Mark Pelletier says that the two areas keeping his company going through the recession are aging-in-place work and energy upgrades. He earned his CAPS (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist) designation and advertises these services in the monthly senior-living insert in his local newspaper. One project, for a client who had a leg amputated due to diabetes, was featured in a local magazine. “We put in a masonry ramp in front of his house — it was very tastefully done,” Pelletier says.

For energy upgrades, a subcontractor does the audit and provides a 40-page report that Pelletier reviews with the client. Pelletier points out that tract homes built 10 years ago do not have enough insulation or a tight building envelope. His two field staff spend about two days on energy upgrades.

For design on larger projects, the remodeler has forged strong relationships with kitchen designers and architects. He says that clients are not aware of the range of work the company does, so he is using a quarterly newsletter to contact them. About 50% of leads come from the company’s website. “My money is best spent positioning us on the Internet,” Pelletier says.

BEST PRACTICES

  • Pelletier is president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Mid-Maryland chapter and attributes much of his success to being involved with NARI, other associations, and peer review group Business Networks. 
  • He says that he can work on a range of projects because he has great staff. His two field employees, lead carpenter John Gosenhauer and crew member Mike Jacobs, use e-mail communication to stay on track. 
  • Pelletier’s home maintenance division has a few clients, but he hopes to expand this in the coming years.

- Nina Patel