Contracting Simplified

My Last Episode

This is going to be my last episode here. I’ve got a lot of irons in the fire, and after giving it a lot of thought, I’ve decided, that unfortunately, this podcast is one thing that is going to have to go. At least for the time being. 

How To Prepare For A Happy New Year

How To Prepare For A Happy New Year - My Favorite New Year Planning Framework - Preparing for another year is imperative for an entrepreneur. And in order to do that. I’ve found it necessary to do two things: 1) Reflect on the past year, and 2) Plan for the next year. The cool thing about this, is that you can do this in July, and it still works! Let me show you the exact process I use to reflect on the past year, and plan for the year to come.

If You Are Stuck In Traffic Keep Moving Forward

New Episode!!! In this episode Martin Holsinger tells about a recent experience stuck in traffic trying to get over the mountain pass, and how it inspires him to keep pressing on through the trials.  

How To Use Change Orders The Right Way

Merry Christmas everyone!!! In this episode learn some tips and tricks around how to use change orders effectively. Special Guests:  Brad Leavitt from @aft_construction Jackson Andrews from @jacksonandrewsbuilding … “Use change orders as a way to improve the home or project.” … “Use apps like Docusign to quickly keep a paper trail.” … “The more transparent you are the better off the whole process will be…” … “Any change in a project should be documented.” … “A free ...

How We Build Trust And Qualify Leads With Our Website - Brian Kashas

How We Build Trust And Qualify Leads With Our Website - Brian Kashas

3 Contractors Share Their Expertise At IBS Builder's Show

This is a live recording, never before published on this podcast, where Martin Holsinger interviews 3 Contractors Live at the Builder's Show. In this episode is a roundtable discussion with Morgan Molitor from @construction2style Brady Johanson from @bradycoltcustomhomes Chris Quinn from @cmq_qdchb

Instagram For Contractors With Corey Walker

In this episode, listen to Corey Walker who has co-authored two Instagram Marketing books. She is a powerhouse of knowledge when it comes to Instagram marketing. This episode is stock full of insight and tips for contractors to use on Instagram. 

Happy Thanksgiving - And My Wife's Heart Surgery - Martin Holsinger

In this episode Martin Holsinger wishes you all a Happy Thanksgiving and tells about his experience of sitting in the hospital parking lot, in his truck, and waiting while his wife has heart surgery.   

Would You Do Business With You? - Martin Holsinger

Inspired by a football hall of fame speech given by Jerome Bettis, this episode is all about the immense value of your name and reputation. Would you do business with you if you Googled your name and saw the reviews?

Toby Cornell - Bid and Build Every Home As If It Were Your Own

Guest: Toby Cornell from @cornellcustomconstruction  ... In this episode Toby shares stories and tips from his experience in growing his luxury custom home building firm. Here’s a sampling of what’s inside this episode. ... “You’re only as good as your last job.” … “Want to build a good brand? These are some of the key components you must have: -Honesty. -Integrity. -Communication. -Follow Through.” … “Bid and build every home as if it were your own.” … “The key to...

Rosario Mannino - Architect Led Design Build Firm

Guest: Rosario Mannino from @rsmannino ... In this episode Rosario shares stories and tips from his experience in growing his architect led design build  firm. Here’s a sampling of what’s inside this episode. ... “If you want to be an architect, get a job as a framer first.” … “Use social media to get your voice out there. Share these these things on social: -Who we are. -What we do. -Why we do it.” … “Everything comes down to relationships.” … “Read. Read a lot. I a...

A New Mindset To Attract Your Dream Clients - Martin Holsinger

Martin Holsinger host of The Contracting Simplifed podcast.... ...Shares a lesson from the Dream Client Master Course all about having the right mindset.   

Ollie Ledbetter

Guest: Ollie Ledbetter from @littletileguy ... In this episode Ollie shares stories and tips from his experience in growing his custom tile business. Here’s a sampling of what’s inside this episode. ... “Try to choose a name no one else could use. A clever twist to the name will help it stick.” … “Pay your dues to those who offered to help you get in the trade.” … “I schedule 3 weeks of work per month. It’s a mistake to schedule 4 weeks, or 30 days of planned work - that leav...

Rex Snyder from CarpentryPlus

Guest: Rex Snyder from @carpentryplus ... In this episode Rex shares stories and tips from his experience in growing his carpentry/remodeling business.  Here’s a sampling of what’s inside this episode. ... “Most leads come through our website and social media. … “Steer everything through your website.” … “You only get one life here on this earth, so make the most of it.” … “Know your worth.” … “You gotta make a living, but you gotta live as well.” … “Building a bra...

Andy Mac

Guest: Andy Mac from @gosforthhandyman ... In this episode Andy shares all about his story of growing his handyman business and successful Youtube channel. ... “Always have an exit plan.” … “Don’t bite off more than you can chew.” … “Make videos about what you enjoy. It’s much more authentic that way.” … There are various ways to make money on Youtube: Adsense program Membership platform Affiliate links to products … “Having a website is #1. You have 100% control ...

The One Thing You Must Wear If You Really Want To Build Your Brand In A Good Way

Host: Martin Holsinger from @contractingsimplified and @martinholsinger ... In this episode Martin shares all about the one thing you must wear if you are trying to build a real and well-known brand.  ... It’s all about customer service. And this episode dives into ONE principle that will help you develop better customer service. … Listen to the episode and share it with others. I know that you will be blessed! ... You can get this episode by clicking the link in our profile ...

Ed Earl

Guest: Ed Earl from @the_zen_builder ... In this episode Ed shares stories and tips from his experience in advising luxury home builders through the entire construction process. His passion is helping builders to ease the stress and find peace of mind. He also is heavily involved in helping contractors recruit great help. Which during these times is hugely needed! Here is a portion of what’s inside: ... “There are 3 things you must understand to eliminate stress during construction: ...

Chris Loughney

Guest: Chris Loughney from @fitch_hill ... In this episode Chris shares stories and tips from his experience in growing an award-winning building firm.  Here’s a sampling of what’s inside this episode. ... “Do the right thing.” ... “Stick to what you are good at.“ ... “Have a “fit meeting” before you ever start a contract to make sure you and your client are a good fit.“ ... “If you want to build a brand start by being your authentic self.” ... “The work you do doesn’...

Dan Arket

Guest: Dan Arket from Tekra Builders ... In this episode Dan drops some golden nuggets I’m sure you will find very helpful and valuable for your own business. Here’s a sampling of what’s inside this episode. ... “Be someone you would want to hire.” ... “To build a brand help everyone in the company to have the same goal.“ ... “Be a sponge. Absorb as much information as you can.“ ... “Create a winning team where everyone truly believes your company is the best.” ... “D...

The Two Levels Of Trust and How It Relates To Your Dream Client

New Episode!!! Host: Martin Holsinger from @contractingsimplified and @martinholsinger ... In this episode Martin shares all about the two levels of trust every human has and how it relates to landing a job with your dream client. Here’s a few snippets from inside the episode: ... “Every human being has two levels of trust.” ... “People want to trust you, but they also don’t.“ ... “We don’t want to trust people because we don’t want to get hurt.“ ... “We’ve learned how ...

Andrew Patterson

Andrew Patterson from @PattersonCustomHomes ... In this episode Andrew shares stories and tips from his experience in growing an award-winning building firm. Here’s a sampling of what’s inside this episode: ... “There’s a new standard in this industry.” ... “Control what you can control.“ ... “Always hire and surround yourself with people smarter than yourself.“ ... “Create a winning team where everyone truly believes your company is the best.” ... “Understand that mo...

Davie Santos

Guest: Davie Santos from @daviemactile ... In this episode Davie shares from his experience some of his knowledge which I’m sure you will find very helpful and valuable for your own business. Here’s a sampling of what’s inside this episode: ... “Focus on making the customer happy!” ... “Having your own website is very important.“ ... “The results are what keep me going.“ ... “Be consistent. Be stubborn. Results take time.” ... “Do good work. Have people talk. Make an ...

Austin Werrmann

Austin Vance Carpentry and @Tools_at_work 

Doug Cameron

ANNOUNCEMENT! This Podcast Is Back!!!

How To Earn Extra Money From Home As A Contractor

3 Ways that a contractor can earn some extra cash from home using the knowledge and experience he already has.

10 Tips For Contractors Stuck In Quarantine

I've been thinking a lot about all that we've been going through the past few weeks. And I've been thinking a lot about the contracting industry. So I recorded 10 Tips to help you as a contractor make the most of this time, if you feel stuck in quarantine. I hope this message helps! Please share!

Peter Akguc

Peter Akguc started his career as trader on wall street after pursuing a degree in finance. But the stress of the job lead to an unhealthily lifestyle. He transitioned into real estate and construction as the economy was rebounding from the financial crisis. The skills he gained on wall street helped him take great calculated risk in real estate investing. He said that once he started doing building projects on the side, he was much happier out there on the job site than he was managing pr...

Adam McKinnon

Adam McKinnon from Utah is a stair builder who’s seen every kind of staircase there is. After a shortage of work, he started working as a subcontractor to grow his business. He found a small niche and networked with other contractors to grow and his business. You will be inspired by this episode!

Justin MacDonald

In this episode, Justin MacDonald, an electrical contractor from Nova Scotia talks how to price jobs, and the importance of properly estimating jobs. Also, he discusses scheduling when it comes to project management and staying small to maximize efficiency. 

Brady Johanson

In this episode you will hear the story of Brady Johanson and how he built his award winning custom home business. @bradycoltcustomhomes

How To Find Your Unique Voice And Market Yourself In The Local Community

Kayle Sickler joins us from Settlement Post and Beam which specializes in building solid post frame structures. Sickler, shares how he develop a sales and marketing acumen while working at his family’s business. He learned more about the craft from his dad and is now helping grow their company through online marketing, pay-per-click advertising and branding. This episode has lots of great marketing tips inside!

Have A Passion To Educate Yourself And Continually Improve Your Business

Early on Dan Devol went to work for Appalachian Forest Products. Then he went to work for a finish carpenter. At 21 he bought and rebuilt a house and then sold it. He made $40K  on it. Then after that he bought a lot and built his first house from scratch. This was just the beginning of a fulfilling career building high-end custom homes!

Stick To Your Values And Get The Job Done Right

Drawing early influence from both his grandfather and father, Sam Pabich would incorporate the family’s commercial construction company Pabich Homes in 2016. Sam credits his Dad for helping jump start their company and fine tune their business using his background and over 4 decades experience in the construction industry. In this episode Sam shares practical advice and tips that help him to successfully operate and market their business day in and day out.

Just Find Out What People Want And Give It To Them

Connor Crook is the owner of Diamondback Toolbelts. After spending 30 years practicing law, Crook purchased Diamondback Toolbelts after leaving his corporate job. He would go on to turn the company around and transform it into a profitable business.

How To Quit Your Job And Go On Your Own Successfully

In this episode Michael Kaestner shares entrepreneurial wisdom and practical advice that highlights the importance of getting started early, networking, and coming out strong with a well-defined business plan.

Be Yourself – How Being Vulnerable and Transparent Leads to Deeper Connections and Builds Better Relationships

The best advice given to Spencer came from his wife. It was leading up to him giving a talk at conference, and he was struggling knowing what to say, since he felt like his business had failed in the national recession. He was concerned about having people judge him for his story. But his wife encouraged him, and said, “Be Yourself.” She told him to just go out there and be himself. To be vulnerable and tell the truth. So he did. And that advice has stuck with him over and over and over aga...

How To Create A Signature Look And Differentiate Your Brand

Today on the show, Mark King of Infinite Decks shares his advice for finding and hiring employees, giving raises, filtering client inquiries, and creating an effective call forwarding system. He also shares the importance of customer reviews and how to acquire them.

If You Are Getting Every Job You Bid You Are Charging Too Little

Jon Beer, a professional artist turned contractor, shares tips and incites for building and running a successful contracting business. Unlike most contractors, Jon never went to school or had close family members to teach him the trade. In this episode, he shares his non-traditional journey to starting his Jon Beer Contracting. 

Building Is A Business Of Relationships

Gabrielle Bieber co-founded Madison Builders around the belief that “homes are not just a container for your life, but rather an extension and an expression of oneself.” In this episode, Gabrielle shares how she and her husband started and grew their contracting business and why they made the decision to focus on building custom homes.    contractor podcast, construction podcast, builder podcast, remodeler podcast, architecture podcast

How To Design Homes With Timeless Architecture

Tony Frazier is a home designer with a passion for timeless architecture.But what is timeless architecture. That is a question that we asked Tony, and then spent quite a bit of time discussing. PLUS many more tips and insights concerning entrepreneurship and running a good business.

How To Get Subs and General Contractors To Work Well Together

Adam Wilson the founder of Icon Tile in California dropped out of high school and started working as a tile apprentice. Working closely with his boss, and also a part-time job at Whole Foods Market, he’d come to learn and develop business skills that can be attributed to running and growing his own successful tile company. Listen all the way through and BE INSPIRED!!!

Get Control Of Your Numbers And Your Business Will Improve

Stacy Eakman is the founder of Eakman Construction Company in Seattle which specializes in large scale remodels and custom homes. In this episode, Stacy tells his story, gives insight into how he runs his business, and speaks on the importance of “percent complete” accounting to get control of your numbers.

Building Relationships Is The Key To a Strong Business

Growing up, Christopher Quinn could be found working with his grandparents on various home renovations. He is now the managing partner at Apex Projects in Connecticut with his friend Brian Hyla. In this episode, he talks work life balance, the importance of networking, and shares various marketing tactics he’s currently using to grow his business. 

How To Build A Company Bigger Than Yourself

Jeff Pell has been in construction all of his life. After college, he’d move back home and start working his Uncle on various job sites. His passion for creating high-end luxury homes would prompt him to start Sky House Company in North Carolina. In this episode, he explains the importance of increasing exposure on multiple platforms so you can “say 'no' more than you say 'yes.'” And how to setup systems to help you streamline your vision and business. 

How To Calculate Your Daily Rate

Luke Miller from Miller Tile and Stone is a Tile Contractor and the Founder and Host of the Tile Money podcast. With encouragement from his wife, he was able to build up the confidence to start his own company. He explains how he used grass roots marketing tactics and great customer service to successfully grow his tile contracting business. Also, he shares how he arrives at the numbers he needs to charge for his daily rate to remain profitable. 

How To Setup Your Business And Structure It To Scale

Mike Grainger from Tink Construction Services in New Jersey specializes in bringing homes back to life. As a child, seeing his father grow and scale his contracting business would give him the inspiration to establish his own contracting business in 2009. In this episode, he shares advice on how to properly setup and structure a contracting business to scale.

Find Your Voice And Never Give Up

After losing his job, Donnie Galli from Designs By Donnie found his passion as local furniture builder. In this episode, he shares the many trials and tribulations that have helped him build a profitable furniture design business.  

The Best Cure For Anxiety Is ACTION!

After leaving his job, Tyler Farrell started a custom home building business following the success of his first spec home. He attributes his success to staying focused on what he’s good at and hiring great talent to support him in areas that he is weak in.  

Everything You Do - Do It With Integrity

In this episode Eddie Leverett chronicles an impactful story that inspired him to create his business One Eleven LTD, which specializes in building universal homes for people with special needs.