Category
Marketing & Sales
The Hammer episode #4: New Stars – Shir Magen and Megan Oldfield of HomeStars
With the retirement of founder Nancy Peterson, there are…
August 2020 another record-setting month for many Canadian housing markets
Statistics released by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)…
Great Expectations
Four smart ways to cope with the growing demands of today’s digitally fluent customers
Kohler Cleansing Seats
Consumers are seeking clean, ranging from the physical clean of avoiding germs, to a higher order need: peace of mind, serenity and freedom from chaos.
Wolseley Canada announces organizational restructuring
Wolseley Canada is further aligning its powerhouse Plumbing and…
RealSpace3D – Five ways to use 3D renderings improve your next project
This is a sponsored post from RealSpace3D In the…
Scheatzle joins Tarkett as president of North American residential business
Tarkett, has hired John Scheatzle as president of its…
2021 colour trends, pantone palettes explored in webinars from IHA
The key to attracting consumers’ eyes in the coming…
Renovation Sales 101: Don’t get to price too early – especially when asked to ‘ballpark’
It’s probably the most important aspect of selling anything to anyone: Do NOT get to PRICE until you have established your VALUE.
Why don’t more contractors ask their customers to rate their services?
Of three dozen subtrades and installers that John Bleasby dealt with on his recent new home build, not one asked him – as the general contractor – how satisfied he was with their work. There is money to be made – serious money – in asking that question.
Tips on running a one-man handyman operation
John Bleasby interviews a consummate handyman professional: Wayne Jackson, Wayne Jackson Handyman Services, Amherstburg, Ontario.
Should you sign up with a contractor referral service?
Ben Kuypers compares the leads he is getting from three contractor referral sites: HomeStars, Trusted Pros and Baeumler Approved. He says HomeStars provides “more consistent and better quality” leads than the other two sites.
Should you do Freebies for customers? Part 2.
Yes, you can do a few favours for free – in the context of a much bigger reno. But don’t just blurt those offers out. Do them only after careful consideration.
Mike Draper, Renovantage, on calculating the correct deposit amount
Mike Draper, our resident contractor coach, tells you how to figure out a reasonable and fair deposit when you win a new project
Survey: 75 per cent of homeowners did NOT check online reviews before hiring contractors
Only FOUR per cent of the survey respondents say they “always” check contractors’ reviews online
A good deposit policy has allowed us to only get stung three times in 38 years
Yvette Aube’s chimney service company asks for deposits in the range of 25 to 33 per cent of the project total.
Calgary’s Albi Homes wins Deloitte Best Managed Company award
You have to know what business you are in – and what type of work you want to do. Albi Homes’ president Allan Klassen attributed his company’s success to “direction” and “focus.”
Our survey says: Your biggest headache is… marketing
Our 7th annual Salary Survey, at the printer now (check here tomorrow for the digital edition), asked almost 40 questions. One of them was “What’s Giving You the Most Grief?” It’s marketing.
Is business slow? Maybe it’s your marketing?
Marketing yourself as a contractor in the centre of a city may require a different approach than the type of marketing that will work in outlying areas.
Let’s talk cash economy
I recently hired a contractor to do some work that I couldn’t get to. His price was fair, but leaves me reeling at what the legitimate costs of a reno has become.
How’s your SEO?
Ever punch in a search you expected would find your website on the first page? You might be surprised at what you don’t find.
Will Ontario introduce their version of the Home Renovation Tax Credit?
Ottawa’s Home Renovation Tax Credit, in 2009, pumped $4.3-billion of extra work into our industry. Now, a similar idea for Ontario has at least reached the conversation stage.
From tools to trucks: Home Hardware Pro Contractor trade shows pump up the prizes
There were prizes being announced almost every 5 minutes last night at the Home Hardware Contractor Pro Show in London, Ont.
Got a bad review on HomeStars? Read this interview with their CEO on what NOT to do about it
HomeStars won’t help you out with getting bad reviews taken down, simply because you advertise with them.
(VIDEO) How to Stop Wasting Time on Bad Leads
As a professional renovator or custom home builder, you don’t have a second to waste on prospective customers who are really just tire-kickers. Watch this video to learn how to “qualify” all sales leads before you drive out to see them.
Goodbye Holmes Referred, hello Baeumler Approved
There are 300 contractors and other firms associated with the Baeumler Approved contractor referral program, Bryan Baeumler’s folks tell us
Contractor referral model… is flawed and not sustainable
“The costs are too high and quality standards are not uniform,” says Alec Beraskow.
42 per cent interest on overdue Yellow Pages advertising payments?
Reader Kevin Smith says that billings for Yellow Pages advertising show up on Bell Canada bills, potentially triggering 42 per cent (annualized) interest rates to contractors who want to advertise their services in the Yellow Pages – and who are late paying their advertising bills.
Home Depot shows its Pride
Home Depot was a major sponsor (a “bronze partner”) of Toronto’s 34th annual Pride parade held last Sunday. In fact this was “World Pride,” bringing participants from around the globe.
Strategies for competing with Fly-By-Nighters
Fly-By-Nighters, Trunk Slammers, Cash Guys, The Underground… whatever you call them, they are everywhere these days – trying to outbid you by 30 to 40 per cent. Here are some ways that established, above-board, legitimate contractors are competing with this hidden marketplace.
