If you’ve been in remodeling for any length of time, you’ve probably wished you could fire a nightmare client on a bad job. But you don’t, because you’ll lose money, risk your good reputation, and you’ve got a contract. Jackie Stezik has done it four times — always for the good of her employees. In […]
There are so many people involved in remodeling projects, with different skillsets and specialities and personalities. On the construction team, there’s often misunderstanding or frustration with designers and architects. Great designers have innate talents and abilities, great craftsman do too. Everyone brings a significant piece to a successful project. The key, as it is so […]
There’s a traditional divide between Sales and Production. It’s always a challenge — they have different goals, processes, and personalities. Typically, Production is left out of the conversation when it comes to scope creep, leading to delays and change orders during construction — and disgruntled clients. Will Giesey and his team are changing that situation […]
It’s a constant conundrum — how to motivate your people. Bonuses and incentives can work, but you have to structure them in a way that speaks to something more meaningful than just extra cash in pocket. Many business owners have tried, many have failed, and some have just given up. If you fall into the […]
It’s a challenge to hire the right people for the right jobs. Finding a Production Manager is especially difficult — so many remodeling business owners think about moving a Lead Carpenter into that role. It often doesn’t work out, though, because the management skills needed for each job are vastly different. Ray Hornsby drops by […]
In any business, you need to pay attention to your cash flow — in the remodeling business, it’s even more complicated. Your Production Managers and Project Managers can play a big part in keeping you on the positive side of the equation. Unfortunately, a lot of business owners don’t share financial information with their teams. […]
The labor crunch is real — and it’s getting even harder to hire great employees. But with an intentional training program in place, you can create greatness. Mason Gatto joins Tim and Steve in this episode to talk training — specifically about his approach to training Project Managers, but the same ideas apply when teaching […]
We talk to many guests whose remodeling companies employ the Project Manager or Lead Carpenter systems with sub-contractors. Today, we’re looking at a production operation with 31 full-time employees — including in an in-house millwork shop. In episode 18, Nick Beasley explains the ins and outs of having — and retaining — such a large […]
Technology is increasingly critical on every job — in the office, on job sites, at client meetings, or on the road. It’s also a way to attract and keep younger workers. But there’s a confusing array of programs and apps, and it’s hard to know what works. Joe Weber joins Tim and Steve in this […]
Numbers don’t lie in business, but if you’re relying on week-old numbers, you’re not getting a true picture of what your job is costing. You can’t make informed decisions. Knowing how your costs compare to your budget in real time lets you control your projects better. “If you don’t know today that you’re over budget, […]
No matter how meticulously a job is planned, change orders are inevitable. They can either cost you or make money — the good news is, you get to choose! In Episode 15, Tim and Steve learn how to make the profitable choice by putting the right systems and communication channels in place from Brad Hogan […]
It’s been a man’s world for a long time in Production — and home remodeling and construction in general. Change is coming, though. Hiring women for construction and Production jobs makes good business sense, especially with the labor shortage affecting our industry. In this episode, Tim and Steve talk to Kendal Lenton-Cooney about how to […]
You don’t need a crystal ball to look into the future for your Production Department. A master schedule can give you a predictable look at what’s to come, backed up by solid data. In Episode 13, Tim and Steve get insight from Aaron Enfinger, General Manager of The Cleary Company. Aaron joined the Columbus, Ohio, design/build remodeling company as a […]
The industry-wide squeeze on labor demand has led to remodeling business owners turning their focus outside of their specific areas of construction to grow their teams. Home building, commercial construction and specialties such as roofing, framing and even landscaping have been looked at as fertile ground for finding that next great team member, or even […]
Tim has been an evangelist for the Lead Carpenter System for almost 30 years and speaks on the subject extensively as he tours the US and Canada. As emerging remodelers grow quickly and transition from one truck, one job and limited crew to multiple jobs happening all at once, the Lead Carpenter System meets the […]
It’s always great when you can get industry veterans together for a chat… and in Episode 10 we get a chance to visit with an experienced writer, editor and thought-leader in Sal Alfano. After almost 40 years in the business, Sal’s insights into what he hears from remodelers and home builders across the country, coupled […]
If you are in the home building or remodeling industries you are more than familiar with the number one issue facing companies who are looking to grow their respective businesses… Finding Good Help. By that, we mean filling the estimated 6.5 – 7 million jobs that currently go un-filled because there are not enough skilled […]
Acquiring and maintaining an inventory of tools can be a critical measure in the early and ongoing success of a remodeling company. Many in the production side of the business feel the need to have the “latest and greatest,” while others appreciate their original set of tools and stick with what works best for them. […]
As remodeling projects transition from the sales and design phase into actual production, an effective pre-construction meeting can either make or break your chances of a successful client experience. Pre-construction meetings, if run correctly, allow you to establish a relationship with the client; setting clear expectations, roles and responsibilities, setting milestone dates, communication contacts… and […]
When it comes to structuring your production team and process, there are many ways to go. Show host Tim Faller has always been a proponent and evangelist for the Lead Carpenter system, however acknowledges the need for a more refined system as a company grows and the number of projects begins to overwhelm the system. […]
In Episode 5, Tim and Steve take a closer look at ways to motivate your team to help implement positive change within your organization. One way, that is discussed at length on this episode, is to introduce and hold mini-games or contests for your team. We’re not talking about a three-legged race out in the […]
Production meetings can either be an effective way to build communication between departments and drive profit OR they can become a complete waste of time. You may have experienced the latter; once a week the team comes into the office, arriving late, sitting in the same spots, not interacting or contributing and the meeting leader […]
Imagine buying a car from an auto dealer and as you pick up the car, the salesman hands you a role of blue tape, and asks you to look over the car and identify anything you want fixed before you drive it home… Sound familiar? We might be the only industry that sets this expectation […]
We are off to a great start and we love hearing such positive feedback from our associates in the industry as well as new friends we’ve made by putting The Tim Faller Show out there. In episode 2, Tim and Steve cover the Lead Carpenter System, specifically being used in the Kitchen & Bath segment […]
We’re excited to bring you the first episode of The Tim Faller Show. Our podcast dedicated entirely to the production side of the remodeling industry. Tim and his co-host Steve Wheeler, will be bringing you weekly interviews with elite production managers, lead carpenters and industry experts. Tim and Steve jump right into a great first […]
A podcast dedicated entirely to the production department of a remodeling company? That’s right! And who better to lead the venture than the industry’s leading authority on production: Tim Faller. Tim, along with his co-host Steve Wheeler, will be bringing you weekly interviews with elite production managers, lead carpenters and industry experts. As a prelude […]
