Delegation ó or the lack of it ó is probably the biggest obstacle facing new remodelers. A young remodeling company requires a lot of attention, and 60-hour-plus work weeks certainly aren't uncommon. But if the company is going to move out of its infancy, then its owner must start to pass responsibilities on to others. More
The first thing I do is assure the customer that I'm not going to go back and tell the employee that “Mrs. Jones said you didn't clean up adequately.” That might make the customer uncomfortable, particularly if the job isn't finished yet. More
Since 1990, new immigrants have entered the American work force in unprecedented numbers and altered its makeup as never before. More
Remodeling has progressed in its long march toward professionalism, but unethical and unqualified contractors still plague the industry. Most readers agree that to continue its advancement, the industry needs to establish standards for quality and ethical behavior. More
Instead of putting an ad in the paper and hiring someone on the basis of gut instinct -- his past practice -- Eichhorst decided to screen the candidates first. He hired Bob Handwerk, of local human resources firm RLH & Associates, to handle the hiring process. More
Every year, REMODELING's Big50 awards spotlight exemplary remodeling companies across the nation. More
If life goes according to business plan, an Owens Corning basement finishing system franchise will be Gary Eichhorst's ticket to future retirement. "Once I get it developed the way I want, it will give me an exit strategy because it will have proven revenues year after year." More
