How do you choose a project management solution?

There is no question—choosing to switch your business from a pencil and paper, Microsoft Office, or other archaic combinations of software/hardware/overflowing files to one streamlined project management system is overwhelming.

The choices are many—one program does this, this one does that, the other one integrates with this, but this one has free support. Every website is filled with superlatives: fastest, greatest, best. But with so many project management programs out there (all claiming to be the best) how do you choose the solution which is a good fit for your remodeling or construction business?

Constructech, the tech magazine for the construction industry, gives a few good ideas for choosing the right project management system (which we have elaborated on). They recommend:


1. Identify the purpose for putting the system in place.
Essentially, why do you need it and what are you going to do with it? What areas of your business do you struggle with? Leads and marketing? Tracking and managing project schedules? Client communications? Bidding and Estimating? Every program on the market will approach these (and other) issues differently. The key is to list what you really need before you decide which programs to consider.

2. Generate a list of targeted products and establish key benefits.
Remember the list you created? Apply that list to the various software solutions on the market. How many meet your criteria? How many meet your criteria and are cost effective for your business? Ignore things like bells and whistles, fancy websites, and appealing incentives. The only programs which should go on your list are those that offer the functionality that you deem essential to running a profitable business.

3) Make a selection based on research, testing, and evaluations.
Once you have narrowed down your list to project management solutions which meet your criteria, start investigating your options. Check out websites. Take demos. Talk to sales reps. At this point—the product offering is probably pretty similar. Service and price may be the only things which separate one software company from the next. Look for service benefits like phone support, free webinars, free trials, and money back guarantees. Look for a pricing structure which is affordable, that avoids limits on the number of jobs per month, that doesn’t demand huge set-up fees.

A Picture is Worth One Thousand Dollars

We have all heard the saying “A picture is worth 1,000 words" but for a home remodeler or contractor, a picture might be worth a $1,000 or more.

Humans are visual creatures that like to see and touch before they buy, and for a home remodeler who provides building services, it can be difficult to provide new clients with a concrete reason to choose your company over the guy down the street. But one really good way to show potential clients the quality of your work is through photographs.

A few weeks ago we talked in depth about reasons why it was important to have a website and an online portfolio of your project photos. But what we didn’t do was show you how great RemodelerPro’s website portfolio viewer really looked.

Imagine portfolio photos like this on your website. You could include before and after photos, a gallery of completed kitchens, bathrooms, or additions.

When you complete a home remodel for a client, you have not only performed a service for them but created a tangible product that can be seen and touched. With RemodelerPro's easy to use website and online portfolio viewer, you can show off your craftsmanship and construction skills to potential clients before you even meet them.