Why Free Estimates Hurt You

Download your free Vision & Scaling Plan here modern-craftsman.kit.com/vision-worksheet Tyler uses the challenges of building his own house to confront a problem a lot of residential builders eventually create for themselves: becoming the person every decision has to run through. After realizing he had treated his personal build differently than a client project, Tyler breaks down why accountability only works when roles, expectations, authority, processes, and communication are clearly defined. If everything stops when you leave the job, the problem might not be your team—it might be the system you gave them to work within Join the Modern Craftsman Community 👉🏻 https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/8ddec2da05 Partners: Andersen Windows The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts: Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Download your free Vision & Scaling Plan here modern-craftsman.kit.com/vision-worksheet Nick and Tyler catch up with Colby Blauvelt four years after he began transforming his family's production plastering company into a highly specialized, craft-driven business. The work has changed, the team has grown to 15 people, and now the challenge is figuring out how to protect the standard that built the brand while creating a business that can actually scale profitably. They get into pricing complex work, saying no to the wrong projects, tracking labor, building better field systems, choosing the right level of finish, and the uncomfortable reality that craftsmen can sometimes care more about perfection than the client is willing to pay for. Colby Blauvelt https://www.instagram.com/trowelincplastering/?hl=en Join the Modern Craftsman Community 👉🏻 https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/8ddec2da05 Partners: Andersen Windows The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts: Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Download your free Vision & Scaling Plan here modern-craftsman.kit.com/vision-worksheet Nick and Tyler sit down with Grant Bowen of Peak Projects to unpack what an owner's rep actually does and what builders can learn from projects where the stakes, budgets, and client expectations are exceptionally high. Grant explains how to manage complex residential projects from due diligence through construction, how high-net-worth clients evaluate builders, why concise communication and transparent financial reporting matter so much, and how trust is built long before construction begins. The conversation makes one thing clear: on high-end projects, great work is expected—the differentiator is how well you manage the entire experience. Grant Bowen https://www.peakprojects.com/ Join the Modern Craftsman Community 👉🏻 https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/8ddec2da05 Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts: Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Download your free Vision & Scaling Plan here modern-craftsman.kit.com/vision-worksheet Nick and Tyler sit down with Gary Katz to talk about American Mantelpieces, a project that began nearly three decades ago and became something much bigger than a book about fireplaces. Gary reflects on craftsmanship, architectural proportion, rejection, persistence, and how years of studying the work helped him understand not just what looks right, but why it looks right. The conversation expands into how a craftsperson's perspective changes with experience, why finishing imperfect work can be more valuable than chasing perfection, and how understanding the history behind what we build can completely change the way we see our own work. Gary Katz https://garymkatz.com/new-book Join the Modern Craftsman Community 👉🏻 https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/8ddec2da05 Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts: Nick Schiffer Tyler Grace Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Download your free Vision & Scaling Plan here modern-craftsman.kit.com/vision-worksheet Nick and Tyler sit down with Jeff Sweenor to talk about what it actually takes to keep framing, finish carpentry, cabinetry, masonry, and other trades in-house. Jeff breaks down the constant balance between quality, productivity, overhead, scheduling, hiring, and knowing when a specialized subcontractor can simply do the work more efficiently. The conversation also gets into how Sweenor Builders tracks each division, develops skilled craftspeople, and decides which capabilities are worth continuing to own. Join the Modern Craftsman Community 👉🏻 https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/b41e44fc86 Sign up for the newsletter: https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/1cc009f591 Video Notes: Self-Performing vs Subcontracting (3:30) Managing Labor Productivity (7:23) Competitive Advantages in Framing (13:12) Logistics of Custom Builds (27:36) Hiring and Market Positioning (33:40) Partners: Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear