More and more remodeling and home building contractors realize the value their design services bring to their clients, and it is becoming a profit center for many companies.  Guest Dan Baumann is here to share the many reasons why you should be charging a fair price for your design services.

Dan is the founder of Chief Experts Academy, a resource-packed treasure trove of information that provides ongoing training, support, and content for contractors and designers involved in the sales and development of plans for residential and light commercial buildings.

Victoria, Mark and Dan talk more about:

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Victoria and Mark are just back from their own peer group meeting, and were inspired by what they learned. In particular, they were excited by something they heard from another member, Wayne Rivers.

Wayne has a video blog, and we’re picking up one of his episodes about leadership. He says leaders tolerate bad behaviors in their organizations too often, and it can cost you money and time. The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate. You may hear some things that hit home for you in his talk.

Wayne Rivers, the Founder and President of Performance Construction Advisors, and celebrated for his four influential books. He’s a sought-after media figure, appearing on Today Show, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and “BusinessWeek: WEEKEND,” and serves as a Wall Street Journal Expert Panelist. In addition, Wayne’s wisdom is featured in Forbes, Fortune, BusinessWeek, and The New York Times. With a wealth of articles, a 15-year blog, and workshops for prestigious organizations like Harley-Davidson and YPO, he brings a wealth of experience to PCA. Honored as a Fellow of the Family Firm Institute, Wayne’s dedication reflects his passion for building better contractors.

Wayne gives examples of toxic employee behavior in his talk today, and tells you how you can curb them, including:

What Victoria and Mark experienced—and what Wayne reinforces—is exactly why Remodelers Advantage Roundtables exist. In a trusted peer group, you’re challenged to stop tolerating what’s holding your business back, learn from owners who’ve been there, and get outside perspective before problems become expensive mistakes.

Roundtables give you the structure, peer accountability, and experienced facilitation leaders need to grow stronger teams, healthier cultures, and more profitable businesses—without going it alone.

Learn more about Remodelers Advantage Roundtables and apply today.

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When it comes to the employees who are responsible for onboarding and managing your clients, providing consistent coaching and training to your team is crucial for achieving success. One of the most effective techniques for training your team is through the ‘ride along’ or shadowing method. Although this process can be time-consuming, Jef Forward has introduced a new approach to the ride-along. Additionally, he discusses how he employs AI during training and the sales process to help improve the effectiveness of their sales team.

Jef is the Owner of Forward Design Build located in Ann Arbor, MI. He has been a facilitator for Remodelers Advantage Roundtables for numerous years and has been a member of the Roundtables family for even longer. Jef is known as a visionary, an idea guy, and ahead of the curve in most things tech.

Victoria, Mark, and Jef talk more about:

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Worried about a steady flow of leads? If referrals are your main source of business, a structured, reliable process for generating them is essential! Many companies claim their top leads come from referrals, yet few have a formal strategy in place. In today’s episode of PowerTips Unscripted, Doug Howard shares a proven method for building a consistent referral system that works.

Doug Howard, a senior consultant with Remodelers Advantage since 2017, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Having facilitated over 8 Roundtables meetings each year, Doug has worked with hundreds of remodeling clients to help them master their financials, refine processes, and boost profitability.

Doug, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:

• What is a referral engine?
• Who should be responsible for generating referrals?
• What will cause people who already like us to send more referrals?
• And more…

The best Roundtables members are the ones who show up prepared—and that begins with the Roundtables Readiness Program.

Roundtables, the industry’s premier peer-group experience for remodelers, brings together non-competing business owners to share financial benchmarks, solve challenges collaboratively, and hold each other accountable to higher levels of performance. It’s where top remodelers go to grow—faster, smarter, and with a support network that understands their world.

The Roundtables Readiness Program ensures you enter that environment with confidence. It helps you tighten your systems, understand your numbers, strengthen accountability, and build the foundation every top remodeler needs. It’s the fastest way to get your business truly Roundtables-ready.

Ready to accelerate your path into Roundtables?
Join the Roundtables Readiness Program and prepare your business for long-term success.

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In this episode, guest Alan Hanbury of Hanbury Builders Inc. discusses three common areas where remodeling contractors are underperforming because they believe their gut rather than facts.

Alan also talks about referral marketing, the effects of job costing done half-heartedly, and hiring when taking net profitability into account.

Alan is president of House of Hanbury Builders Inc., and recently retired after 45 years as owner of the full-service remodeling firm in central Connecticut. Alan now concentrates on teaching, consulting and other business coaching opportunities. 

Victoria, Mark and Alan talk more about:

• The importance of referrals
• Why monitoring job costing reports may be more important than accounting results
• Hiring during labor shortages
• And more…

The post Common Remodeler Mistakes that are Hitting Your Bottom Line with Alan Hanbury – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, host Victoria Downing chats with Jessica Lipson, Vice President of People and Culture at JBL Consulting, about building strong leadership within your remodeling business. Jessica, who brings over 20 years of HR experience, shares her insights on identifying high-potential leaders, developing effective mentorship programs, and fostering non-toxic, inclusive company cultures.

Jessica explains the difference between high-performing employees, who excel in their current roles, and high-potential employees, who show the drive and emotional intelligence to lead in the future. She emphasizes the importance of utilizing tools like behavioral assessments and regular one-on-ones to spot these emerging leaders.

Victoria and Jessica also dive into:

• The key skills future leaders should possess, such as emotional intelligence, resilience, and adaptability.
• How to balance formal training with real-world leadership experiences.
• Practical strategies for resolving workplace conflict and building a respectful, productive team culture.

Bring her expertise directly into your business. From identifying emerging leaders to designing sustainable culture initiatives, Jessica works hands-on with remodeling companies to elevate their people and performance.

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How can designers and production staff improve their success in the remodeling industry?  Guest Jeff Borovitz joins Victoria and Mark to talk about the deadly sins that get in the way of reaching your full potential.  

Jeff has worked and trained with many members of the Remodelers Advantage Roundtables community and brings that experience in talking about patterns and trends to continue, and avoid.

Since 1991, Jeff has worked with businesses across the globe, helping thousands improve their sales organizations and sales culture.  Jeff is now the owner of Sandler Training, a sales and leadership training company that helps business owners increase revenue, shorten sales cycles, and hire better-performing sales teams.  

Victoria, Mark and Jeff talk more about:

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Accurately estimating a project is critical to profit,  and one of the most challenging components of that estimate is labor. 

Can you estimate labor simply and accurately? Are you spending too much time estimating labor for each job?  Guest Chad Vincent thinks so.  Tune into this episode to hear all about his new method towards becoming more effective in the estimation process.

Chad is the CEO and owner of Renaissance Remodeling in Boise, Idaho. He began his remodeling and construction career at a young age working for his dad in the family business and has been expanding his presence, expertise, and success in the field ever since. Chad values staying ahead of the curve and accepting nothing but the best in an ever-changing industry. 

Victoria, Mark and Chad talk more about:

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On this episode, Victoria and Mark talk to guest Andrew Schroeder about using your remodeling experience to grow your business by profitably flipping houses, minimizing the risks and maximizing the benefits, and the challenges of acting as your own client.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional in the remodeling industry or just starting, this episode is for you! Victoria and Mark dig deep with Andrew to uncover all the tips and tricks for success in the lucrative world of house flipping.

Andrew joined the Schroeder Design/Build team in 1999 and became owner in 2011. In addition to running SDB, Andrew volunteers time with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).

Victoria, Mark, and Andrew talk more about:

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Today on PowerTips Unscripted, Thomas Croessman joins the show to discuss the need for small business owners to plan for their company’s transition in their estate plan.  While your business might be humming along now, how will it perform if you’re not around? Unfortunately, most small businesses only survive the first generation because of estate planning and communication failures. Thomas explains Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Trusts, when those documents become effective. He also gives some practical tips to help the transition go smoothly.

Thomas Croessmann is the Managing Partner of Croessmann & Westberg, P.C., a construction law firm in the DC area. The firm is a full-service law firm for construction contractors.

Thomas, Victoria, and Mark talk more about:

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