Looking for inspiration to help you build on the housing recovery? Look no further than these 50 company profiles for fresh ideas and best practices.
Navigating the sea of health insurance options can be daunting for a small business. We help you start plotting your course.
An outdoor kitchen, cozy fireplace, and sandstone patio with hot tub make the most of the outdoors for entertaining in Idaho.
We asked experts how online reviews relate to search engine optimization. Here's what they had to say about keeping your business's reputation at the top of search results.
An overview of online review sites and what they can and can't do for remodeling contractors.
The Angie's List model may not be able to sustain itself. New review sites are developing that are free to use and may ultimately be more trustworthy for consumers.
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Reasons for and against rewarding clients to write online reviews of your business.
Until consumers are better educated or angry, business owners will have to deal with the fallout from fake online reviews.
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George Faerber, owner of Bee Window, in Indianapolis, has a follow-up program to help nurture Internet leads.
Despite their complaints about Angie's List's business practices, contractors remain with the service -- if only in self-defense.
Is it possible for online review sites to be a win-win for remodeling contractors and consumers?
Decking manufacturers turn their attention to railings, offering numerous new options for curb appeal and design flexibility.
By taking advantage of tax credits, in some cases homeowners can pay less for this solar-powered operable skylight than for a fixed model.
Wish you had X-ray glasses to find pipes, studs, and other objects behind the wall? This hand-held radar scanner let's you see more.
Combine features such as distance measuring and tilt sensors to get unique indirect measurements that aren't possible with regular distance meters.
Together, the BS 150 Compact Tripod and the GLL3-80 Leveling and Alignment Laser offer a complete leveling solution.
Illuminate tight fastening situations with two new lighted screwdrivers.
These inserts use no room air for combustion, generating efficiencies of up to 82%.
Get twice the impact with this modern two-sided fireplace that can span indoor-outdoor installations.
The right awning can add visual interest to an outdoor space, with the added bonus of energy efficiency.
Take your kitchen design up a notch with these high-end outdoor appliances.
Cypress Collection garage doors offer a new walnut finish and sleek panel design.
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Subcontractor installers can be your best friend or your most recent nightmare. It’s all in the expectations set and how you follow through. Company owners and industry experts offer their tips for managing installers.
Hanley Wood and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) have announced a strategic partnership whereby Hanley Wood has acquired the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo.
Industry consultant Paul Winans reflects on an inspirational idea from dancer and choreographer Martha Graham.
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Twenty-two members of the House of Representatives caught up with their Senate colleagues May 22 by introducing legislation to lighten the burdens imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead: Renovation, Repair, and Painting rule.
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Prequalified leads cost you real money, so a salesperson who fails to close should have a good reason for doing so. If the rep's attitude is part of the cause, don't wait to address it.
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In this letter to the editor, a California contractor argues that the federal government's lead-paint program isn't worth the cost and should be abandoned.
This year’s Big50 posted average gross margins around 33% and net profits of roughly 9% for 2012. That’s the best showing for any Big50 group since 2006 and far above another popular standard benchmark.
Paul Hamtil, David Merrick, and Chris Wright share their candid insight into how to make social media work for relationship building, lead generation, and brand awareness.
Bruce Case regards the Remodeling Leadership Conference as one of his favorite events of the year. Here's what he learned at the latest gathering.
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Clear communication is a solid start. But here are more tips for working with subcontractors.
Kathy Shertzer writes about the importance of not allowing yourself to get into debt: "[B]usinesses fail because of debt. Don’t fall prey to that temptation again. Plan ahead because the pendulum always swings back."
Selling well requires using what you know – building and design – to take charge of that sales conversation. Speaker Mark Hunter shows how leadership engenders confidence and leads to sales success.
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Industry consultant Paul Winans uses his own experience of getting a dental crown made to show readers how they can change existing habits.
Contractors and remodelers can be pretty lax when it comes to keeping an efficient jobsite. What many don't realize is that all those trips to the truck for tools and all the time spent setting up and breaking down can have a big impact on their financials.
Nick Richmond of Illinois-based Matrix Basement Systems has won the 2013 Fred Case Entrepreneur of the Year Award in honor of achievements in both manufacturing and marketing that propelled his remodeling company.
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Houzz, the website for home remodeling and design that has begun selling guaranteed high-visibility listing space to pros, announced May 13 it has doubled to nearly 60 the number of construction categories that visitors can use to find a contractor.
Human-resource and benefits expert Doug Delp offers tips on doing a human resources self-audit to the audience at the 2013 Remodeling Leadership Conference.
You have a company website, but it's not bringing in any leads. If this is prompting you to consider writing a blog to remedy the situation, Darren Slaughter has some advice for you.
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Al Walker's fun, inspirational message about successful leadership traits.
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2013 Remodeling Design Awards Update: a new judge is selected to join the panel.
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The old benchmark of meeting customer expectations is no longer valid. Remodelers must create value and exceed expectations, according to consultant Remodeling Leadership Conference speaker Sam Geist.
Focused, frequent, high-value content placed on high-traffic Internet content aggregation sites will give you your best opportunities to boost your company’s revenue and profit, a nationally known branding expert told attendees at the Remodeling Leadership Conference.
Baby boomers and upper-income families are the groups most likely to drive remodeling activity over the next decade, says Metrostudy’s chief economist.
Bathrooms can be hazardous places — especially for older adults — as slips and falls can be painful and dangerous. By including universal design, however, bathrooms can be made safe for people of all ages.
Industry consultant Paul Winans offers a simple yet powerful reminder: knowing where you're going will help you get there.
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Remodeling and replacement activity nationwide did better than previously expected in the first quarter and remain on a steady upward path over the next three years, Metrostudy projected in its latest Residential Remodeling Index.
Darren Slaughter talks a lot about promoting your company’s features on your website and making sure you tie those features back to the benefit the customer receives by doing business with you. Here he clarifies the difference between features and benefits.
What happens when "one of the oldest and most well-respected remodeling companies" in Baltimore, as it's described on the company's website, suddenly closes its doors.
Lots of folks are selling their homes. If your client wants to grab that first impression and make it a good one, they will need to pay attention to their home's exterior. That's where remodelers can help -- and possibly help themselves to get future business.
Industry consultant Paul Winans offers suggestions on how to get clients away from the three-bid process.
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Melanie Hodgdon and Leslie Shiner discuss the importance of planning for deliberate — rather than haphazard — growth as the industry comes out of its slump.
By educating subcontractors about company policies and principles, Odd Fellows Contracting helps ensure consistent customer satisfaction.
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Industry consultant Paul Winans blogs about how to say no in the right way to a prospect.
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Andrew Davis, author of "Brandscaping," offers advice on how to use partnerships and social media to target prospects who appreciate your company's core value and want to work with you.
Consultant April Wilson offers tips to create a search-friendly website that is beyond an online brochure.
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Having a critical spirit is easy. It takes almost zero effort—especially when it appears you have endless days ahead of you. Being kind is always a different story, writes Kathy Shertzer.