Subcontractors or Employees?
By Michael StoneSometimes they request you use employees instead of subs, or work on a T&M basis. Clients don’t understand how the construction world works. It’s your job to educate them.
Most Profitable Construction Business Model: Do You Need Employees?
By Michael StoneWhat is the most profitable construction business model? Do you need employees? /p>
Residential Construction Quality Standards
By Michael StoneIn residential construction, it’s not unusual for your client to have an unrealistic quality standard. That’s why you need to establish the standard ahead of time.
After the Sale; Pre-Job Layout
By Michael StoneThe pre-job conference or pre-job layout is when all the details get ironed out that can easily be forgotten. It’s when the job is handed from sales to production. After this meeting the production manager is in charge.
Get Ahead of Job Delays
By Michael StoneJob delays are often caused by the things we don’t see; you can’t stop all delays but you can get ahead of them.
Improve Jobsite Productivity
By Michael StoneAn efficient, productive construction project makes for more profitable jobs. It’s easier when you pay attention to these details.
Finding Suitable Construction Employees
By Michael StoneHiring the wrong person costs money. It costs more than just the time and expense you went through before hiring, because you’ll spend time and money to fire them legally and properly.
Subs or Employees – Are Subs More Expensive?
By Michael StoneDoes subcontracting raise the price of the project?
Client Causing Job Delays
By Michael StoneIf you want to lose money on a job, agree to let your client do part of the job or provide their own materials without setting clear boundaries.
Setting and Keeping a Schedule
By Michael StoneThe job is sold, schedule is set, project gets started, and suddenly it’s behind schedule. When it happens, it eats into your profit and upsets your clients.
Clients and Your Job Schedule
By Michael StoneOne of the concerns a homeowner has when they’ve hired a contractor is whether they’ll do what they said they’ll do. It is a legitimate concern. They don’t know what’s going on in your head, only what’s happening with their job.
The Cost of Callbacks
By Michael StoneHaving to return to a previous job and fix something that’s wrong costs money. Knowing the cost of a callback helps you or your crew to be more diligent to avoid them in the future.
Make Time by Delegating
By Michael StoneIt’s easy to fool yourself into believing it’s better to do it yourself, until you realize the things you’re supposed to do aren’t getting done.
Doing Work Without a Permit
By Michael StoneDoing work without a permit is a mistake. Pulling permits protects the homeowner; when a contractor doesn’t want to pull a permit, there’s always a reason.
Building Inspectors and Your Estimate
By Michael StoneThe building inspector who shows up can increase the cost of your project. That’s why you need to add an inspector factor to your estimate.
Estimating Labor, Accounting for Trash
By Michael StoneEstimating a construction project requires working through the details. The better you cover those details, the more accurate your estimate.
Make Jobs More Profitable
By Michael StoneMaterials, change work orders, borrowing tools, punch lists, resolving issues.
Structuring Your Construction Company
By Michael StoneMany contractors start out building jobs on their own, but it doesn’t take long before you need to hire others to help with production.
Defining Quality
By Michael StoneMany contractors believe building quality helps sell jobs. But in construction there’s no clear definition of quality.