I don’t know where to start here. I have been in thousands of homes over the past five years and there are four that quickly come to mind. I am talking about filth beyond filth. We are talking about filth that is not fit for human occupancy. I am talking about homes that are so filthy that you need a containment suit so that you don’t get sick. I recall pulling up to a large two-story home in wonderful neighborhood. The customer opens the door and I take a step inside

There are some alarming aspects of this job that will catch you off guard. It doesn’t matter if you pull up to a 1-million-dollar home or a home in a low-income area, you will find the same things such as the hoarder. You really have to put on your game face when the customer opens the door and you step into the residence. I have been in a few homes where the contents of the residence covered every square inch of the floor and in some cases, stacked to the ceiling and the

You will hear stories about how a contractor took advantage of a customer by taking their money and not providing a service. In fact, you will hear a lot of these stories. However, on the other side of that coin you will find that customers do the exact same thing. There are several scenarios in which a contractor may not get paid by a customer. Providing poor service or poor quality can certainly lead to non-payment from a customer. Sometimes disagreements arise on the

The other thing that aggravates me is contractors providing extremely high estimates after a storm. People are opportunists. When a major storm hits, some contractors will take advantage of customers. The customer is desperate to get their home restored and some contractors will capitalize on that with really high prices, charging way more than they would normally charge. If you have a conscious and you have integrity, just be a good person and stay consistent with your p

I still remember my very first job. It was in Galveston, Texas. The customer was a retired educator in his 80s. He had water damage in the ceiling in his living room. I provided him with an estimate on a Friday evening. The following Monday, he informed me that while he liked me, he chose someone less expensive. Later that week he called me and asked me if I was still willing to complete the work. He told me that the contractor that he had hired took a deposit and work

I have met thousands of people over the years of all ages. I have met many people in their late 80’s and even a 92-year-old man and a 96-year-old woman. I find the conversations stimulating. To hear their stories and to witness their longevity is just incredible. Unfortunately, at their age they just can’t physically do the things they could do even just 10 or 20 years ago. I really enjoy helping them out and they always are so appreciative. I always leave my informatio

Now, this one is very interesting. It can be very tempting too. However, I would strongly advise against it. It may never happen to you. However, I am fit guy who works out all the time. So, there was one time I was offered “something” in return for a nice discount on the final invoice. Now, I will say that I was very flattered. But, a roll in the hay doesn’t pay the mortgage. So, I had to respectfully decline. Here is something else to think about. Unless you fully

I have a big heart. I am a giver. I love to give to those who need. It’s a great feeling. I grew up in a boy’s home so I know what it feels like to have nothing. When I get a customer that seems to be genuine, kind, and just wonderful but yet they obviously don’t have anything my heart kicks into over drive. I can’t help but want to do the work for cost or even free if possible. It’s not about demeaning them or humiliating them. It’s just a way of saying there are good

Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule? How about the 95/5 rule? I have provided thousands of estimates for customers over the past 6 years. There is that old saying that the richest are the cheapest. What I am writing is based off my experiences. This is based off actual statistics. That is where I have applied my own 95/5 rule here. Meaning that yes, I would have to say 95 percent of the wealthiest are definitely the cheapest. Meaning that they don’t see value in the

Real estate agents cab be a good source of leads. However, let me tell you about my experiences. They always start off really good. However, what you become is the last-minute phone call. They are desperate to close a deal and make a crap load of money so you need to get off your ass and go fix one little thing asap so the customer will close. Yea, basically you become the little bitch and you know what? You get very little money, and you don’t even get a thank you. Yo

Referrals are a very nice feeling. It’s wonderful when someone calls you with excitement because you did a good job for their neighbor, a family member or a friend. The last thing you want to do is let down the referral. So, make sure you give this customer the same A Plus treatment that you gave the referring customer. This can be a good source of revenue. This is a lead that cost you nothing, so don’t blow it. You can also incentivize your customers and ask them for

Some jobs are substantial in size and can generate a lot of debris/trash. Some jobs will have minor debris left over but it won’t fit in a trash can. This could also just be one or two large trash bags. It could be several doors, windows, ceiling fans, fence material, or tile. Interestingly a customer will expect you to take all of this trash with you, free of charge. They will be dumbfounded when you tell them that there is a cost associated with debris removal. So, do

This is going to be your number one challenge. Over the years I have spent countless hours looking for talent. It doesn’t matter if you are performing residential work or commercial work, the person that you hire to represent your company is a reflection of you, your company’s image and your reputation. If you have never had a job where you had to constantly interview people, you definitely need to do your homework and learn how to interview candidates. There are specific

The best approach is to treat the customer’s home as if it was your own home. Be on time. If you can’t be on time, call ahead and update the customer with your new arrival time. Now this doesn’t mean calling the customer at 7:50am and tell them you will be an hour late when your appointment time is 8:00am. Be reasonable. Two things that really upset the customer are being late and being a no show. Customer’s often take time off work to be home to allow you access to thei

Paint matching services is hit or miss. Sometimes you get lucky. However, the majority of the time it’s not perfect. There are many vendors that offer paint matching capabilities like Lowes, Home Depot, Sherwin Williams, PPG, Benjamin Moore, etc. At the end of the day there are so many factors to include color and or sheen that can affect the matching process. One way to ensure success is to paint the wall or the ceiling where the repair is located. This will ensure t

When the customer accepts your estimate, the estimate now becomes a work order. Be very clear and concise when scheduling the job. You work orders should have notations for change orders. Sometimes a customer will want to add work to the job or they may want to take something off the list. You definitely need to account for these changes with a change order. When the customer requests additional work you should reflect the increased cost in labor and materials in the cha

Once you have everything set up it’s time to go out into the real world and try to make some money. When you get that first call you end up spitting out your elevator pitch as fast as you can. Talk about trying to sell yourself. I never considered myself a salesman. I don’t even like sales. I swore I would never work in sales. But guess what? You better be a damn good salesperson. That is exactly what you are doing. Selling yourself, your service, your business. You

You will need to begin with the basics. One of the first things you should do is to come up with a name for your business. Set up your legal entity next. One of the most popular forms of business entities is an LLC. The LLC can have an entirely different name separate from the business. You will have to check with the state to determine if the name that you choose for your LLC is available. An example of this is XYZ LLC, doing business as (DBA) ABC Contracting. Now you

Managing a contractor project can be a complex task, often filled with challenges that require careful planning and execution. Whether you are a seasoned project manager or new to the field, understanding the key elements of effective contractor project management is crucial for success. In this post, we will explore essential tips that can help streamline your project management process, ensuring that your projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfactio

In the world of contracting, having the right tools can make all the difference between a job well done and a project that drags on indefinitely. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, understanding which tools are essential can save you time, money, and frustration. In this post, we will explore the top tools every contractor should have on hand to ensure efficiency and quality in their work. Essential Hand Tools Hammers A good hammer is a contractor's