Blog Archives




 

  • Organization Station
    By Laurie Banyay - Monday March 5, 2012
    As managing editor of Qualified Remodeler , one of my primary responsibilities is to know the status of each of our articles for each issue. There was a time I used sticky notes to write my tasks on and posted them on the rim around my computer monitor. That was effective for a bit, but eventually my computer monitor wasn’t big enough to hold all my to-do items and I was going through sticky notes at an alarming rate. Nowadays, I keep a detailed color-coded Excel spreadsheet, use my Outlook calendar to set tasks with reminders and rely on an old-fashioned desktop calendar so I can see the whole month at a glance. On a personal level, I use a color-coded Google calendar to keep track of appointments, vacations, birthdays and much...

  • Asking the Budget Question
    By Mark Gandy - Monday February 27, 2012
    Perhaps the most important qualifying question to be asked when interviewing a client is the "budget question". Along with asking for the sale, it is the hardest question to get sales people to ask. Determining a budget during the interview process can be the difference between closing a sale and hours of wasted time for you and your client. Nothing is worse than presenting a bid to have the client say "Oh my! I only wanted so spend half that"! When training my sales staff, I consistently reiterate that they continually ask themselves, "What is the worst that can happen if I ask this question?" The answer is simply the worst that can happen is that the client won't answer, doesn't have an answer, or says no. In addition, I present scenarios...

  • Flawed Law Still Benefits Society
    By Doug Hanna - Monday February 20, 2012
    In April 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency put into effect new lead paint containment regulations. These new rules, known as RRP (repair, renovate and paint) have changed the industry in significant ways. The regulation requires woodwork and architectural elements being demolished or removed from existing structures to be collected, bagged and contained. This is then put in a Dumpster and hauled to a landfill. The obvious benefit of this process is there will be much less lead introduced into the environment. The downside for contractors and homeowners is the increased costs. Proper adherence to these regulations is being placed squarely on remodeling/renovation contractors, who then must pass those costs along to the homeowner...

  • IBS 2012: Our Perspective
    By Christina Koch, Laurie Banyay, Rob Heselbarth, Andrea Girolamo - Tuesday February 14, 2012
    Qualified Remodeler 's editors spent last week at the International Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla., attending meetings, talking with industry leaders and visiting manufacturers. Here are some of their overarching thoughts about the week. From Rob Heselbarth, editorial director: After spending two full days in pre-show board and committee meetings with builders and remodelers, it is clear to me that confidence is higher than a year ago. The conversations I had with these NAHB members had an intangible positive element that was different--more concrete--than last year. Clients are pulling the trigger now as opposed to kicking tires. The majority of builders and remodelers I spoke with expect growth in 2012, even if only a little. On...

  • They Don’t Know What You Know
    By Kenneth W. Betz - Wednesday February 1, 2012
    Your website is a great opportunity, at least in theory. On one hand, you can use it to make a good impression. On the other, you can drive a potential client away by giving them the impression you don’t pay attention to detail. Could a disorganized website be a reflection of how you do business? Which is it going to be? It’s your choice. Remember back in grade school, say maybe second grade, when the teacher always nagged you to write your name on your paper? It was the first thing you did before you did anything else. Always. Maybe teachers don’t say it any longer, judging from the scarcity of basic information one encounters on some websites. “Writing your name” on your website is like writing your name on your...

  • Enduring Business Success in the Digital Technology Era
    By Stephen C. Gidley - Monday January 30, 2012
    First and foremost you have to reinvent yourself. You don’t have to destroy the mold and begin from scratch, but you must add the following essentials to those parts of your business that work. Become the most visible contractor in your target area and field of expertise on the Internet and world wide Web. For example, optimize your search ability by enhancing Google ad words or by joining lead generation performance groups like ServiceMagicPros.com, Quinstreet.com, QualitySmith.com, etc. Search me Fairfield County under roofing, remodeling or kitchen and bathroom remodels at Scgabc.com. Create and maintain your brand as better than the rest by entering local, state and national awards. We won four awards last year: Silver Whole House...

  • Are We There Yet?
    By Phil Green - Monday January 23, 2012
    Remember the last time you loaded the family into the car for a long journey? The kids were buckled in the backseat. Sun was shining, blue skies. Things were going along great. Then, about an hour into the drive you heard, “Are we there yet?” No, we are not there yet. The economy still faces challenges. The phone remains silent. The blue skies are gone—or at least they feel like they are. Many of us put a lot of our self-worth into what we do. If we are not working, then we may feel like we are somehow not needed. Don’t fall for that.When times were better and work was plentiful we found we were too busy. Golfing or fishing were not on the “to do” list. We had only three things on the list: work, work and work. Many of us...

  • An Emotional Rollercoaster
    By Christina Koch - Monday January 2, 2012
    During last year’s ProExpo presentations, I often spoke about helping a homeowner understand the emotional rollercoaster that comes with a remodeling project. There’s excitement in the beginning, then there’s a period of frustration when it seems the homeowner may never again get to use his or her kitchen, bathroom, etc. Finally, there’s elation when the newly remodeled room is unveiled. Despite my confidence in presenting the topic, I really couldn’t relate to this emotional rollercoaster until recently. Although I’m not having my home remodeled, my workout facility is being remodeled and it has been a test of my patience. I belong to a gym and make it part of my routine to workout daily. During the week, I consider it...

  • Making a Case for Hiring an Insurance Restoration Specialist
    By Jeff Salmons and Bob Dodson - Sunday January 1, 2012
    Fire, water and wind are the major forces that result in residential insurance restoration work. In that sense, the sale is already made for you—homeowners who have suffered a misfortune need your service. However, if you are a company specializing in insurance restoration, your task is to convince homeowners that choosing a specialist such as yourself, instead of an unqualified competitor, is in their best interest. Following are some of the points we stress to persuade homeowners to use our company for their insurance restoration needs. If you are a contractor pursuing a similar clientele, these points can help you as they have helped us. We tell potential clients the benefits of having an insurance restoration company restore your...

  • Seal the Deal
    By Gary Parsons - Monday December 26, 2011
    As a veteran of the building and construction industry, I talk a lot about insulation and how important it is to properly insulate a home. It’s essential to meeting code, increasing energy efficiency and preventing air and moisture infiltration. But another equally important topic that sometimes gets less attention is how important--and easy--air sealing while insulating can be. The home should be considered as an overall system that needs to be insulated and sealed to ensure a tight building envelope. In the case of most remodeling jobs, for example, contractors are on the job to make upgrades, build an extra bedroom or move a wall. By combining aesthetic fixes with energy efficient upgrades, you not only have yourself a bigger job...

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