Category
Estimating
Point and click measuring? Stanley has an app for that!
by John BleasbyStanley’s new TML99 and DML99 laser distance measurers, combined with the Stanley Floor Plan App, will help you create precisely accurate floor plans without moving from a single spot in a room.
The Rule of One Third: Are you making a minimum of 33 per cent gross margin?
by Steve PayneMarkup on direct job costs (labour and materials) to reach One Third gross margin (33 per cent) is 50 per cent.
A new slick scheme called Straightforward Pricing
by Steve Payne“Under straightforward pricing, contractors go away from charging by the hour but, instead, go by a price list with different tier levels at that also includes a diagnostic fee, as if they were doctors,” Kevin Koch reports to us.
Renovantage’s Mike Draper on turning leads into customers
by Steve Payne“Never email a quotation,” Draper counsels. “Always visit with the client to go over the details so that you can make adjustments to include or exclude changes the customer wants to see.
RenoSummit seminar report: How much should you be marking up your work?
by Steve PayneContractors should be marking up their direct job costs (labour and material) between 50 and 65 per cent, if they want to make a good profit, Remodelers Advantage president Victoria Downing told contractors in Whitby, ON
VIDEO: Mike Holmes interview part 8: Educating your customer
by Steve Payne“Too often I’ve seen contractors walk in with a pad, out of their pickup truck, and they listen to what the homeowner wants. They give them a price and ask for a down (payment). And there’s never enough education there.” – MIKE HOLMES
The case for flat-rate pricing for service and repair work
by Steve Payne“Until flat rate pricing becomes the industry standard – and realistically that would take a long time to bring about – there are bound to be customers who will ask how much you charge ‘per hour.’ “
CMHC Housing Report Q4, 2011
by Robert KociIt looks like Canada won’t hit 200,000 starts this year, but the final number will be close. And there is promise of a strong housing market in 2012. CMHC’s Q4 housing report suggests a leveling off of starts, from about 191,000…