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Are You a Tech Lover or a Tech Avoider? Make It Work for You
Pros share tips for getting up to speed on technology and using it to run your business better
Erin Carlyle
September 4, 2020
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes... More
While laptops and cellphones are a fact of life, design and remodeling professionals vary in how they feel about adding technology and software programs to their work. There are those who geek out over apps and gadgets as a way to better run their businesses, while others prefer to be tech minimalists.
But no matter how you feel about technology, the administrative details of running a business are unavoidable. And when used well, technology can help this part of your business run more efficiently, freeing up time for you to focus more on the design work you love.
We recently spoke with pros — both natural lovers of tech and former tech avoiders — to understand how they make technology tools work for their businesses.
But no matter how you feel about technology, the administrative details of running a business are unavoidable. And when used well, technology can help this part of your business run more efficiently, freeing up time for you to focus more on the design work you love.
We recently spoke with pros — both natural lovers of tech and former tech avoiders — to understand how they make technology tools work for their businesses.
Find a Tech Mentor to Teach You
“I’m 59. I didn’t go into it willingly or with open arms,” general contractor Linda Machmeier of Signature Homes of the Chippewa Valley in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, says of using technology in her construction business. “But as I had some support to understand what it could do for me, it’s grown to be exponentially more important to me in terms of how I find all of my data and how I communicate with people.”
Six years ago, Machmeier remarried, and her now husband has an IT background. “He has taken the time and effort to show me what [technology] can do,” she says. “That’s an amazing thing to have somebody one-on-one who says, ‘Hey, here’s what you can do with this.’ He’s generated through technology and the website more work than I can do.”
As part of her marketing technology stack, Machmeier relies heavily on Houzz. “That’s where I put my reviews,” she says. “I tell someone if I meet them, ‘Check out my projects there.’
“I’m working with a client now and I tell them to create an ideabook and start to create folders: ‘Make a kitchen portfolio, make a living room, and after you gather, edit it for me. Write notes about what you like about it.’ Pretty quickly I’ll see what they like,” she says.
Machmeier also now takes great pleasure in merging calls, something she taught herself, to efficiently solve a problem. “I love merging a call with two contractors. You’ve got a question? Let me get the plumber on. We’ve solved it, and done.”
Download our handout 10 Tips to Improve Cybersecurity
“I’m 59. I didn’t go into it willingly or with open arms,” general contractor Linda Machmeier of Signature Homes of the Chippewa Valley in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, says of using technology in her construction business. “But as I had some support to understand what it could do for me, it’s grown to be exponentially more important to me in terms of how I find all of my data and how I communicate with people.”
Six years ago, Machmeier remarried, and her now husband has an IT background. “He has taken the time and effort to show me what [technology] can do,” she says. “That’s an amazing thing to have somebody one-on-one who says, ‘Hey, here’s what you can do with this.’ He’s generated through technology and the website more work than I can do.”
As part of her marketing technology stack, Machmeier relies heavily on Houzz. “That’s where I put my reviews,” she says. “I tell someone if I meet them, ‘Check out my projects there.’
“I’m working with a client now and I tell them to create an ideabook and start to create folders: ‘Make a kitchen portfolio, make a living room, and after you gather, edit it for me. Write notes about what you like about it.’ Pretty quickly I’ll see what they like,” she says.
Machmeier also now takes great pleasure in merging calls, something she taught herself, to efficiently solve a problem. “I love merging a call with two contractors. You’ve got a question? Let me get the plumber on. We’ve solved it, and done.”
Download our handout 10 Tips to Improve Cybersecurity
Understand How Technology Has Helped Other Businesses
Of course, not everyone can be married to an IT expert. Fortunately, there are other ways to learn which technology offerings would best support your business.
Builder BJ Barone of 41 West in Naples, Florida, hired a business coach years ago who got him started with software programs. The coach “taught us that there were three things that would have the greatest impact on your business: people, processes, technology,” Barone says.
For Barone, who wasn’t a natural tech lover, the key to getting interested was realizing how new technologies have improved construction manufacturing. As an example, he cites the CNC router, a computerized router used to carve or etch images into wood products, such as cabinet doors.
“I was always the kind of guy to fall into the trap that custom-made was better than factory-made,” Barone says. “But because of technology that’s not true. Factory-made cabinetry can outperform the handmade process of cabinetmaking with consistent production and higher-quality details such as door carvings and wood panel details.”
The recognition of such innovation was “when my eyes opened” to the possibilities of software technology for his own business, Barone says. He advises fellow builders “just to be open to using technology as a tool.”
“We have a totally paperless business,” Barone says. “Unlike most builders, I’m never chasing money. I don’t have to check the bank every day, because we have systems in place.”
Barone uses project management software to keep his project teams aligned, and he has his cellphone set up to audibly ring only if the caller is in his contacts, helping him avoid spam calls. “I’m unusual for a builder in that I have a scheduling app,” he says. “My Houzz rep five years ago told me about it.”
There are many project management software programs available to help you better run your business, including Houzz Pro, designed specifically to meet the needs of design and remodeling pros.
Of course, not everyone can be married to an IT expert. Fortunately, there are other ways to learn which technology offerings would best support your business.
Builder BJ Barone of 41 West in Naples, Florida, hired a business coach years ago who got him started with software programs. The coach “taught us that there were three things that would have the greatest impact on your business: people, processes, technology,” Barone says.
For Barone, who wasn’t a natural tech lover, the key to getting interested was realizing how new technologies have improved construction manufacturing. As an example, he cites the CNC router, a computerized router used to carve or etch images into wood products, such as cabinet doors.
“I was always the kind of guy to fall into the trap that custom-made was better than factory-made,” Barone says. “But because of technology that’s not true. Factory-made cabinetry can outperform the handmade process of cabinetmaking with consistent production and higher-quality details such as door carvings and wood panel details.”
The recognition of such innovation was “when my eyes opened” to the possibilities of software technology for his own business, Barone says. He advises fellow builders “just to be open to using technology as a tool.”
“We have a totally paperless business,” Barone says. “Unlike most builders, I’m never chasing money. I don’t have to check the bank every day, because we have systems in place.”
Barone uses project management software to keep his project teams aligned, and he has his cellphone set up to audibly ring only if the caller is in his contacts, helping him avoid spam calls. “I’m unusual for a builder in that I have a scheduling app,” he says. “My Houzz rep five years ago told me about it.”
There are many project management software programs available to help you better run your business, including Houzz Pro, designed specifically to meet the needs of design and remodeling pros.
Take a Cue From Tech Lovers on the Power of Research
“I’m definitely the oldest person in my firm,” says designer Cheryl Kees Clendenon of In Detail Interiors in Pensacola, Florida. “I’m also the most technologically savvy. If the computer is not working, they come to me.”
Clendenon learns about technology through her constant reading. “I’m a huge reader and information junkie,” she says. “And a little bit of an Apple geek. I get a lot from the internet, I subscribe to a lot of different magazines.” Sometimes Clendenon also finds out about technologies through other design teams.
While she likes to try out new tools herself, Clendenon also has her teams test products. “What may be great for you, you need to make sure is great for them too,” she says.
Among the tech tools that In Detail Interiors uses are an accounting software and a project management software. “The one thing I would say is that automating your business as much as you can — doing replicates of processes and anything that would help you save time — is really important,” Clendenon says.
To that end, she believes in documentation. “We have a document for just about everything. Document 605-2 for taking out the trash,” she says. “We revamp them every year.”
“I’m definitely the oldest person in my firm,” says designer Cheryl Kees Clendenon of In Detail Interiors in Pensacola, Florida. “I’m also the most technologically savvy. If the computer is not working, they come to me.”
Clendenon learns about technology through her constant reading. “I’m a huge reader and information junkie,” she says. “And a little bit of an Apple geek. I get a lot from the internet, I subscribe to a lot of different magazines.” Sometimes Clendenon also finds out about technologies through other design teams.
While she likes to try out new tools herself, Clendenon also has her teams test products. “What may be great for you, you need to make sure is great for them too,” she says.
Among the tech tools that In Detail Interiors uses are an accounting software and a project management software. “The one thing I would say is that automating your business as much as you can — doing replicates of processes and anything that would help you save time — is really important,” Clendenon says.
To that end, she believes in documentation. “We have a document for just about everything. Document 605-2 for taking out the trash,” she says. “We revamp them every year.”
Designer Maegan Swabb of M. Swabb Decor + Style in San Diego is also a believer in technology’s ability to help her business run more efficiently. “I embrace tech as much as possible,” says Swabb, who uses multiple tech applications to streamline her work and that of her team.
One of those is the designer-focused Houzz Pro software, which Swabb uses to organize and share visual information with clients, as well as to send invoices and payment requests. “It keeps us looking good from the front end; it keeps us organized on the back end,” she says, adding that it’s great to “be able to send off invoices on a smart device and get paid.”
Swabb is the person in her firm who tends to find out about and try out new programs that might smooth processes. “I think it’s important to do research,” she says. “I’m a solution-based type of person. If something isn’t working for me,” she says, she’ll change it.
Your turn: Are you a tech lover or a tech minimalist, and has that changed over time? Please share in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
One of those is the designer-focused Houzz Pro software, which Swabb uses to organize and share visual information with clients, as well as to send invoices and payment requests. “It keeps us looking good from the front end; it keeps us organized on the back end,” she says, adding that it’s great to “be able to send off invoices on a smart device and get paid.”
Swabb is the person in her firm who tends to find out about and try out new programs that might smooth processes. “I think it’s important to do research,” she says. “I’m a solution-based type of person. If something isn’t working for me,” she says, she’ll change it.
Your turn: Are you a tech lover or a tech minimalist, and has that changed over time? Please share in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
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