Remodeling back issues from June 2004:
How's the boss?(First Word)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Labor is still a major concern for most remodelers. More than the difficulty of finding skilled workers, however, it's the turnover that causes the most grief. It's costly, too. Replacing a key employee costs as much as 1.5 times salary, and that's just the hard costs of finding and ...
Service sells.(Call Back)
Jun 01, 2004; ... I have been a remodeler for 24 years, and I've learned to make customer service my top priority. Service starts when you first meet with clients; it's in the way you carry yourself and the way you speak to them. I've found making the job personal has a profound effect ...
See you at the show.(In Person)
Jun 01, 2004 ... In January, we changed the name of the Remodelers' Show to the Remodeling Show, partly because we wanted to emphasize that the Show is an extension of the magazine. At the same time, the name change signals that as the Remodeling Show continues to grow, it encompasses more and more of the ...
Strength from numbers.(News+Notes)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Faced with a serious insurance crisis, builders and remodelers in New York are taking matters into their own hands. The New York State Builders Association recently announced the formation of the Reciprocal Liability Insurance Company, which should have its license by mid-June ....
Space invaders.(News+Notes)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Opinion Research Corp. recently surveyed approXimately 400 adults who had remodeled in the past few years. Most of the findings came as no surprise: Schedule problems and messy jobsites were among the most common complaints. However, "the invasion of personal space" was listed ...
Scrub call lists more often, FTC says.(News+Notes)
Jun 01, 2004; ... The Federal Trade Commission has announced a change in the do-not-call rules. Starting Jan. 1, 2005, companies must purge their telemarketing databases of DNC-listed ...
Back to school.(News+Notes)
Jun 01, 2004; ... At a time when most students across the country have just been let out of school, remodelers are just getting started. In May, the first course was held at Remodelers University, a phone-based training program for smaller companies that are focused on growth. The program was ...
Remodeling market index.(Mixed Bag)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Though they were cautious late last year, remodelers showed record levels of optimism in their industry in the first quarter of 2004. The current conditions index is up 12.6 points from the first quarter of 2003, which is the most relevant comparison, because RMI data are not ...
Remodeling activity indicator.(Mix Bag)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Data from the Joint Center for Housing Studies indicate that remodeling is off to somewhat of a slow start in 2004. According to the latest Remodeling Activity Indicator, homeowners fell just short of spending $125 billion dollars on remodeling over the past four quarters--a ...
Improve your close ratios: financing may be the ticket to bringing more prospects to contract.(Commentary)
Jun 01, 2004; ... With interest rates so attractive, you ought to examine offering clients financing. Even for a small, full-service contractor, financing has many benefits. It helps you get to a client's budget quickly and easily. It increases close ratios. It increases control of the sale. And it allows ...
Culture hounds: investing time, thought, and money in company culture turns success into significance.(Commentary)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Once upon a time, I thought culture meant opera and ballet and classical music. I also knew it was a word used to describe the differences between natives of different countries. I had no idea that I would spend later years working to develop positive company environments--also called ...
Vive la difference: full-service and specialty remodelers can learn a lot from each other.(Commentary)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Recently I had the privilege of conducting some in-depth seminars with a group of employees from large remodeling companies from different areas of the country, all of whom were interested in improving and growing their businesses. All of these companies were focused on the residential ...
Not a leg to stand on: writing off the sales call because only one party can meet is a common sales practice. But is it a dated one?(Commentary)
Jun 01, 2004; ... In the home remodeling industry, many salespeople won't go out on what's known as a "one-leg" call. A one-legger is when one or the other of the decision-makers--husband or wife--won't be present for the meeting. Far too many salespeople feel they can't close the deal without both being ...
All sales systems go: at Murphy Bros., "practices" are perfect.(Ways+Means)
Jun 01, 2004; ... John Murphy, president of Murphy Bros. Designers & Remodelers in Minneapolis, has been in business since 1981. During that time, he's learned the importance of having long-term employees. So three years ago, he put in place a sales system designed to keep his top people with him ...
Second best estimates.(Ways+Means)
Jun 01, 2004; ... As a relative newcomer to the competitive Wilmington. Del., high-end market, four-year-old Signature Design & Construction can't charge for pre-bid estimating. That's a problem when you're spending 50 or 60 hours bidding on complex whole-house remodels, only to discover that you're over ...
Good book: operating procedures are written down for all to learn.(Way+Means)
Jun 01, 2004; ... There's nothing unusual about a remodeling firm that has an employee handbook. But the one given to the field crew at The Remodeling Co., in Beverly, Mass., goes beyond establishing company philosophy and safety guidelines. President Gary Moffie calls his handbook a "standard ...
By law: consumer complaints.(Way+Means)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Sooner or later, no matter how hard you work to run a perfect business, you're going to run into a problem with a client. Maybe one of your carpenters will slip up, maybe a product will malfunction, or maybe you'll run into a particularly troublesome homeowner. When that ...
Breaking even, part 2.(Bottom Line)
Jun 01, 2004; ... The formula for the break even point that we showed you in the March issue tells you the revenue you need, to sell to cover direct costs and overhead, but it doesnt include profit. If you recall, the break even formula was: Break even sales = Overhead dollars/Gross margin ...
Bonding: a primer.(Bottom Line)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Commercial clients and most governmental agencies require contractors to be bonded to both bid on a job and complete the work. A bid bond is submitted at the time of bid. It states the contractor has financial assurance from a bonding company that the bid has been submitted in good faith ...
Marketing workshop/before+after.(Sales+Marketing)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Before This card is totally generic and invisible; no one will notice it. The AAA logo stands out, but your hope on a card is that your name stands out first, what you do, second, and credentials third. On this card, your eye settles on the red AAA and doesn't travel through ...
Washington, Franklin, Britton?(Sales+Marketing)
Jun 01, 2004; ... In Falls Creek, Pa., the Secret Service could find funny money passing around. But it's just remodeler Tim Britton, in his latest effort at "top of mind" awareness. He prints hundred-dollar bills with his likeness instead of Ben Franklin's on the bill and signs them in lieu of the ...
Salesmen are people, too.(Sales+Marketing)
Jun 01, 2004; ... If sales are lagging and your team seems like it needs a double shot of caffeine each morning, interview the person who could change it all: you. Most owners and sales managers have misconceptions when it comes to salespeople. Here are five mistaken beliefs. 1 They're mavericks ....
Learning from Letterman.(Sales+Marketing)
Jun 01, 2004; ... When Terry Bennett wanted to develop a leave-behind to reinforce the message he or his sales staff convey in sales calls, he came up with something homeowners would remember: an 11-minute DVD that ticks off, David Letterman-style, the top 10 reasons to hire Terry Bennett Builders & ...
Your final answer.(Field Notes)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Wallace Remodeling in San Francisco uses a form called the "Owner Approved List" to make it easier for project managers to order products and make the job run more smoothly. Company architect Ron Kardon fills out the form and tracks approval dates and deadlines for finishes, fixtures, and ...
Warranty works.(Field Notes)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Schafer Builders finds taking care of past customers is good for business. Marketing manager Faith Watson says the Crystal Lake, Ill., company has a written warranty policy for the first year. They send a letter to clients three months and 11 months after the project is complete to ask for ...
You are mistaken.(Field Notes)
Jun 01, 2004; ... The reality of working with other people is that everyone makes mistakes. This is especially true for a carpenter, because errors made in both the office and the field affect the whole crew. Here are a few tips on dealing with these events: * Remember that the whole ...
Show your support.(By Design)
Jun 01, 2004; ... The key to designing exterior columns is to proportionally relate the column to the building. Traditional designs call for a beam resting on top of the column and underneath the roof. Even if the beam isn't required for structural support, it's necessary to create an architecturally ...
Get connected.(Tech@Work)
Jun 01, 2004; ... If you're primed for expansion in the office, it might be time to network your staff's workstations or to upgrade your network if you already have one. The best way to find the right solution for your company is to hire a professional who can thoroughly assess both your present ...
Look, no wires.(Tech@Work)
Jun 01, 2004; ... An outright fear of technology isn't healthy, but a little trepidation isn't always a bad thing. Michael Strong found that out when he installed a wireless network in Brothers Strong's Houston office. He set up the network in anticipation of a migration to Master-Builder. But when his ...
Don't let your data walk away.(Tech@Work)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Remodelers' hard drives might not be the most tempting targets for hackers, but there are still plenty of threats to your digital Security. Portable storage devices have made it easy for your data to walk right out the door with a careless or disgruntled employee. So when that slacker you ...
Weekly airings.(Good Form)
Jun 01, 2004; ... There are few things more frustrating than thinking you've been doing great on a certain job, only to have it blow up in your face at the end. After that happened a couple of times to Bryan Soth and Dwight Sailer, owners of HighCraft Builders in Fort Collins, Colo., they set about devising ...
Profile: Geno Benvenuti.(Close Up)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Life's a little crazy, but interesting," says Geno Benvenuti. Since named Big50 in 1990. Benvenuti, of Benvenuti and Stein, Evanston, Ill., has reached a goal many aspire to but few attain: He has followed his family's dream, moving to California's idyllic Monterey Bay area. From there, he ...
Second look: Mike Turner.(Close Up)
Jun 01, 2004; ... If there's a place for remodeling on the Internet, Mike Turner thinks he's found it. A Big50 winner in 1996, Turner is now a Web impresario, hoping to lead the industry into the future with the Home Services Store, The company pursues an ambitious vertical integration strategy, leveraging ...
Should you work with your spouse?(Face Off)
Jun 01, 2004; ... "I'd suggest that couples who are also business partners create boundaries with clear lines of responsibility."--Nina Winans WE CAN WORK IT OUT Paul and I have been together for 31 years and have worked for 26 years in business together. In 1977, we had a child. I ...
Reading list: what business books are Big50 remodelers reading?(Live+Learn)
Jun 01, 2004 ... Karen King Home ReBuilders Atlanta Big50 1989 If you are looking for a book to wake you up and make you think about how you approach your business--and life, for that matter--I highly recommend Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done ...
Looking in: a view of remodeling from inside the home improvement industry.(Live+Learn)
Jun 01, 2004 ... When interior designer Patsy Zakian-Greenough teams up with her favorite remodeler, their joint efforts not only create the best possible project for clients but also award-winning remodels. She says remodelers should understand the design perspective she brings to interior spaces ant not ...
Before+after: down under: a Wisconsin family gains all the rustic space they need by taking advantage of what lies beneath.
Jun 01, 2004; ... Wild turkeys sometimes show up to strut their stuff on the deck of John and Lynn Riggs' seven-year-old ranchstyle house 30 miles west of Milwaukee. The property--three wooded acres on a small lake--is also home to deer and raccoons, the occasional fox, and a feisty colony of snapping ...
Pass the baton: if your design/sales/estimating team doesn't deliver a complete package to production, you're bound to lose profit through lack of information. Here's how five design/build contractors shuttle job particulars from sales to production.
Jun 01, 2004; ... Ask any contractor if he has "transfer of information" issues, and he'll respond with a resounding "youbetcha." Efficiently moving contract details, plans and specs, and all pertinent data from sales, design, and estimating to production poses Herculean challenges. "I work with an ...
Guilty by association: can NARI and the Remodelors Council work together to better the industry, or are they just shouting each other down?
Jun 01, 2004; ... A number of voices urge remodelers toward the apex of professionalism: There are three trade magazine, several peer networks, a number of related associations like the NKBA, and numerous independent local contractor networks. Conspicuous among this din are the two voices that should ...
Bathing beauties: the four winners of remodeling's Bath Design Contest offer different approaches to the same goal: updating a tired family bathroom.
Jun 01, 2004; ... Our contest challenged designers to remodel this small, outdated bathroom into a contemporary, family-friendly space. Entrants had the option of transforming the bath within the existing walls or borrowing space from an adjacent room or closet. Our panel of three kitchen and bath experts ...
What's good enough? Defining, communicating, and monitoring quality standards is vital to producing projects that satisfy remodelers and homeowners alike.(Cover Story)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Time. Budget. Quality. These three elements represent the Holy Trinity of remodeling. Given enough of the first two, the third is relatively easy to produce. The trouble is, hardly any remodelers have any time or money to spare. The remodeling process is usually a ...
Quality control: getting the word out about what's acceptable and what's not is different for every company.(Reader Panel)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Quality is difficult to define. And without a clear definition, remodelers find it challenging to convey that value to their clients, field crews, and subcontractors. Most attempt to use a combination of showing and telling to communicate their standards. About 71% of ...
Second time around: extra sinks are useful, but only if chosen and installed as part of a well-designed kitchen.(Design Clinic)
Jun 01, 2004; ... A kitchen remodel presents a great opportunity for designers to find out if a second sink--ideal for entertaining and food preparation--would be useful to homeowners. To determine need, most designers start by asking the homeowners how they will use the kitchen. Debbie Kitchin ...
Cool art.(Design Clinic)
Jun 01, 2004; ... American Forests, a non-profit conservation organization, and Danby Refrigerators have teamed up to produce "Artists for a Cool Planet." For the program, 10 renowned artists have created original paintings and photographs to be reproduced on refrigerator doors. For each Danby Art Cooler ...
KitchenAid.(Appliances)
Jun 01, 2004 ... Featuring the Whisper Quiet Plus sound packages, the Ensemble front-loading washer and dryer perform quietly. The washer's 3.7 cubic feet capacity has 12 programs, a built in heater, and an easy to use cycle ...
Whirlpool.(Appliances)
Jun 01, 2004 ... Conquest refrigerator flat door models are now available in the maker's low-maintenance Satina Stainless Look finish. The finish provides the appearance of a stainless steel surface but resists noticeable fingerprints and smudges and ...
Jenn-Air.(Appliances)
Jun 01, 2004 ... The maker has improved its five-burner, 36-inch gas cooktop with one 17,000 BTU ultra-high output burner and two ultra-low 650 BTU simmer burners for greater cooking flexibility. Its glass ceramic surface and ...
Bosch.(Appliances)
Jun 01, 2004 ... Available in gas, electric, and dual-fuel models, the maker's first Free-Standing Convection Range's Genuine European Convection System uses a third heating element surrounding the convection fan at tile oven's back. A special baffle directs air ...
Electrolux.(Appliances)
Jun 01, 2004 ... The Icon stainless steel Dishwasher uses 100% filtered water and features a condensation system that decreases cool-down time. The SmartSoil Sensor constantly monitors the amount of food particles in the Water ...
Dacor.(Appliances)
Jun 01, 2004 ... The Preference 36-inch All-Gas Cooktop features two SimmerSear burners ranging in BTUs from 18,000 to 500 and 12,500 to 400. The burners are concealed under the larger burner ...
LG Electronics.(Appliances)
Jun 01, 2004 ... With the maker's Icebeam Cooling door system, the Side-by-Side Refrigerator provides broader air distribution for even temperature management throughout the fresh food section and the door bins ....
Fisher & Paykel.(Appliances)
Jun 01, 2004 ... The SmartLoad top-loading clothes dryer's drum operates in a reverse-tumble drying action to reduce creasing and tangling and improve the evenness of drying. The full-size dryer has five cycles, including ...
GE Monogram.(Appliances)
Jun 01, 2004 ... The Monogram undercounter Double-Drawer Refrigerator features two all-refrigeration drawer units with adjustable dividers. Available in stainless steel or prepped for custom overlay wood panels and ...
Maytag.(Appliances)
Jun 01, 2004 ... Combining the functionality of a traditional clothes dryer with an attached upper drying cabinet, the Neptune Drying Center dries special-care clothing as it hangs from the swaying WrinkleRelease Rod or is laid flat on ...
What's on deck: what do clients expect in the way of finishing when you build a deck for them?(Decks)
Jun 01, 2004; ... When Bob DuBree's company, Creative Contracting, finishes a deck, and the deck is wood, he recommends that clients have it stained. "Quite often, if it's a wood deck, we'll offer to do a clear finish, because we think it's an important part of the process," DuBree says. Sometimes Creative ...
Low slope, slow going.(Roofing)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Low-slope roofs make Matt Vivona, of Father & Son Construction, Troy, Mich., shiver. "Anytime you've got low slope, or flat, you get ice and water sitting up there. It might work in California, but in a cold climate, it's a nightmare." In New Hampshire, Tom Avalone, whose ...
Get me the manager.(Roofing)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Q: When should I hire a sales manager, and what is a reasonable salary? A: When a company wants to start selling, the owner hires a salesperson. When he really want to make things happen, he hires a sales manager, My belief is that once you have four or five salespeople, you ...
Double bubble: combination whirlpool and air-massage tubs deliver double the benefits of hydrotherapy.(Trends)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Just when you thought that bathrooms and home spas couldn't get any more luxurious--what with whirlpool tubs, jetted showers, and the like--bathtub manufacturers up the ante by offering tubs that feature whirlpool and air-massage systems in the same package. "Customers want to ...
Sit tight.(Trends)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Kohter's Cimarron Comfort Height toilet, featuring the Class Five flushing system, is engineered to perform reliably under all flushing situations, especially in what the company calls "demanding circumstances." A 31/4-inch-diameter flush valve and direct-fed jet technology work to create ...
On board: gypsum wallboard manufacturers are starting to offer more mold-resistant products.(Trends)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Although some of the uproar surrounding the mold issue has quieted down recently, industry experts believe that mold will continue to be an important issue in the home building and remodeling industries. Homeowners are better informed about the potential for mold-related health problems ...
Fine work.(Reader's Choice)
Jun 01, 2004 ... For fine detail work and for quick removal of material from sensitive surfaces, remodeler mad custom builder George Fritz says that many carpenters on his crews depend on their Fein MultiMaster Tools. These handheld, variable-speed tools feature a wide assortment of accessory attachments ...
Heat wave.(Reader's Choice)
Jun 01, 2004 ... The remodelers at Allen Associates like to make their projects as green as possible. To that end, they have been installing tankless water heaters--also called on-demand water heaters--in many of their clients' homes for the past four years. There are many benefits to using ...
Anti-gravity tool.(Reader's Choice)
Jun 01, 2004 ... Remodeler Dan Cohen's crews have been moving heavy appliances with ease for the past year and a half, ever since Cohen discovered Airsled low-pressure air film appliance movers. An appliance positioned on top of the mover is lifted on a micro-thin cushion of air that makes it easier to ...
Decking: industry experts predict that both the vinyl and composite railing categories will continue to expand, each feeding off the success of the other.(In Focus)
Jun 01, 2004; ... Vinyl deck railings have long been a staple in the alternative decking category, and according to industry experts, there is a definite demand for them from homeowners. Many homeowners, especially those in the Midwest, New England, and the Southeast, simply prefer the clean, crisp ...
Weyerhaeuser.(In Focus)
Jun 01, 2004 ... ChoiceDek composite decking is now available in five colors: Classic Cedar, Classic Oak, Classic Sierra Tan, Classic Sandstone, and Plus Oak. Made from recycled plastic and natural oak fibers, ...