Education vs. Regulation
How Learning Can Benefit Both You and Your Customer Recently I was working on a small ceiling repair project. It was one of those simple projects that turned a bit more complicated. Due to city building codes and the lead based paint regulations this small $1600.00 project was going to end up doubling in […]
Flexibly Rigid
The Importance of an Action Plan with Some Margin I am an organizer and planner by nature. I like having a clear direction. A system in place to expedite those wonderfully crafted plans. But you know what happens…’life happens’. Once you’ve begun executing those plans, something that you hadn’t included […]
How Do You Feel About Windows?
Considerations When Choosing Windows Windows play a big part of how we feel about buildings. They serve a variety of purposes. Determining what needs and/or wants you are looking to satisfy, will affect your decisions about windows. Window purposes to consider: Letting in light – Without windows it is dark inside. Even with […]
The Importance of Good Communication
It Should Be Focused On Helping the Customer Realize THEIR Dream Over the last few days I have been reminded of how important good communication is. There are two separate instances that have come to my attention that confirm this. One situation is of an individual who had been given a price for a […]
How to Get Your Puzzle Pieces to Fit
Easing the stress of being too busy This morning as I was posting in my journal I started thinking about all of the things that I didn’t get done yesterday. Then I began to think about how many times I have posted this same thing over and over. It sure seems that I […]
To Hire or Not to Hire, That Is the Question?
Over the last several years ‘Do It Yourself’ has become a popular theme for TV programs as well as marketing for building product suppliers. As a builder, one of my pet peeves is the DIY shows and marketing. There are even whole TV channels dedicated to this. My problem with it is, that in 30-60 […]
5 Ways Builders Should Treat Customers
It’s Not Just a Job…It’s Someone’s Dream Over the years as I have discussed building projects with people, a lot of people. There are those who have had the experience of building a new home, doing a remodel or even a small repair project. The number of times that I have heard them say, […]
A Life Changing Wakeup Call
A Board up Side the Head, Now That’ll Get Your Attention In December of 2012, I got just such a wakeup call. I was literally hit in the head with a board. It was a pretty big board too (a 14’ long 2×12 plank). We were installing wafer board boxing to the second floor […]
Three Ways Heat Moves
If You’re Not Careful Your Money Will Go With It With the temperature on the thermometer hovering near the 100-degree mark over the last few weeks, I’ve been thinking about the need for keeping the outside temperature out and the inside temperature in. This is more relevant if you live in a home that is 40 […]
Can Communicating Too Much, Be Too Much?
For those of you who know me or know somebody that knows me. You know that I talk a little…okay…maybe I talk a lot. When I was in grade school my Mom went to a parent/teacher conference. The teacher asked my Mom if I was required to be quit at home. My mother said no […]