Good deals, service for those willing to spend

Sean Fisher wants to help you.With more people looking to save money in the down economy and turning to do-it-yourself home improvements, Fisher, owner of Tile Outlet Always in Stock stores in Roseville, Rocklin and Citrus Heights, offers videos and hands-on help for those looking to improve their homes."Tile is not only a beautiful floor covering," Fisher said. "It's dynamic." From floors to kitchens to bathrooms, tile can add a lot of value to a home for relatively cheap investment.According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, homeowners who make moderate improvements to their kitchen can expect to see a 99 percent return on their investment and a 91 percent return for a remodeled bathroom."Now's the time (to update)," Fisher said. "Be smart; if you don't have the money, don't spend the money. But if you have it, spend it, because that'll help move the economy along."And suppliers are making that as easy as possible."Everybody's stepping up to the plate to bring costs down," said DeeDee Lauder, a kitchen designer at the Roseville Home Depot. With people less willing to spend money, businesses are luring customers back to their stores with reduced prices on many products, as well as hands-on help and heightened customer service."Customer service is our number one goal right now," said Jill Vonn, Roseville Home Depot Department Head of Specialty. "Customer service is the one thing that will bring people back."Fisher agrees. "Our culture is hungry for customer service," he said. "When people come into my stores, I'm on your side, and I'm here to help you. I just want to educate you so you can be confident with the purchase you make."That even includes helping customers find someone else to help them when the project is beyond their abilities to do it on their own.Fisher encourages people who are looking to do a big job and have the money, to hire a contractor, which is just what Bill and Ruth Enloe of Rocklin did.Though they've laid down bathroom tile on their own before, when undertaking the kitchen remodel, the Enloes got a great price on a contractor recommended by Fisher."Now is the time to use contractors because they're hungry," said Ruth Enloe, who loves her new kitchen, complete with granite countertops. "It looks great. We're probably going to stay here for many more years, but if we don't, it's great for resale."Whether remodeling a back splash yourself or hiring a contractor for the whole house, the possibilities are endless, according to Fisher."You're only bound by your imagination," he said.