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Pricing Without Plans

By Michael Stone

It’s important to remember you aren’t in business to drive around and give out numbers. If you’re a specialty contractor, you also aren’t in business to provide numbers to architects or general contractors.


Contractor Issues with Architects & Designers

By Michael Stone

These relationships can be profitable for both parties, but they can also quickly become squabbles if the relationships aren’t valued.


Working With a Designer

By Michael Stone

Is there a common ground or way that the designer and contractor can do business together, each make the money they need to, and not overcharge the customer?


Training an Architect

By Michael Stone

A contractor we’ve known and worked with for many years sent us a note about his experience working with a new architect. Ideally, the architect would have been working with the contractor from the beginning so he could have educated the client as well.


Transparency and Partnerships

By Michael Stone

What do you do when your partner is listening to someone who knows nothing about construction, but still thinks they knows what’s best?


Four Diamonds of Communication

By Michael Stone

Sales is about communicating and interacting positively with others. Those skills make life easier in any delicate conversation.


Who Pays for On-the-Job Training?

By Michael Stone

Training in construction is important, especially with a shortage of employees. A general contractor asked about a subcontractor who is training an apprentice.


Character Matters

By Michael Stone

You can’t always determine if the person you are about to do business with is ethical, but you do know your own behavior. Choosing to operate your business with integrity is within your control.


Should You Join a Trade Association?

By Michael Stone

During a recent “Sharing Ideas” online discussion, the subject of trade associations came up: Is joining a trade association worthwhile?


It’s Your Business

By Michael Stone

A contractor on the east coast was frustrated with how he was being treated by architects. For starters, they were requesting a list of all his subcontractors.


Letter From an Architect

By Michael Stone

By providing background, Michael Beck helps us understand how the relationship between architects and contractors has developed over the years.


Proprietary Business Information

By Michael Stone

An architect he knew asked him to meet with the owners of a proposed new home. As they were discussing the project, the architect asked our friend, in front of the clients, “What’s your overhead and profit percentage?”


An Unbalanced Partnership

By Michael Stone

I’ve written before about middlemen in the construction industry: I’m not fond of them. There is another type of middleman in the construction industry, facility and property management companies.


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