importance of taking advantage of the offerings that your company offers? To the
Mark Zakem:Yeah, absolutely. So we're going to get out, we are homeowner? always going to give you a top tier product that is going to be well. Much better product than you're going to see out there on the market. The other thing with West Shore, and I always tell people, that's when I'm going to home, is we give you the entire pie. And what I mean by that is you're gonna get the reputable company, West Shore is the fastest growing remodeling company United States and the most reputable, you're gonna get a it's a family owned company. So you're gonna get that, you're also going to get a top tier product with the top tier lifetime warranty on that product. With that, you're also going to get that company installers. And then I always tell people hope for myself, specifically, you're gonna get me with that project. And what I mean by that, and maybe Steven you can even attest to that is anytime you've needed anything during this time, with getting the door done, I'm there to answer those questions help you out and kind of take care of you. What you see with most companies is they're going to come out and they just want your business. And then you're never going to see them again, or hear from them again. So that would be the the big thing. Now with West Shore, we obviously are going to come out and give you a quote, that's good for a year. And then we always have, hopefully, depending on what season and now's a great time take advantage of his we're doing free install right now through January 21. So that's a great opportunity to take advantage. Because when people are calling us they have a need they have something that needs to get taken care of. And obviously we're there to take care of that. And when do you take care of something when you can save the most money? So that's what I always say? Definitely. Well, what are some of the ways to contact wash your home for an appointment? How do we get ahold of you? Yeah, you can certainly go to get a hold of me specifically, you can just call me directly. That number is 214-263-7610. Again, 214-263-7610. You can also email me at mark.zakem@westshorehome.com that's mark.zakem@westshorehome.com, where shore home.com certainly can get a hold of me there. If you don't specifically want to talk to me, you could certainly call our website directly and get a hold of them. And we'll definitely schedule and have somebody come out take care of you. But I'd love to work with these specifically and come out. And I've gotten a chance to know Steven know this area. So certainly there to help meet any needs you guys need and anything I can help out with.
Steven Killfoil:Great. Well, you heard it, call him. So do you have any new year's specials running to help encourage those who need your services? Yeah,
Mark Zakem:absolutely. So we have our right now we're doing our free install. And that is good until the 21st of January. Like I said, we we come out we give you a free quote. That's good for a year. And then that's that promo that we have running right now for 20% off promotion, running that through the 21st. So we'd love to come out, give you a quote, give you an idea of what you're looking at and then save you the most money we can.
Steven Killfoil:What would be your best piece of advice for 2024
Mark Zakem:personal piece of advice would be Get better every day. So you always hear the theory is if we just get 1% better every day. And whether that's with your kids spending one more minute with them reading one more minute longer jogging one extra minute. Taking that time, you know resending that extra text to a family mentor member just every day just increasing. And then at the end of the year, you're gonna see tremendous growth on that. So that would be my best advice. Still, just one bite at a time. Get better every single day.
Steven Killfoil:You heard it today from Mark seichim with West Shore home. For questions or suggestions email us at Crossroadspodcast2023@gmail.com. If you want to be on the show, call us at 469-230-5956. We'd love to have our local businesses on the show. Now for some local announcements here in crossroads and in the surrounding area. With the arrival of the Crossroads times, January 2024 issue and a press release, we are pleased to see that our esteemed Mayor Lynn Tompkins and our dear Councilman and council women have finally taken the steps and approved a big part of the Crossroads vision 2035 planned when our town partnered up with D ISD. According to the press release on the town of Crossroads Facebook page, as part of the partnership approximately 32 acres near the southeast corner of us 380 And Naylor Road will be managed through joint ownership between the two entities to be developed as a town center with retail restaurant and entertainment amenities, and a future government center located on 2.5 acres in the middle of the development. Yes, folks, Crossroads is finally gonna get its Town Square. I'm excited. This project will provide sales tax revenue to the town and property tax revenue to the school district. Thank you again Mayor Tompkins for showing once again, what amazing leadership you and your team provide for the town of crossroads. Town Council we'll be meeting January 16 At six o'clock at the crossroads police department meeting center. If you want to find out what's going on with the town of Crossroads you need to attend those meetings folks. Don't complain unless you participate. If you don't vote, then shut up. That's the bottom line. So in our neck of the woods, be sure to drop in at the brass tap every Sunday for that live football game. And if trivia is your passion, then you won't want to miss out on Thursday, January 18 and 25th at seven o'clock, for those of the Irish persuasion don't want to miss that Celtic last Ireland live Saturday January 27 at eight o'clock pm Slainte deer Slainte For more information go to Facebook, the brass tap Crossroads or give them a call at 940-488-5087 Tell them Stephen from Crossroads podcast sent you up in pilot point at the coffee house on Tuesday January 16. At six o'clock, the coffee house sessions, bring your fiddle bring your guitar bring your voice and Let's jam with some local friends. If gaming is your thing, then come on out Thursday January 18 starting at six for coffee house game night. And if you enjoy good music then you won't want to miss the concert on Saturday January 28 at eight o'clock with 20 West. For more information go to pilot point coffeehouse on Facebook or call Jamerson direct at 940-553-0075 Be there or be square. Stay tuned in next week as I bring you some more announcements and updates on what's going on with our town, the town council and the park and rec board which are doing a great job. Until next week. I'll see you at the top. Be in the know