Table of Contents May 2007

FEATURES

• Accountability streams down from the top

  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?

   

• Get your employees going in the right direction

  Remodelers often say that they "hire to retire" and "promote from within." Employees already in the fold know the company's systems, and require less training in the new position than someone from outside would. That means a smoother transition when a position does open up, saving time, money, and...

   

VIEW POINT

FIRST WORD

• Big50 objectively evaluated

  Every year since 1986, we have devoted this issue to profiles of the Big50 -- owners of successful, growing remodeling companies of various sizes that are among the best in America. To select the Big50, we measure hundreds of candidates against an array of objective benchmarks, looking for those...

   

News + Notes

• Targeting customers beyond basic demographics

  Industry researchers have begun to explore beyond basic demographics, and what they're finding is useful information for large and small companies alike.

   

MARKET WATCH

• Figure This

  Remodeling by the numbers.

   

• Local Forecast: Banking on Opportunity

  Home-buyers' remorse is running deep as millions of people who experienced the Great American Dream just a few years ago -- when home values were soaring and real estate seemed a fail-proof investment -- are waking up to financial ruin.

   
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  New-Home Sales Continue to Tumble

  The first two months of new-home sales in 2007 have fueled concern over a flagging housing market.

   

COMMENTARY

GUEST COLUMNIST

• The challenging search for qualified and dependable subcontractors

  One challenge most remodelers share is the ongoing search for qualified and dependable subcontractors and trade partners.

   

LINDA CASE

• Time-tested methods of generating a sustainable buzz

  A list of ten forms of marketing that work best for remodelers.

   

MARK RICHARDSON

• Embracing green building

  These days, the buzz about "green" is evident everywhere. It is also appearing more frequently in the remodeling industry, but owners of remodeling businesses are still asking themselves how to embrace the subject and make it an integral part of their company culture.

   

SHAWN MCCADDEN

• Remodeling that's beautiful and profitable

  Are you doing award-worthy work? It all depends. There is a huge gap between remodeling companies that produce stunning results for clients and those that also produce stunning results for their business.

   

YOUR BUSINESS

Sales and Marketing

• More Thoughts on Web Photography

  Any remodeler with a digital camera and an Internet connection can post project photos onto the Web, but Yerko Pallominy says to think carefully about the quality of the photos you use and the way in which you present them.

   

• Introduce your bilingual crew

  How can I assure prospects that the people who will be working in their home are legal, skilled, trustworthy, etc., without drawing attention to an objection that most people don't want to admit they have?

   

• Using a marketing/communications action plan

  Two years ago, Rehder set out to develop a steady lead stream from a few designated neighborhoods. The result is a systematic but flexible "marketing/communications action plan" for each month of the year.

   

• Virtual book opens design-build Web site

  With hundreds of high-quality photos and such innovative tools as a virtual "book" about the design/build process, there's something for every homeowner at www.landisconstruction.com.

   
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  Building your image portfolio

  Strong portfolio photos can make your Web site a powerful marketing tool. Photos that are weak or reflect your work inaccurately can drive away attractive prospects and force you to spend valuable time weeding out others.

   

BOTTOM LINE

• Tracking expenses with job cost report

  Job cost reports provide information that can be used both during construction and after the project is completed.

   
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  Advertising typical remodeling costs

  Classic Homeworks includes typical costs of several types of remodeling projects on its Web site.

   

BY DESIGN

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  Prefab design grows up

  Perhaps in its early years, prefabricated design looked to consumers like tacky boxes. No more.

   

FIELD NOTES

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  Be prepared for OSHA visit

  No remodeler welcomes a surprise visit from OSHA, any more than they want injuries on their jobsites. FBN Construction, Boston, manages to prepare for the first possibility and pre-empt the second by outsourcing its safety training.

   

• Set high standards for new hires

  Good news about this summer's hiring outlook: Many remodelers who last year could hardly find any applicants for production positions will get dozens this year. Nevertheless, it's more important than ever to set some high standards.

   

• Setting expectations and minimizing conflict

  Welcome to production! Those three words can represent a rude awakening to homeowners who don't realize how disruptive remodeling can be. But to clients of Fisher Group, in Annandale, Va., the words kick off a refreshingly straightforward approach to realistically setting expectations and...

   

GOOD FORM

• 

  A simple fabrication checklist

  Smart fabrication forms.

   

Tech at Work

• Whether to upgrade to Windows Vista

  Since Microsoft changed its standard operating system from Windows XP to the new Windows Vista, PC users are wondering whether to upgrade and when and how to best go about it.

   

Ways + Means

• Team approach to hiring

  Round-robin interviews save time and promote teamwork.

   

• Standardize your employment application

  One of the easiest ways of protecting yourself when hiring workers is to use a standardized employment application and an approved list of hiring questions.

   

• Research drivers before you insure

  Insurance is often reactive: have an accident, file a claim. But avoiding claims will keep your premiums down. So when it comes to auto insurance, remodelers must be proactive.

   

• Learning from your mistakes

  Learning from your mistakes will often turn a good idea into a much better one.

   

KITCHEN AND BATH

DESIGN CLINIC

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  Cabinet Storage Innovations

  Storage is not a luxury in a kitchen, it is a necessity.

   
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  A kitchen design for fast cooking and easy cleanup

  Inspired by cooking shows that emphasize quick and healthy meal preparation, the team at Dave Fox Remodeling, in Columbus, Ohio, created a kitchen design that paves the way for fast cooking and easy cleanup.

   
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  Conversion of a master bathroom to a spa-like retreat

  The homeowners wanted to create a spa-like feel for their master bath but stay within the existing footprint of the room. The original bath had stark white cabinets and fixtures, including an extra-large tub. “The before shot was a classic example of builder baths in the 1980s. It was a room full...

   

SPEC BOOK

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  New sink products

  The latest in sinks.

   

REPLACEMENT

ROOFING

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  Metal roofs require exacting installation

  Over the last several years, metal roofs have grown increasingly popular with consumers. The Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), a nonprofit association of metal manufacturers and contractors, estimates metal's share of the roofing market at around 8%, with a projected 1% annual growth.

   

PRODUCTS

FIRST LOOK

• First Look

  The newest products for the remodeling market.

   

IN FOCUS

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  New garage door and opener products

  The latest in garage doors and garage door openers.

   

• Insulation

  The latest in insulation.

   
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  New high-tech tools

  The latest in high-tech tools.

   

TRENDS

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  Accessibility products come with style

  Homeowners with physical disabilities, or baby boomers intent on “aging in place,” shouldn't be relegated to medical supply stores when remodeling their homes. Many manufacturers are introducing stylish fixtures to suit numerous kitchen and bath aesthetics.

   
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  Solar energy is a highly efficient water-heating solution

  Unlike solar-electric energy, which converts just 10% to 20% of the sun's heat to electricity, solar-thermal transfers 50% to 85% of the sun's heat into heated water, according to manufacturers.

   
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  Fire prevention pays off

  Small or large, investments in fire prevention pay off.

   

LAST WORD

Bench Mark

• 

  Big50 By The Numbers

  Financial performance is only one measure of what makes for a Big50 company, but it's an important one. Strong profits enable a company to be selective about its work, and make it possible to offer good benefit packages to its employees. How does your company measure up?

   

OTHER ARTICLES

• The New Food TV?

  Cooking and conversation aren't the only sources of kitchen entertainment.For many home chefs, entertaining in the kitchen is about creating a delicious meal, and sharing a few laughs - and a bottle of wine or two - with good company.