Managing and Estimating

  • Calculating labor costs as a percentage of a job's direct costs

    Most remodelers use historical job costs as part of their estimating process. Maryland-based Brenneman & Pagenstecher goes a step further, calculating labor costs as a percentage of a job's direct costs.

     
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    Software

    Developed by industry professionals, ProPink ES 5.0 is an integrated software program for insulation contractors.

     
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    Profitable As Sold

    Sometimes reps promise more than they should; more than the company can profitably deliver. Sometimes they give work away, just to get a contract signed.

     
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    Easy Excel Estimators

    Almost every remodeler I've run into dislikes estimating, especially if it takes time away from the family to make some demanding tire-kicker happy.

     
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    Sales as a high-stakes game

    There's more to winning at poker than knowing the rank of hands. A great poker player pays close attention to his opponents' behavior. He wins almost regardless of the hand he's holding because he can read his opponents' “tells” — small, almost invisible idiosyncrasies that betray the players'...

     
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    On Message

    Who is Walt Stoeppelwerth? Remodeler and consultant Shawn McCadden calls him “the remodeling god” who wrote the “bible” on remodeling company management. Publisher Peter Miller says he is an industry cheerleader who made an industry “that had an inferiority complex feel good about itself.” No...

     
  • Be careful with costs

    A critical benchmark of good financial health is keeping your actual job costs within 2% of projected job costs. This requires the close cooperation of all departments and the willingness to follow these essential guidelines:

     
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    Profile of Jeff Talmadge of Talmadge Construction

    Since being recognized as one of the Big50 in 2003, Jeff Talmadge has done a 180 on his company. Located in Aptos, Calif., Talmadge Construction had been bidding on projects and using plans created by outside architects and designers.

     
  • Showroom boosts sales expansion

    A few years ago, Robbinsville, N.J.-based Jon Vogel was selling about $1.5 million in projects and working 75 hours a week. He wanted to expand New Outlooks Construction but knew he couldn't do it with just himself as the only salesperson. From talking to other remodelers, he knew a full-time...

     
  • Dealing with a sales slump

    What should I do if I'm in a sales slump?