Over the years, Randal G. Winter, a licensed general contractor and owner of Randal G. Winter Construction Inc. in Santa Clara, Calif., has seen and heard stories about homeowners who hire contractors because they were referred by a friend, but who had failed to check out the contractor’s credentials. As a result, these homeowners had hired contractors without the proper license, liability and workers comp insurance or skills to complete the job safely and correctly. This motivated him to write a book to help homeowners looking to remodel their homes.

January 31, 2014 | 1 comments

When they’re done right, trade shows can be a great source for business leads. When they’re done wrong, it may leave you wondering if it was worth the cost of participating. Here are some ideas to help you draw attention to your booth, generate interest in your company and convert leads into sales.

January 27, 2014 | 0 comments

NARI is proud to be part of Design & Construction Week,™ which will be the largest gathering of residential design and construction professionals with a combined total of 1,500+ exhibits covering 600,000 square feet of exhibit space. The new mega-event, taking place Feb. 4-6 in Las Vegas, provides an unrivaled opportunity for NARI members to discover new products, spot the latest trends and network with fellow friends and colleagues in the business.

January 24, 2014 | 0 comments

The way I started my business was like draining the water out of the pool and jumping off the high dive. I wouldn’t recommend it.

January 13, 2014 | 0 comments

NARI members looking to further their professionalism—as well as to add another tool to their marketing arsenal—often get certified in one of NARI’s nine subject areas. These certifications measure your knowledge base, not your attendance at a class.

January 13, 2014 | 0 comments

Selling your business may be your ultimate goal when you start your company—or it may be a  decision you come to after years of running it. Either way, you want to be able to smoothly transition your business to a new owner when the time comes. Exit planning is a process, not just an event.

January 10, 2014 | 0 comments

Recently I have heard about too many “too good to be true” deals or opportunities being promoted by unscrupulous companies, specifically in the realm of Websites and Internet marketing. Often they will start with promises ranging from, “We can get you to the top of page 1 on Google” to “Just pay us $2000 a month and we will guarantee you lots of new business.”

January 03, 2014 | 0 comments