Remodeling: Job Costing

Cloud Control: Access to Project Info Made Easy

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 01:24:32 EST

Cloud-based software, such as BuilderTrend, allows remodelers to update and access project information wherever they are.

Get Real: Construction Cost Cheat Sheet for Clients

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:30:27 EST

Using this cheat sheet helps establish a protocol for discussing a realistic budget with clients.

How To: Get the Best Pricing From Suppliers

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:15:50 EST

Strengthen supplier and subcontractor relationships for better pricing on your remodeling jobs.

Better Estimates: Plan for Cost Increases Before Jobs Are Sold

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:06:35 EST

How to anticipate cost increases and include them in project estimates before jobs are sold.

A Test for Assessing Skill Levels of Carpenter Job Candidates

Tue, 28 May 2013 11:58:37 EST

Administering a jobsite skills test helps Nuss Construction weed out unsuitable candidates.

Orderly Change: Managing the Change Order Process

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:15:07 EST

Collecting payment for change orders isn't difficult, as long as you have a clear process and you make clients aware of it early in the remodeling process.

Options: Providing Clients With Options for Achieving Their Remodeling Dreams

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 02:15:03 EST

GREG ANTONIOLI: There's no one path to remodeling glory. To help close the sale, offer prospects options for their remodel, such as phasing the project.

Business How-To: Hiring an Accountant

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 12:54:14 EST

Need expertise to handle your business's bookkeeping? Tips for hiring an accountant to wrangle your company's financial information.

Risky Business: Allow for Risks Before You Sell the Job

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 12:45:07 EST

MELANIE HODGDON AND LESLIE SHINER: How to come up with a sale price that includes the risk calculated for the job.

Making Assumptions: Don't Let a First Impression Fool You

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 12:18:02 EST

STEVE GRAY: Don't judge a prospect by his house — work for that client may not be at all what you expect.

Internal Doc Reveals GMAC Filed False Document in Bid to Foreclose

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 12:13:00 EST

GMAC, one of the nation's largest mortgage servicers, faced a quandary last summer. It wanted to foreclose on a New York City homeowner but lacked the crucial paperwork needed to seize the property.

GOP Bid to Void Light Bulb Law Fails

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 12:06:42 EST

House Republicans on Tuesday failed to advance a measure that would repeal regulations that increase efficiency standards for light bulbs, rules that they have assailed as an example of government overreach.

At Your Service: Winning the Bid Wars

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 12:02:32 EST

Smart clients know that quality has a price, so a competitive bid need not be unrealistically low. You can win jobs by bidding fairly, with bids that reflect the high quality of your work.

Know Your Lines: Building a Thorough Estimate

Thu, 7 Feb 2013 11:59:17 EST

Pre-construction preparation using a detailed line-item spreadsheet helps build a more accurate estimate and reduce the number of change orders.

As You See It: We've Got to Stop Bidding Like This

Thu, 7 Feb 2013 11:58:47 EST

Lately I have found myself spending 16 to 20 hours putting together proposals on medium to larger jobs. I like to prepare razor-sharp estimates that are as low as I can go while still making a profit — and to do this I typically must meet with multiple subs, make many phone calls, write and respond to many e-mails, hold plan reviews with clients, type up proposals with detailed cost breakdowns, etc. In some cases, I've spent as much as 60 hours assembling a proposal!

The Gift of Knowledge: Educating Homeowners About What to Look for When Selecting a Contractor

Thu, 7 Feb 2013 11:40:17 EST

KIA RICCHI: Improve your odds of winning the bid by educating homeowners about the remodeling process and what to look for when hiring a contractor.

BidforMaterials Expands From Modest Beginnings

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 01:51:01 EST

But online building products site connecting suppliers and contractors now sees advertising, not user fees, as best source of revenue.

Flexible Pricing: Pricing Strategies in Today's Economy

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 01:39:22 EST

Lump-sum pricing focuses on costs and can make it difficult to explain pricing to clients. In today's competitive market, consider the alternative: flexible pricing.

Winners and Losers: The Bidding Wars Are Back

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 01:39:15 EST

The homeowner and the low-bidder are about to learn new meanings for the words “winner” and “loser."

Value-Driven Luxury: Even High-End Clients Are Demanding More for Less

Fri, 8 Feb 2013 10:11:44 EST

Upscale consumers know it's a great time to buy property and remodel, but they are being more picky and want more for their money.