One of the most effective ways to increase your visibility in your local market is to get involved with community groups, and to step up when they need volunteers. Most of us do that in our private lives, but don't bring the business name into the mix. If you haven't already done so, now is the time to brand your company locally as a company that cares, a company that steps in when there is a need, a company that helps the community.   So, how do you do this? There are probably more directions you can take than I can count, and many of them are specific to your community, but these three steps will give you a start.   1) Attend community meetings. You can read what happened at the aldermen's meeting and get the short story, but...

“Mature” buyers used to be viewed by much of the industry as something of an afterthought. These consumers weren’t seen as investing in major kitchen and bath remodels in great numbers – certainly not the way the baby boomers did, with their growing families, growing incomes and desire to keep up with (or surpass) the Jones. Nor were they viewed as offering the same opportunity as young consumers, who, despite limited disposable income, tended toward more creative designs and lots of technology, with the added bonus of potentially being customers for many decades to come. But with the aging of America, that’s all changing. Older consumers are remodeling in higher numbers than in years past – surpassing other age demographics...

I love numbers. Not math necessarily, although that does intrigue me. I find an unusual pleasure in hosting parties on dates such as August 8 in 2008, and this past week on 10/11/12. My car features the plate 6022AV0 . For those with a chemistry background, I challenge you to point out its origin. One of my favorite books is The Nothingness That Is: The Natural History of Zero . Fascinating! I even go so far as to use a prime number whenever I can. Why not? I like the larger numbers like 113, 311 or 3001. Call me strange but I have a web site bookmarked on my phone for those opportunities in which I might use one (http://www.calculus.info/tables/prime/prime.html). No one really knows…or probably cares, but it humors me...

Choosing the right kitchen or bath remodeler can be a very stressful experience for your clients. If planned properly it can also be one of the most exciting times of their lives. They are entrusting a stranger with the safety of their money, home and family. Making the right decision can be the difference between a seamless and satisfying experience and a remodeling nightmare. Take the time to educate your clients to help them choose a remodeler who understands their needs, speaks their language and respects their lifestyle. The following are summarized points from the NAHB pamphlet “How to Choose a Remodeler” that can help your clients go through the process of choosing a remodeler: Before you meet with a remodeler develop an idea...