Remodeling articles from December 2002

Remodeling archives from December 2002

Crystal ball. (View point: first word).
December 1, 2002... While the recession wasn't as bad as I urged you to prepare for, the slowdown has given us time to look back on the boom that just ended to see if anything we learned will help us guess what's coming next. Here are some of the themes I saw...

Best of the Big50 marketing contest. (comment).
December 1, 2002... We're looking for companies that have made good use of their REMODELING Big50 award in their marketing materials. There's no cost to enter the contest. To be eligible, just submit actual materials so we receive them by January 15, 2003. Photos...

Perfect practices. (View point: call back: the sound and the fury ...).
December 1, 2002... Thanks to Peter Bush for his excellent commentary on the practitioner vs. the enterprise ("Find Your Style," September 2002, page 31). Many of us unwittingly overshoot our optimum company size and have to wrestle that "grow-your-company" demon...

Correction.
December 1, 2002... I was reading the article "Holes in the Net" (Benchmark, November 2002, page 152) and noticed an error in the last graph which shows Total Overhead in relationship to Gross Profit. The colors need to be reversed: Blue needs to represent...

Mold on the hill: new legislation would study effects, develop standards. (View point: news + notes).
December 1, 2002... Mold has long been a hot-button issue in the remodeling industry. Recently, it's moved into the national news. Next stop: the United States Congress. In June, HR-5040, the U.S. Toxic Mold Safety and Protection Act, was introduced into...

Lead paint case still unresolved. (View point: news + notes).
December 1, 2002... After four days of deliberations, a six-person jury declared themselves "hopelessly deadlocked" in a lawsuit brought by the state of Rhode Island against eight former lead paint manufacturers. The suit sought to hold the makers liable for...

Wallboard manufacturer puts asbestos claims to rest. (View point: news + notes).
December 1, 2002... New NGC (dba National Gypsum Company) recently announced a $347 million settlement that will protect it from present and future liability claims stemming from lawsuits against the recently bankrupt Asbestos Claims Management Corporation. ACMC...

Attention remodelers! (View point: news + notes).
December 1, 2002... Is there a bathroom remodel you're particularly proud of? Here's your chance to show it off. American Standard and Porcher, both producers of kitchen and bathroom fixtures, are holding their second annual Professional Bathroom Remodel contest....

A look back. (View point: news + notes).
December 1, 2002... Looking back on trends and changes over the past year, I find it difficult to separate what's going on in the larger world from the home remodeling industry. As Americans, our tolerance for risk is relatively high. However, we also need...

Sluggish recovery. (View point: market watch).
December 1, 2002... REMODELING MARKET INDEX Remodelers' evaluation of current market conditions and expectations for the future were worse than for last quarter, but they were more positive than a year ago. At 49.3 in the third quarter, the RMI for current...

[down arrow] Leading economic indicators. (View point: market watch).
December 1, 2002... The threat of a double-dip recession continues to grow but remains unlikely. While the Conference Board's Index of Economic Indicators fell for the fourth straight month in September, the 3.5% total decline over the four-month period is well...

[down arrow] Consumer confidence. (View point: market watch).
December 1, 2002... Consumer confidence fell for the fifth straight month in October. The October level is the lowest since November 1993. While both components of the index fell, the most marked decline was in consumers' negative expectations about employment,...

[up arrow] Second mortgage interest rates. (View point: market watch).
December 1, 2002... Interest rates for remodeling projects were essentially unchanged in October and remain attractive to homeowners. Second mortgage interest rates were about 5.13% in October vs. the record low of 5.11% in September. Oct '01 5.80 Nov ...

Dandy Handymen, part 2: growth in the handyman segment of the industry has huge potential--if you do it right. (Commentary).
December 1, 2002... Last month, I talked about the skills a handyman needs and what he should be expected to do on the job. This month, I'll cover hiring, salary and benefits, and hints for success. Partly because handymen have traditionally been solo operators,...

'Tis the season: whether it's in your business or your personal life, what you give has a way of coming back to reward you many times over. (Commentary).
December 1, 2002... Gary Stokes of ADR Builders, a remodeling company in Timonium, Md., is a great gift given At a recent dinner for his company and a number of peer remodelers, he gave out unexpected and personalized awards suited to each of the 20 recipients...

Jury of your peers: a peer review group can give you a new perspective on your business and bring rewards you can't put a price on. (Commentary).
December 1, 2002... When my husband and I started our remodeling business in 1978, he was a craftsman and I knew some bookkeeping. There were no resources we were aware of to help us learn how to run a remodeling business. We felt like lone wolves. Somehow we...

Executive decisions: making employees into decision makers pays off. (Your business: ways+means).
December 1, 2002... The job's in mid-progress. A laborer, assigned to detail, discovers a leak. He calls every plumber in the company's sub base, then on its reference list. No one's available. What next? At many companies, that laborer would have returned to,...

Life expectancies: home evaluations are a value-added service. (Your business: ways+means).
December 1, 2002... When one of Marty Schirber's 1,287 former clients is thinking about buying a house, the Minneapolis contractor is often called in to give his opinion. "When people are thinking of buying a house, they look at it in a very emotional way,"...

Ten commandments for subcontractors and vendors. (Your business: ways+means).
December 1, 2002... The Reijnen Company in Bainbridge Island, Wash., focuses on very large, very complex remodeling and custom home projects. Due to the scope and intricacy of the jobs, there are a myriad of potential problems. Derek Reijnen, president, works hard...

The selling price is right. (Your business: bottom line).
December 1, 2002... There are two common ways to use a percentage to arrive at a selling price that includes gross profit. Assuming you know what estimated direct costs for the job are, one method uses a divisor to find the selling price; the other uses a...

The "doomsday" ratio. (Your business: bottom line).
December 1, 2002... Cash / Current Liabilities As the name implies, this liquidity ratio is the most demanding because it measures current liabilities against cash alone. In other words, it monitors the danger of running out of cash. Although a ratio of 1.0...

Start a retirement plan. (Tax Tips).
December 1, 2002... As owner of your own business, if you don't plan for your retirement, no one else will. Get started with a tax-deductible savings plan right away. If you already have one, be sure to contribute the maximum every year. There are many...

Living large. (Your business: sales+marketing).
December 1, 2002... A Web site can multiply your business presence, but more likely it's just the icing on the cake, the final stroke that solidifies your reputation. With that philosophy, design/build remodelers Sharon and Jeff Rainey, owners of Home Equity...

Selling feasibility studies. (Your business: sales+marketing).
December 1, 2002... For many salespeople, the best way to make a sale is to ease their way into it. To do that, explain the steps of a successful project. Include the initial meeting, scope of the project, feasibility study, design agreement, construction...

Gym night. (Your business: sales+marketing).
December 1, 2002... Rosemont Remodeling owner Ed Sutherland went to the gym to bulk up his business. He participated in a Home Improvements Show at the local elementary school and came away with $200,000 worth of work. The show was organized by the citizens of...

Marketing check-up. (Your business: sales+marketing).
December 1, 2002... Like other business owners in the wake of September 11, Skeeter Coleman watched his business revenues drop off this year, from $2.6 million in 2001 to less than $2 million. His business peers had begun to think negatively. "People were...

Trail to success. (Your business: field notes).
December 1, 2002... These trailers aren't for sale or rent--they're for giving away. Remodeler Mark Sass assigns his carpenters 14-foot enclosed trailers to attach to their trucks for tools and equipment. If they stay at the company for three-years, he gives them...

Online safety training. (Your business: field notes).
December 1, 2002... Companies can now use online safety courses to provide employees with up-to-the-minute OSHA training while tracking records and proof of compliance. Rochester, N.Y-based Element K, through a partnership with Vivid Learning Systems, offers the...

Sending field staff to trade shows. (Your business: field notes).
December 1, 2002... A trade show is an event where suppliers and vendors set up booths to display new products. They also usually have educational programs to provide a wide variety of training. You may have a few questions about sending your field staff to shows....

DrawingBoard / grand entrance. (Your business: by design).
December 1, 2002... During the remodel of a 1960s ranch-style house in Texas, architect Dave Fazio used the entryway to introduce the contemporary rectangular theme that runs throughout the house. To meet the homeowners' desire to bring light into the house, Fazio...

Building a better Web site. (Your business: Tech@Work).
December 1, 2002... Eight tips to improve your Net presence. 1 Explain the process. Assume prospects know nothing about working with a contractor. They're looking to make an informed decision. Detail how you work. This way, your company is instantly the most...

A useful digital sketcher. (Your business: Tech@Work).
December 1, 2002... What if your designer or lead carpenter could sketch ideas for last-minute change orders and instantly e-mail them to vacationing clients for approval? I was at a contractor barbecue when a remodeler friend whipped out his $99 Seiko InkLink. We...

Big50 salute. (Special Advertising Section).
December 1, 2002... What does it take to be named the best in the business? Year after year, the REMODELING Big 50 honorees demonstrate a common commitment to marketing excellence, attention to quality, and top-notch customer service. In the same way,...

Should you name the company after yourself? (Big50 Face Off).
December 1, 2002... "I think business is personal and using my own name exemplifies that"--Ben Auger YOUR NAME ON THE DOOR I started working for myself 17 years ago, when I was about 21. I'd grown up working as a carpenter for my Dad, so construction was...

20/20 hindsight: what's the worst thing that happened to you in business this year, and what did you learn from it? (Big50 solutions: Big50 answers to big business questions).
December 1, 2002... Q+A KACEY FITZPATRICK Avalon Enterprises Mountain View, Calif. Big50 2001 The stock market slump affected sales in our target market, Silicon Valley, as residents lost the portfolio liquidity to fund home remodeling projects. We've...

The elderly's statesmen. (Big50 Outside The Box).
December 1, 2002... If you want to study a company that took a fresh look at an old industry, or that knows how to find and train employees who take customer service to heart, consider Sunrise Assisted Living. Paul and Terry Klaassen learned about the senior care...

Looking in: a view of remodeling from inside the home improvement industry. (Big50 Outside The Box).
December 1, 2002... Drywall contractor Dennis Redden has two beefs with contractors: Jobs frequently aren't ready when scheduled, and GCs don't pay promptly. Redden, of Rightway Construction in Oakley, Calif., has six employees and works with about 30...

Choosing wisely: contractors nationwide are turning to EXPO Design Centers for one-stop product selection, low prices and a customer-service edge. (Special Advertising Section).
December 1, 2002... Your custom home or remodeling project is rolling along like a smooth-running train. Smart interpretation of your client's wish list has resulted in a blueprint the customer loves, and that you can build profitably, on schedule. Permits are...

Southern comfort: an arts and crafts attic pops up as part of a whole-house remodel. (Remodeling Before+After).
December 1, 2002... Atlanta remodeler Danny Feig-Sandoval started working on this house in 1996 and hasn't left. Over the years, the owner of Small Carpenters At Large and his crew have worked on the kitchen, baths, study, attic, and garage. "I think there's only...

Mediterranean makeovers: remodeling Spanish-style villas requires dedication and detective work.
December 1, 2002... From the early 1900s to 1940, U.S. builders in temperate states copied the look of rustic houses from Mexico and the warm European countries of Spain, Italy, and Portugal. Although the construction and layout of these houses, known as...

The liability: insurance crisis: a decade of soft pricing, extravagant claims, and investment losses has the insurance industry scrambling to recoup profits, and residential construction is the first casualty.
December 1, 2002... We call it the `battlefield,'" says Susan Brodahl, a Washington-state insurance broker, confirming reports that remodelers across the country are finding it increasingly difficult to get hazard and general liability insurance. "The number of...

Tub liner franchises: the tub liner business offers remodelers one-day projects in a targeted market. (Kitchen+Bath: management).
December 1, 2002... Tub liners fit over existing bathtubs and enclosures and offer homeowners a fast way to update their bathrooms that's a lot less expensive than a more extensive remodel. For kitchen and bath dealers, buying into a tub liner franchise can expand...

Ceramic tile. (Kitchen+Bath: spec book).
December 1, 2002... Current ceramic tile designs echo an American sense of proportion and style, but with a distinctly European flare. Rustic textures and colors on floors, walls, and surfaces create a welcoming effect in kitchens and baths, while cool metallic...

Taming the wilderness: garage organization takes a turn for the better. (Products: trends).
December 1, 2002... The garage has traditionally been one of the least organized spaces in the home, surpassed only by the attic. The recent trend toward larger garages just increases the space to be filled up. But new organizational systems designed specifically...

Solid choice. (Products reader's choice).
December 1, 2002... Remodeler: Jeff Bangs Company: Kitchen Ideas Center, Madison, Wis. Product: Corian by DuPont, www.corian.com. Circle no. 123. Jeff Bangs has been installing Corian in countertop applications for 13 years and has found the...

Hot pocket PC. (Products reader's choice).
December 1, 2002... Remodeler: Mark Dixon, CR Company: Legacy Custom Builders, Scottsdale, Ariz. Product: Hewlett-Packard Jornada 540 Series Color Pocket PC, www.hp.com. Circle no. 124. Mark Dixon has been using his Jornada 540 for two years....

Good contacts. (Products reader's choice).
December 1, 2002... Remodeler: Joan Stephens, CR Company: Stronghold Construction, Boise, Idaho Product: ACT! 6.0 Contact Management & Business Software, by Best Software Company, www.act.com. Circle no. 125. Joan Stephens has been using ACT! at...

HVAC: energy-efficient heating and cooling systems put homeowners in the comfort zone--and help reduce energy consumption and bills. (Products: in focus).
December 1, 2002... Few systems in a home are as important as its heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and air treatment systems, and few systems cost the homeowner as much to maintain and use each year. As energy needs and costs continue to rise,...

Tool storage. (Products: in focus).
December 1, 2002... Cargobat. The Cargobat Storage System cargo tray fits into the canopy of most truck caps and mounts on the truck's bedrails, leaving the truck bed unobstructed. The system is constructed of stainless steel, diamond aluminum-plate, and...

Truck accessories. (Products: in focus).
December 1, 2002... Duluth Trading Company. The Cab Commander organizational bag fits around the adjustable or built-in headrests of most SUVs and trucks, the company says. The bag features a padded compartment for a laptop computer, side sleeves for a thermos or...

Red devil. (Products: first look: the newest products for the remodeling market.).
December 1, 2002... The Custom Color Caulk System allows contractors to match caulk to the colors of surfaces and fixtures while retaining a watertight and mildew-resistant seal. Two mixers that attach to any power drill are included in the kit, as well as eight...

Pres:Air:Trol Corp. (Products: first look: the newest products for the remodeling market.).
December 1, 2002... The air-actuated DisposerTrol button provides safe on and off switching of a garbage disposer system without the potential for electrical shock. The switching system is waterproof and shockproof at the button, which eliminates the need to...

Marvin Windows and Doors. (Products: first look: the newest products for the remodeling market.).
December 1, 2002... The new StormPlus Wood Ultimate Double Hung window is impact resistant and energy efficient, says the company. The laminated glass, designed to withstand the impact of debris, high wind pressures, and even thrown objects, may crack when struck...

Cultured Stone. (Products: first look: the newest products for the remodeling market.).
December 1, 2002... Fireplace Design Solutions is a CD-ROM-based interactive design program that allows users to design new or remodeled fireplaces, including outdoor fireplaces, chimneys, stoves, and built-in barbecues. Users can then view the results in a...

Nailite International. (Products: first look: the newest products for the remodeling market.).
December 1, 2002... The Cape Cod Perfection siding panel simulates the look of cedar shingles with a 4 1/2 inch exposure. The company's side interlock system is used to install the three-tier panels. The siding is available in eight colors. (888) 300-0070. www...

Powers fasteners. (Products: first look: the newest products for the remodeling market.).
December 1, 2002... The EIFS Washered Pin is a one-piece anchor designed for watertight fastening of roofing membrane, insulation, plastic sheeting, metal lathe, and wire mesh systems into concrete or masonry. The plastic washer provides pullover resistance and...

Fair compensation. (Last Word: Bench Mark).
December 1, 2002... At the top of the list of things that matter most about a remodeling company is how much income it provides for the owners. In the March 2001 issue, we set the benchmark for owner salary at 10% of gross revenue. Those of you with annual sales...