To paraphrase Charles Dickens, the past year was the best of times and it was the worst of times. Remodelers nationwide were blessed with an abundance of quality leads. Business has never been stronger. Yet the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forced the industry’s top trade show “Design & Construction Week” to cancel its in-person format for the first time ever. In addition, business has been hampered by high prices, labor shortages and persistent supply-chain issues. Here’s a look back at Qualified Remodeler’s Top Posts of 2021.
— The Editors
TOP COLUMNS
Lupberger: I Don’t Do Competitive Bidding
Competitive bidding is not good for business. Besides the time spent doing an estimate for a job you may not get, there is an additional element that most homeowners are not aware of.
Published on January 18, 2021
Landis: How to Profit on Design in the Design-Build Process
When my brother and I started our company in 1990, we were doing handyman work and installations for a big-box chain. Clients began asking us to do layouts for kitchen and bath projects. Then clients began asking us to create permit drawings.
Published on April 14, 2021
Landis: The Future of Working Remote in the Remodeling Business
In over 30 years of owning a remodeling firm and having been an employer over the same period of time, I’ve not seen as much transformative change in the way we work as I have seen throughout this COVID-19 pandemic. I guess it has come full circle for me and my brother Ethan.
Published on October 13, 2021
McCadden: Are You Willing to Put That in Writing?
As business owners we all have dreams. First, we dreamed about starting and having our own business. Then we dreamed about what our businesses would be like and what it would do for us. Then, perhaps due to our courage and oftentimes our ignorance of what business ownership entailed, we just did it.
Published on February 10, 2021
Lupberger: Industry Driven Project Delays – Managing Client Expectations
We are seeing the downsides of this robust remodeling market. Supply-chain delays are getting longer, material costs are going up, and trade contractor scheduling is getting more and more difficult. Simply, there is more work than there are people to do the work.
Published on June 28, 2021
TOP NEWS POSTS
NARI National Rescinds Charter of DC Metro
A months-long dispute between the leadership of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and several of its local-chapter organizations took an unprecedented and potentially ground-shifting turn last week.
Published on May 26, 2021
Independent Contractor Rule Clarified; Definition Eased for Now
A tricky issue for many remodelers and home improvement companies was clarified Wednesday when the U.S. Department of Labor announced a final rule clarifying the standard for employee versus independent contractor status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Published on January 7, 2021
PPP Rules Updated; New Loans Begin Jan. 11
The Small Business Administration and U.S. Treasury Department have released new regulations on the expanded Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as amended through the $900 billion coronavirus relief package that was enacted into law at the end of December
Published on January 11, 2021
Buildertrend Acquires CoConstruct
Buildertrend, a leading provider of cloud-based construction-management software for builders, remodelers and specialty contractors announced the acquisition of CoConstruct, a complementary provider of construction project management software for the residential construction industry.
Published on February 24, 2021
Glitch Impacts Access to KBIS and IBS Exhibits, Conference Unaffected
Technical difficulties with the online platform providing access to the expo hall at this week’s digital Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and International Builders Show (IBS) have temporarily blocked access to the booths of show exhibitors.
Published on February 10, 2021
TOP LISTS AND COMPILATIONS
2021 CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LEADERS
These 100 remodeling and home improvement firms were selected by Qualified Remodeler editors from top GuildQuality members. They were selected for high customer satisfaction scores, with improvement over time.
Published onJuly 1, 2021
TOP 500 2021
The 43rd annual ranking of the nation’s largest firms based on remodeling revenue.
Published on August 1, 2021
TOP PROFILES
Design Solutions: Dramatic Exposure
Often real estate agents in Princeton, New Jersey, will ask architect Kevin Wilkes to preview a home with them and give advice they can use to sell the property. After touring a Usonian-style house built in the 1960s, Wilkes told the agent it would require extensive work. The agent lined up a couple of interested buyers, nevertheless, and they each had a consultation with the architect.
Published on February 10, 2021
2021 Fred Case Award Winner: By the (Open) Book
Implementing change in any company is always difficult. There is a tendency for managers and employees to revert to a previous way of doing things. And during those times, the person leading the change must stop and redirect back toward the new way, oftentimes patiently re-explaining in a non-judgmental way. Only after weeks, months or even years later does the new way truly take hold.
Published on October 15, 2021
TOP PRODUCT FEATURES
Siding Trends: First Impressions
The first thing a person sees upon approaching a home is the exterior cladding, and as homeowners continue their pandemic-spurred investments in their homes, siding is not being overlooked.
Published on March 17, 2021
2021 Outdoor Living Pictorial Buyers’ Guide
From decking and stone to outdoor appliances and surfaces—a compilation of the latest new products for outdoor projects.
Published onApril 15, 2021