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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 --...
Things invariably go wrong during remodeling projects, and the more complicated the job, the more fragile the client's emotional state. Although you can't control the weather or the arrival of materials, you can win and maintain the client's trust by establishing a few basic expectations during the...
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As effective as testimonials can be, some clients are best kept under wraps. Wilson suggests using initials instead of full names, and says that even "homeowner" is fine, especially on materials that have a long shelf life. This protects you as well as your clients.
Few forms of marketing have more credibility than testimonials, particularly when they're delivered by clients on behalf of a remodeling company that spent weeks or months in their kitchen, master bedroom, or other personal spaces. Todd Polifka calls these people "advocates," and he says their...
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Finding and hiring the right people is a challenge. Many owners are resigned to hiring and firing four to five people before finding the right one for any particular position.
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I've owned and operated my own remodeling company for more than 15 years, and while I've been lucky enough to be relatively successful, I'm bored. I wake up most mornings not looking forward to the day ahead. What can I do to turn my thinking around?
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Keeping up with subcontractors' insurance records can be a burden for a small remodeling company.
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When your employee comes to you and says, "We've got a challenge and here are some solutions; what do you think?," rather than "We've got a problem; what should I do?" you know you've come a long way. Bob Fleming, owner of Classic Remodeling, Johns Island, S.C., has reached that point. He credits...
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Sometimes, to access your jobsite you have to use someone else's property. Project neighbors might not take kindly to this, as Dylan Wadlington, owner of Wadlington Remodeling, Pine Grove Mills, Pa., found out. But the remodeler was able to save his reputation with a simple procedure.