Remodelers' Top Priorities for 2013, Cont'd

Remodelers periodically complete business surveys on d5R, and our most recent survey revealed some uplifting stories about how remodelers retooled and bounced back in 2012 (read about four such comebacks here.)

What about 2013? Here are a few of the priorities remodelers shared:

• "Increase sales by $600,000, from $2.4 million to $3 million."
• "Retire some debt!"
• Step up marketing aggressiveness -- online as well as in targeted neighborhoods.
• Make month-to-month profitability more consistent.
• Develop a more intense marketing plan "that accents a one-stop company for clients' remodeling needs and maintenance."
• Open a kitchen-and-bath showroom; launch a restoration division.
• "Pre-2010 I was mainly a new home builder that did some remodeling. Since then all my business has been remodeling. In 2013 I am seriously considering putting new homes on the back burner and start trying to carve out specific niche in kitchen remodeling."

What are your business plans for 2013, remodelers? Feel free to comment below, or take the d5R survey here.

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The Small Business Skinny on the Big Tax Deal

Too busy remodeling to read every analysis of the "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012," the end-of-year political soap opera that had everyone worried the nation would go over the fiscal cliff? Here's the gist of at least some of what matters.

An overview of how the housing market might have been impacted, from NAHB:

"Had Congress failed to extend the expiring 2001 and 2003 tax rates, the economy may have fallen back into recession, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The resulting job losses would have reduced demand for both renter and owner-occupied housing, thereby halting the expansion of residential construction that contributed significantly to economic growth in 2012."

More at "Housing Avoids the Fiscal Cliff -- for Now"

 The mortgage-interest deduction, from the Wall Street Journal:

"Another move that should benefit some homeowners is the restoration of a tax deduction for mortgage-interest premiums, including premiums paid to the Federal Housing Administration and private mortgage insurers alike. That deduction had been absent for a year after expiring at the end of 2011. In 2009, 3.6 million taxpayers claimed this deduction, according to the National Association of Home Builders." 

More at "Housing Industry Skates Through Cliff Deal"

Impact on different tax brackets, from the New York Times:

"Only about 0.7 percent of households will be subject to an income tax increase this year .... But lawmakers' decision not to reverse a scheduled increase in the payroll tax that finances Social Security, while widely expected, still means that about 77 percent of households will pay a larger share of income to the federal government this year...."

Click here for a legible version of this chart!

More at "Bigger Tax Bite for Most Under Fiscal Pact" 

Impact on energy-efficient improvements, from Energy Circle:

"The residential energy energy efficiency tax credit covers 10% of the cost of energy efficient home improvements [such as insulation and air sealing], up to a cap of $500. (Note: this is a 'lifetime' credit, so if you've taken advantage of it any time between 2005 and 2011, you can't take advantage of it again.)" 

More at "Energy Efficiency Tax Credits Extended as Part of Fiscal Cliff Deal"

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Onward with 2013! Why d5R is Changing ... a Little ... Again

Happy 2013, remodeling pros. Many of you had a great 2012 as well, but personally I can relate to the visual below (thanks to Mike Brito of Brito's Landscaping Services for sharing it):



So let's move on!

Longtime readers of d5R have seen many tweaks to the business model, and today's post-holiday relaunch tweaks it again. Nothing major: I'm still partnering with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, and together we're still delivering the d5R "big issue" -- featuring industry best practices, peer-to-peer discussions and much more -- on the main d5R site every Wednesday. The site also has hundreds of existing articles, as well as thousands of discussions from your professional peers.

What's changed, then? I've decided to scrap the chunky, hard-to-read news block that I used to email you four mornings a week. Instead, you'll get a small selection of new, relevant items that have just come across my radar screen, and that are fleshed out lightly on this blog. Collectively, I think these will inform and/or inspire you as a remodeling professional -- and they'll save you time, too. As one of my longtime readers wrote:

"The whole idea of QUICKER, SHORTER, more weeding through all of the information and delivering the BEST stuff to a very target market… That's valuable… AND that's what I think your people want.

I hope our instincts are right. And I hope we all have the 2013 we deserve. Bummer about the Redskins, though.

Leah Thayer
leah@daily5REMODEL.com



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Housing on the Comeback Trail (So They Say)

Remodeling has been the little housing engine that never konked out entirely, even during the darkest days of the recession. And now, supported by stocks closing Friday at their highest level in five years, remodeling and new construction alike are expected to get even stronger in 2013, a number of sources have written.

At Bloomberg, there's this from John Gittelsohn:

"U.S. home sales and prices are poised to rise in 2013, solidifying a recovery that began last year after a  half-decade slump that was the deepest since the Great Depression.... Record-low mortgage rates and attractive prices, supported by declining unemployment, are luring buyers as the inventory of distressed homes shrinks. Homebuilders are responding by adding supply, bolstering economic growth."

More at "Housing a Sweet Spot for U.S. Economy as Recovery Expands" 

At The Washington Post, Moody's Analytics' Mark Zandi published this on Saturday:

"A housing renaissance has begun. This may be hard to believe after the dizzying, six-year-long crash in home sales, construction and house prices. But housing turned the corner last year, and it will take off in 2013....

"Buying a home wouldn't make much sense if house prices were likely to decline further; no one wants to catch a falling knife. But it seems increasingly likely that prices will rise. No one should expect the value of their house to appreciate quickly -- counting on your home to be a significant part of your retirement saving isn't a winning strategy -- but it is reasonable to expect that prices generally will rise with at least the rate of inflation for some time to come."

More at "Housing's renaissance could lead an economic recovery" 

At Time, Christopher Matthews wrote this about "the great housing rebound of 2012": 

"There’s no doubt that we’re finally seeing the beginnings of what economists call a positive feedback loop when it comes to housing. Rising home prices allow lenders to be more generous with home financing, which allows even more prospective home buyers to access the market, further driving up home prices. And higher home values give consumers and builders more confidence to go out and spend money or make investments, which also stimulates the real estate market and broader economy."

More at "The Great Housing Rebound of 2012: How the Fed Helped Sellers Beat the Odds" 

What do you think, remodelers? Is housing on the comeback trail? Is your business?

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100 Trends to Watch in 2013

Every year, the folks at JWT Intelligence forecast significant trends for the coming year. Here's the latest. What do you think, remodelers?

JWT: 100 Things to Watch in 2013 from JWTIntelligence


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12.21.2012: industry news & year-end sendoff

Happy final d5R of 2012! To celebrate Christmas, the winter solstice and the end of the world, according to the Mayans, here's a collection ofd5R's liveliest discussions from the year. Each remains as relevant as ever, so learn from your peers and feel free to add your own two cents.

Warm holiday wishes and all the best for 2013. See you again — knock wood — on January 7.

Leah Thayer, leah@daily5REMODEL.com

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1. The most critical number on your business dashboard.

2. Someone screwed up. Do you give the client a discount?

3. How to sell when homeowners know so much.

4. Lies people tell: What’s the biggest load of BS you've heard in this job?

5. How profitable is that lead?

6. How do you determine your markup and profit?

7. Is a younger salesperson the answer?

8. False online reviews: What’s a remodeler to do?

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Housing & real estate: US home values rose $1.3 trillion in 2013  •  Saved from wrecking ball: FL Wright home  •  Housing surge to bolster US growth  •  Home equity loans: best deals in years  •  Pro Remodeler’s remodeler of the year  •  Mortgage rates: 30-year up, 15-year down  •  Why 15-year mortgages are picking up steam  •  Business & economy: House postpones "cliff" vote  •  Stocks turn optimistic  •  US GDP up 3.1% from July to September  •  New jobless claims up slightly  •  Consumer borrowing likely to pick up  •  New insurance laws for 2013.

Terrific DC-area Job Opportunities

Dear d5R Remodeling Community:

I’m pleased to share these outstanding career opportunities on behalf of Delbert Adams Construction Group, an award-winning remodeler, builder and home-maintenance company with a distinguished 25-year history in the Baltimore-Washington market. If you are interested in joining this expanding, high-end company, and you meet the criteria described below, please send a cover letter, resume, references and salary history to info@dacgllc.com.

The positions are based in Baltimore.

Best regards,
Leah Thayer
daily5REMODEL

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ESTIMATOR, DACG COMMERCIAL

Must have:
Commercial construction and estimating experience, excellent communications, high energy!

Delbert Adams Construction Group is looking to hire a professional estimator to support rapid growth and expansion in our DACG Commercial division, serving the Greater Baltimore, D.C. and Northern Virginia areas.
DACG Commercial specializes in commercial construction, tenant improvements and professional construction management for education and religious facilities, car dealerships, retail outlets, offices and private clubs. This position will be based in our Baltimore office and will estimate jobs in Baltimore, D.C. and Northern Virginia.

Qualified candidates must have experience in commercial construction and a solid history of estimating projects small and large. You must be an excellent communicator, highly personable, and have a high energy level -- able to juggle several assignments simultaneously while managing day-to-day responsibilities. You must also have mastery of Microsoft Office programs, particularly Excel.

Competitive salary. Benefits include health and dental insurance and 401(k) retirement plan.

Additional job duties:

• Prepare estimates from blueprints and written specifications for new construction and remodels and retrofits/tenant improvements of existing facilities.
• Coordinate with department personnel to assist them in establishing project scopes and standards.
• Assess project scope and location.
• Estimate equipment, manpower, materials and other costs necessary to accomplish each project.
• Develop sketches or blueprints to detail work to be accomplished.
• Help establish job priorities based on general guidelines.
• Inspect buildings to determine work needed to maintain them to code and desired standards.

Additional skills:

• Solid knowledge of building construction methods and materials.
• Solid knowledge of building codes and electrical, plumbing, or mechanical and related codes.
• Solid knowledge of the laws and ordinances regulating building construction.
• Skill in reading and interpreting plans and specifications.

This position offers terrific growth opportunities for the right professional. If you meet these requirements, please email your cover letter, resume, references and salary history to: info@dacgllc.com.

ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES

Must have:
Energy, enthusiasm, commitment to excellence!

Delbert Adams Construction Group is always looking for talented professionals to join our company, including our new Gold Seal Services division, which provides home maintenance, repair and property-management services to busy and discerning homeowners.

If you have strong expertise in the construction industry, are looking for long-term career opportunities and share our client-focused values, please drop us an email with your areas of interest and your relevant work history: info@dacgllc.com.

Visit Delbert Adams Construction Group.