Between 2003 and 2008, it is impossible to know exactly how many homes were built or renovated using inferior Chinese drywall. Homeowners have complained, but many assumed these complaints were isolated incidents. These inferior products have caused compromised IAQ and have corroded metal structures in the homes, including the HVAC systems.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s true. The
best effort of an uneducated contractor is less than acceptable. This thought
came to me a few weekends ago as I watched a home improvement contractor
unearth inches and inches of moldy, standing water from underneath a newly
installed shower.
The economy is not the only reason that business as usual is not bringing owners the success it once did. “It’s not just the economy, there has been a paradigm shift in the market,” explained Jim Abrams, president of Retail Services and CEO of Clockwork Home Services Inc., as he kicked off the inaugural Focus on Your Future (FOYF) event.
Huffing isn’t a new idea. Getting high off
inhalants found in everything from spray paint to permanent markers has been a
pop culture norm for quite some time. A recent resurgence of this topic in the
news isn’t really surprising either.
Everyone is born, everyone dies, and everyone pays taxes. These are three known facts. But during tax season, the known facts are not what endanger a contractor and his business. It is the unknown facts that can cause financial peril and often a financial loss.
Now that spring has begun, it is time to declare a winner in the first annual Anti-Freeze Challenge. This challenge asked entrants to find a way to save money, reduce energy, and maintain comfort in the average home.
Charged with watching trends, meeting high standards, and preparing the industry to understand, install, and repair diverse equipment, HVACR manufacturers continued to meet the challenges set before them last year and are fixing vigilant eyes on the future of their equipment and customers.
Last year proved to be tumultuous, but with the first quarter of 2010 almost in the history books, HVACR distributors are continuing to evolve their business strategies and adjust to the new business terrain. Political uncertainty, customer relations, business practices, and changing trends all present challenges and opportunities.
The economy has spoken, and business will be different from here on out. Having reshaped the marketplace, it appears the financial fallout could be at an end. HVACR contractors are beginning to move beyond a 2009 survival stance and position themselves for the predicted recovery in 2010, leading them to take new approaches to the HVACR industry.
Not every piece of technology launched is designed specifically for the HVACR contractor, but It is time to move forward, change your way of thinking, and try some creative small-scale technology adoption.
