One of the things I liked about being a remodeler was that it was so easy to set myself apart from other remodelers—all I had to do was return a phone call to be head-and-shoulders above the rest. If I coupled that with being on-time to an appointment AND wiping my feet before entering the house, I practically had the job sewn up.

One of the things I didn’t like about being a remodeler weas being painted with the same broad brush as the bad builders and remodelers. As a result, I spent a lot of time battling ‘dumb pricing’ and ‘dumber workmanship’ while pursuing smart building practices.

The good news is that with such a low bar, it’s pretty easy to set yourself apart from the pack. But why be satisfied with positioning yourself away from the worst, and among the ‘good’? Why not position yourself as among the best? That’s what this month’s dowloadable white paper (Stand Out From the Pack—Position Yourself as an Expert Eco-Builder by Michael Strong and Dina Lima is about. To download the paper, go to http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/content/stand-out-pack-how-position-yourself-expert-eco-builder

Green building is one way to deliver the next step in quality—because it comes with built-in advantages (like comfort and low utility bills) and quality assurances (in the form of green ratings). Most of these steps focus on what the best builders do anyway: communicate, differentiate, and manage projects in an organized manner. When you add best business practices to best building practices, you position yourself as the best.

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

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Not So Big House

This book earned author Sarah Susanka a reputation as a small house guru, yet, that wasn’t exactly her goal. This book isn’t about building a small house, it’s about building a smart house, one that matches how we live, and prioritizing beauty and comfort over size.

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Code Check 10th Edition: An Illustrated Guide to Building a Safe House

It would be great if this book didn’t need to exist, but it's definitely a must-have. It's a one-size-fits-all code book that's easy to understand and will help you sail through your inspections.

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All New Bathroom Ideas that Work

Everyone wants their bathrooms to be beautiful, but few know the challenge of arranging all the fixtures, storage, and convenience of a great bathroom into one of the smallest space in our homes. This book has hundreds of ideas to inspire you.

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