2012 Top 500 Remodelers Respond
3. Marketing costs have risen. In some cases, Lead costs have nearly doubled.
4. To continue to grow and expand our revenue numbers, we have labeled key people as “Franchise Players” and implemented creative ways to maintain and engage them in growing the company together.
5. Expanding our product line has improved our ability to bring in new business.
6. Several years ago, customers could tap into their equity much easier. Often now, they either don't have the equity or are unwilling to borrow against it.
#467
Burgin Construction, Inc.
North Tustin, Calif.
1. Yes, I'd say the remodeling business has changed over the past several years and I think it will continue to do the same in the future. The "Well-off" will continue to do most of the remodeling due to their ability to pay with cash and borrow with good terms.
2. I'd say hard work, perseverance and the ability to adapt to change.
3. It's all about customer service!
4. I'd say we have become flexible.
5. We have added the certification of becoming a CAPS (certified aging in place specialist) to Brads resume! We understand that this is an important aspect of home remodeling and we are proud to be able to offer it.
6. Several years ago, pre-recession, focus was about customer as revenue. We now look at customers as client for the long term, repeat, referral, etc.
#406
Craig Ceccarelli
HomeSpec Advanced Basement
Ypsilanti, Mich.
1. We have seen sales driven more by need more than desire. Also, financing sources dried up in 2007 -08 but has returned. It is still much harder though to get a customer approved for investments in a home that may have no equity built in.
2. We went lean fast. And when others were not advertising we put more of our resources into marketing. We needed more leads and jobs to make the same as we made in the past.
4. Yes, we dropped our prices to a point where we were really just keeping our employees employed.
5. We have taken over key personnel from 4 different companies that were put out of business by the economic climate. We profited by obtaining these valuable resources.
6. We are less willing to take on projects that have a chance of not being profitable in the end. We spend a greater amount of revenue on marketing to obtain leads.
#209
Mike Brindisi
Brindisi Builders LLC
Marlton, N.J.
1. I would characterize this to be similar to the mid-seventies The labor force overall will be reduced due to the economic changes
2. Our longevity in the business and our commitment to customer satisfaction has allowed us to thrive thru all.
3. Marketed towards commercial renovations not just residential
6. Our company has reduced its staff from 48 to 32. This accounts for positions eliminated or combined
#109
Gary Callier, President
Callier & Thompson Kitchens, Baths and Appliances
Manchester, Mo.
Our business is still down some 35% from our high in 2008. We are still down 20 employees. With the cuts we made we have remained profitable. Our average job has went down 25%. Our average client is getting at least 3 bids. Compared to 1 -2 four years ago. The tough part is the ups and downs from month to month. Most of my people have never gone through this kind of economy.
#195
Mark Gandy, CGR, CGP, CAPS, CLR
Bath, Kitchen and Tile Center Lewes
Harbeson, Del.
1. Perhaps the largest change I have seen since 08 is an increase in bathroom remodels over kitchen remodels. I attribute this to 2 factors; 1 - People ofter remodel a bathroom because they "have to" due to leaks or mold where a kitchen remodel is more of a "want to". Also, with the average bath remodel being 15-20K versus 35-40k for a kitchen, it is a lower ticket purchase. The other large change we have seen since 08 is more of a call for our mid-priced semi-custom products and low end production products. Our high end kitchen sales have drastically diminished. We have seen at least 3 local competitors, one of which specialized in high end remodels, go out of business.
