Table of Contents June 2010

Features

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  Home Performance

  Home performance series of feature articles by the REMODELING staff.

   

• Home Performance Resources

  Links to energy retrofit organization websites and other online home performance resources.

   
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  Back to School

  Many remodelers believe that there is a legitimate need for home performance certifications, specifically.

   
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  Under the Hood

  Diagnostic testing equipment yields valuable building information -- if users are prepared, and able, to accurately interpret the results.

   
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  Energy Audit Essentials

  These diagnostic tools are useful to have in your home performance toolbox. Such visual ways to present information can also help you make an effective presentation right in the home to convince homeowners of the need for energy retrofit work.

   
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  Local Level

  Local weatherization programs gear up to help homeowners finance energy-efficient upgrades.

   
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  Building a Future

  Will passage of the Home Star Energy Retrofit bill put remodelers back to work or out of work?

   
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  Outside Assistance

  Several competing companies -- some of them franchises -- offer opportunities to help get you started in home performance contracting.

   

• King of Audits

  Home performance may be hot now, but Mark Cannella has been doing energy audits for more than 15 years.

   

Viewpoint

First Word

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  Energy Pays

  Installing a thin-film solar system on the roof and using Stimulus tax credits to pay for it brings home the value of working with a contractor who knows his way around rebates.

   

Market Watch

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  Strength in Numbers

  The dual goals of putting people to work in the construction industry and tightening up homes are coming into alignment.

   

Figure This

• June 2010 Figure This

  Home energy efficiency statistics.

   

Local Forecast

• Pent-up Demand in St. Paul

  Homeowner interest in remodeling increased last October and continues to strengthen in St. Paul.

   

Commentary

Linda Case

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  Mixing Up Markup

  Does the tighter market call for tighet prices — and thus lower markup?

   

Mark Richardson

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  Student of Success

  A positive mindset reinforces behavior that leads to success under any market conditions.

   

Shawn McCadden

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  Four Reasons, Three Steps

  Remodelers need a serious marketing plan to turn their businesses around in the dramatically different economy.

   

Your Business

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  Your Business Card — Remodeled

  Even in the digital age, a business card that provides all your relevant contact information is a must.

   

• Copyright Protection

  Intellectual property laws apply to remodeling work, too. Here are some basics you should be aware of.

   
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  A Window on Permitting

  Frustrated by permitting delays, remodelers reach out to building officials and see measurable gains.

   

Other Articles

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  Benchmark: Poised for Growth

  How much growth can your company sustain without having to borrow money? Here's how to find out.

   

Your Clients

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  Showroom Smarts

  Use your showroom to push ideas and experience rather than product.

   
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  X Marks the Spot

  A Florida remodeler plots his projects on a map to highlight the neighborhoods where he works.

   
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  Grassroots. Good Neighbors. Blue Skies.

  A dramatic exterior remodel, a targeted neighborhood, and a pleased client are the basis for a low-cost, high-impact marketing program.

   

Your Team

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  Hiring Just Right

  Hiring is a leap of confidence backed by information. Observe these key indicators so you don't miss your opportunity to hire at the right time.

   
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  Age, Safety, and Awareness

  Carpenters of every age are prone to injury, but for different reasons.

   

• Trades Working Directly for Clients

  What to do when your client wants to hire your trade contractor on the side.

   
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  Able at Home

  Working with an occupational therapist in the early stages of a remodeling project can ensure that your client's accessibility needs are met.

   
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  Video Library

  Remodeler uses short self-made videos to train new employees in company processes and procedures.

   

Your Projects

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  Thinking Outside the Dumpster

  By collaborating with material-reuse groups now, remodelers can position themselves as leaders in a practice that homeowners will find increasingly attractive.

   

Home Performance

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  Energy Bills

  Rising energy costs and climate concerns have sparked a surge in federal and state legislation.

   

LastWord

Good Form

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  Estimating RRP’s Cost

  A step-by-step form for estimating a job that requires lead-safe practices.

   

Other Articles

• Correction to "Estimating RRP's Cost" in June 2010 REMODELING

  Several discrepancies have been cleared up in this month's Good Form.

   

• Q&A With Larry Laseter, president of WellHome

  WellHome is a home performance division aimed at residential home improvement. The division was launched earlier this year by building products manufacturer Masco, which operates a similar division called Environments for Living. That division is targeted at new-home builders.

   
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  Antique Sensibility

  This thoughtful kitchen design is both practical and rich in detail.