« February 2009 | Main | April 2009 »
March 31, 2009
Taking a Lesson from Southwest Airlines
So I flew Southwest Airlines recently.
The low-cost carrier had the NICEST gate I've ever been at only to be followed-up by a primo plane. Seating was a snap -- you get your seating assignment on-line before heading to the airport -- and the service was great.
Oh, and the ticket was dirt cheap. Flying another carrier, it would have cost more and I would have gotten less.
There's a lesson here. Problem for me is: there's no direct translation between air travel and building. Or is there?
As our economy remains the toughest business environment many of us have seen in our lifetimes, where can we cut costs and increase value -- and increase profit? What changes do we need in our business models? Since every business is different I can't tell you. It's my job, however, to ask questions.
Do we cut the marketing budget? Do we market more? (There's a case for both, though I tend to say more marketing is better.) Do we lay a guy off and work weekends or do we give the whole crew a 4-day work week instead of laying someone off?
People in this economy still have money. Lawyers, doctors, (some) executives still have jobs and roofs that leak or decks that need rebuilding. How do we get to them and keep our companies growing and profitable?
After all, it'd be nice to take a vacation from all this work and worry. If you do, might I recommend flying Southwest.
Send me your thoughts, comments, and ideas. (You're now free to move about the country.)
Posted by Mark Clement at 12:29 PM | Comments (1)
March 27, 2009
Smoking on the Jobsite
I don't smoke.
I don't care if you smoke.
But, smoking is an issue that many people in our business confront, both in-house and in YOUR house.
Where I work, I'm usually the only guy (excluding the homeowner) who doesn't smoke. My electrician's mechanics, drywall guy and laborers all smoke. Their days revolve around it too.
I asked my electrician if his mechanics' smoking bothered his customers. He reported it bugged some of them. I asked if he ever thought about establishing a no-smoking rule. His reply was great:
"If I did that, I'd have no workers to tell not to smoke; they'd all quit."
He further reported how much smoking costs him -- every day. His guys (paid hourly) must smoke when they get to the shop -- before they start working. Then, they plan their drive to the job based on if they already have, if they need, or if they will need cigarettes. Then there're the innumerable smoke-breaks throughout the day.
Note that none of this is about health, which is my point (though I should mention his lead mechanic has cancer). This is about business.
I know another builder who enforced a strict no smoking policy. Again, it was about business. He didn't care if you smoked; he only cared if you smoked on his jobsite because his customers -- the people paying everyone's salary -- were usually non-smokers.
Where do you find yourself on this continuum? Do you allow it on your sites? In your home? Do you have an image that matters to customers? What is it? Will you have a labor-free workforce if you no smokeless?
Send me a smoke-signal.
Posted by Mark Clement at 11:43 AM | Comments (28)
March 24, 2009
Working... and Working Out
Slinging a tool pouch on at the beginning of the day probably means you lead a physical life.
Who'd argue that climbing ladders, rolling joists, or breaking down a deck package isn't an "active" lifestyle? But working, to me, is waaaaay different than working out. And working out is a key component in staying healthy for work.
I've heard carpenters say "I moved half a house today!" why in tarnation would I exercise?!?!?!
Lots of reasons. Mine is: I feel better. (Note: though I'm writing from my personal experience, I'm not a personal trainer or doctor, so this is my opinion only).
See, for me, exercise (running, riding a bike, playing racquetball) consumes energy in a different way than nailing off plywood or crown. Sustained physical activity makes me sweat--intensely. Unlike building, it burns every single calorie of the Ho-Ho I ate at lunch and purges the toxins in the coffee or beer from the day before.
And, it's a mental break. Chasing a rubber ball around a racquetball court or pushing through a run requires 100% of my brain's bandwidth. I can't agonize about hip rafters or estimates. In pushing myself toward some meaningless goal -- Note: Nike www.Nike.com is NOT calling to sponsor me--I actually get something meaningful, purging my body and brain.
Getting started -- or getting started again, where I (achingly) find myself -- is hard. But it's worth it, both as part of the poetry of a well-lived life and as a tool that helps me be more profitable. And, sane.
The "New Year's Resolution" hubbub has faded. So I hope if exercise is (or was) on your mind that this helps you stare down the treadmill or bust-out a walk or get your tennis racquet re-strung. I also hope you share what your health tips for mind, body and work.
Posted by Mark Clement at 10:54 AM | Comments (1)
March 19, 2009
Build It or Buy It -- Doors and Floors
Thus far, my "build-it-buy-it" posts have focused on tools and contraptions to streamline jobsite production, but it occurs to me as I trim out my current project that there are at least a few things in the non-tool world that I make rather than buy.
Whenever possible I like to replace hollow core doors with solid core doors. The issue is that sometimes I work in old homes where the combination of plaster and rough-sawn studs results in non-standard wall thicknesses, which kind of precludes pre-hung doors/jambs. Solution: I make, mortise, and install my own jambs.
I also did this on a previous remodel where 4 out of 5 doors in a small hallway were set at different heights -- by inches! The only reason I can figure is that the carpenters who built the house didn't wait until after lunch to start drinking. Seriously, It would take me longer to do it this wrong than to do it right.
Another location where making -- rather than buying -- jambs makes me time and money is in a basement finishing project where ceiling heights are the issue.
On flooring (not dooring…get it?) I increasingly make my own vents. I've used pre-fab units like Cape Cod Air Grilles href="http://www.ccairgrilles.com/">http://www.ccairgrilles.com/ in the past but I have to order them ahead and they're not free. These days, I set up a dado blade on my table saw www.BoschTools.com and make them myself. It costs me my time and a piece of wood.
Finally, I just did a Craftsman style casing package. href="http://www.windsorone.com/moldings/craftsman/default.asp">http://www.windsorone.com/moldings/craftsman/default.asp I made the beaded molding because -- despite my lumber yard's molding book stating they carried all the parts -- they didn't. Further, I tried to buy it from a local yard that said they carried Windsor One, which is primo stuff. But by "carry" they mean "special order." So I got stuck routing it out of a piece of base molding. Lesson: plan ahead.
We'd love it if you'd share your jobsite tricks to make it better, faster, more profitable.
Posted by Mark Clement at 10:53 AM
March 12, 2009
I Hate It, But I Do It
In my work I'm constantly being both cut up -- and saved -- by a double-edged sword.
What could that possibly mean you ask? I'll tell you.
I do a lot of room-by-room remodeling—one kitchen, one bathroom, one bedroom rather than an entire home all at once.
What that means is that all the pieces are there, from carpentry to (gag) drywall and (ack) painting.
On larger projects subbing out Rock and paint is a no-brainer, but on smaller jobs, I do the work myself—and it kills me: Sanding drywall practically destroys my soul. And painting takes what's left of it. In short, I hate it.
But, I do it. See, in the end I make more money and better serve my clients and business by doing this work myself at this scale. It also minimizes scheduling headaches that always happen when dealing with subs. And it keeps my dance card full.
There's another double-edged problem too. I've gotten pretty good at both, so I can't even use the excuse that I'm not delivering high-quality finishes---arrrrhrhrhrhr. So, I've tried some new tools lately. The Goldblatt BladeRunner (this one, not this one) feels like a winner. And for paint a good brush is critical – I'm using a Wooster right now -- too that are making the hellacious work a little more tolerable.
So as the market tightens, my questions for you comes thusly: Are you cutting yourself with the same sword to save your work-flow? What's making sense and money on your projects? And for homeowners, do you want a contractor who is a one-stop shop? Does this matter when you're shopping or does it even pop up on your radar screen?
(To check out HGTVPro.com's information on doing business, click here.)
Posted by Mark Clement at 6:40 AM
March 5, 2009
Taking All Comers in a Tough Economy
"I'll bid anything right now" remarked a builder friend of mine recently. That's a good sign if you're someone who's in the market for a contractor.
Now, this guy is not just (typically) super busy, but he's busy with high-end work in a high-end market. Now he's looking at anything -- anything -- to keep his carpenters busy.
There's another guy who got into spec building while the market was hot. He misjudged some things and now he's got high-end property with a sign hanging in the front yard.
In my own work, I've submitted a couple of bids lately only to be told -- after two days of work detailing these estimates -- that the homeowners suddenly weren't sure if they'd have their jobs this year.
Since most every dollar people in our business make comes from our customers, you might say this is a frightening trend. I know that when I give a bid I almost always win the work so I've never really had to think about charging people for bids before. But I can't be running around all week giving estimates either.
What's your deal? Are you pulling out all the stops or battening down the hatches? Are you tweaking your business model like my friend above or does 2009 see you reinventing your marketing? Have you signed up for a referral service?
And if you're a homeowner, are you holding tight right now until things settle out? Or are you using the current conditions to get the best price possible for the work you need done? Do you use a service like Contractors to find good people? And what about falling interest rates and a new line of home equity credit? Suddenly, and ironically it seems, there's money to be had again.
Posted by Mark Clement at 7:34 AM | Comments (3)
