Rick Hjelm of Phase II General Contractors likes to keep a tight focus on his projects — both in geography and in targeting clients. Unlike most remodelers, he does not advertise or have a Web site because he believes that homeowners who work at finding Phase II through a friend or neighbor are...
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“Would you like a cup of coffee?” The way you answer that question might land you a new client — or lose you one.
It wasn't the size of the 1950s ranch house that proved to be the problem for the new owners. The couple bought the property in the older Milwaukee suburb of Elm Grove, Wis., for its prime location and large lot, wanting the space for their two young children. But the home's dated, dark, cramped...
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When an employee from Home Check Plus was recently asked to crawl into an attic and eradicate some bats from a customer's home, it didn't seem like an odd request. That's because the St. Cloud, Minn., company is more than just your average remodeling company. President Dale Gruber has tapped into...
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From the beginning to the end of any remodel, variables abound and chance may play a part beyond anyone's expectations. When a company succeeds, it does so, in a sense, by reducing that variability, by exerting as much control as possible over the job's every detail.
Perched on a high hill in Greenwich, Conn., this beautiful property finally has a house worthy of its location.The original house was large but lacked presence. Though the architect's first thought at seeing the 1958 house was that it should be torn down, the owner liked the U-shaped floor plan...
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In her In her Not So Big House book series and Home by Design, architect Sarah Susanka led the movement to creating better-quality — not larger — houses.
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The Georgia Institute of Technology has a research facility to evaluate people's experiences using technology to enhance quality of life and maintain independence as they age. The Aware Home Research Initiative (AHRI), based at Georgia Tech's campus in Atlanta, is an interdisciplinary group that...
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Every Saturday morning around 7 a.m. remodelers Pat, Sandra, and Ben Thompson get in their cars and head not to a jobsite or their office, but to News-radio WOOD 1300, where the trio has hosted “The Home Improvement Show with the Thompsons” for the last four years.
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In the competitive construction arena, keeping good employees can be difficult. If you're looking for new ideas and strategies to help you retain staff, consider the Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program (ERSCP). The program is offered by The Herman Group, a Greensboro, N.C.-based...
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What should you know about a person before you hire them? For many remodelers, the answer includes much more than just details about their skills and experience.
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The media kit for Borrelli Design and Cabinetry is itself an example of high design. The cover is cut along a gently curving line, and the kit opens to reveal business cards and press releases, as well as a disc loaded with images. The piece is just one element of a comprehensive rebranding effort...
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Just as you rely on your car's gas gauge to alert you to the need to refuel before your tank is empty, the value of business metrics is their ability to expose potential problems before they become crises.
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A few years ago, employees at Meadowview Construction, in Georgetown, Mass., told owner David West that it would be helpful to have standard forms available to take home.
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Built in 1922, the Orlando, Fla., home was located a few blocks from the city's historic section. The homeowners wanted to add modern conveniences and decor, yet retain the home's original look and feel. They tapped Victor Farina, president of Farina and Sons, in Orlando, to find a way to mesh...
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Years in the planning, the nearly 6,000-square-foot, copper-clad, one-of-a-kind modern home had months to go before completion when architect and general contractor Travis Price learned that the clients planned to host their daughter's wedding reception there.