Remodeler Tim Cross used to videotape at the beginning of his remodeling jobs. The president of Merrick Construction, in Rumson, N.J., came up with the idea when he was doing insurance restoration work. "For those jobs, we had to take the house back to the way it was before the damage," he says. A video protected him from any disputes.

For example, at the end of one job, the client wanted Cross' company to replace the backsplash with a seamless surface that she adamantly claimed was in her existing kitchen. Cross proved his case through the video.

Soon after, Cross also began making professionally narrated videotapes of the end result of remodeling projects to create a marketing piece for new clients. Though he no longer has time for this marketing tactic, he liked the results. Now, he only videotapes for the rare insurance job he does.