Happy clients and steadily growing businesses still can suffer from the plague of buyer’s remorse. What is it? It is the negative feeling a customer has after they purchase a new product/service. It can creep up… a.) Right away, before the product/service is delivered; b.) During the execution of the product or service; or c.) After the completion and receipt... read more
At Inside Out Design, a design/build and maintenance firm based in Frankfort, Ky., efficiency has improved since the company implemented a bring-your-lunch-to-work policy. Co-owner Andrea Wilson Mueller estimates it saves nearly a man-hour per day, in addition to other benefits. For the company’s first few years, workers routinely left job sites to take their breaks and pick up lunch. In... read more
Three contractors and a consultant stand by recovering overhead in labor rates. With plenty of arithmetic already ingrained in design/build projects, from consultative estimates to property measurements, contractors prefer to spend little time on operational calculations like how to recover overhead. That’s probably why many of them—three for three, in this case—are loyal to recovering it in their labor rates.... read more
Q: We do a lot of maintenance work for homeowner associations (HOAs). Do you have any design advice on how to generate more revenue beyond mulching and adding seasonal color, maybe even some design/build work? A: Good timing with your question. I’m working with a landscape contractor right now who’s trying to do the exact same thing. We just finished... read more
Thanks to a total revamp of his company’s marketing strategy, Rick Longnecker now knows his ideal clients are family-oriented homeowners in their late 30s to early 70s who have lived in their homes for at least 10 years. These clients aren’t looking for the best price but the best service and value they can get from trained professionals. Since uncovering... read more
Q: Do you tell clients on the initial phone call that you charge a design fee for your drawings or do you wait until you meet with them? A: My short answer is yes and no. How’s that for hedging? When a client initially calls I use a screening process to determine if he or she is a good fit for me... read more
