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You've pre-screened the prospects on the phone, set up an initial appointment, and even done a bit of Internet research using tools such as Google and real estate portal Zillow to learn about the client and their home. Now -- in the few minutes before you visit their home for the first time --...
REMODELING profiles Gary Porter, owner of G.A. Porter Construction of Dayton, Ohio
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Every mistake is also a learning opportunity. That's why I stress the importance of a daily debriefing for business owners. Whether you spot a huge mistake or it's just business as usual, every day presents an opportunity to find ways to improve the systems you have in place so that you can...
Often, to succeed, you have to get out of your own way. That may be especially true when you run your own business: You can carry all the responsibilities for just so long. You know you need to shed tasks — replacing yourself in the field, in the office, as a manager — but a combination of fear and...
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As a successful remodeling business grows from a one- or two-person operation to a company that warrants a dedicated sales staff, the owner must often assume the role of sales manager. But managing people who sell requires a different set of skills from selling itself. Though entrepreneurs tend to...
Each of these employees has been given a certain amount of autonomy by the company owner; each has backup and support from colleagues; each has had training and experience in his or her field, which can be passed on to others; and each buys into the company's culture and vision.
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Despite the risk, it's worth the effort to help key employees grow and take on new responsibilities. Here's why.
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Anniversaries are happy occasions when we get to look back at the progress we've made. The bulk of this issue does just that, with a series of features that look at how far the industry has come in the 20 years we have been publishing this magazine, and where it seems to be going. It's a pretty...
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I recently took an in-depth look at Compu-Tool, one of the most focused “front-end” systems — not surprising, because it was developed largely for Alure (www.alure.com), one of the largest remodelers in the United States.