Building the Business

Gary Striegler and I crossed paths for the first time at a pivotal point in both of our professional lives. After more than 10 years of writing for distributors and contractors in the plumbing business, I had finally left the bathroom to learn about the whole house by joining the staff of Professional Builder. Gary and his business partner of many years had just parted ways as well. A difference in business philosophy — imagine this, they couldn't agree on expanding into spec home building — caused the split and thrust Gary into the job of managing the business which left less time for what he really loved — building houses. Over the years, we've learned from each other and have become friends. His is a story with a lesson for all of us.

Among custom builders, managing the business rather than, or in addition to, building the house is a familiar lament. A lot of you learned home building the same way Gary did — from your father or at the elbow of another master craftsman. Your passion for the craft, for the possibilities, creates the one-of-a-kind homes that set you apart from "put-em-up" production builders. Yet as Gary's story shows, there is much to be learned, and earned, by employing the processes and adopting the procedures for managing complicated construction and communicating with customers.

What is different is how you might accomplish the same in your business, for your customers, in your market. For Striegler & Associates, business solutions came from an unlikely place: an alliance with a commercial contractor in town. This business partnership provides Gary with time-tested scheduling that works just as well in residential as it does in commercial. Forms that document change orders, customer approvals and sign-offs provide Striegler the tools to communicate with his home buyers in a manner that mimics what they experience in their professional business lives. He gets a team of people to answer phone calls from customers in a friendly, professional manner while he works creating homes with the one of a kind details that delight his buyers.

How can you create the balance between building homes, building a business and preserving time for family and friends? The same way Gary did — by deciding where you want to spend your time. Decide where your passion lies and then investigate options in your market to help manage the rest. If day-to-day business matters are what you want to shed, think about the suppliers you buy form, the trades you work with regularly. What role can they play to help streamline the paper exchanges and tracking between your businesses? If it's field work, look at your staff and your trades with an eye toward evaluating the talent to takeover those tasks.

Commit to make the change to make your building business as profitable as it should be and as unique as your homes.

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