We don't have to look hard to know that our world is experiencing some challenging times. All we have to do is turn on the TV news or weather and we are quickly bombarded with the realities around us. Things that blow up, crash, burn, crimes, job losses, scams, war all lead the news and dominate the broadcasts. We can protect ourselves from these programs easily by turning the channel or hitting the off button on the remote control.

After the holidays, homeowners in the market for home improvement services, start calling residential contractors to set up work for the spring. Do you have a procedure for the inbound lead call and a form to capture vital prospect information about them and their requests? Or do you use any available scrap paper, post it notes or the proverbial napkin to write down the information and struggle retrieving and reading the chicken scratch later? Who will answer the phone, talk to your potential client and will they know what to do to make a professional first impression?

2008 was a challenging year for contractors in the residential remodeling industry. With declining home values, tightened credit, lack luster new home construction, smaller remodeling projects and erosion of consumer confidence many contractors are facing uncertain futures. The time and need for change has never been more apparent than now. We need to analyze our businesses and make sure that we are able to deliver outstanding products and services to the Next Level Consumer.

To all our readers, friends, residential contractor clients and business associates we hope your New Year is filled with prosperity and happiness.

Owning and operating a residential contracting business presents unique challenges for contractors servicing the homeowner market. These challenges are unique because the industry has very little structured business training for residential contractors who provide services to a savvy, demanding and educated consumer. Contractors with formal business education or experience from the commercial construction industry tend to do better with today's homeowner consumer if they use and apply, industry best practices and systems.

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about writing your business plan for 2009. How are you doing? We have a few more days until the New Year, will you be ready?

First a bad economy and now residential contractors have to contend with the media portrayal that contractors never show up when they said they would? Can you believe it?

It's been 10 months  since I started my contractor coaching business for residential contractors. I am grateful for all the support from business associates, supporters and most of all the many contractor clients who hired me to help them with their businesses. I consider coaching you an honor.

Recently members of my Linkedin network formed new business networking groups. The quality of the individuals and companies represented are stellar. Members of the groups include architechs, designers, kitchen and bath contractors, general contractors, remodelers, manufacturers', and other professionals with ties to the residential construction industry.

Recently a Contractor Talk.Com member referenced a new EPA fine assessed against a Massachusetts contractor. This new rule is another regulation to contend with. If you are residential remodeling contractor working on homes built before 1978 they are subject to the lead paint notification rule.