VIEW POINT

FIRST WORD

  • Fit and Finish

    The same fundamentals that underlie the craft of building — accuracy, efficiency, consistency, attention to detail — also underlie the craft of business.

     

MARKET WATCH

  • September 2009 Figure This

    A statistical snapshot of lending terms and availability for remodelers and other small businesses as of August 2009.

     

  • Lifelines of Credit

    The ARRA is encouraging more banks to participate in quick-turnaround SBA lending programs, but many banks still aren't biting.

     

Local Forecast

COMMENTARY

LINDA CASE

  • After the Recession

    The prevailing hypothesis of today’s recession is that, while it is unlikely to be as bad as the Depression, it will have a lasting effect on buying habits.

     

MARK RICHARDSON

SHAWN MCCADDEN

  • Confidence Game

    Help homeowners understand the new rules of making remodeling decisions, so that they feel the game is safe, fair, and worthy of playing through.

     

YOUR BUSINESS

Ways + Means

  • Ask the Expert: How Do You Keep Cut Credit Lines From Crashing Projects?

    Ways to deal with clients' reduced credit lines and still make remodeling projects happen.

     

  • Stand Up and Meet

    Regular huddle meetings keep the team focused and ensure everyone is in the loop, without wasting precious time.

     

  • Benefits of Sharing

    Sharing particular staff members is advantageous -- and generates additional referrals -- for these two Canadian home improvement companies.

     

  • True Value

    Isolate field staff costs so you can get a more accurate picture of your company's bottom line.

     

  • Feel the Love

    A client feedback process throughout a remodeling job ensures that you address issues as they arise. The result: happy clients and more referrals.

     

BOTTOM LINE

  • Property Plus

    When it comes to office and showroom space, there are benefits to owning rental property.

     

  • Membership Advantage

    A Pennsylvania remodeler receives marketing value from his builders association membership.

     

Sales & Marketing

FIELD NOTES

  • Production Profitability

    By leveraging the day-to-day contact your production staff have with homeowners, you can build trust, improve profits, and sail through change orders.

     

  • Energy Audits: Time to Test the Wind?

    Between the home energy tax credits and the ongoing energy bill debate, there may be no better time for remodelers to consider offering energy audits.

     

Tech@Work

  • Come, Blow Your Horns

    With more consumers researching companies online and ranking their services through consumer-oriented social evaluation websites, it pays to be proactive in maintaining your online reputation.

     

  • Sync or Swim

    Handheld Contact software syncs ACT! contacts and more to your BlackBerry.

     

GOOD FORM

  • New-Client Insight

    A two-page client questionnaire helps this remodeling company qualify clients and spot trends.

     

REMODELING DESIGN AWARDS

  • 2009 Remodeling Design Awards

    The annual Remodeling Design Awards recognize creative excellence in remodeling projects in nine categories and 26 subcategories.

     

Additions

Commercial Remodeling

  • The base of the bar is covered with different thicknesses of Europly [http://www.columbiaforestproducts.com] arranged in a random stacked pattern.

    Merit Award: Detailed Revival

    A city lounge in St. Louis, housed in a repurposed old warehouse, wins a Merit Award in the 2009 Remodeling Design Awards.

     
  • The new library is on Main Street in Gentry, Ark. The architect worked with a $1.3 million budget to renovate the 11,000 sq.ft. structure.

    Grand Award: Main Street Marvel

    This commercial remodeling project in Arkansas wins a Grand Award for its engaging design within a conservative budget.

     

Green Remodeling

  • The new open kitchen. Green features in the house include advanced framing techniques, an energy recovery ventilator, an insulated concrete form foundation, geothermal heating and cooling, water conservation methods, and spray foam insulation.

    Merit Award: Forward Tradition

    This award winner shows that green building principles can be successfully incorporated into a traditional-style home.

     
  • The floor on the main level, as shown in this photo of the open living/dining/kitchen area, is polished concrete with in-floor heating.

    Grand Award: Green Grouping

    This Grand Award winner in the 2009 Design Awards transformed a 50-year-old house into a sustainable home filled with natural light.

     
  • The third floor mezzanine overlooks the front streetscape.

    Merit Award: Freshly Sustainable

    A 1920s row house is transformed into a contemporary, energy- and resource-efficient building.

     

Kitchen Remodeling

Old-House Renovation

  • Designer David Heide's 360 sq.ft. addition to the rear of the house includes the new kitchen, mudroom and powder room.

    Honorable Mention: Prairie Craft

    A 1922 Prairie-style home renovation in St. Paul, Minn., manages to be historically inspired without resorting to imitating the past.

     
  • Architect Stephen Muse placed a 40-foot by 40-foot great room into the home's existing terrace. The two-story structure and single-story flanking additions connect the indoors with the expansive backyard.

    Grand Award: Expansive Details

    Architect Stephen Muse's award-winning residential addition in Washington, D.C.

     
  • In the master bath, fixtures were pulled away from the existing walls and tied into a new low-tiled wall. This design allowed the existing siding to remain untouched. The translucent wall allows light to pass through into the bedroom.

    Grand Award: Past Is Prologue

    In this historic property in Los Angeles, the architect took the challenge of the building's historic designation and responded with creative solutions to create a cozy home.

     

Small Project-Detail

Whole-House Remodeling

BIG50

CLOSE UP

  • Big50 CloseUp: Leslie King

    The rebuilding of Galveston's historic homes affords a manageable, gratifying exception to Greymark Construction's inner-loop Houston focus.

     

SECOND LOOK

  • SecondLook: John DeCiantis

    This class of 2001 Big50 returns to what he loves doing: working with his hands on unique projects.

     

KITCHEN + BATH

Management

  • Deal Me In

    Cutting out the middleman and becoming a cabinet dealer can mean more control over the process, an addiitional profit center for your company, and more choices for your clients.

     

SUSTAINABILITY

GREEN SPEAK

  • Market Vision

    A review of consumer patterns and the market for sustainable products.

     
  • OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

    Rebate Reach

    Remodeler Craig Lord works with New Jersey's Home Performance with Energy Star program.

     

PRODUCTS

Stimulus

IN FOCUS

LAST WORD

Benchmark

  • The Comfort of Cash

    When credit is tight, it pays to have cash on hand. The question is, how much?

     

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