Oxford Sheds

Besides offering a great product and priced competitively for those quality buildings it’s important that this is backed up with great after sales service. Because there is nothing worse than being fobbed off or not being able to talk to someone about the problem you have with your garden shed, summerhouse or other garden building. This is where is can pay to deal with a family firm such 1st Choice Leisure Buildings situated close to Oxford. Run by Robin Antill and his son Craig. Robin’s wife, Molly, assists in the admin and between them they have a finger on the pulse at all times. Very different to some of the large companies on the web selling the cheap sheds and summer buildings. These type of companies rely on high volume to make their money as well as cutting cuts to make the cheapest buildings. This inevitably leads to some, or many, buildings going out not made to the required standard leaving the customer, who has paid out in advance and before seeing the product, having to get some sort of service. Often without success.

Recently one of our Oxford customers had a problem with their summerhouse, which can affect even companies offering the highest standards. However, this was dealt with efficiently and quickly and we received the following comment from them:-

Hi Robin

Just wanted to say thanks for excellent service. We had a slight leak in our summer house, which was supplied and erected by your company last year. The felting nails had pierced through the roof in a couple of places (too long I guess). We hadn’t noticed until we saw a few drips after some prolonged rain.

Your guys turned up at crack of dawn this morning, in their usual bright and cheerful way, and re-felted the roof in no time. Please pass on our thanks to the team.

You have a very satisfied customer!

Regards
Jeremy Beken

Clearly this is the way to do business. Things will go wrong from time to time but it’s how these problems are dealt with is key to surviving and thriving in business. The Antill background is from the service business where their father, grand father and great grandfather ran a butcher’s shop in Cleethorpes. Attention to service was instilled into the family when growing up and this is a great trait to have.

You will find that this family business has the confidence to allow customers to provide feedback on their site and is regularly in the high 90’s (currently 98%). The company who control the feedback is FeeFo and is recognised by Google as being trust worthy. The beauty of this to the end customer is that this feedback can not be doctored by 1st Choice and can not be changed from what the customer says. If there is any issue then they can provide a response feedback giving their side of the story.

By looking through the products on their site from garden sheds, to summerhouse, to garages and workshops you can see what people have been saying about their purchases including Oxford customers. Add in the fact you can see their products ‘in the flesh’ before handing any money over you can see what piece of mind this can give. So when you are looking at those ‘cheap’ sheds just give a thought to what problems there may be and how those problems will be addressed.

Nowadays many people in Oxford are looking at the best way to run their businesses and are looking to the garden shed to help them. Which is understandable as the shed, which is used for a great deal of activities, can lend itself to be used for a business. Just by clearing it out and adding electric and a phone line this can create a small office area away from the house. This area can be closed off at the end of the day allowing the business owner to have a little peace away from the phone.This type of home working is also great where new companies are starting up. It’s even possible that office workers can do the same saving the commute into town. That is the beauty of the Internet and today’s modern communications. Not only saving time by using the garden shed it is also greener as you save the travelling time and pollution created by the car.

Whilst it will be adequate for this a summerhouse or log cabin will be even better. But the main thing is that you have a warm and dry area for working in peace. With the addition of very fast Internet access the garden shed of today can be the future in Oxford.

Besides the time saving and convenience working from your shed will save you money on fares, train tickets, petrol and wear and tear on your car. There are no start up costs to speak about or rent to pay. There are no long term commitments such as long leases on office space so this option can only be good. Add in the quiet so you can work more efficiently it’s surprising that not more people are taking up this option. All from the humble garden shed.

There are just a few things to think about and that is ensure you keep your work away from your home life, but in a garden building, that should be easier. There could be a few start-up costs but these can be kept small and under control. Can you ensure the domestic side of your life whilst working can be kept separate and also, which some people don’t think about, can you stand the isolation. You will find that some people thrive on the peace and quiet where others desperately need the company of other people to function to their best.

Who would have thought that a garden building in Oxford could affect work patterns like they have. It’s clear to me that our modern technology is the key to this because without the Internet and fast and reliable phone connections the options would not have been so high. It could be argued that the current digital age is creating a change in our lives nearly as much as the industrial revolution did.