The Tim Faller Show

When you work in a remote area, where your materials are shipped on barges to small islands, and a quick lumber yard run just isn’t possible, everything just takes longer.  So having all the details planned ahead is crucial, says Ben Reynolds. In this episode, Ben talks to Tim and Steve about the challenges of working in Ontario’s cottage country, and how accurate look aheads are a key compon...

Making sure you can hit your monthly revenue goals is key to a healthy bottom line. First, there has to be a plan and intention to hit those marks. In this episode, Aaron Enfinger tells Tim and Steve about setting revenue and production goals, how to hit them, and why it helps prevent cash-flow problems. Aaron is the general manager at The Cleary Company in Columbus, OH. In early 2017, he assumed...

While you’re trying to please your clients, hit your schedules and margins, and juggle everything else, you can use all the help you can get. One way to bring in some assistance is by reaching out to your product manufacturers. In this episode, Aaron Wingert discusses the benefits of having a relationship with your manufacturers with Tim and Steve. He gives us a view from the manufacturer’s perspe...

For many, caring for other people is just part of our world view — whether you give to charity through your church, through private donations, or through other methods like sponsored bike rides or other fundraisers. But if you haven’t considered involving your business, you should. Russell Fuller’s first foray into giving to charity was a happy accident, he says. But then it became something more....

Most remodeling companies are small businesses with simple structures, and team building can be difficult. Imagine the challenges of building a real team with more than 70 people in the field and an almost equal number working in the office.  In this episode, Bruce Case talks to Tim and Steve about what it takes to keep a large remodeling company running smoothly — especially in the productio...

Experience is one of the best teachers — and today’s guest has the kind of experience that will make your production processes work better in every way. His success in the remodeling industry didn’t come easily, he adapted and changed how he and his company worked to make it happen. In this episode, Paul Winans, CR, talks to Tim and Steve about his years in the remodeling business, what he’s learn...

The things on a job site that cost extra time and money could be cut down, if not eliminated, through careful, detailed planning. That’s where the job site look ahead makes a huge difference. Lumber yard runs, selections that haven’t been made, and just about anything else that comes up can be identified if you’re planning ahead. In this episode, Tim and Steve talk to Tom Batman and Mike Topper ab...

Developing a system that makes your kitchen and bath jobs more profitable has to include getting those all-important selections done early in the process — before the job even starts. Tim does a session on this, and it’s based on what he learned from Rhode Island Kitchen & Bath , in Warwick, RI.  In this episode, Tanya Donahue discusses that process with Tim and Steve, and why it results...

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...

There have been a lot of changes in the remodeling industry — technological advances, new products and materials, building requirements, the labor shortage. But some things remain the same — you’re still pouring foundations, shingling roofs, driving nails, and working with clients. In this episode, David Gerstel talks about the changes he’s seen over the last 50 years in construction and remodelin...

The handoff, turnover, passing the baton — or whatever you call it in your company — is a critical step in production. Having a well-planned, tight, organized system in place is key to a smooth-running project that ends with a happy client and healthy bottom line. As you grow, it becomes even more important — and more complicated. So much information is gathered, discussed, sifted through, and tor...

“Going green” has been a part of the remodeling and building industries for a while. But much of the eco-conscious activity has been reactive. There’s real movement now to be proactive, and that’s especially true in the energy industry. It’s undergoing a massive disruption — and that has big implications for remodelers and builders. In this episode, Jacob Corvidae talks about what’s coming i...

Building codes and inspection systems can vary greatly from one place to another, but every remodeler has some experience with inspections — good or bad. In this episode, we get the other side of the story, from a former inspector. Aaron Wingert joins Tim and Steve to talk about how important it is to establish trust with your local inspectors and embrace the whole process. Aaron has been a market...

Problems in Production can be hard to fix — even identifying chronic mistakes and hurdles takes time. Too often, remodelers stop there, shrug, and say, “it is what it is.” It doesn’t have to be that way. Checklists are a great tool to use in the next step, when you solve the problems and prevent them from happening again and again. In this episode, Wesley Yoder talks to Tim and Steve about how he...

Remodelers and custom-home builders are used to being on a job site, building from the outside in, whatever the weather. Modular or prefab homes are built in a controlled factory environment, from the inside out, and have made strides in quality, architectural complexity, and production processes. In this episode, David Cooper talks to Tim and Steve about modular homes, their history, what the fut...

It can take one stroke of bad luck to take a remodeling business’s leader suddenly out of the picture — either temporarily or permanently. The repercussions can be wide and economically traumatic if the remaining team can’t pull together and keep the business running. When Rosie Romero, the owner (and primary salesperson) of Rosie On The House in Scottsdale, AZ, had an off-road UTV accident that l...

We’re once again talking about the labor crisis in the remodeling industry, but from a different angle. Developing an environment that will keep the employees you have, and help them grow in their roles, will help your company prosper. In this episode, John Sylvestre talks to Tim and Steve about how he’s created a company that keeps employees — and keeps them happy. John is the owner of Sylvestre...

Of all the things you have in your marketing toolbox — your website, email and direct mail, or social media — there’s one you may have overlooked. Positioning your Production team to be aware of sales and marketing can be an overlooked marketing strategy, and also help align the office and field teams. In this episode, Tim and Steve talk to Doug Panozzo, who is a human marketing machine. We discus...

We’ve talked about getting your Production team engaged in refining your systems and processes by encouraging them to make decisions and look for problems. But have you considered involving Production in the Design process?    In this episode, Michael Sauri talks about how and why he did just that with Tim and Steve. Through this change, Michael sped the growth of his company. Michael and his wife...

We’ve talked about trade schools and skills training, but today we focus on what you can learn at trade events. Attending and sending your team can broaden everyone’s skill sets and knowledge bases. In this episode, Lauren Moore discusses what goes on behind the scenes at shows and events with Tim and Steve, why you should consider attending, and why sending your team is great idea. Lauren has bee...

Estimating accurately is critical to the success of any remodeling business. As you grow your business or hand off estimating to an employee, having the right system in place is paramount. It can feel like an overwhelming decision — there’s so much software available. The wrong decision will cost you lost revenue, but even worse — lost time. Fortunately, there’s a simple strategy to help you navig...

For many people, the actual building of the project is what Production is all about. Looking at the bigger picture, Production has a great deal of responsibility to keep profit up. Production is a huge contributor to the financial health of the company. It’s about the numbers — but what numbers are critical for the Production team to know and track? In this episode, Judith Miller talks about the c...

Client satisfaction is a huge component of making any business successful. Remodeling has an extra personal factor — your team and your subs are in a client’s home every day. Most of the time, the homeowners are living in and around your job site. Understanding their experiences, asking questions about what they really need, and figuring out how to solve their problems makes for a better customer...

Today we’re talking about LEAN in Production. Doug Howard has been helping remodeling companies see how they can make their processes better, cut wasted effort, and streamline their systems for better profits. In this episode, Doug talks to Tim and Steve about what it can do for your company — especially in Production. Doug Howard, RA’s director of consulting services, is an entrepreneur, governme...

There are many different ways to work with architects in the remodeling industry, whether you’re working in the design/build model or as a builder using plans developed outside your company.  Regardless of the work model, most remodelers agree the architectural plans they get at the beginning of the production process are only half done. So communication is paramount during the build phase. In thi...