10 Best Practices of the Remodelor™ of the Year

Bob Bell, CGR, CAPS of Bell’s Remodeling in Duluth, Min., was named the 2005 Remodelor of the Year. Bell’s Remodeling is a small company that specializes in residential remodeling and repair work. What does he know that maybe some of you might not know? Bell recently presented his 10 best practices at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando.

1. Join and become active in your local builders association. You won’t get anything out of it unless you put something into it. Join the national Remodelors Council. You can become a member at large if your association does not already have a Council. These are great places to learn and become friends with those in your industry — even your competitors. You all speak the same language. 
   
   
2. Take all the education courses offered — they are geared to making your business a success. Most business’s fail not because of the lack of technical skills, but for the lack of business skills. The time and money you spend will come back many times over.
   
   
3. Decide what “success” means to you. Decide what size company you want, how much money you want to make, what are your core competencies, and if you can make money without growing in size.
   
   
4. Look at your geographic area to see where the customers are that you want to work for -- high end, middle, or low.
   
   
5. Determine how you are going to market to your potential customers. How much money can you spend? What medium are you going to use?
   
   
6. How are you going to differentiate your business from others? To do this you must first know your competition and then decide how you want to be unique.
   
   
7. Set up procedures for running your business. Have a chain of command and plans from handling phone calls to finishing the project.
   
   
8. Determine what the costs are for running your type of business. Get information from the Remodelors Council, read professional magazines, and ask for help from your local association.
   
   
9. Determine where your business is going to be located. What kind of space, staff, and equipment will you need?
   
   
10. Work your plan!
    

Beyond Mr. Bell’s list of best practices, he understands the value that education has on his business. He said, “The classes that are offered by The NAHB University of Housing in the designation programs are the best source of education for anyone in the construction industry. The courses are current, taught by qualified instructors who have been in the trenches, and directly apply to everyday situations we all face. I know that if I hadn’t received this education through the designation programs, I would not be as successful as I am for a small remodeling company and have been selected as the 2005 Remodelor of the Year!”

The Remodelor of the Year is sponsored by Qualified Remodeler.  To apply for the 2006 Remodelor of the Year go to www.nahb.org/remodelors and click on Remodelors Council Awards for an application. The entry deadline is Aug. 21. [ return to top ]