The Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, in Arlington, Va., served as a think tank of... More
Blame, finger-pointing, and a lack of accountability still remain in a lot of businesses. And that hurts the bottom line. But how do you get employees to be accountable? And to whom should they be accountable? More
Remodeling is a highly technical art. It requires a grasp of the principles and practice of electricity, plumbing, engineering, geometry, and architecture. It requires a high level of craftsmanship as well as an ability to manage homeowners' expectations during a very emotional process. All of this while turning a profit. More
To keep up with change orders and to address client issues, Halsey Platt asked his... More
For some remodeling clients, the concept of a volume discount extends to... More
If the customer is looking for several bids, it indicates they are searching for low numbers, not quality. We are quality ó not necessarily low numbers. So it's not a good fit. More
In the past eight years, the two best people I hired came in different ways. In the past, my best field employees have come from knowing somebody in the industry and getting referrals from that direction, or knowing somebody's work prior to them coming with us and being able to work them into our operation. More
Contractors who offer warranties appeal to homeowners looking to avoid the problems that can come with badly designed and poorly built decks. Warranties, McFate says, are part of a process, just like securing a building permit for every job, meant to assure clients they're "making an investment in a product -- and a company." More
Coordinating work schedules around employee vacations and days off was never a problem for Halsey Platt -- when his company was small. But today, Walter H.B. Platt Builders and Cabinetmakers, Groton, Mass., has 29 employees. More
Halsey Platt, of Walter H.B. Platt Builders and Cabinetmakers, estimates that at least 50% of his new hires have previously worked for him as subcontractors. So Platt developed a "total compensation worksheet," which shows prospective employees the value of the package they'll receive. More
