Table of Contents November 2008

Features

Cost vs. Value Report

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  Suburban Slowdown, Urban Uptick?

  Remodels to close-in homes show higher ROI than their suburban counterparts.

   
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  Additional Value

  Additions that are necessary and well-built are still a good investment for homeowners.

   
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  Downsizing the McMansion

  More homeowners are opting to carve practical spaces out of their expansive homes.

   
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  Green Scene

  Realtors and remodelers across the nation are seeing new attention being paid to energy efficiency.

   

• Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report 2008-09

  What's new in the 2008–09 Cost vs. Value Report and information about the results.

   
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  Seeing the Return

  Some familiar projects are ranked at the top of the 2008–09 Cost vs. Value Report.

   

View Point

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  Design Regulation Showdown

  The American Society of Interior Designers is pressing for laws throughout the country that will regulate who can and cannot design kitchens, baths, and cabinets.

   
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  LIRA Re-Benchmarking

  In re-benchmarking the LIRA (Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity), the Joint Center for House Studies at Harvard University now provides smoother estimates of homeowner improvement spending.

   

• November 2008 Figure This

  Facts and figures related to the remodeling industry.

   

• Sobering Realities Take Hold Along the Florida Gulf Coast

  Michael K. Walker, a veteran remodeler in Sarasota, Fla., points out two danger signs along the horizon: permitting lag time and new wind-zone insurance requirements.

   
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  Fine Print

  Most people reading the Cost vs. Value Report skip the fine print and go right to the data, leading to questions and misunderstandings. Here's some clarification.

   

Commentary

Linda Case

• Six More Deadly Myths

  These six myths could act as stumbling blocks to your company's success.

   

Mark Richardson

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  Paralyzed

  When numbers are down and anxiety is up, it's more important than ever for small-business owners to keep an even keel and stay positive.

   

Shawn McCadden

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  Pay Now, or Pay Forever

  Being "too busy to plan" and map out strategies to rework structural shortcomings within your business will see you paying the consequences for a long time to come.

   

Guest Columnist

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  Facing the Downturn

  Take a good, hard look at your company. To prosper and grow — even in a slow economy — your company may need a full makeover.

   

Your Business

Ways + Means

• Frontline Relationships

  It is essential that your employees put their best foot forward when connecting with clients.

   
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  Ask the Expert: Joy Kilgore

  Build trust along with processes before delegating responsibility to key employees.

   
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  Working for Hire

  A working interview can help you find the best employees for your company.

   
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  Sink or Swim

  Using an on-boarding process for new employees can take the guesswork out of hiring.

   
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  Strength in Numbers

  "Competing" remodeling businesses learning from one another benefits companies and clients.

   

Bottom Line

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  Active Role

  For Massachusetts remodeler Tom Mitchell, keeping his company healthy in a slow economy has meant expanding into both new markets and existing markets he had not previously tapped.

   
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  Insurance Savings

  It is possible to be proactive about insurance without being foolhardy or putting your company in jeopardy.

   

Sales + Marketing

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  Strength in Diversity

  How one design-savvy remodeler sees growth opportunities in selling design services to other contractors.

   

• Eye vs. Eye

  Don't let these photography mistakes drive prospects away. Before you use that "portfolio" photo, vet it from the homeowner's perspective.

   
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  The Micro-Marketer

  Low-tech marketing keeps this small remodeling company on the right radar screens.

   

Field Notes

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  Deep-Freezing Danger

  Strategies to keep crews, trades, and clients safe in and around winter jobsites.

   
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  The Volatility Defense

  Tips for helping remodelers avoid the hit when prices spike and shortages loom.

   

By Design

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  SketchPad: The Useful Attic

  Remodeling an attic is like adding space for free. Here are some design considerations to keep in mind.

   

Tech@Work

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  Industry-Specific Software vs. Generic Software

  Joe Stoddard details when it makes sense to invest in industry-specific software, and why.

   

• Co-Construct Extends Its Reach

  To increase cooperation and accountability, Co-Construct offers new scheduling features and subcontractor access to essential project information.

   

Good Form

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  Pinpointing Slippage

  By tracking the actual and budgeted costs of individual line items for each job, Creative Contracting is able to easily pinpoint slippage.

   

Big50

Close Up

• Big50 Close Up: Ed Castle

  Since the economic slowdown reached the outskirts of Washington, D.C., remodeler Ed Castle has had to take an uncharacteristically proactive approach to marketing.

   

Second Look

• SecondLook: David Heaney

  This Delaware remodeler has diversified his business by providing customized space plans and estimating services for health facilities..

   

Solutions

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  Big50 Solutions: Teaching Customer Care

  How do you teach your employees and subcontractors customer service skills?

   

K+B

Design Clinic

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  Mastering the Suite

  A master suite makeover creates a more cohesive bathroom and takes advantage of the view. Finishes include cherry cabinets, cedar, slate-look porcelain tile, and granite.

   

Management

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  Show Enough

  A new building houses a large showroom that showcases the expertise of Allied Kitchen & Bath.

   

Spec Book

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  Bath Lighting

  Lighting products from WAC Lighting, Studio Italia, Kichler, and Sea Gull Lighting.

   

Replacement

Siding

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  The Big Payback?

  For homeowners who care about energy efficiency, siding replacement offers a great opportunity to boost a home's energy performance.

   

Products

Trends

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  A Fine Mesh

  Excellent visibility insect screens, or EVIS, are becoming more popular options for a clearer view to the outside.

   
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  Bright Ideas

  LED technology makes new flashlights a bright spot in your toolbox.

   

In Focus

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  Holiday Gift Guide

  Great holiday gifts for remodelers and their clients.

   
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  Gypsum, Backerboard, and Underlayments

  Products from Temple-Inland, Goldblatt Tool Co., Polyglass USA, Serious Materials, and WR Meadows.

   
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  New Tools for the Remodeling Market

  New tools from SawStop, Cooper Hand Tools, Boar Blades, DeWalt, Task Tools, Hilti, Bosch, and Klein Tools.

   

First Look

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  November 2008 First Look

  New products from Owens Corning, Tile-Redi, Johnson Controls, Ainsworth Engineered, Fisher & Paykel, Armstrong Cabinets, NuCedar Mills, and Peachtree.

   

Other Articles

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  Power of One

  Incremental adjustments in critical financial benchmarks are less disruptive than drastic changes — and often more effective.