The remodeling industry is poised for a recovery, but challenges remain. Here's a look at the key hurdles to overcome and how some remodelers are tackling them head-on. More
In a challenging economy, fund control provides assurance for remodelers that their clients have a way to pay for their remodeling project. More
Some see specialization as the future of the industry, but plenty of remodelers beg to differ with the notion that a jack-of-all trades is a master of none. More
Adding a specialty business isn't for everyone, but it can be a real profit center. More
Like a lot of other remodelers, Strong Construction in Fremont, Calif., can't afford to waste time with clients who want to push $50,000 where $100,000 should go, or who get fixated on some magic number for a project's cost. But co-owners Steve and Sandy Strong also can't afford to turn away good business, so they bring up the big, bad B word ó budget ó as part of the typical first phone conversation. More
There's no mandatory size past which you must have a controller, but a good time to consider hiring one is when you hit about $1.5 million in sales, suggests Steve Ramaekers, of Mainstreet Restorations & Remodeling. More
Three years ago, Jason Larson, owner of Lars Construction, a San Diego design/build company, decided to create a division dedicated solely to installing vinyl windows. "It allows us to monitor job costs and watch sales in that division," Connor says. More
Larson, of San Diego-based Lars Construction, a company that includes a $1 million window division called Jacor Door and Window, lets clients select their configuration and material and then makes his case for upgrades at the glass package stage. More
Jason Larson, owner of Lars Construction, a remodeling firm in San Diego, used to get calls from people wanting to know if his company installed windows. A full 95% of the windows Jacor installs are vinyl replacements, and Jacor will install a single window just to get its job signs in new neighborhoods. More
