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The Contractor Coaching Partnership Blog

Some contractors are remodeling, are you?

Posted by Mark Paskell on Fri, May 29, 2009 @ 12:38 AM

I was riding through a suburban neighborhood last week and saw 12 projects in progress in an upscale Massachusetts town. I took the names of the companies down to research who they were. I was somewhat pleased to see that at least some companies are winning jobs. 

If you listen to the media you here all the doom and gloom and think maybe no one is buying. Well this little trip in suburbia proved otherwise. Some people are buying cars, buying homes and yes, remodeling too.

I looked up several of the companies and found that there websites were well done, easy to navigate, and very educational for the consumer. I was familiar with some of these firms and know that they are exceptional companies. Several firms proudly displayed their affiliations with NARI, NAHB, AGC and other contractor associations. Some also displayed their designations for Certified Remodeler, Certified Lead Carpenter, NKBA, CGB, LEEDS, and more.

No question sales are down and harder to come buy. But some people are buying from someone, maybe not you. Do you think there is a correlation between a contractor who obtains education and training and those who don't? Do you think a well built website that educates helps a contractor differentiate themselves from other contractors?

The reality is in spite of what is reported and heard from the media consumers are still purchasing cars, homes, appliances, furniture and remodeling. Certainly things are not the same as before and we all must be prepared for the way things are now and the way things will be when the economy rebounds.

The proven path to success in any business is to run your business like a business. That usually means following best practices, setting goals, planning, education, training, adapting, using systems and anything else that successful companies do. This includes marketing that produces leads of the people you want to work for and dare I say professional sales training so you can sell those leads.

I find it interesting that many of our clients are educated and they want to know more. They are like, or want to be like, the companies I saw in suburbia working for discerning homeowners. They realize that if the don't change they will perish, and if they do change they will win. If you are contractor educated and trained are you working for those who are buying? if not will you seek more education and training from a contractor business coach to make sure your business makes it?

If you haven't invested in contractor education and are not working do you think it's time to invest in yourself and your business? Of course, if you don't want to work for suburbia where the people are buying, you can stay put. Hopefully the sales come in before the money runs out!

mark the coach