Project Pricing

All the experts or so called experts tell you not to lower your price no matter what, I disagree.. your goal in business should be to better your service, lower business expenses and always remain competitive. Every year you should evaluate your goals and set a realistic profit margin, what worked yesterday may not work today. Things are changing! be ready to fine tune your numbers because guess what your competitor is.

Family and Remodeling

I have owned my remodeling business for over 11 years now and for many years I was so dedicated to my business that I could remember times and dates for business meetings and situations but would forget family things. I felt that it would all pay off someday and I would then be able to start living more comfortably and start spending time with my family. Well then life happened and my business turned with the change in the economy and now I find myself working even more hours and scared to death to survive the downturn. It is strange now that things have changed I find myself looking deeper into my life, family and relationships and realizing all the great things that I have in my life. I heard a talk radio psychiatrist say once that in the 25 years he has been helping people that not once did someone come to him and say "I wish my family or parents had more money when I was young" but " I wish my mother or father would have spent more time with me when I was young" we are all children still, we never lose hurt feelings or bad memories, take the time to look deeper into yourself and realize that no matter how hard you work on something it is always the same outcome and money does not fix a broken relationship. Take the time to be with your children, look them in the eyes when they talk, go out of your way for them and laugh once in a while. When people look back and reflect on my life I want them to smile and remember something great about me, not that the deck or basement job was finished on time or on budget. Life is more than a job, do not wait too long to see that.

Door Hanger

Have you ever left the project at the end of the day and not had an opportunity to call the client or do you think they will wonder what got accomplished today? A great idea we received from one of our past employees was a door hanger. We had a plain white door hanger created with our logo, a date line and a notes area with about 10 - 12 lines to allow us to write on. At the end of the day we filled out the door hanger with all the things we did, answered questions before they had a chance to ask them and let them know what our schedule was for the next day, we then date and sign the hanger and leave it on the door coming into the house from the garage. The response was awesome, people felt involved and relived that we kept them in the loop. The best thing is when you know they will questions something you have done, it may not look right because you are not finished, you can explain that in the notes and it allows them not to worry all night until they get a chance to talk to you the next day. The hanger also allows you to insert warnings like stay off the tile or do not use that toilet before the go to use it and are upset because it does not work and no-one let them know, remember it is the smallest details in this business that make the biggest difference.

Business Tip of the Day

My business tip of the day is organization......Let me ask you, how do you feel after you clean off your workbench or you get finished cleaning your home or the yard, good? This is how you want to feel each and every day when you are out there trying to make a living. Organization is key to peace of mind and will give you a feeling of satisfaction. Lets face it everything we do in our life revolves around feelings, so lets make our self feel good.

My suggestion...Clean your truck, organize your tools, put them back in the same place every day, I know some days are long and it is so much easier to throw the tools into the back of the truck and deal with it later but you will drive away with a great feeling knowing that when you need something it is right there.

A saying that I use with all my subcontractors and employees is "if you are behind schedule, have upset the client in some way, at least you can maintain a clean and organized job site" please remember these words, I have spent countless hours over analyzing the thoughts, feelings and reactions of my clients and have found that if they feel they have chosen the right contractor for the job, that initial worry is gone but from there on the overwhelming thought they have is the project site and the smallest details worry them the most.

Organize your computer, remove all the junk right now and get serious, create files for each project (maybe even 1 for your truck and 1 for the office) carry the proper estimating supplies, stock up on pens, paper and the things you do not have time to run out of. Organize your schedule, do not work weekends or holidays, start your day at the exact same time each day and end around the same time if possible each day. Start your day by sitting down and creating a daily list, we create a list everyday and most of the time it has 20 or 30 things that need to be done. Let me ask you, the remodelor you compete against does not make a list but has the same amount of things that need to be done and you do have a list, who is going to accomplish more? The list should be phone calls, schedule or order for things coming up (not just today) and put a map with places you need to go but have never been, put phone numbers next to items or names that require a phone call, put quantities next to items that need to be ordered or picked up, try this and I promise you that you will accomplish twice what you are now and won't forget to call or order those things that can make or break a reputation.

Mentoring

What happened to the day that your Father taught you a skill or a trade? The harsh reality is that most young people now a days are living in a home without a Father and the skills are learned at the school of hard knocks (In the field)

I believe that we should stop struggling so much in our business and seek advise, there is always going to be someone out there that has gone through what you are and can help you through it. Business advisers and coaches are a huge waste of money when you should be able to ask a question to a problem and get a response, this blog is going to be that resource, please share stories and advise and maybe we can all help each other get through these tough times.

Average Guy (or Girl)

Are you tired of reading remodeling magazines articles about multi-million dollar remodeling companies with a 1,000 employees and the mansions they are working on all the time? I am, I constantly scan articles for average guys that need average advise. When I am seeking advice for my business I cannot look to the trade magazines because the articles are about the contractors that have a staff of people that meet and come up with great ideas or the contractor who does 5 million are year in sales and gives bonuses and gifts and such, what about me....I compete for my work, I have very little resources available to advertise, I am the staff and barely makes ends meat. Is there a magazine or book for the average guys out there?

I have found that my best business advise has come from my membership with the local remodelers council and the face to face meetings with others business owners that are dealing with the same issues, if you have a local council I would suggest you save your money on the magazines and books and join.

Way of Thinking

In the harsh reality of today's economy we need to focus on our relationship with our current and past clients. Too many times I see attitudes and egos clash because maybe we are not making enough money on a project or we are struggeling with some personal or business expenses. I want to tell you that from my personal experience the best thing you can do is be at your best right now, these are the clients that are talking about you at get togethers and to thier freinds, be kind, be trustworthy and be there for them. I have had days where I start the day hating the world but lately I have tried to look at the good in everything, it takes too much energy to focus on the bad. I now find myself trying to connect with each client on a freindship level and advertise that I want to be thier contractor for the reaminder of thier life. I have found by just changing my attitude and looking for the good or lesson learned in everything I do I am a much more happy and successful person personally and in business. If you have not experienced "The Secret", it is a powerful book or DVD that explains the power of thought and how we create the world around us with merely a thought....take a look at http://www.thesecret.tv/, I really believe that the way you think can change your life.