Financial Plan for Success and Survival
By Michael StoneIf you thought you were the captain of your ship, 2020 taught otherwise.
Construction Websites that Generate Leads
By Michael StoneA construction website should be a lead generating asset. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but if it doesn’t generate leads it’s a waste of time and effort.
Why Do You Need a Written Construction Contract?
By Michael StoneAlmost all conflicts contractors face could be avoided or quickly resolved if there is a clear, detailed construction contract between the parties.
Charging a Fair Price
By Michael StoneYou can be the most ethical person in the world and if you aren’t charging enough for your work, you stand a good chance of cheating someone else.
Lowball Pricing in Construction
By Michael StoneIt’s not unusual to find a contractor who sells by deliberately underpricing or underbidding jobs and making up the difference with change work orders.
Specialty Contractors and Down Payments
By Michael StoneShould specialty contractors require down payments even when working through a General Contractor?
Remodeling Sales: Setting the Budget
By Michael StoneA business owner in the UK asked a question that illustrates that remodeling sales challenges are the same regardless of your location.
The Skinny on Change Work Orders
By Michael StoneA compendium on change work orders on a new home, remodeling or renovation project; why they matter, how to price them, what to include, and more.
Building a Successful Construction Business
By Michael StoneI take many calls from contractors whose business is more like a low-paying job than a successful construction business. Some ask, “Is it even possible in today’s economic climate? Can my business make money?”
Family Matters More Than Business
By Michael StoneOur goal is to help construction-related business owners build a better business. We receive many phone calls and notes from our clients, and most of the time we hear good things. Sometimes we hear another side of the story.
You Have Better Things to Do than Estimate
By Michael StoneGetting a commitment from potential clients is critical if you want to save yourself a ton of time and work putting together an estimate that won’t go anywhere. You have better things to do with your time.
Clients and Your Job Schedule
By Michael StoneOne of the concerns a homeowner has when they’ve hired a contractor is whether they’ll do what they said they’ll do. It is a legitimate concern. They don’t know what’s going on in your head, only what’s happening with their job.
Who Pays for On-the-Job Training?
By Michael StoneTraining in construction is important, especially with a shortage of employees. A general contractor asked about a subcontractor who is training an apprentice.
The Sales Call: Budget and Design
By Michael StoneBudget doesn’t need to be a major worry during the design and build of a project if you handle it properly during the sales call.
Shady Contractors
By Michael StoneIf you’re doing residential construction, you’ve met all kinds of people. There are also all kinds of contractors, and some of them don’t operate ethically.
Estimating Labor in Construction
By Michael StoneOur last newsletter triggered a question on estimating labor.
Estimating Errors Cost Money
By Michael StoneEstimating the cost of a remodeling, renovation or specialty project accurately is critical if you want to be profitable.
When Business Returns
By Michael StoneAt some point this health crisis will slow down and go away. When it does, there’s a good chance we’ll be doing some things differently. But some things won’t change.
When Business Dries Up
By Michael StoneIf sales have dropped off significantly or you’re under a stay-at-home order, here are 3 things that you need to do now for both your business and your family.
Four Diamonds of Communication
By Michael StoneSales is about communicating and interacting positively with others. Those skills make life easier in any delicate conversation.
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