With the kids back in school, I can’t help but wonder where the dog days of summer went and what does this year’s winter have in store. Just thinking about it makes me shiver. Recent winters have given us some of the harshest weather we’ve seen in decades. Everything from massive snow storms to
When I run a Remodelers Advantage Roundtables meeting or work with a remodeling company on-site one of the questions that I ask of all the attendees as part of ice-breaking efforts is: “When did you get your first job?” More often than not most of the people in the room started working in their mid
When you’re running a small-medium sized remodeling company, you likely have a limited budget for advertising and marketing. It’s understandable—even advisable—to direct the bulk of your limited budget to programs you believe will generate a rapid and measurable return on investment. Considering that even marketers are skeptical about social media’s short-term lead/sales generation potential, it’s
Google home improvement contractors in your area. You’ll notice many who list customer service as one of their top attributes. Within a few clicks, reviews from their clients tell a completely different story. Talk about a huge red flag to homeowners. Remodeling clients are looking for a contractor who doesn’t just talk the talk, but
How many times have you made a great presentation to a highly qualified client only to have them tell you “I’ll think about it” or “I’ll let you know?” How often do you enjoy a great conversation with someone for whom your company is a great fit, only to hear that they’re “gonna check out
Imagine having a list of thousands of people who know you, trust you and will one day need your services (or will know someone that does). This should be the goal of every successful remodeler. We can talk about your website’s Testimonials page, Portfolio page or even your About Us page until you’re blue in
In the last issue, we discussed the simple secret to capturing business from repeat customers. This week, I’d like to focus on the second source of your database goldmine — referral leads. The Importance of Referral Leads According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), professional remodelers attribute 37 percent
Sometimes remodeling companies put all of their efforts into building the product. However, to be successful in the remodeling industry, your focus should be on offering top-quality service to your customers. When you begin a remodeling business, you have entered a service industry that depends on referrals and repeat business. The amount of business, and
When I think about great leaders, instinctively I think of people who are fearlessly driven and inspire greatness in others. Leadership can show itself in different forms and span a variety of industries. Fortunately for me, working with residential construction professionals, I’m surrounded by leaders who focus on service excellence. All the remodelers I work
One of your fellow remodelers posted the following heartfelt plea on a discussion forum the other day: “With all the RRP rules and OSHA rules, workers’ comp, liability insurance, licenses, taxes and more how do we compete with the people who don’t have all this? How can I make money? HELP!!!” Sound familiar? The challenge
