Houzz

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16 years later, the internet has made hiring an architect easier

Over my 16 years in the industry the way we communicate and interview with clients has drastically changed. It used to be a phone call, face to face meeting, and hundreds of pictures from magazines kicked off each project interview. Now it usually starts with an online request for a meeting, an email or two to coordinate the schedule, maybe a phone call, and then the sharing of idea books on Houzz.

When I started in the field the first meeting with clients was more of a “here is who we are and what we do” or “do you design houses” and now it is more of “so when can we get started?” In the space where clients used to interview me to figure out if I am the right fit for their project, they are simply wanting to get started with design. The interview process on their side has already taken place from reading my blog and my about me page and searching our website. They know me before they meet me. I have put all my information online for them to consider making it easy for them to know they can trust me.

Our use of Houzz has also helped as past clients have written reviews about their experiences with me during design. Builders have written about their experience using our drawings and project partners have indicated positive experiences working with us. The most important tool we use on Houzz are the ideabooks. Here clients can share their thoughts, desires, dreams – using pictures and text. They can save a picture of a house to tell me what colors they like. They can share a picture of a door handle to tell me what style they like. They can save a picture of a flooring to tell me the aesthetic they want to achieve. This online platform is huge for residential design success. Our clients love it! It is also huge to help our clients know us on a deeper level by reading what others have to say (please review us if you have worked with us in the past it is a huge help).

From our blog, facebook page, twitter feed, LinkedIn account, to our Houzz and Instagram accounts we are interviewed before ever getting face to face. Clients know us, know my kids and wife, and know my values by following us before ever setting up the first appointment. Thinking back to the days of a client opening a phone book to make that first decision shows how far we have come. 

The Gaines Group, PLC of Harrisonburg, VA Receives “Best Of Houzz 2015 Award”

 Over 25 Million Monthly Unique Users Rated Top-Rated Home Building, Remodeling and Design Professionals in the United States and Around the World

Harrisonburg, Virginia, January 25, 2015 – The Gaines Group, PLC of Charlottesville and Harrisonburg Virginia has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” for Design by Houzz, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The 28 year old architectural firm was chosen by the more than 25 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 500,000 active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz award is given in two categories: Design and Customer Satisfaction. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 25 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers.” Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2014. Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2015” badge on their profiles, helping Houzz users around the world who discover and love a professional’s work to learn even more about that business’ popularity and satisfaction rating among their peers in the Houzz community.

The Gaines Group, PLC is thrilled to be included in this elite list of “Best of Houzz” 2015 Design Award winners. Principal, Charles Hendricks states: “Our projects are a direct result of working with great clients that want creative, energy-efficient, healthy, and durable design solutions.”

“Houzz provides homeowners with a 360 degree view of home building, remodeling and design industry professionals, empowering them to engage the right people and products for their project,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of industry marketing for Houzz. “We’re delighted to recognize The Gaines Group, PLC among our “Best Of” professionals as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

Follow The Gaines Group, PLC on Houzz http://www.houzz.com/pro/charlottesvillearchitect/__public

About The Gaines Group, PLC

The Gaines Group, PLC is an architectural firm that specializes in common sense solutions that add value to your project through energy-efficient, durable, and healthy designs. With 28 years of experience in Virginia, this award-winning architecture firm works hard to deliver excellent service at an affordable price. With offices in Charlottesville and Harrisonburg, the Gaines Group can serve your design needs anywhere in Virginia, Pennsylvania, or North Carolina. Constantly looking for the best answer, they work tirelessly staying on top of latest trends and best practices in the construction industry.

 About Houzz

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin and Sydney. For more information, visit www.houzz.com

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Best of Houzz Awards – The Gaines Group receives the honor for a second year in a row.

The Gaines Group, PLC Architecture and Design  Receives

Houzz’s 2013 ‘Best Of Houzz’ Award

Annual Survey and Analysis of 11 Million Monthly Users

 Reveals Top-Rated U.S. Professionals

Harrisonburg, VA  —  January 24, 2013 – The Gaines Group, PLC Architecture and Design of Harrisonburg, Va has been awarded  “Best Of Houzz” 2013 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design.  The 26-year-old Architecture and Interior Design firm was chosen by the more than 11 million registered members of the Houzz community.

The Houzz “Best Of Houzz” award for 2013 is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on homeowner members who rated their experience working with remodeling professionals in 12 categories ranging from architects, and interior designers to contractors and other residential remodeling professionals.  Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the community of 11 million monthly users, also known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 124 million professional images of home interiors and exteriors to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site, iPad/iPhone app and Android app.

The Gaines Group, PLC is thrilled to be included in this elite list of Houzz “Best of Customer Satisfaction” 2013 Award winners. Principal, Charles Hendricks states: “It has been a tough year economically, but we have had some incredible clients, interesting projects, and survived to face another year. This award shows that our dedication to our clients is paying off – they are happy.” This is the second consecutive year the firm has been names “Best of Houzz.”


“Houzz provides homeowners with an in-depth, 360-degree view of building, remodeling and design professionals through images of their work, reviews and an opportunity to interact with them directly in the Houzz community,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community. “We’re delighted to recognize The Gaines Group among our “Best Of” professionals for exceptional customer service as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like The Gaines Group, but also those whose work matches their own aspirations for their home. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and evaluating their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.

 About The Gaines Group, PLC

 The Gaines Group, PLC is an architectural firm that specializes in common sense green solutions that add value to your project through energy-efficient, durable, and low maintenance designs. With 25 years of experience in Virginia, this award-winning architecture firm works hard to deliver excellent service at an affordable price. With offices in Charlottesville and Harrisonburg, the Gaines Group can serve your design needs anywhere in Virginia or North Carolina. Constantly looking for the best answer, they work tirelessly staying on top of latest trends and best practices in the construction industry.

 About Houzz

Houzz (www.houzz.com) is a leading online platform for home remodeling, providing inspiration, information, ‘advice and support for homeowners and home improvement professionals through its website and mobile applications. Houzz features the largest residential design database in the world, articles written by design experts, product recommendations, a vibrant community powered by social tools, and information on more than 1.5 million remodeling and design professionals worldwide who can help turn ideas into reality. @houzz_inc

For Immediate Release: May 1, 2012

Press Inquiries:        Charles Hendricks, AIA, CSI, CDT, LEED AP

540-437-0012, cbhendricks@thegainesgroup.com

The Gaines Group, PLC Architecture and Design of Harrisonburg, Virginia Receives

Houzz’s 2012 ‘Best Of Remodeling’ Award

First-Ever Survey & Analysis of More than 1.2 Million Members Reveals Top-Rated Professionals and Current Design Trends from Across the Country

Harrisonburg, VA  —  May 1, 2012 – The Gaines Group, PLC Architecture and Design of Harrisonburg, Va has been awarded  “Best Of Remodeling” 2012 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design.  The 25 year old Architecture and Interior Design firm was chosen by the more than 1.2 million registered members of the Houzz community.

The Houzz “Best Of Remodeling” award for 2012 is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on homeowner members who rated their experience working with remodeling professionals in 12 categories ranging from architects, and interior designers to contractors and other residential remodeling professionals.  Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the 1.2 million members, also known as “Houzzers,” who saved more than 16.5 million professional images to their personal ideabooks via the Houzz site and iPad/iPhone app.

The Gaines Group, PLC is thrilled to be included in this elite list of Houzz “Best of Remodeling” 2012 Design Award winners. Principal, Charles Hendricks states: “Our projects are a direct result of working with great clients that want creative, energy efficient, healthy, and durable design solutions.”

“With 3.5 million monthly unique users and 80 million monthly page views, Houzz has rapidly become the largest community of active remodelers, providing homeowners and design enthusiasts with first-hand advice from Houzzers who have been through the renovating and decorating process,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of marketing for Houzz. “This is a real stamp of approval for The Gaines Group, PLC Architecture and Design from the Houzz community and we’re thrilled to welcome them to this elite group of ‘Best Of’ winners.”

With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like The Gaines Group, PLC Architecture and Design, but also those whose work visually aligns with their own design goals. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and evaluating their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.

About The Gaines Group, PLC

The Gaines Group, PLC is a Virginia based architecture firm with offices in Charlottesville and Harrisonburg. Established in 1987, the firm has a dedication to strong ideas, ecological stewardship, and client satisfaction. As an award winning design firm, The Gaines Group, PLC has established a strong reputation of sophisticated design through addressing the specific needs and place for which a project is to be built. The firm’s work does not espouse any singular architectural style, but strives to find that which is unique and important whithin a given project and to express it architecturally. The firm offers a comprehensive range of integrated design services including architecture, LEED Consulting, Specification Consulting, Interior Design, Landscape planning, Master Planning, Site Planning, Graphic Design, and Marketing Design.

About Houzz

Houzz (www.houzz.com) is the leading online platform for home remodeling, providing inspiration, information, advice and support for homeowners and home improvement professionals through its website and mobile applications. Houzz features the largest residential design database in the world, articles written by design experts, product recommendations, a vibrant community powered by social tools, and information on more than 1.2 million remodeling and design professionals worldwide who can help turn ideas into reality. @houzz_inc

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