Table of Contents January 2009

FEATURES

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  Legislation and Regulations

  Local and national bills and laws in several categories will affect how remodelers do business.

   
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  As Demand for Building Materials Drops, Remodelers See Lower Prices

  After a year of price increases in many categories, remodelers are seeing lower prices as demand for building materials drops.

   
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  Remodelers Identify Rising Business Costs in the Slower Economy

  Remodelers' costs are down, finally, for building materials and fuel. But they're rising for marketing, health insurance, and more.

   

• Remodelers and Lenders Discuss the Impact of, and Ways Around, the Credit Crunch

  As lenders cut back the funds available to homeowners and businesses alike, remodelers embrace a new fiscal vigilanteism.

   
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  Beyond the Bubble -- What Lies Ahead for the Remodeling Market in 2009

  The big economic picture is bleak, but it's also vague. Our editors seek specifics to try to determine what lies ahead for the remodeling market in 2009.

   

• Energy Prices Lead Remodeling Clients to See Green

  Energy costs may drive remodeling clients' project needs and decision-making.

   
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  Remodelers: Laying Off or Ramping Up for a Rebound?

  Remodelers face tough decisions on new low-volume realities for staffing.

   
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  Small Jobs Keep Remodelers Working

  Be prepared to market and sell small projects in a downturn.

   
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  What Lies Ahead in 2009

  What are the prospects for remodeling markets in 2009? Remodelers from across the nation weigh in.

   
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  Do Better Deals for Homeowners Mean More to Spend on Remodeling?

  Remodelers and industry insiders consider the impact of dropping home prices and mortgage interest rates on a potential new sector of remodeling clientele.

   

Reader Panel

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  Reader Panel on Economic Impact

  In a recent survey, REMODELING ReaderPanel respondents were asked to share details on how their companies fared during the turbulent year of 2008. See details and analysis of their responses in these slides.

   

VIEW POINT

FIRST WORD

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  Making Sense of the Current Remodeling Business Climate

  The economy is in a slump, but the remodeling business climate seems to be getting both better and worse. What's going on?

   

MARKET WATCH

• How Might Remodelers Be Affected by President-Elect Obama's Economic Stimulus Package?

  On the brink of a new administration, remodeling insiders explore how the enormous economic stimulus package might stimulate remodeling.

   

• Timely Statistics That Relate to the Economic Stimulus Package

  Statistics about construction job losses, creating "green economy" jobs, and more

   

• Local Forecast: Strong Year Ends With Abrupt Drop in Sales

  For one California remodeler, the recession has hit suddenly.

   

COMMENTARY

LINDA CASE

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  Two Questions That Are Critical to Many Companies' Survival

  What causes sales, and when do you pull the trigger? Linda Case says author and consultant Kraig Kramers has some important insights for remodeling companies.

   

MARK RICHARDSON

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  How to Deal With the Current Economic Crisis

  The right attitude and a sense of urgency will help you adapt to economic turmoil.

   

SHAWN MCCADDEN

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  Four Resolutions for Every Remodeling Business in 2009

  Slow is the new normal, and ignorance is not bliss. Thoughts on staying competitive in a difficult remodeling climate.

   

YOUR BUSINESS

Sales and Marketing

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  Remodelers Venture, Slowly, Into the Social Networking Marketing Arena

  With marketing both increasingly critical and expensive, social networking may become an important new marketing venue for remodeling companies.

   
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  How Some Full-Service Remodelers Are Moving Into the Small Projects Arena

  How does a high-end remodeling company announce and market a new handyman division without jeopardizing its high-end brand?

   

BOTTOM LINE

• Obtaining a 'Doing Business As' Filing

  What exactly is a DBA filing and why would you want one for your company?

   
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  IRS Tax Calendar for Small Businesses

  The IRS offers small-business owners a handy 2009 tax calendar.

   

• Subletting Office Space

  One way that more businesses are using to recover occupancy costs is to sublet some of their office space.

   

BY DESIGN

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  Designing With Glass Panels

  Glass panels can be used in utilitarian or more poetic, elaborate ways. Whatever the application, they can add interest to your design and can be used to admit natural light.

   

FIELD NOTES

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  Remodelers Choose From Widening Array of Hands-On Green Training Opportunities

  Doing their part to close the "green gap," remodelers tap into growing number of resources -- some of them free -- to make the move into green remodeling.

   

• Tips for Shifting to Smaller Remodeling Projects

  Remodelers accustomed to managing a few large projects adapt to working on more small jobs.

   

GOOD FORM

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  Homeowner Responsibilities Form Helps Prevent Misunderstandings

  When embarking on a remodeling project, it helps to precisely define the homeowner's responsibilities. This form does just that.

   

Tech at Work

• Management Software Helps in Decision-Making

  Joe Stoddard describes the "starter set" of critical management reports you need to run your business

   
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  TSheets System Saves Small-Business Owners From Timecard Headaches

  Web-hosted attendance system offers accurate timecard and job costing information

   

Ways + Means

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  Exceed Customer Expectations to Differentiate Your Business

  Tips on going the extra mile for remodeling clients

   

• Alternatives to Risky Self-Insurance Groups

  Captives may save you more money than risky self-insurance groups.

   

• Could Be the Right Time to Hire, Despite a Slow Economy

  A slow economy can be a good time to hire, provided that you plan well first.

   
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  How to Help When an Employee Is Affected by a Death in the Family

  When one of your employees is dealing with a death in the family, it can affect the whole team.

   
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  A Business Counselor Can Help Relieve Stress at Work and at Home

  Get outside help to keep stress from overwhelming your work and family life.

   

BIG50

CLOSE UP

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  Big50 CloseUp: Steven Feigeles and W. Scott Cooper

  Customer communication is key to ensuring that this Big50 remodeler has satisfied customers and abundant referrals.

   

SECOND LOOK

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  Big50 SecondLook: Shorieh Talaat

  This Big50 remodeler's company went from being a design/build firm to an architecture firm.

   

SOLUTIONS

• Big50 Remodelers Describe Their Non-Remodeling Business Interests

  A multi-unit development project, a neighborhood referral service, a real estate holding company, and a solar panel installation company keep these Big50 remodelers busy.

   

KITCHEN AND BATH

DESIGN CLINIC

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  Modern Guest-Bathroom Remodel

  A simple, uncluttered design maximizes space and style in this modern guest-bathroom remodel.

   
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  Fitting a Modern Kitchen Design Into a Rustic-Style Home

  Sleek materials meld beautifully with rustic beams in this Vermont kitchen remodel.

   

SPEC BOOK

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  Upgrade Kitchens and Baths With New Countertops From J. Aaron, DuPont, Silestone, Wilsonart, and Julien.

  Upgrade Kitchens and baths with new countertops from J. Aaron, DuPont, Silestone, Wilsonart, and Julien.

   

SUSTAINABILITY

GREEN SPEAK

• Green Gatekeeping to Help Remodelers Target Their Sales Presentations

  Asking potential clients about their views on green helps remodelers target sales presentations.

   
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  Tax Credit for Geothermal Heat Pump Installation

  The federal government offers new geothermal system tax credits for residences.

   

GREEN SPEC

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  New Green Products for the Remodeling Market from ECR International, Viance, Zephyr, and Knauf Insulation

  New green products from ECR International, Viance, Zephyr, and Knauf Insulation

   

PRODUCTS

FIRST LOOK

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  A Selection of Products Introduced at the 2009 International Builders' Show

  New products from LiteSteel Technologies, CMI, Clopay, MTI Whirlpools, Trane, Ryobi, The Foundry, and Fiber Composites.

   

IN FOCUS

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  Interior Trim Products From Carolina Stair, Crown Column and Millwork, and Fypon.

  Give interiors a finished look with interior trim products from Carolina Stair, Crown Column and Millwork, and Fypon.

   
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  New Construction Software From Digital Canal, iLevel, Construction Calc, and Maxwell Systems Lets Users Design, Plan Framing, and Manage Productivity

  New construction software from Digital Canal, iLevel, Construction Calc, and Maxwell Systems

   
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  New Flooring Materials From Columbia Flooring, Amorim, Teragren, and Forbo Flooring.

  New products from Columbia Flooring, Amorim, Teragren, and Forbo Flooring.

   

TRENDS

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  Manufacturers add convenience and more benefits to housewrap.

  Manufacturers add convenience and more benefits to housewrap.

   

LAST WORD

Bench Mark

• Getting Through Hard Times by Expanding or Contracting Your Overhead

  A mix of layoffs and reassigned duties may be necessary to get your business through tough economic times.