Catching Up

Last night, I had dinner and a few beers with some long time contractor buddies of mine. We met years ago when we both were frequent competing bidders for a local architect's work. Neither of us has done anything for that architect in a long time, but our friendship endures. And so, every six months or so, one of us will call the other, asking: "Isn't it time for us to have some steak and a few drinks?" It's always a fun evening.

What I like about getting together with them and others whose profession I share, is that we understand each other's pain...the pain of the recent down market, the pain of working with cheapskates or fools, the pain of watching employees destroy tools that you've lovingly kept running for years. We also can truly appreciate each other's triumphs, though...getting that project you really needed, actually winning a point against an arrogant permit reviewer. Hell, lately, not having to lay someone off has been a triumph to trump all others!

The point is, we encourage each other. Nothing is ever so black and terrible when you're sitting across the table from someone who has walked the same path you're on.

That encouragement is also why I'm actively involved in NARI, and why I try to make at least a few of their dinner meetings every year, volunteer at their home show booth, write for the magazine, etc. That coming together of like minds and experiences helps all of us not only to feel better about what we do, but, by sharing experiences and accumulated wisdom, actually improve our companies, our attitudes, ourselves.

Contracting is never an easy business, but the last few years have been bruising. Curling up and hiding in a hole is an impulse that hovers, I'm sure, just in front of many of us, as we weather on. Having a few beers though, with someone who gets it, is an important step in the process of staying on your feet and continuing to walk forward every day.

So, call your buddies already. You know you need them!

NARI Fun

This afternoon, I helped staff NARI's booth at the Capitol Home Expo, in Chantilly. For the first time in recent years, we had a decent sized booth, which allowed people to come in and look at photos of our 2009 CoTY (Contractor of The Year) award winners. We also had a table set up, and a sign encouraging people to "Ask the Experts". Hard for me to believe, but after over twenty years in the industry, I guess I actually AM an expert!

I volunteer at the NARI booth happily, for a number of reasons. The primary reason is the opportunity it gives me to acquaint people with our trade association and its mission, which is to raise the level of professionalism in our industry. In a climate where the competition is stiff, membership in NARI shows, I think, a level of commitment to one's profession that is oftentimes a key factor in a homeowner's decision to hire a particular firm. So, getting the opportunity to get in front of people and sell who we are and why we, as NARI members, are a cut above, is something I'm glad to do.

Seeing as the show is in Virginia, I don't get much of a chance to sell people on the wisdom of working with MY company in particular, but that's really not why we're there anyway. Mostly, I just enjoy telling people about what we do, and if possible, to steer them clear of the many pitfalls that can arise in a remodeling project.

For anyone interested in remodeling, or for anyone interested in joining NARI, I'd encourage you to visit them at www.narimetrodc.org

How Do You Work With Your Contractor?

This is a recent article I wrote for "Remodeling Today" magazine's Fall 2010 issue, which will be hitting the stands at local retail locations near you this week. Inside is some good information on the different ways in which you and your contractor can successfully work together. Give it a read!

"How do you work with your Contractor?"