Professional Remodeler articles from March 2009

Professional Remodeler archives from March 2009

10 tips to live in the moment.
March 1, 2009... Bruce Case, Contributing Editor Imagine for a moment if we could be 100 percent in the present 30 percent of the time. I can tell you that I would be happier -- and at times sadder. I would have more clarity of focus. I would listen better....

Market Insight.
March 1, 2009... By Jonathan Sweet, Senior Editor Why Harvard is Optimistic About the Long-Term Strength of the Market The latest report on remodeling from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University shows that the market continued to...

Green v. Green.
March 1, 2009... By Jonathan Sweet, Senior Editor Clients rule in favor of money over sustainability Want to sell green? These days you better be prepared to show some economic benefits. With projects getting tighter in a declining economy,...

It's All About Communication.
March 1, 2009... Dave Bryan, Contributing Editor I strongly believe that almost all clients are reasonable and understanding about issues with their project, as long they are communicated with regularly. Solid communication begins with the first client...

Get in Touch With Past Clients.
March 1, 2009... Doug Dwyer, Contributing Editor As I thought about what to write in this month's column, I began to think about the core of every business: the customer. Think about your past customers. How have they helped your business? Of course, they...

Green No Match For Economy.
March 1, 2009... Michael R. Morris, Editor in Chief Six months ago, people were buying energy-efficient cars like they were going out of style. Now they actually have gone out of style, and gas-guzzling SUV sales are on the rise again. And when the price of...

Seal It Up For Success.
March 1, 2009... By Nick Bajzek, Products Editor "These are just theories I'm working with, subject to review at any time," jokes Michael McCutcheon, president of McCutcheon Construction in Berkeley, Calif. McCutcheon, a green contractor, says that...

After Late Start, Portland Has Joined Slump.
March 1, 2009... By Jonathan Sweet, Senior Editor In the early days of the housing crash, Portland, Ore., was one of those cities like Seattle and Charlotte, N.C. that resisted the national trend. 2008 was the year that all came grinding to a halt....

Product Preview.
March 1, 2009... Staff IBS Green products FSC-Clad Staff KlipTech's EcoClad exterior cladding is VOC- and benzene-free. Made from a 50/50 blend of FSC-certified, post-consumer recycled paper, wood fiber and bamboo fiber. The cladding is bound...

Pros and Cons Of Green.
March 1, 2009... Tom Swartz, Contributing Editor Green remodeling's been the hot topic in the industry for the last few years, but is it here to stay or is it just a fad? What's the future of green remodeling going to look like? Our participants (see how...

Trade Secrets.
March 1, 2009... By Jonathan Sweet, Senior Editor Build a trade referral base Jonathan Sweet Trade contractors are often a source for job referrals, but Strite Design + Remodel has created an incentive program to increase the flow of leads from...

Green Swan.
March 1, 2009... By Wendy A. Jordan, Senior Contributing Editor An ugly duckling blossoms into a green remodeling showplace Sharon Patterson wanted a bad house, and she found one. It was the ugliest and one of the cheapest in Boise, Idaho, she says. A...