The Hack Hour Podcast

If you're a smart, hardworking remodeler stuck under $500K in annual sales—this episode is for you. Host Mike Menges breaks down exactly why being talented and driven often hurts more than it helps when you're trying to grow a remodeling business.In this episode of HackHour, you'll learn:Why most remodelers stay stuck at $300–500K foreverThe two critical roles every remodeling business must fill to scaleThe idiot-proof, unsexy marketing system that actually worksWhat successful remodelers do consistently to cross the $1M markThis is not fluff. It’s field-tested, battle-proven advice for builders and remodelers ready to stop grinding and start building a real business.GET MIKE'S BOOK:📘 Get Paid to Estimate ---https://www.getpaidtoestimate.com/microbookJOIN THE COMMUNITY:👷‍♂️ Remodelers Helping Remodelers Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/share/g/177E3gkkX9/SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE:▶️ The Remodeling Academy YouTube Channel- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmJZe8FGZdb0DuCPsnzX_aAReady to break past $500K and hit your first $1M?Watch this episode—and go get yours.#getpaidtoestimate #theremodelingacademy #estimate #sales #objections #contractor #remodel

🚨 Tired of blank screens and missed leads? In this episode of HackHour, we uncover how smart remodelers are using AI tools like ChatGPT to write killer ads, persuasive proposals, engaging social posts, and more—in just minutes a day.💡 Inside Episode 67 “The Virtual Remodeler,” you’ll discover:How a contractor wrote a $75K proposal in 10 minutesHow to send follow-up emails that WIN cold leadsThe power of persuasive, emotionally engaging contentWhy AI is NOT just for “tech guys”And how to join our 30-Day AI Prompt Challenge🎯 Whether you’re marketing on the go, stuck in a job trailer, or running your business from your truck cap—this episode gives you the tools to sell smarter and faster.🔥 Join the 30-Day Challenge: theremodelingacademy.com📲 Subscribe + turn on notifications to get daily prompts💬 Comment your first AI success or challenge—we read every one!🎧 Listen now. Learn. Execute. Grow.#remodelingbusiness #ChatGPTforContractors #VirtualRemodeler #HackHourPodcast #RemodelRebels

Episode 066

Remodelers — want to serve your community during times of unrest and build a thriving business?In this episode of The HackHour, we break down a powerful, ethical strategy for contractors to step up when their city needs them most.You’ll learn how to:Prepare for emergency board-up and repair jobsLaunch a local outreach blitz to win trust and clientsTurn one urgent job into months of steady workBecome the go-to remodeler for small businesses and property managersPlus, get access to our free “Riot Relief Guide” — a complete toolkit with:✅ Emergency supply checklist✅ Social media & flyer templates✅ Pricing strategies✅ Outreach scripts✅ And more!📥 Comment “REPAIR” or DM “RIOT RELIEF” to get the guide now.Let’s rebuild trust — and business — one board-up at a time.#RemodelerMarketing #ContractorTips #EmergencyRepair #SmallBusinessSupport #HackHourPodcast #RemodelingBusiness

Why AI Won’t Help You Sell Remodels — But ARI Will (HackHour Ep. 64)Most remodelers are chasing AI tools — faster floorplans, faster estimates, faster everything.But here’s the truth no one’s saying:AI can’t close a $100K remodel. ARI can.In this episode, Mike Menges — founder of The Remodeling Academy — reveals the secret that separates top remodelers from the pack:ARI — Applied Relational Intelligence.It’s not about knowing more tech. It’s about knowing your client better than anyone else.You’ll learn:✅ Why most estimates fail to win the job✅ How ARI helps you sell without being pushy✅ The 3-step ARI framework to close better jobs, faster✅ Real stories from the field — and how clients choose trust over price every time📘 Free Book — Grab Get Paid to Estimate here:👉 https://getpaidtoestimate.com/mircobookLearn how to stop working for free and start getting paid for your expertise.—👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe if you’re ready to build a real remodeling business — not just a job.#RemodelingBusiness #ContractorSales #AIvsARI #GetPaidToEstimate #HackHourPodcast

🚧 Overwhelmed by demanding clients, late crews, and tight margins? As remodelers, we hide the stress, but it’s killing our focus and profits. I’m Mike, long time Remodeler & founder of The Remodeling Academy, and in this 7-minute End Remodeler Stress: Meditation for Clarity & Construction Success podcast, I guide you to crush the chaos and build a bulletproof mindset.

This isn’t about “zen”—it’s about reducing stress so you can make sharper bids, lead your crew with confidence, and grow your business like never before. Meditation cuts through the noise of job site drama, helping you stay calm under pressure, negotiate better deals, and plan for bigger projects. It’s the tool I use to stay in control, and it’ll work for you too.

How to Prepare for a Positive Meditation Experience:Find a quiet spot—your truck, office, or home. Silence your phone. Sit upright or lean back, hands relaxed. Take 3 deep breaths: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 6. Set an intention to clear your mind and take charge. If your thoughts wander to work stress, that’s normal—just return to the guide. Practice daily, and it’ll get easier.

💥 Ready to Stop Stress and Start Winning? 💥
👉 Download my FREE Remodeler’s Guide to Meditation at https://www.remodelingriches.com/meditation-guide to make meditation a habit and unlock clarity for profit.

👉 Join my FREE 5-Day Remodeler Challenge at https://www.getpaidtoestimate.com to learn how to price jobs right, close high-paying deals, and build your empire.

🔔 Subscribe to our Podcast for no-BS strategies to dominate your remodeling business!\

👍 Like & Comment: What’s stressing you out in your business? Let’s fix it together!

#HammeringCash #RemodelingRiches #RemodelerMindset #MeditationForRemodelers #ConstructionLeadership #RemodelerStress #ContractorTips #RemodelingSuccess #5DayRemodelerChallenge

🚨 Episode 063 - Remodeling Employee Shortage 2025: Where to Find Great Workers! 🔨

🎧 In this eye-opening episode of The Hack Hour, Mike Menges goes deep into the so-called labor shortage in the remodeling and construction industry—and flips the script. If you’re struggling to find skilled help in 2025, the problem might not be the labor market… it might be you.

📉 Everyone’s screaming “where are all the workers?” But the real question is—why would great people want to work for your company?

Mike shares:
✅ Why “lazy” companies with no structure or toxic culture can’t retain talent
✅ The secret weapon of high-performing remodelers who never have hiring issues
✅ How to attract great workers—even if they’re already employed
✅ The 5 traits that make your company a unicorn in a crowded, chaotic industry
✅ Why referrals, culture, and clarity are more powerful than job boards

💥 If you’ve ever felt stuck, under-staffed, or overwhelmed by hiring—this episode is for YOU. Mike gets real about his early hiring mistakes, the lessons learned the hard way, and how YOU can build a company people beg to join.

📘 Grab Mike’s book – Remodeler’s Get Paid to Estimate 👉 https://getpaidtoestimate.com
🎯 Join the 5-Day Remodeler Challenge 👉 https://remodelingriches.com

🛠️ This isn’t fluff. This is how you build a professional, profitable, employee-magnet remodeling business in 2025.

👍 Like, Comment, and Subscribe to The Hack Hour for weekly no-BS insights for remodelers who want to suck less, build better, and hammer more cash.

#RemodelingBusiness #ConstructionHiring #Remodeling2025 #GetPaidToEstimate #ContractorLife #EmployeeShortage #5DayChallenge #RemodelerPodcast #WhereAreAllTheWorkers

🎙 HackHour Podcast Ep. 62“From Kitchens to Kiosks: How Residential Remodelers Can Cash In on Commercial Restaurant Jobs”In this episode, Mike Menges—longtime remodeler and founder of The Remodeling Academy—reveals how residential contractors can break into commercial restaurant remodeling in 2025. From landing fast food refreshes to pulling in $50K+ profits per job, this episode walks you through the WHY, WHAT, HOW, and WHAT IF of stepping into commercial work.💡 You’ll learn:Why commercial restaurant remodeling is booming in 2025 (Burger King, Denny’s, Popeyes & more)What to expect on commercial remodels (tech upgrades, fast timelines, tighter margins)How to get started: certifications, networking, estimating, and real bid strategiesWhat’s possible if you go all in—and what to avoid to protect your profits👉 Whether you’re tired of residential price shoppers or just want to diversify your income, this episode gives you the playbook to land your first (or next) commercial remodeling job.📘 Want to win more jobs and get paid what you're worth?Grab Mike’s book: GetPaidToEstimate.com🎯 Join the FREE 5-Day Remodeler Challenge:Build a business that pays you like a pro.👇 Drop a comment: What’s stopping you from taking on commercial work?🔔 Subscribe to the channel for more tactical remodeling business advice.

#RemodelingBusiness #CommercialRemodeling #GetPaidToEstimate #HackHour #RemodelerLife #ContractorMarketing #KitchenRemodeler #FastFoodRemodel #2025Trends

🔥 To Hire or Not to Hire? | HackHour Podcast Ep. 61

In this episode of The HackHour, Mike Menges shares a wild hiring disaster involving a lead carpenter, a DUI, and an impounded company van—and how that painful lesson turned into a breakthrough in building a real team that actually works.

If you’re a remodeling business owner struggling to hire the right people, scared to let go of control, or burned by bad hires in the past—this one’s for you.

You’ll discover:
✅ The 3 mindset traps holding you back from hiring
✅ How psychology explains your hesitation (and how to beat it)
✅ What big companies know about hiring that you can steal today
✅ A simple 5-step framework to hire smart, train fast, and lead with confidence

Stop winging your hiring. Start building a team that makes your life easier—not harder.

🎯 TAKE ACTION: Join the next 5-Day Remodeler Challenge and learn how to stop giving away free estimates, eliminate ghosting, and grow your business with confidence:
👉 https://GetPaidToEstimate.com

👍 Like this episode?
💬 Drop a comment below—what’s your biggest hiring challenge right now?
📲 Share this with a fellow contractor who needs to hear it.

🎧 Subscribe for weekly insights to grow a remodeling business that doesn’t suck the life out of you.

🎥 YouTube Video Description

Title: Free = Broke

You’re not struggling because you’re a bad remodeler.
You’re struggling because you’re doing business the old way.

In this episode of The HackHour Podcast, Mike Menges — founder of The Remodeling Academy — reveals why giving free estimates is destroying your profits, draining your time, and sabotaging your credibility.

🛑 If you’ve ever poured hours into a proposal only to get ghosted… this one’s for you.

✅ Learn why “free” is the worst word in remodeling
✅ Discover the mindset shift top-earning remodelers are making
✅ Hear the real reason premium clients don’t respect free proposals
✅ Understand why the most successful remodelers get paid to plan before they build

This episode doesn’t teach the how — it shows you why the pivot to paid estimating is the single most important move you can make as a remodeling business owner today.

💡 Want to learn the full S.P.A.R.K. method?
Join the movement at 👉 https://www.getpaidtoestimate.com
or connect inside the free community:
💬 Facebook Group: Remodelers Helping Remodelers

#RemodelingBusiness #FreeEstimates #RemodelerMarketing #ContractorSales #TheHackHour #RemodelingAcademy #SparkyourBusiness