Build Topic
How-to
Boost your window game
by Steve MaxwellThree steps to success
I don’t fail at anything
by Rob BlackstienA couple of years ago, Steve Maxwell wrote an article about keeping outside water pipes from freezing, and like many of our advice pieces, there has been plenty of adding on from the professionals. Sam Trolinder recently responded to a…
JELD-WEN’s 12-Day Home Winterization Checklist
by JELD-WENTwas the first day of winter, and all through the house, there were maintenance issues that needed to be worked out. Thankfully JELD-WEN came up with this plan, so homeowners could take matters into their own hands. Day 1 –…
The Art of Sound Reduction
by JELD-WENWhether you live in a busy household, have an apartment in a noisy downtown neighbourhood or next to someone who practices bagpipes on their deck, sound reduction means getting the peace and quiet you need to relax in your living…
Delegate or die: How trying to do it all yourself will kill your business
by Steve Payne“The lack of courage to delegate properly, and the knowledge of how to do it, is one of the most general causes of failures in organizations.”
Coaches Corner (VIDEO): How to stay FOCUSED as a professional renovator
by Steve PayneFocus comes from having distinct goals for your renovation business. Useful goals can be related to (1) Hours worked (2) Revenue and (3) Profitability.
(VIDEO) Coach's Corner with Mike Draper: How to handle work crunches in busy season
by Robert KociIf you’re a good contractor, and you’re in a good marketplace, you should be at your busiest time of the year right now. Contractor coach Mike Draper (www.renovantage.com) talks about how to use busy times to structure your business properly for the future.
Don’t be a statistic: Look up and look out for powerlines! (sponsored message)
by Robert KociIn the last decade, 20 people have been killed by contact with overhead powerlines. It didn’t have to be that way
(VIDEO) Coaches Corner: How to generate more leads – without spending a fortune
by Robert KociWhat’s the difference between “building a brand” and “lead generation”? The first term is “nice to have,” but the second is “need to have,” as Renovantage’s Mike Draper explains in this short video clip.
Do you have a business plan for your reno business for 2014? If not, read this….
by Mike DraperThis is the perfect time of the year to ask yourself this question. “Do I really want to fly by the seat of my pants as a renovation contractor, or do I want to try to come up with the Three Year Business Plan?”
Coaches Corner (VIDEO): "There is no deficiency list!"
by Robert KociWhat happens when you decide there will be no deficiency list? It changes everything and makes you much more profitable.
Coaches' Corner VIDEO: Solving problems with the homeowner, Part 2
by Robert KociWhenever there’s a glitch, a screw-up, or a surprise on a renovation project, it’s tempting to forge right on with a solution that you, the renovator, thinks will work. But you need to make sure the client agrees with the changes you are going to make to the plans, to the schedule or to the finished look. Watch the video for more.
Contractor U: Do you have a vision and a plan?
by Mike DraperI recommend that renovation contractors have a Three Year Plan. Three years is a good timeframe as it is close enough that it is motivating, yet far enough out that you have time to reach your vision.
Are you on the first page of Google? (VIDEO)
by Robert KociIf you are not, you are a dead man… or woman. Carrie Shaw tell us why.
The next issue of Canadian Contractor
by Robert KociWhy parents don’t want their kids to be trades people. And what to do when your customer owes you $100,000
How he sold his renovation business
by Steve PayneEdmonton contractor sold his business for close to $500,000. The buyer got excellent value and has already started to move the business to even greater heights. The key to selling a renovation business is to make sure it can run without you, using proper systems.
Can you sell your renovation business?
by Mike DraperRecently, I worked with a renovation contractor in Edmonton who sold his business for $500,000. In order to do that, he had to make sure that his business was working well without him. That’s the key to being able to sell your business: set up systems, delegate, and get out of the day-to-day.
A contractor's guide to getting found on the Internet
by Steve PayneWhen you Google “Vancouver plumbers,” you will get over 3,000,000 search results. So how is your contracting business ever going to get found on the Internet?