Operations

The CG&S Way with Sara Hadden and Nathan Morris – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E18

March 11, 2024 0:37:04

Nathan Morris and Sara Hadden, seasoned professionals from CG&S Design Build, have crafted a unique approach to processes that helps management control the way things are done, named the CG&S Way. Tim and Greg delve into the origins of this innovative system and how these experts garnered widespread acceptance.

Sara Hadden is the Design Manager at CG&S Design Build, located in Austin, Texas. Sara and Nathan have both worked for CG&S for 10 years. Sara started as a project architect and was given the opportunity to manage the Design Studio about 5 years ago. Nathan and I were instrumental in bringing The CG&S Way to fruition.

Nathan Morris is the Production Manager at CG&S Design Build in Austin, TX. CG&S is a Residential Design-Build Firm that has been in business for over 65 years and is focused more on renovations than new builds. Nathan has been with the Company for 10 years this year. He started out as a Project manager and moved into the Production Manager role 7 years ago.

Sara, Nathan, Tim, and Greg talk more about:

Process that created the CG&S Way
Results from the CG&S Way
And more…

A New Twist on the 4-Day Work Week with Erich Van Cleave – [The Tim Faller Show] S5 E17

March 4, 2024 0:26:27

The four-day workweek is becoming a popular trend for companies, especially with the younger generation joining the workforce. While there are arguments for and against this idea, today’s episode features Erich Van Cleave discussing how his company has given a unique twist to the four-day workweek. Tune in to discover how this approach can benefit both employees and the organization.

Erich Van Cleave is the owner of Van Cleave Construction, Remodeling, & Design, located in St. Joseph, MO. Erich founded the company in 2006 where he wore all of the hats, including a tool bag, producing around $250k their first year. Today, Van Cleave has a team of 15 offering design build and construction services producing just north of $3m. The average tenure for our team is just over 7 years.

Erich, Tim, and Greg talk more about:

Implementation of a four-day workweek
Benefits and challenges of the change
And more…

The Reputation Economy With Tess Jezek – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

July 31, 2023 0:36:19

Tess Jezek joins the show today to discuss the importance of your company’s reputation in the reputation economy. In fact, Forbes reports that 60% of consumers are willing to pay more if they believe they will receive a better service. Tess discusses how an accurate description of your business online is smart business practice. In addition, good social status leads to robust pricing power, and client loyalty can lead to return clients, referrals, and new business.

Tess is the Director of Sales for Customer Engagement Solutions of Evercommerce. She manages the sales teams for GuildQuality, PulseM, and Customer Lobby. With close to a decade’s worth of experience in the industry, she understands the importance of customer experience, customer engagement, and customer retention as the most important drivers for your business.

Tess, Tim, and Steve discuss:

The importance of client feedback and when to solicit it
How to take control of the online narrative
How to use your online reputation to build a stronger business

Getting Some Help with Alan Hendy – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

June 26, 2023 0:28:43

One of the biggest challenges for contractors, other than labor shortages, is the fact that many face the process of building a business in isolation and their experience is often graded as pass or fail.

When they pass they are happy, but when they fail it causes many issues for them and the families that they support. But where do they turn for help? Using the Power of Peers or hiring a consultant are both great approaches, and guest Alan Hendy joins this episode to help listeners explore the possibility of bringing a consultant in to assist in their business.

Alan is the CEO of Neals Design Remodel in Cincinnati, Ohio, a company that offers full-service design, estimating, and production of projects that transform their clients homes. He graduated from Miami University and spent time working in the insurance industry until 28 years ago when he returned to the family business to become the second generation owner of Neals Design Remodel.

Tim, Steve and Alan talk more about:

The benefits of hiring a consultant
Receiving and utilizing a consultants advice
Advice for those considering hiring a consultant
And more…

Remodelers Advantage Consultants Standing by to Help You…

Costly Mistakes in Renovation with Michael Upshall – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

May 22, 2023 00:30:41

From the vault, this episode was recorded because of a suggestion from one of our faithful listeners. Enjoy!

Get ready for an insightful episode as we dive into the topic of mistakes—specifically, the ones that cost remodelers and renovators more than just a few shims. We’re not talking about technical slip-ups; we’re tackling the errors that hit remodelers where it hurts the most.

Introducing Michael Upshall, the Founder of Probuilt Design + Build in Bolton, Ontario. Michael’s reputation precedes him, with appearances in design and home/lifestyle magazines, as well as regular speaking engagements at GTA Home Shows. With over 35 years of experience as a master carpenter turned renovator and builder, Michael has garnered numerous awards and accolades. In fact, PROBUILT holds the distinction of being the first two-time recipient of the prestigious BILD “Renovator of the Year” Award in 2002 and 2006.

In this episode, Tim, Steve, and Michael discuss:

Most common business mistakes contractors make
The importance of detailed specifications
Designing projects within client budgets
Pros and cons of competitive bidding vs. design/build approach

They also tackle the three biggest mistakes in production:

Sales to production hand-off packages
Tracking job costs during production
Timelines and scheduling intricacies

Michael also shares what it is like to build a house in 9 days to be featured in a trade show.

We value our subscribers and listeners, and we appreciate your suggestions for future guests. If there’s someone you’ve heard on another podcast or an author of a book who made a lasting impression, please reach out and let us know. Your input matters to us!

Join us on this enlightening journey and gain invaluable insights from the knowledgeable Michael Upshall.

Stay tuned and stay inspired!

How to Build Morale and Culture During a Transition with Jason Willet – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

May 1, 2023 00:34:56

On a recent episode of The Tim Faller Show, Jason Willet, a partner and now vice president at Willet Construction, shared his experience on how he kept his team engaged during a company transition that ultimately led to growth for the company.

Willet Construction faced a challenging transition, but instead of letting it bring the team down, they came up with a creative solution called “Vision Day.” The main goal of this event was to get everyone on the same page regarding the transition’s how, what, when, where, and why.

Through this event, Willet Construction not only brought their team closer together, but they also raised morale and reinforced their company’s culture. By involving the team in the decision-making process and soliciting their opinions, the team felt valued and empowered.

Jason, Tim, and Steve delved deeper into the strategies that Willet Construction used to make Vision Day a success. They discussed the importance of creating a well-planned agenda, prioritizing goals, and utilizing team opinions.

As a partner at Willet Construction, Jason’s role involves estimating and design, as well as being an exterior consultant. With his experience and insights, he offers valuable advice on how to keep a team engaged and motivated during challenging times.

Overall, this episode offers practical advice and real-life examples of how to create a positive company culture and navigate challenging transitions. It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to build a successful team and grow their company.

The Art of Estimating with Geno Arroyo – [The Tim Faller Show] S4 E18

March 27, 2023 00:43:02

Today on the Tim Faller Show, Geno Arroyo joins the show to discuss successful estimating. Geno goes through his process as an estimator for each project from start to finish. Suppose you want a more in-depth breakdown of his methods, including getting labor costs right, then you must attend Remodelers Advantage’s Art of Estimating masterclass, where Geno will be a presenter.

Geno Arroyo is the Estimator for Fox Home Innovations, LLC, in Manhattan, KS. Geno has had the privilege of being a part of the Fox Home family for over three years. When he started with the company, he was a Lead Carpenter, then transitioned from the field to the estimator role. The most significant accomplishment Geno can think of during his time is developing and implementing an actual estimator role within the company and having a role to play in getting our overall company slip and grip to 0.87%.

Geno, Tim, and Steve talk more about…

The creation of the estimator position and the results
Phases of work for an estimator
Budget meetings with the estimator
And more…

Using QR Codes for Field Communication – [The Tim Faller Show] S4 E17

March 20, 2023 00:28:55

Today on the Tim Faller Show, Nick Sandifer details a new way to communicate in the field to help his team navigate the small details in elaborate projects. Nick and the Sandifer team use QR codes to help communicate better on the job site. The QR codes allow the project manager to view the electrical fixtures, architectural plans, and other information about the project. Nick discusses the effectiveness of the QR codes that lead to fewer phone calls from the team because all the data is in the QR code.

Nick Sandifer is the owner of Sandifer Design Build in Jacksonville, Florida. Nick is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in Real Estate Finance, Appraisal and Feasibility. He started his building career with a large national builder, Centex Homes. Later he worked as a project manager for local custom home builder Benchmark Luxury Homes. His experience working for both national and local custom builders has allowed him to focus on the schedule and the details.

Nick, Tim, and Steve talk more about…

Benefits of using QR codes
Changing plans while using the QR code
The work that goes into making the QR codes for all the projects
And more…

Hitting a Schedule Every Time With April Bettinger – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

February 27, 2023 00:35:55

Hitting a schedule every time in construction is possible if you pay proper attention to planning and have a purposeful attitude.

In this episode, April Bettinger joins Tim and Steve to talk about the best practices and the common pitfalls to avoid when creating and managing an on-time project that ends with delighted clients.

April is the founder and owner of Ni p Tuck Remodeling in Snohomish, WA. For more than 30 years, she’s carved out a respected niche in the construction industry. Her father was a custom homebuilder, so April grew up watching and learning about excellent customer service, and what it takes to complete a high-quality project. April has held key roles in finance, budgeting, customer service, team building, and sales management — preparing her to own and operate her own company. Nip Tuck Remodeling was founded in 2010, with a vision and determination to create a construction company with extraordinary craftsmanship and a focus on professionalism.

April and her estimator create the master schedule, then it’s turned over to the production manager, who is responsible for creating and managing the job schedules on BuilderTrend. One huge factor in staying on track once you’re in production is getting the schedules done and materials ordered a month before the project starts. She talks about why that works, and other aspects of keeping your jobs on schedule, including:

Why the project manager has to create and own the schedule
Setting pivotal goals for each week in the schedule
Using goals for client satisfaction
Helping everyone buy in to the system
Handling change orders in the schedule
Getting clients to think ahead during selections
Building in reasonable wiggle room
Handling design changes and heading them off
And more …

Click here to listen

How to Engage Your Staff to Help Train Each Other With Ned Trimming – [Best of The Tim Faller Show]

February 20, 2023 00:41:55

Training, training, training!

Business owners, general managers, and production managers often get caught wondering how to do it all.

So, we turned to a former guest and a member of our production manager roundtables, Ned Trimming, to share his efficient training process involving current and new employees.

Ned Trimming is the Production Manager at Crescent Builds in Seattle, WA. Ned and his team at Crescent are dedicated to building high-quality spaces for people to live and work in, while creating an employee review process that continues to morph into new training areas.

Tim, Steve, and Ned talk more about:

Active cross-training
Training opportunities within a company
Establishing lateral service goals
And more…