Pros Share the Time-Saving Practices They Rely On
Want to be more efficient with your time? Pros reveal the indispensable methods and tools they turn to again and again
Time is money when you’re running your own business, so it pays to find ways to do more in less time (without cutting corners, of course). If you’re looking for ideas on how to go about it, you’ve come to the right place. Here, six design and remodeling professionals on Houzz share the time-saving practices and tools they swear by.
“As a design-build firm, we have everything in-house, from design and project management to construction and completion,” Kling says. “Houzz gets our foot in the door with many leads so we can explain our process and, hopefully, impress potential clients and then land projects.”
Strategic Scheduling
For Clark Harris, owner of Innovative Design Build in Atlanta, the key to daily efficiency is being intentional with his time.
“I am very protective of my time — all you have in life is time and I want to make the most of it,” he says. “If you are not intentional about how you spend your days, weeks, months and years, then someone else will control your fate. If, for example, you open up your email and work out of that, then everyone emailing you is controlling your day.”
For Clark Harris, owner of Innovative Design Build in Atlanta, the key to daily efficiency is being intentional with his time.
“I am very protective of my time — all you have in life is time and I want to make the most of it,” he says. “If you are not intentional about how you spend your days, weeks, months and years, then someone else will control your fate. If, for example, you open up your email and work out of that, then everyone emailing you is controlling your day.”
“I block out time in my calendar for the essentials before day-to-day events happen,” Harris says.
“I’ll block out journaling time in the morning, schedule time for sales calls so that I’m ready when a good lead comes in, and block out Wednesday mornings to catch up on design agreements and other paperwork,” he says. “I make sure not to book in any appointments during these important periods.”
“I’ll block out journaling time in the morning, schedule time for sales calls so that I’m ready when a good lead comes in, and block out Wednesday mornings to catch up on design agreements and other paperwork,” he says. “I make sure not to book in any appointments during these important periods.”
“Blocking out time in my calendar allows me to focus on the important things and live intentionally,” Harris says. “It puts me on autopilot to work toward my goals.”
He also leans on Houzz to fast-track the design-discovery process. “We use Houzz with all our clients before the first design meeting,” Harris says. “We ask clients to share their Houzz ideabooks so we can get a feel for their style. This allows us to home in on what they love and design their project around it.”
He also leans on Houzz to fast-track the design-discovery process. “We use Houzz with all our clients before the first design meeting,” Harris says. “We ask clients to share their Houzz ideabooks so we can get a feel for their style. This allows us to home in on what they love and design their project around it.”
Time-Saving Templates
“Using templates is one of the best time-saving techniques I’ve used in my various businesses over the years,” says contractor Travis Logan of Handyman Rescue Team in Seattle.
“I first started using templates, or scripts, in my early sales career after college,” he says. “By using proven sales scripts and rebuttals, I could quickly and easily replicate the success of those who came before me, since they were fine-tuned and honed over the years through actual customer interactions.
“Now, having templates ready to go eliminates the need to type out individual responses, since we have established wording and scripts for new-customer replies, existing-customer follow-ups and post-project review requests,” Logan says.
“This frees up time to spend on other critical administrative, operational or managerial tasks.”
“Using templates is one of the best time-saving techniques I’ve used in my various businesses over the years,” says contractor Travis Logan of Handyman Rescue Team in Seattle.
“I first started using templates, or scripts, in my early sales career after college,” he says. “By using proven sales scripts and rebuttals, I could quickly and easily replicate the success of those who came before me, since they were fine-tuned and honed over the years through actual customer interactions.
“Now, having templates ready to go eliminates the need to type out individual responses, since we have established wording and scripts for new-customer replies, existing-customer follow-ups and post-project review requests,” Logan says.
“This frees up time to spend on other critical administrative, operational or managerial tasks.”
Logan and his team also use the templates feature on Houzz Pro to save time on their financials.
“We use the Houzz Pro templates feature in the estimates, invoices and purchase order tools with our customers, vendors and subcontractor partners,” he says. “It helps us be more time-efficient by allowing us to select from several predesigned estimate templates that we then create and use for the various types of services we offer clients. We also use it to create multiple ‘terms and conditions’ templates, which we will then select from and send out based on the individual project requirements.
“In addition, it allows us to select from different messaging options, which we then include in the body of the email we send out to customers with our completed estimates — another time-saver,” Logan says.
“We use the Houzz Pro templates feature in the estimates, invoices and purchase order tools with our customers, vendors and subcontractor partners,” he says. “It helps us be more time-efficient by allowing us to select from several predesigned estimate templates that we then create and use for the various types of services we offer clients. We also use it to create multiple ‘terms and conditions’ templates, which we will then select from and send out based on the individual project requirements.
“In addition, it allows us to select from different messaging options, which we then include in the body of the email we send out to customers with our completed estimates — another time-saver,” Logan says.
Hope Pinc, interior designer and founder of Hope Pinc Design in Denver, is another fan of templates. “I have templates and general notes set up in my drafting software for construction-document sets,” she says. “I can have up to three projects starting at one time, so having templates ready to go is a lifesaver.”
They’re a tool Pinc relies on every day in her business. “Since I am a one-woman show, they allow me to take on more work because I’m more efficient with my time,” she says.
They’re a tool Pinc relies on every day in her business. “Since I am a one-woman show, they allow me to take on more work because I’m more efficient with my time,” she says.
Pinc also uses Houzz Pro tools to cut down on time-consuming admin. “I use Houzz Pro for all my invoicing and to create purchase spreadsheets for my clients,” she says.
“And that Houzz Pro Clipper tool is a gem of a time-saver when I’m saving images from websites and creating furniture invoices.”
“And that Houzz Pro Clipper tool is a gem of a time-saver when I’m saving images from websites and creating furniture invoices.”
Precision Planning
“One time-efficient technique we use for home remodeling is to plan and organize projects meticulously before starting any physical work,” says Even Ezra, owner of OC Builders Group in Santa Ana, California. “We do this by creating a detailed timeline outlining tasks and deadlines, prioritizing essential steps and grouping similar tasks together.
“This helps streamline the remodeling process and saves valuable time,” Ezra says. “With proper planning and strategic decision-making, the homeowner can achieve their desired renovation goals while maximizing time savings in the process.”
“One time-efficient technique we use for home remodeling is to plan and organize projects meticulously before starting any physical work,” says Even Ezra, owner of OC Builders Group in Santa Ana, California. “We do this by creating a detailed timeline outlining tasks and deadlines, prioritizing essential steps and grouping similar tasks together.
“This helps streamline the remodeling process and saves valuable time,” Ezra says. “With proper planning and strategic decision-making, the homeowner can achieve their desired renovation goals while maximizing time savings in the process.”
“This approach has been especially useful recently as our list of running projects is growing and project inquiries are increasing,” Ezra says.
How did Ezra develop his strategy? “Through trial and error, and by thinking deeply about how we could improve our project processes,” he says.
With the Houzz Pro Schedule tool, you can build and update your project’s timeline and share it with anyone involved. You can use it to assign items or tasks to teammates, subcontractors and clients as well.
How did Ezra develop his strategy? “Through trial and error, and by thinking deeply about how we could improve our project processes,” he says.
With the Houzz Pro Schedule tool, you can build and update your project’s timeline and share it with anyone involved. You can use it to assign items or tasks to teammates, subcontractors and clients as well.
Easy Access for All
Renee Webley, principal architect and interior designer at RAW Architecture + Design in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, streamlines her working day by creating a shareable online folder for all the key documentation relating to a client’s project, including drawings and large files, giving the client access whenever and wherever they want it.
Sharing all the essentials with clients is something you can easily do on Houzz Pro with the Client Dashboard tool. With it, you can add important files and share daily logs, timelines and project photos so your clients can find everything they’re looking for in one convenient location. You can also send messages on the app, allowing you to get answers to questions fast.
Renee Webley, principal architect and interior designer at RAW Architecture + Design in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, streamlines her working day by creating a shareable online folder for all the key documentation relating to a client’s project, including drawings and large files, giving the client access whenever and wherever they want it.
Sharing all the essentials with clients is something you can easily do on Houzz Pro with the Client Dashboard tool. With it, you can add important files and share daily logs, timelines and project photos so your clients can find everything they’re looking for in one convenient location. You can also send messages on the app, allowing you to get answers to questions fast.
Creating their own drawing templates has been another time-saving solution for Webley and her team. “Having these templates helps expedite drawings when we have several phases to complete for one project but they might be filed under separate permits,” she says. “It allows for easy duplicity of projects and is a huge time-saver.”
For those who might be inspired to follow Webley’s lead with drawing templates, she has this advice: “It’s important to constantly update and fine-tune your template as key notes and details are added throughout a project.”
For those who might be inspired to follow Webley’s lead with drawing templates, she has this advice: “It’s important to constantly update and fine-tune your template as key notes and details are added throughout a project.”
Houzz Pro software, which Webley and her team use for all their interior design projects, boosts efficiency as well. “It saves us time by allowing us to quickly add products and information to a client’s room board,” she says.
“We can then create mood boards on Houzz Pro for different rooms relatively easily,” Webley says. “Previously, we had to create presentation slides as our mood boards, which was an extremely tedious process. Houzz Pro has been a huge time-saver and looks very professional.”
“We can then create mood boards on Houzz Pro for different rooms relatively easily,” Webley says. “Previously, we had to create presentation slides as our mood boards, which was an extremely tedious process. Houzz Pro has been a huge time-saver and looks very professional.”
Tell us: What’s the one time-saving hack you rely on in your business? Please share in the Comments.
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Kling Brothers Builders in Newtown, Connecticut, has been using Houzz’s lead-generation program for several years now, and it brings in around 40% of the company’s leads.
To enhance efficiency, President and CEO Keith J Kling has put a streamlined response system in place. “When we receive a lead from Houzz, I immediately reply ‘Interested’ and then send [the potential client] a customized pre-written response through Houzz, either from my phone or computer,” he says. “I’ll then follow up with a personal call.
“This saves us time and helps us certify the lead before going to contract and landing the project.”