General Discussion

The Gorilla Gripper: A Cool Contractor Tool

The Gorilla Gripper seems to be an incredibly useful new tool for guys out in the field. This is especially great for the “one-man-show” type of home improvement contractor that works alone. Check out the video: Here’s the description from the company’s profile: Are you straining your back, neck, shoulders and hands lifting plywood, drywall [...]

Bringing Professionalism Back To Contracting

I don’t know about you, but being a professional in every aspect of your contracting business is so important today. You must not overlook anything. Your company vehicle. For the small independent, you must attempt to obtain a newer vehicle sooner or later. People will look at what kind of vehicle you drive up to [...]

Questions, Questions, Questions…

A contractor got a laundry list of questions from a prospective client. They were posted on the Contractortalk forum: Member Heritage said: Too good not to share To make a very long story short…here is one of my prospective clients. We haven’t signed anything yet but since they had concept drawings for their reno & [...]

Pesky Homeowner Peaks Over My Shoulder

Today was different. A customer hired us to paint (2) – 10′ x 12′ back bedrooms, and install crown molding. We advised the homeowners that any loose items should be either removed from the room or if items should stay, could they please move them to the center of the room as much as possible. [...]

How Valuable Is Failing?

I don’t want to be a failure. No one wants to be a failure. “How can there be any value in it?” one might say. I’d like to share a story. Many years back, I contracted with a commercial company to maintain a dozen or so apartment buildings. The scope of work entailed repairing, installing, [...]

Where Is My Competition?

This spring will be a good season for contractors. The writing is on the wall. The recession is finally somewhat over and folks are starting to prepare for renovations to their homes. People are staying in the homes they own longer. The banks aren’t making the easy loans anymore. Instead of shopping for larger homes, [...]

Passion Equals Sales

I found this thread rather kick ass from the Contractor Talk forum: Original Post from — katoman: I was thinking about how it is I’ve never been unemployed through good times and hard times. Not boasting at all. I think a big part of why I get work is because the customer sees the passion [...]

Take Your Tools With You

It is beyond me why some contractors leave their tools at the job site overnight. It is your livelihood. Why the hell do they still do it? I make it a rule of habit: NEVER leave any tools! If you are to tired to pack your stuff up at the end of the day, you [...]

Why Shop At The Local Supply Store Instead Of Home Depot Or Lowe’s?

Yesterday, me and a guy at Home Depot were discussing the reasons and differences for shopping at the local store or lumberyard when getting supplies for their business. After all, the big box stores carry tons of supplies; why just not go there? I’d thought I would share some views on this topic. The big [...]

Contractor Tips Are Great!

Jim Kirkland gives some pretty good tips about contracting. I thought I’d post it because I felt a hallelulah moment. They are also hawking a software program towards the end. I didn’t pay too much attention to that! Here’s the video~ Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with [...]

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