The BLOG
“We’ve grown so quickly because we’re showcasing we give a sh*t”
Lately, it feels like my life is an open book—it's almost a full-time job keeping up with posting new and engaging content and videos across all of the NS Builders social media platforms. (Seriously, Doug, I couldn't do this without your expert help.) Our viewers have questions ranging from how to take over a partially completed project to accurately estimating costs to—weirdly enough—what I'm wearing. Luckily, I'm not a shy guy and am happy to share life lessons I’ve learned.
Read MoreIn this episode of the Nick Schiffer Podcast, I address a great question regarding value engineering. And explain how I define this over-used and often abused term—it drives me nuts when people describe “value engineering” as simply “cutting costs.” If the focus is only on reducing costs, one might be tempted to cut corners and jeopardize the quality of the work or use inferior materials. And that, in my professional opinion, is NOT what value engineering is all about.
Read MoreWelcome to episode 1 of the Nick Schiffer Podcast. I’ve got Mike Hume with me on this inaugural episode to tackle a great question pulled from a comment left on YouTube—“Do you guys like working together?”
Loaded question… here’s what we came up with.
Read MoreI’m bringing in Ken to help me answer this loaded question from a viewer: As your company grows with more employees and equipment, how big is too big? Is it impossible to scale detail? This is a great question, and Ken and I are excited to share our perspective on how NS Builders has successfully met this unique challenge.
Read MoreWhether you plan to do some of the work yourself and hire out the rest to subcontractors or hire out all of the work to subs, either scenario will demand you bring three essential skills to the table—organization, forethought, and good communication. If you are deficient in any of these qualities, then you could end up living a nightmare as you try to maneuver the twists and turns of acting as your own general contractor.
Read MorePerfection may be slightly out of reach, but excellence is certainly attainable—if you set the stage appropriately. And the first step is preparation. In order to meet and exceed your client’s high expectations, you’re going to need to invest time, materials, and tools in properly preparing. This involves a focused approach in starting a project. Think of the prep work as the foundation—everything else you build upon that base will be affected by how strong the foundation is, how meticulous you are in preparing.
Read MoreGoals come in two sizes: long-term and short-term. Both are equally important. One lets you see far into the future, and the other guides you each step of the way. And we’ve all been told: Don’t stop until you reach your goal. But my brain is wired a bit differently—I’m all about setting the goals but not quite reaching them. Why? Because I keep moving the goalposts.
Read Moreremember thinking to myself: ‘What do I need a coach for? I already know what I’m doing. And I don’t want someone telling me to do things differently.’ There’s that feeling of not wanting to be accountable to someone else for your decisions. You’ve got the business this far and are doing well. So why introduce a new voice? One that may disagree with you?
Read MoreYour website is just one of the many tools in your toolbox that you should invest in, maintain, and update when needed. We just finished a total revamp of nsbuilders.com, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Your website will only be as good as you make it. So, if it’s been a while since you’ve updated it, then seriously consider a revamp. A great website should:
Read MoreI’m grateful for the carpentry background that I cut my teeth on. And who knows if I would be in the same position I’m in today had I not had that experience.
But the truth is: I haven’t worn a tool belt in years. NS Builders has grown to the point where I’m managing and promoting the business full-time these days. This is why I’ve surrounded myself with talented, like-minded, hard-working people in order to achieve success time after time, project after project. And that only happens when you hire—invest in—the right people.
Read MoreA smart builder knows that when you surround yourself with highly motivated, skilled people, you’ll end up achieving the best results. So, of course, you want to get to know and work with the best subcontractors out there. But, getting a sub of that caliber to join forces with you on a project may be quite a challenge. You may find yourself getting frustrated when they refuse to call you back. Consider a few valid reasons why they may seemingly be ignoring you and how to handle it before giving up.
Read MoreThe first advantage to renovating involves reducing the amount of red tape you need to cut through—permitting, zoning, town ordinances, etc. In Eastern Massachusetts, we work in many towns where specific criteria have to be met if you want to tear down your home. In most cases, there is a mandatory holding time—often up to 12 months or more—where you are free to start on the paperwork but will have to wait to start demolition. And if the home is located in a historic neighborhood or is a prominent piece of architecture in the town, expect much longer delays. The red tape continues to grow.
Read MoreRenovating a home is like peeling back the layers of an onion. As you dig deeper, more layers are revealed, giving you a realistic view of the house's integrity. As problems are uncovered, the costs begin to add up—and blow the budget. As a builder with years of experience in full home renovations—gutting it down to the studs—I often discover issues that can't be salvaged and shouldn't be ignored. It might be that the subfloor is in a terrible state. Or the plumbing has major issues with improper venting and moisture buildup. Perhaps the electrical or structural framing doesn't meet code. And once discovered, the right thing to do is to bring everything up to code.
Read MoreIf only the world were perfect—all your jobs would go smoothly, come in under budget, on schedule, and the homeowner would sing your praises with 5-star reviews. Well, I hate to break it to you…The world isn’t perfect. And jobs don’t always run smoothly. Sometimes they never even start. So, what do you do when a client or yourself decides to cancel a construction contract? We had planned to start a project, but a week before the start date, the client wanted to delay and revisit the budget, which we did. However, it didn’t make sense to proceed, and the client wanted to cancel.
When the jobsite is always clean, people will be motivated (or guilted—either way, it works) to do their part. You can reinforce that positive behavior by setting the example—as the GC or builder, don’t be above picking up a broom—and be sure to offer commendation when you find the jobsite looking really good.
Read MoreIt’s so much easier to clean up a little mess instead of a huge one. Over the years, I have discovered how much more work I can get done—and do so in a safe manner—by sticking to the clean-as-you-go mentality. It’s overwhelming to leave it all for the end of the week. And that kind of lazy sets a bad example for those working with you.
When the jobsite is always clean, people will be motivated (or guilted—either way, it works) to do their part. You can reinforce that positive behavior by setting the example—as the GC or builder, don’t be above picking up a broom—and be sure to offer commendation when you find the jobsite looking really good.
Read MorePicture this scenario: You are well along into a project and it’s been pretty smooth sailing. Your client seems happy with your work. You’re feeling good about this job and looking forward to completing it soon. And then things start to unravel… The client you thought was happy does a 180 and starts complaining about multiple issues he is quite unhappy about, and you’re completely caught by surprise. What happened?
Read MoreIn every relationship and aspect of human life, our success is directly related to our ability to communicate. Sadly, many divorces are a direct result of a communication breakdown; parents and teenagers butt heads when they find they no longer speak the same language; and business relationships can crash and burn over misunderstandings. Therefore, it’s crucial that you learn how to effectively communicate—and do so often—with your clients, employees, subs, vendors, etc. Flex those conversational muscles!
Read MoreIf you are like me, you were lucky enough to have a cool science teacher in junior high. That teacher who encouraged hands-on experiments, introduced you to the art of dissecting a frog, and proudly displayed on his desk the coolest plant ever—yup, a Venus Flytrap. It was thrilling to watch a fly land on the trap of this ninja-like carnivorous plant and you jumped back when the trap snapped shut suddenly, the teeth forming an impenetrable cage, and it was game over for the fly. The boys cheered while the girls complained it was “gross.”
Read MoreWhen you buy a new car, you are inundated with all the details related to performance—data and statistics on everything from engine specs to fuel consumption to maintenance costs. And, of course, comfort features.
It’s really no different when you buy a house—you should be asking questions about how the house “performs.” I offered some advice on what to look for when buying a new home. Because if you don’t know what questions to ask, you won’t end up with the vital information you need to make a wise decision.
Read Morethere are pros and cons, ups and downs, to working with family. I’ve got great memories of my years of working in the family business, but I also learned some hard lessons along the way. I get this question a lot about whether or not to work with family—it’s quite common for those of us in the construction trades. We set the goal of going out and starting our own business and often turn to family or close friends to help us get started. What seems like the perfect solution often backfires at some point. And because it’s family—those we love and respect the most—the pain of separating can really bite.
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