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On this episode, Victoria and Mark talk to guest Andrew Schroeder about using your remodeling experience to grow your business by profitably flipping houses, minimizing the risks and maximizing the benefits, and the challenges of acting as your own client. Whether you’re a seasoned professional in the remodeling industry or just starting, this episode is for you! Victoria and Mark dig deep with Andrew to uncover all the tips and tricks for success in the lucrative world of house flipping.   Andrew joined the Schroeder Design/Build team in 1999 and became owner in 2011. He has been a Roundtables member for over 20 years! In addition to running SDB, Andrew volunteers time with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Victoria, Mark, and Andrew talk more about: Where to invest your time and money to get your best returns How to fill your production pipeline without getting new clients Determining your profit margins in real estate And more… The post How to Make Huge Profits Without Clients with Andrew Schroeder – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

There is one challenge most remodelers have been facing, and that is the labor shortage.  So, what are you doing to find and attract the best talent? Marketing isn’t only used as a tactic for finding sales leads but also for attracting the best talent, and guest Danielle Russell is here to share how you can use digital marketing to find that talent. Danielle is the President of Builder Funnel, a digital marketing agency that has been serving remodelers like you for over a decade. She’s here to share some of her top tips that worked for Builder Funnel as it grew alongside its clients and the industry over the past year and a half. Victoria, Mark, and Danielle talk more about: Increasing brand awareness Building a culture and reputation The “always hiring” mentality And more… Turn Insight Into Action You’ve got the ideas. Now get the structure and peer accountability to execute them. Remodelers Advantage Roundtables connect you with owners committed to better margins, stronger teams, and real growth. Learn About Roundtables The post Digital Marketing Tactics for Hiring with Danielle Russell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Most remodelers start as the sole salesperson for their companies. Stepping out of that role is arguably one of the hardest things you can do — but you have to if you’re going to grow your company. Hiring, training, and managing a sales team is a challenge. Normandy Design Build Remodeling has a sales staff of 22, and all have design or architecture backgrounds. This is more important to the company than having pure sales experience. In this episode, Andy Wells talks to Victoria and Mark about hiring and training superstars at Normandy, where he’s the president and owner. Normandy has been in business for 40 years and does additions, kitchens, and whole-house remodeling throughout the Chicagoland area. Andy has been with Normandy for 21 years. Expanding and growing your company takes sales, and more sales, says Andy. His newer salespeople are selling $600,000 per year; some with more experience are doing $2 million, topping out at around $4 million sold by one salesperson. Andy talks about hiring and training the Normandy way, with information you can use to build your own sales staff, including: Why passion is the most important thing How to be a Sherpa for your clients The importance of being nimble Clicking with the customer Training in the culture The value of ride-alongs for sales Scaling the commissions and compensation Moving from salary to commission Meetings — what to cover and how often to hold them Why sales managers can’t do all their own selling And more… So much more, in fact, that we ran out of time. Since we didn’t even get to the management part, we’ll be bringing Andy back soon! The post Building a Remodeling Sales Team with Andy Wells – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

More and more remodeling and home building contractors realize the value their design services bring to their clients, and it is becoming a profit center for many companies.  Guest Dan Baumann is here to share the many reasons why you should be charging a fair price for your design services. Dan is the founder of Chief Experts Academy, a resource-packed treasure trove of information that provides ongoing training, support, and content for contractors and designers involved in the sales and development of plans for residential and light commercial buildings. Victoria, Mark and Dan talk more about: Compensation for design services Why some contractors may not charge for these services How design services can save clients money on their projects And more… The post Design Services as a Profit Center For Your Business with Dan Baumann – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Victoria and Mark are just back from their own peer group meeting, and were inspired by what they learned. In particular, they were excited by something they heard from another member, Wayne Rivers. Wayne has a video blog, and we’re picking up one of his episodes about leadership. He says leaders tolerate bad behaviors in their organizations too often, and it can cost you money and time. The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate. You may hear some things that hit home for you in his talk. Wayne Rivers, the Founder and President of Performance Construction Advisors, and celebrated for his four influential books. He’s a sought-after media figure, appearing on Today Show, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and “BusinessWeek: WEEKEND,” and serves as a Wall Street Journal Expert Panelist. In addition, Wayne’s wisdom is featured in Forbes, Fortune, BusinessWeek, and The New York Times. With a wealth of articles, a 15-year blog, and workshops for prestigious organizations like Harley-Davidson and YPO, he brings a wealth of experience to PCA. Honored as a Fellow of the Family Firm Institute, Wayne’s dedication reflects his passion for building better contractors. Wayne gives examples of toxic employee behavior in his talk today, and tells you how you can curb them, including: The reasons you keep bad employees Why you need to have performance reviews The definition of stewardship Why you need to have a recruiting system Developing your spine The benefits of outside support for leaders The improve or remove system And more … Want this kind of clarity and accountability in your own business? What Victoria and Mark experienced—and what Wayne reinforces—is exactly why Remodelers Advantage Roundtables exist. In a trusted peer group, you’re challenged to stop tolerating what’s holding your business back, learn from owners who’ve been there, and get outside perspective before problems become expensive mistakes. Roundtables give you the structure, peer accountability, and experienced facilitation leaders need to grow stronger teams, healthier cultures, and more profitable businesses—without going it alone. Learn more about Remodelers Advantage Roundtables and apply today. Get Started Today The post A Leader’s Inactions Are Just as Important as Actions with Wayne Rivers – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

When it comes to the employees who are responsible for onboarding and managing your clients, providing consistent coaching and training to your team is crucial for achieving success. One of the most effective techniques for training your team is through the ‘ride along’ or shadowing method. Although this process can be time-consuming, Jef Forward has introduced a new approach to the ride-along. Additionally, he discusses how he employs AI during training and the sales process to help improve the effectiveness of their sales team. Jef is the Owner of Forward Design Build located in Ann Arbor, MI. He has been a facilitator for Remodelers Advantage Roundtables for numerous years and has been a member of the Roundtables family for even longer. Jef is known as a visionary, an idea guy, and ahead of the curve in most things tech. Victoria, Mark, and Jef talk more about: How has the use of AI affected the business? AI trackers and how to use them effectively? Using AI apps in a face-to-face meeting And more… The post Improve Team Performance with Virtual Ride-Alongs with Jef Forward – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In this episode, guest Alan Hanbury of Hanbury Builders Inc. discusses three common areas where remodeling contractors are underperforming because they believe their gut rather than facts. Alan also talks about referral marketing, the effects of job costing done half-heartedly, and hiring when taking net profitability into account. Alan is president of House of Hanbury Builders Inc., and recently retired after 45 years as owner of the full-service remodeling firm in central Connecticut. Alan now concentrates on teaching, consulting and other business coaching opportunities.  Victoria, Mark and Alan talk more about: The importance of referralsWhy monitoring job costing reports may be more important than accounting resultsHiring during labor shortagesAnd more… The post Common Remodeler Mistakes that are Hitting Your Bottom Line with Alan Hanbury – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

How can designers and production staff improve their success in the remodeling industry?  Guest Jeff Borovitz joins Victoria and Mark to talk about the deadly sins that get in the way of reaching your full potential.   Jeff has worked and trained with many members of the Remodelers Advantage Roundtables community and brings that experience in talking about patterns and trends to continue, and avoid. Since 1991, Jeff has worked with businesses across the globe, helping thousands improve their sales organizations and sales culture.  Jeff is now the owner of Sandler Training, a sales and leadership training company that helps business owners increase revenue, shorten sales cycles, and hire better-performing sales teams.   Victoria, Mark and Jeff talk more about: The deadly sins to avoid The one sin that costs remodelers the most The difference between “like” and “trust” QSTEP Learning how to avoid the deadly sins And more… The post The Deadly Sins that Designers & Production Teams Commit with Jeff Borovitz – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Accurately estimating a project is critical to profit,  and one of the most challenging components of that estimate is labor.  Can you estimate labor simply and accurately? Are you spending too much time estimating labor for each job?  Guest Chad Vincent thinks so.  Tune into this episode to hear all about his new method towards becoming more effective in the estimation process. Chad is the CEO and owner of Renaissance Remodeling in Boise, Idaho. He began his remodeling and construction career at a young age working for his dad in the family business and has been expanding his presence, expertise, and success in the field ever since. Chad values staying ahead of the curve and accepting nothing but the best in an ever-changing industry.  Victoria, Mark and Chad talk more about: Dealing with “slips” in estimating Educating designers on this process Cutting back on the time it takes to estimate And more… The post A Secret Shortcut to Estimating Labor with Chad Vincent – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Today on PowerTips Unscripted, Thomas Croessman joins the show to discuss the need for small business owners to plan for their company’s transition in their estate plan.  While your business might be humming along now, how will it perform if you’re not around? Unfortunately, most small businesses only survive the first generation because of estate planning and communication failures. Thomas explains Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Trusts, when those documents become effective. He also gives some practical tips to help the transition go smoothly. Thomas Croessmann is the Managing Partner of Croessmann & Westberg, P.C., a construction law firm in the DC area. The firm is a full-service law firm for construction contractors. Thomas, Victoria, and Mark talk more about: What is an Estate Plan? What is Power of Attorney, and when is it used? And more… The post Estate Planning 101 with Thomas Croessman – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

The most common marketing mistake host Mark Harari sees is a focus on tactic without regard for strategy.  It is important to avoid adopting new fad marketing tactics, and start with a strategic foundation.  Guest Spencer Powell agrees, and he is here to share how to focus on what matters most to your business so that you can use marketing to increase profit. Spencer is the CEO of Builder Funnel & the author of the book, The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint. Spencer began his marketing journey by helping his uncles’ remodeling division grow from $2M to $10M in 4 years & now helps remodeling companies create sustainable, repeatable marketing plans. Victoria, Mark and Spencer talk more about: Developing strategy The importance of tracking/measuring Taking the necessary steps for successful strategies And more… Want to Turn Marketing Insights into Real Business Growth? This episode is packed with strategic marketing advice — but insights alone won’t move the needle. That’s where Roundtables Peer Groups come in. Join a community of top-tier remodelers who not only learn from experts like Spencer Powell, but also implement proven strategies, stay accountable, and drive real results. Take the next step — learn more about Roundtables today. Discover Roundtables The post Focusing on What Matters Most with Spencer Powell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

The remodeling industry is highly competitive and some may be tempted to break the rules. Although some may do it intentionally, others may start with good intentions, but over time the line between right and wrong becomes blurred. Thomas Croessmann will be joining the show to discuss the consequences of breaking the rules, which in some cases can result in jail time. Thomas Croessmann is the Managing Partner of Croessmann & Westberg, P.C., a construction law firm in the DC area. The firm is a full-service law firm for construction contractors. Thomas has worked with many of the Remodelers in the Metro D.C. area. Thomas, Victoria, and Mark talk more about: What are the dangers of hiring an undocumented worker? What are the legal concerns with a contractor front-loading the payments of a project? What is a Captive Trade Contractor? The post The Fine Line: The Legal Consequences to Questionable Business Practices with Thomas Croessmann – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

There are many legal challenges that can appear suddenly for remodelers, builders and business owners. It is imperative to build your business on a foundation that can weather the storm so that, as our guest today puts it, it doesn’t matter. In this episode, we talk more about the process of “shatterproofing” your business with America’s Legal Coach, Scott Reib. Scott is the owner of ReibLaw, a full-service law firm with over 20 years of Business Law and Estate Planning experience. For the last two decades, Scott has been helping business owners, entrepreneurs, coaches, and service providers to “shatterproof” their businesses and succeed in the professional world. Victoria, Mark and Scott cover: How Scott became known as America’s Legal Coach. The difference between a legal coach and a lawyer. What is meant by a “shatterproof” business. Why a business would need to be shatterproof. The biggest legal mistakes Scott sees businesses making. And more… The post How to Shatterproof Your Business with America’s Legal Coach – [Best of PowerTips] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Dave Pollard, Co-Founder & Design Director of Liv Companies outside of Chicago, joins the show to talk more about how his firm utilizes 3D renderings in almost every aspect of their business. Leading LivCo’s design team, Dave’s process quickly takes hand sketches to full-blown renderings and walk-throughs, and they are even leveraging the power of quick video editing to help clients and prospects truly feel what their home can be, and leave every meeting feeling inspired. LivCo has been leveraging the power of 3D design since they began design/build back in 2012.  Initially used simply as a creative tool for developing ideas, they quickly learned that the 3D output could take them to a higher level in sales, efficiency of communication, and marketing. Victoria, Mark and Dave talk more about: The software LivCo uses and why they use it. An overview of LivCo’s general design workflow. Using 3D visualization for more than just client presentations. The time it takes to make deliverables to the client. The fees to the client for 3D renderings. And more… LivCo’s Drawing Board Playlist on YouTube Want deeper conversations like this for your business? In Roundtables, you’ll connect with other top remodelers to share strategies, tackle challenges, and explore tools like 3D visualization that can transform your sales process and client experience. Join a peer group that pushes you to innovate and grow. Learn More The post Harnessing the Power of 3D Visualization with David Pollard – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In this episode, Jeff Talmadge discusses how he and his team created a point system for his design staff to spread their workload.  Each designer is assigned a predetermined number of points, weighted by criteria such as permitting, scope, and complexity of the job.  The team tracks points weekly and has found that designers are less stressed, customers are given more accurate timelines, and production can plan their workload better. Jeff Talmadge is the president of Talmadge Construction, a large, premium design-build firm based in Aptos, CA.  Jeff and his team pride themselves on their commitment to customer service, quality workmanship, and a strong team culture.   Jeff’s five words of wisdom – patience, persistence, never give up. Listen as Jeff, Victoria, and Mark discuss: Increasing job satisfaction across the company by managing designer workloads Improving customer service by managing expectations with accurate timelines And more… Want access to more proven strategies like Jeff’s? Join a Remodelers Advantage Roundtables Peer Group and connect with high-performing remodelers who share real-world solutions to the exact challenges you’re facing. Learn more and apply today The post Gauging Your Designers’ Workload Effectively With Jeff Talmadge – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.