So I was looking through some of the past MeetUp attendees and was wondering where they had gone. I thought that I'd call them up to talk about how their business was doing and maybe talk a bit about what is going on with them personally. Maybe I could kill two birds with one stone; invite/remind them of the MeetUp that I am hosting on Thursday and possibly get a conversation to post to the Ringing and Singing Contest. While reaching out I was able to connect with a Sacramento MeetUp Veteran Dan … (18 comments)
So I was looking through some of the past MeetUp attendees and was wondering where they had gone. I thought that I'd call them up to see how their lives were and maybe talk a bit about what is going on with them.
One of those that have been to a few past MeetUps in the Sacramento area but has drifted away for a while is Ray Henson . I gave Ray a call early this morning and left a message and continued to go down my list. He called me back right … (4 comments)
So What Was In The Box Tom? A Whole Lot Of Love Mostly!
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman had sent me a text yesterday saying that my package was “near”, she was concerned about it getting to me and it did arrive. Though it arrived yesterday, I was not home until late because of a busy day. Sally sent these packages to the panel of judges on her recent contest. The entire time she was more than willing to show her gratitude for the help that we were providing and that was more than enough for me. I feel that it … (50 comments)
If you have not gotten the opportunity to see the most recent contests, check it out here. It is always a good idea to check out what is going on just before the start of the month because that's usually when the contest starts. This month there is a 30 day Challenge that is very important today. Why? Well if you don't get your first post in today you can not successfully complete the challenge. If you have never attempted one of these Challenges, consider this … (18 comments)
There was I time when I first started out on my own as a contractor, it was important that the customer get more than they expected. It was more than a matter of what I was doing, it included my behavior and treating the client well; things that many appreciated in a contractor.
In working with so many people over the years, many used the word uncommon when talking to me about my company. The true impact of this didn't hit right away, but it kept coming up until one … (9 comments)
I can remember first couple that asked me to give them an estimate for a job that they needed to have done. I was just getting started so I was working for someone else, doing my own jobs on the weekends. It was a great way to get started, getting my feet wet while bringing in a paycheck.
I remember thinking that it was such a big deal: I want them to be happy with the work, want to make a few dollars, act professionally, and hopefully get some more business from … (18 comments)
It is summer of 1948, where a wealthy and often spunky Miss Harley who lives in her quaint little town of Octave Reign, VA. Everyone knew of Miss Harley; folks have been coming to her for decades seeking Real Estate wisdom. Always the independent woman, she got herself into a construction mishaps. Apparently she misjudged the power of her new-fangled power saw that she took a liking to, and managed to sever her dining room table in half.
Troubled by this, friends and neighbors of the feisty real estate belle begged her to find help … (136 comments)
Ever since the announcement of the Big Movie Contest, it seems that all of ActiveRain is getting ready for the event. Some will be watching with popcorn and snacks, others returning for nominations, and the always welcomed newcomer. Looking forward to seeing all the entries this year, I hope that you are considering joining the fun. Roger D. Mucci has put this event together and based on his track record, it will be a much talked about social extravaganza.
In working on a home that is going to be listed for sale and contractor will have to listen to the stories of why the home is being sold and that tale can be quite sad at times. Sometimes that is a sad story, based in years of love for the one who has passed away. It was about twenty years ago when I had gotten a call from a woman that I had never met, she had a need to do some renovation work on her recently deceased father’s home … (40 comments)
I have told this story on many occasions because the job was a real challenge on many levels and the circumstances barely believable. The part that I save until the end, I will state first – I never met this guy! The final cost was approximately $180,000.00 and I never saw the guy and rarely even talked to him. The guy called me one day stating he got my name as a reliable general contractor who could help him with his problem. I knew the person he mentioned but … (34 comments)
When we first moved to our current home, it seemed to be a ways away from the regular crowd. Trips to the store, getting a movie, or running to the gas station were a bit further than it used to be. We love our home but was it worth the extra 15-20 minutes “up the hill”? Don’t get me wrong, I love our home itself it has a lot of room for the family with many special amenities. One of the areas that I enjoy is the kitchen; we made some changes right after we bought the place. … (14 comments)
There are so many places that I have been drawn to while reading the many bloggers’ posts of their local areas. Narrowing this down to just one would be misleading, I could think of many who have really “sold” their local turf. The one that I have been following for some time now is Hella Mitschke Rothwell. I was first drawn to Hella’s posts because she was located in the Northern California Coastal Region. Being a broker licensed in the State of California she has been posting the beautiful … (18 comments)
It sure looks like the Active Rain Gods have shined on the contractors in the membership. They have come up with a much desired category of Contractor. I would imagine that there are many contractors that will be moving over to this category as soon as they find out about it – it just makes sense. As of this moment, I am ranked in the #1 spot. Of course there has only been 19 contractors to make the change, and only 2 in my state of California. … (132 comments)
contest: There Is Always Time to Be a Sensei or Grasshopper Here at ActiveRain
- 03/29/13 06:32 PM
There Is Always Time to Be a Sensei or Grasshopper Here at ActiveRain When I first saw the Sensei/Grasshopper Contest, I was excited about all of the possibilities to gain new knowledge from the vast experience of those that are here. But where do I start? There always seems to be something more to learn and ways to improve my blogging. Who would I ask? I feel like I learn from everyone here in some way. No use jumping out there too early, there is always time to get this done before the end of the month. Well, time … (14 comments)
Been thinking about the ideal website for your business? There is a contest that would love to hear your thoughts. Website Box may be just what you are looking for; check out the many ideas already entered, and get your entry in soon. The deadline is Monday the 25th at midnight. 1. Easy to maintain – I don’t need one more thing to learn, I’d like the site to be very user friendly. I’m not talking about a complete change, but changes to the content, … (6 comments)
I was reminded of the movie 300, and the struggle of the small group of soldiers in that movie. Those 300 soldiers managed to overcome great odds and defeat the army of 170,000 Greek men. How inspiring to see how that small group work together, using their collective knowledge, and joining together as one and not accept defeat. How often do we see this sort of thing in our everyday lives? Maybe not fighting to the death, not building a structure that no one thought you could do, or … (25 comments)
I have to admit, the idea of “an organized and coordinated method” has eluded me and my marketing efforts. This is not to say that I have not made efforts to “drum up business”, or do some cold calling , or a long list of actions that have worked over the years. The vast majority have been one time efforts that worked well enough to make it worthwhile, or get just the rush of business needed to get me through the slow season. The only real system that I have used on … (25 comments)
As a General Contractor it is not a standard practice to include your photo on business cards and print advertising. It’s not that there is anything wrong with doing it, but nobody does. This is a far cry from the real estate industry where everyone has profile photos. So when it comes time to print this sort of thing, I’ve never used a profile photo. I am struggling to find some profile photos in the past.
The majority of the profile photos that I have used have been in the last 5 years or so. Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, … (35 comments)
contest: Electronic signatures aren't just for professionals, make it personal
- 11/07/12 04:07 PM
Electronic signatures aren't just for professionals, Make it Personal! I think that the idea of electronic signatures today is an awesome thing for so many different industries. It has allowed legal documents to be executed in ways that we have never seen before. It is certainly beneficial to many professionally; however, it can be useful personally as well. For 14 years, I coached basketball for young boys ages 8 through 18. I loved being able to work with these young kids and managed to coach 3-5 teams at a time year-round. While the schedule was quite hectic, there weren’t … (14 comments)
Contractor Handles Emergency for a Hysterical Agent
While in my early years as a General Contractor, I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area. I worked with many of the local agents in preparing homes for sale. At the time, many of the agents were turning homes as Lease Options. Agents were getting homes listed and having Open Houses within a week.
I got a call from an agent on a Wednesday to complete a long list of cosmetic repairs, and paint the interior of the home for an Open House on Saturday. I jumped into action and … (20 comments)
Service Area
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