I have always referred to my remodeling business as “details without parameters.” The little details never seem to end. Sometimes you can lose the whole battle for a screw or a nail.
Let’s face it. Building residential remodeling projects is a complicated and complex business. I would go so far as to say that we are in one of the most difficult businesses there is. Would any of you disagree?
One of the things that work study experts have learned over decades of observation is that complex tasks should not be trusted to memory. The best example known to most of us is the flying of an airplane.
Airplanes are complicated machines that require a systematic approach to their operation. The pilots of these aircraft have complex tasks to perform on a regular basis. You would think that they would know them by heart. In general, they do; but the people who have designed these complex systems know that one little lapse of memory, or a distraction perhaps, can cause the pilot to not follow the proper sequence of procedures; which can result in a disaster.
Therefore, there are checklists for pre-flight, checklists for takeoff, checklists for this type of situation and that type of situation; and another checklist for landing. Do the pilots follow these checklists? You better believe that they do!
Why am I saying this? We too are in a complicated business with increasingly complex procedures for satisfying things like moisture control on a structure and/or energy conservation on a project with all the inspections that come with them. Let’s not even mention the handling of sometimes over emotional, nervous customers.
Do not “fly by the seat of your pants.” Write out a separate checklist for each important, complex job so that there is one way, the right way to handle a particular procedure; and to ensure that it is done that way every time. Print these checklists out in multiple copies and put them in books to have with you and each of your key personnel.
Again, we cover this in more detail in our newsletter.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Good advice. And it applies to any process that has steps. Writing blogs and providing for our clients is much the same. To ensure consistency we use a list, much like you talk about, to make sure each client receives the same level of service. Enjoyed your article.
Joe Killian with InsideOutAdditions.com
I want to thank the blogger very much not only for this post but also for his all previous efforts. I found homeremodelingadvice.com to be very interesting. I will be coming back to homeremodelingadvice.com for more information.
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Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!