Construction Management

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    Tracking Products

    Having a system in place to track all products for a kitchen project helps avoid wasted time.

     
  • Weekly Jobsite Meetings Clear the Air

    Staff field trips provide a way to stimulate employees' creativity and appreciation of the remodeling and design process.

     
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    Materials Supplier Relationships

    One California remodeler forges relationships with materials vendors to deliver materials to the jobsite when needed, reducing employee downtime and trips to the lumberyard.

     
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    Tips for Balancing Labor Pool and Customer Demand

    In a slow economy, it can be challenging to balance your available workforce with homeowners' demands for your services.

     
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    Tips for Better Estimating

    Replace the “we’ll see what happens” philosophy with a more aggressive and planned approach to estimating. Don’t let your pride, or haste, get in the way of your profit goals.

     
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    Profile: Tom Glass, Glass Construction, Washington, D.C.

    Tom Glass parlayed his passion for historic buildings into a specialty remodeling company.

     
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    Project Mangement for Large Jobs

    Many remodelers rely on a single project manager for each job, concentrating the decision-making power and supervisory duties with that one individual. But what about when a project is so large or multifaceted that there just aren’t enough hours in the day for one person to accomplish the task?

     
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    Lien Waivers Offer Protection for Both Contractors and Their Clients

    Chances are good that most home­owners don’t know what a lien waiver is, but remodelers would do well to tell them. Subcontractors can file a mechanic’s lien on property they work on in the event of a dispute over payment, but asking subs to sign a waiver ensures that won’t happen.

     
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    Provide Protected Time for Your Production Managers

    I recently attended a meeting of production managers from around the country and was reminded of the importance of this position. Focusing on supporting your production manager is one of the strongest moves you can make during these challenging times.

     
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    Getting Bottlenecks Out of the Pipeline

    A signed contract sits on a remodeling company owner’s desk. Several jobs come in at once and there aren’t enough carpenters. Sales promises a client a start date that can’t be met. Materials haven’t arrived. Any of these events can create a bottleneck, restricting the workflow or decision-making...