http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/management/legal/change-orders/change-orders.aspx?view=rss&id=Query_tcm1765813http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/remodeling/facing-clients.aspx?rssLink=Facing+ClientsWhat do you do when you have a client who is draining your business as well as your mental resources?http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/change-orders/working-the-order.aspx?rssLink=Working+the+OrderJeff Berkowitz, project coordinator at Lawrence Murr Remodeling, Jacksonville, Fla., and his team prefer to convert large change orders into separate jobs. This allows them to use the company's full process to develop the project. The "additional work authorization" offers several benefits.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/accounting/communicating-collections.aspx?rssLink=Communicating+CollectionsA quick primer on the best practice of collecting monies owed.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/remodeling/rooms-of-their-own.aspx?rssLink=Rooms+of+Their+OwnGetting clients to make design decisions well before building helps to streamline the remodeling process and cut down on change orders and schedule glitches. Now there's a Web-based system to help with this process: RemodelVision.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/change-orders/hardknocks-trust-busters.aspx?rssLink=Hardknocks%3a+Trust-bustersHilliard Contracting, Raleigh, N.C., ran on trust and goodwill until late one Friday afternoon in 2002, the year the company became Big50. Owner Steven Hilliard had just met with a client whose whole-house remodel was about 75% complete. His purpose was to deliver the unfortunate news that their project, which they had hoped to do for $220,000, was on schedule to cost closer to $330,000.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/change-orders/profile-halsey-platt.aspx?rssLink=Profile%3a+Halsey+PlattTo keep up with change orders and to address client issues, Halsey Platt asked his project managers to meet with clients every two weeks. These meetings address the bigger picture, beyond the day-to-day details covered in weekly meetings.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/remodeling/language-matters.aspx?rssLink=Language+MattersI think we all agree that some sales presentations are more effective than others. Many factors account for this difference, but one that is easily overlooked is the language used. Words that have similar meanings or that are often used interchangeably can have very different effects on the listener. The words you use in a presentation can mean the difference between a client's signing your contract or putting the project on hold. Here are some examples of words and phrases that I think you should be careful with.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/change-orders/how-do-you-charge-for-change-orders.aspx?rssLink=How+do+you+charge+for+change+orders%3fhttp://www2.remodeling.hw.net/change-orders/change-order-cha-ching.aspx?rssLink=Change+Order+Cha-ChingBefore any work begins, clients sign off on language stipulating that every small change they request will cost them a $75 administrative fee, a flat labor rate of $55 per hour, plus the cost of materials and subcontractors, with a 25% markup on all but the $75 fee.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/software/billing-software.aspx?rssLink=Billing+SoftwareBQE Software introduces a new tracking, billing, and project management software that supports both Intuit QuickBooks and Microsoft Business Accounting platforms.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/carpentry/qa-common-sense.aspx?rssLink=Q%2bA%3a+Common+Sensehttp://www2.remodeling.hw.net/change-orders/short-order-change-order.aspx?rssLink=Short-Order+Change+Orderhttp://www2.remodeling.hw.net/change-orders/be-ready-for-change-orders1.aspx?rssLink=Be+Ready+For+Change+OrdersThere was a time when change orders represented a large part of a company's profit on a project. This was particularly prevalent in commercial construction, where every proposal was bid by at least four companies. Most lowered their markups to win the bid, counting on change orders to make up the loss once they had the contract. Many residential remodelers have followed the same approach.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/business/contract-killers.aspx?rssLink=Contract+KillersSound business practices and solid customer relations are key to keeping yourself out of court while still collecting every dime that's owed to you. So, too, is choosing your clients carefully, so that you're working for people who aren't looking to pull one over on you.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/change-orders/efficient-change-orders.aspx?rssLink=Efficient+Change+OrdersChange orders rarely come neatly wrapped. At my company, we complete a form in the office based on information we receive over the phone, estimate the cost of the change, and then present it to the client. We try to respond within one day, but our other work often takes precedence.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/change-orders/face-off-should-customers-pay-for-change-orders-u.aspx?rssLink=Face+Off%3a+Should+customers+pay+for+change+orders+up+front%3fPaying up front makes customers absolutely certain they want the change. If they change their mind, and any fees apply, they still pay. This also guarantees they can afford the upgrade, and we don't have to chase after the money once the change has been made.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/business/benchmark-basic-measures.aspx?rssLink=Benchmark%3a+Basic+MeasuresThere are five baseline measurements that all company owners need to know.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/carpentry/jobsite-paperwork-part-2.aspx?rssLink=Jobsite+Paperwork%2c+Part+2Documenting the change from the very beginning helps track the time required to finalize the process.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/change-orders/pay-as-you-go.aspx?rssLink=Pay+As+You+GoKeith Steier, president of Knockout Renovation in Brooklyn, N.Y., has found a solution to this problem. At the end of each billing period, the client pays Knockout for work completed, less the 30%.http://www2.remodeling.hw.net/sales/look-back-to-move-forward.aspx?rssLink=Look+Back+to+Move+ForwardInstead of struggling against the current, consider using it to your advantage by shutting down for the last week of the year. In fact, it's a perfect opportunity to close out your accounting and spend some time evaluating the year gone by and planning for the year that's fast approaching.