In Business: Modern Design, Compromise, and Money
Custom builder Zane Williams opens up about what it takes to maintain his architectural vision, from handling clients and staying true to his fluid style, to the importance of transparency and how a slush fund avoids awkward conversations mid-construction
Custom Builder
Five Key Spokes of the Business Bike Wheel
Much like a bike wheel depends on its spokes to work effectively, a business depends on its various departments to find success in the market.
Custom Builder
Custom Home Building Gets Good News
New data from NAHB shows that while much of the market is in contraction, custom home building continues to gain strength
Business
Five Steps for a More Seamless Custom Build Process
There are several steps that builders should take when developing a custom home to achieve a more seamless process for customers
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Marketing & Sales
Break Out A New Brand
Three custom builders undertake the rebranding and repositioning process with quantifiable results.
Marketing & Sales
Home Builder Marketing: Beyond the Business Card
Word of mouth will always be the holy grail of marketing, but custom home builders can do more to find prospects than just wait for past clients to pass their business card.
Business
Mark Richardson: Are you a professional?
Defining and articulating what is a professional in remodeling or new construction is tougher than in some other industries.
Leadership
Breaking comfort
Fast Company Magazine named Bryan Cranston - the main guy in Breaking Bad and the dad from Malcolm in the Middle - the #8 most creative person…
Leadership
Buy it now book recommendation: Ctrl Alt Delete by Mitch Joel
I’ve been enjoying the Chicago Blackhawks run to the Stanley Cup Finals. I went to a party last week where a friend, Bobby Krueger, owner of…
Leadership
Mark Richardson: Do you have a sales process?
Most people have found ways to gain more efficacies though repetition. Having a sales process allows you to achieve much higher levels of success (better close rates, higher total sales, and more delighted clients).
Leadership
Always deliver value
Your custom building clients come from all walks of life. But they have one thing in common: They are successful, and they have money. And more often than not, your clients are wealthy because they spend wisely.
Leadership
Mark Richardson: Help your potential clients feel more confident
Confidence. Such a simple word but also a word that may have more to do with your success or failure than any other.
Leadership
Excuse me, sir…your PowerPoint sucks
Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Guy gets up to give a presentation. Self-deprecating intro. Well-dressed. Strong voice.…
Leadership
5 keys to being a good salesman by Jerry Jones
In 2008 the Dallas Cowboys were the featured team on HBO’s Hard Knocks. Hard Knocks is the reality documentary series that takes you behind the…