The Contractor's Edge

Best Contractor Advice of 2026: More Profit, Fewer Mistakes

If you want more profit in 2026, stop treating "more leads" like the only answer. In Episode 24, Mike and Anthony recap the best contractor advice so far this year, pulled from our Q1 conversations and the patterns we keep seeing across home services. Costs are still weird, competition is real, and trust is harder to earn. But the market is expanding in a lot of regions, which means the opportunity is there if your systems are tight. This episode is about making more money while making fewer mistakes that cost you revenue: * Why "sales is for the show, production is for the dough" is not a quote, it's mindset. * How small efficiency gains change your bottom line fast (and why most contractors ignore them) * Taking the right approach with crawlspace jobs that will keep you clients long term * Where homeowner trust usually fails, and how to fix it when competing for jobs * How to stop buying leads while leaving referrals and repeat business sitting in your CRM * A simple follow-through system that turns past customers into your next booked job Get The Contractor Growth Playbook: ($99) Know the exact KPIs succesful contractors track. Identify your bottlenecks. Access our contractor growth plans built for each revenue level. Stop wasting money, and start growing your business: https://yourcontractorsedge.com/growth-playbook [https://yourcontractorsedge.com/growth-playbook] Connect With The Contractors' Edge Hosts: Mike Stiers: / michaelstiers [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqblExTmR6T0lUX240SXgzMDdaUDNBZVpySE9GZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttSTNMbWFBQVM0TXlEeEFfSmNGTmpIR21fcjlRQ1NEZmhoMEIxZ0pBRFk0NEs2SmszRlF2Y1MxSGFKS0IzeFVnMndDMHpxdVB6TzRIX2tjSm9rZmxNZmlqMHlOWE5RcTRxcXhVWW9OcjJwZ3phczNTZw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmichaelstiers%2F&v=tEswdkfeL1s] Anthony Brown: / anthony-brown-419009106 [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmh5LTBzczlWQ21WM1ZpQ1lqM0hrTEV5cUF0QXxBQ3Jtc0tsVHhDbHhvdlpFU29IZVFCQmk3TTlOamRzTFFxSTdoa1BoVElIVXppQ3R6OWluQVB6YS16S0FiVTBMaWNkMlg1M3dWUDhvSUh5TWZ5M3pOem9GZHM3cmJDWkUzNjdHcTBBRG1za1FhXzJUbzJmMEZNdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fanthony-brown-419009106%2F&v=tEswdkfeL1s] Partner of Greenbaum Stiers Strategic Marketing Group The all-in-one marketing and growth solution for contractors and business owners looking to make more profit and get consistent leads. Learn more: www.greenbaumstiers.com [https://www.greenbaumstiers.com] Podcast Sponsored By: Snoball (The referral engine for contractors) Do you have six figures of unsold opportunity sitting in your CRM? You've worked hard to earn those customers, and even harder to make them happy. But that momentum stops after the job. Snoball turns those relationships into referrals, reviews, and repeat business. When new customers come in, you get to watch the revenue compound. The best part? It's all done for you. The Snoball effect: https://snoball.com/info/thecontractorsedge [https://snoball.com/info/thecontractorsedge] Visit The Contractors' Edge Website: www.yourcontractorsedge.com [https://www.yourcontractorsedge.com]

Get Off the Island: Mentors, Standards, and the Future of Foundation Repair (NFRA) with Jae Wells

Working in foundation repair can make you feel like you're building a company on an island. There's limited mentorship, standards are lacking, and for a long time, there hasn't been clear training on how to approach jobs or build relationships with homeowners inside the home. But in this episode, Mike and Anthony sit down with Jae Wells, owner of American Standard Foundation Repair and current President of the NFRA, to talk about what the association is doing to raise the bar in a growing (and here to stay) industry. Think national/local mentors and community, new education and certification systems, updated standards, and initiatives that can help contractors reduce risk while building a profitable business that feels like a system. If you want to grow your foundation repair company with confidence things are being done right, Jae shares why the NFRA needs to be on your radar this year. Episode Topics: * Why NFRA is pushing standards + better inspection education to support homeowners/trust signals. * Standards and education that will reduce lawsuits and chaos * Relationships and NFRA access = companies that will scale faster with fewer mistakes. * What the (June) Oklahoma conference has for owners, sales, and production, plus why sending your team can pay for itself. * Why poly can be a high-margin add-on worth taking seriously Learn more about The NFRA and National Conference: www.foundationrepair.org [https://www.foundationrepair.org] Meet Jae Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jae-wells-54123b278/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jae-wells-54123b278/] * Owner: American Standard Foundation Repair * President: National Foundation Repair Association He's spent more than 17 years in the trenches across operations, production, sales, and marketing, and he's become one of the strongest voices pushing the foundation repair industry toward a stronger, more standarized future. Jae is also a relationship-builder at heart, the kind of guy who makes you want to level up your company after a five-minute conversation, and he's on a mission to help contractors get off the island of fear/confusion, and grow with the right mentorship and resources. Are you a foundation repair contractor looking to take your business to the next level? Do you want to make more money and increase profitability without being told you need to spend more on marketing? Foundation repair is our bread and butter. With 40+ years of combined experience in this industry, we see the same problems show up again and again: Missed calls. Slow follow-up. Poor lead handling. Unclear KPIs. Inconsistent sales process. Money stuck in unsold opportunities. We built The Contractors' Edge Playbook to give you a clear game plan you can execute on your own, with our support. Get the clarity you need for less than $100: https://yourcontractorsedge.com/growth-playbook [https://yourcontractorsedge.com/growth-playbook?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Connect With The Contractors' Edge Hosts: Mike Stiers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstiers/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstiers/] Anthony Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-brown-419009106/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-brown-419009106/] Podcast Sponsored By: Greenbaum Stiers Strategic Marketing Group The everything marketing and growth solution for contractors and business owners looking to make more profit and get consistent leads. Learn more about our services and approach at www.greenbaumstiers.com [https://www.greenbaumstiers.com] Visit The Contractors' Edge Website: www.yourcontractorsedge.com [https://www.yourcontractorsedge.com] Join The Contractors' Edge LIVE at the NFRA Event in June 2026: https://foundationrepair.org/nfra-events/35-260623/main [https://foundationrepair.org/nfra-events/35-260623/main]

The Atmox Advantage: Win More Jobs + More Profit in Crawl Spaces With Myriam Breedlove

If you do crawl space encapsulation, moisture control, or basement waterproofing, you already know the industry has strong opinions on the best way to approach homeowner problems. In this episode, Mike and Anthony sit down with Myriam Breedlove, President and Owner of Atmox, to break down what actually matters in crawl spaces: how different air conditions affect crawl space moisture, why dew point matters more than humidity alone, and how contractors can deliver a smarter system that homeowners understand and pay more for. We also get into the business side: where contractors leave money on the table in crawl spaces, how to sell (good/better/best), and why recurring maintenance plans can turn your work into reliable revenue. *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-69c43826-e070-832e-a185-20276190ee07-6" data-testid= "conversation-turn-104" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Who should watch this episode * Crawl space, basement waterproofing, and foundation repair contractors who want to secure jobs based on knowledge and product advantages vs competing on price. * HVAC, pest, and mold/restoration companies who keep seeing moisture problems under homes and want a smarter fix than "just add a dehu." * Any contractor in a humid or seasonal climate who wants to understand when outside air helps vs hurts for a more comprehensive homeowner solution. * Owners and sales teams who want a good/better/best upgrade to raise their crawl space average ticket and profit. Timestamps: 0:34 Crawl space opinions setup (sealed vs vented, stir the pot) 5:22 How Atmox started (wine cellar tech + termites story) 11:53 Why the crawl space debate exists (vocabulary, geography, execution) 15:45 Crawl space fundamentals most pros agree on (waterproofing, vapor barrier, drying) 18:55 When outside air helps vs hurts (seasonality and "good air/bad air") 21:57 Dew point vs RH and why humidistat-only fans can create condensation 28:36 How Atmox works (controller, sensors, logic, ventilation/circulation/dehu) 33:24 Energy + efficiency: dehumidifier as workhorse and why seasonality matters 44:20 Business: where contractors leave money on the table (making the ask, service plans) 57:59 How to fit Atmox into encapsulation (upgrade, good/better/best positioning) 1:03:20 Where crawl space moisture management is headed (IAQ, healthy homes) 1:07:08 Differentiation: how it helps win jobs and avoid price-only comparisons Special Guest Myriam Breedlove: * Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myriam-breedlove-31941b5/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/myriam-breedlove-31941b5/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Website: https://atmox.com/ [https://atmox.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] The Contractors Edge Growth Playbook is the step-by-step blueprint to break through your next revenue ceiling and build a scalable machine (KPIs, lead flow, conversion, and team systems). Grab it here: https://yourcontractorsedge.com/growth-playbook [https://yourcontractorsedge.com/growth-playbook?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Connect With The Contractors' Edge Hosts: Mike Stiers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstiers/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstiers/] Anthony Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-brown-419009106/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-brown-419009106/] Podcast Sponsored By: Greenbaum Stiers Strategic Marketing Group The all-in-one marketing and growth solution for contractors and business owners looking to create predictable leads and revenue. Learn more about our services and approach at www.greenbaumstiers.com [https://www.greenbaumstiers.com] Visit The Contractors' Edge Website: www.yourcontractorsedge.com [https://www.yourcontractorsedge.com] Visit us LIVE at The NFRA Annual Conference: https://foundationrepair.org/nfra-events/35-260623/main [https://foundationrepair.org/nfra-events/35-260623/main]

Demand Is Different in 2026: The Playbook to Win Leads and Market Share

Demand is different in 2026, but contractors who stay intentional (and disciplined), will take market share. In this episode Mike and Anthony recap what their seeing in the home service industry, how it's affecting clients, and how you can get ahead in your business if you play your cards right. Service demand is still there, but the buyer is more cautious, and the contractors who tighten lead management, follow-up, and rehash will continue to win leads and grow year over year while their competitors panic. Learn which operational leaks are slowly killing your ROI (missed calls, slow follow-up, weak objection handling), and why "cheap leads" can end up being the most expensive thing you spend your budget on. If any of these are happening in your business, this episode is for you: * You're "getting leads" but your schedule is still light. * Your team is letting calls ring 7–8 times, then calling back hours later. * Homeowners are saying "we need to think about it" more often than last year. * Your close rate is sliding and your sales cycle is longer. * You're tempted to cut marketing or jump to aggregators because CPL went up. Timestamps: * 02:10 Lead management is still broken (missed calls, slow callbacks) * 06:30 Why call handling is not "easy" (it's revenue protection) * 10:15 Homeowner behavior shift: more hesitation, longer sales cycles * 14:10 Do not cut marketing too early (avoid emotional decisions) * 17:20 Cheap leads trap + why aggregators hurt ROI * 21:00 Do not overreact to short-term dips (headline-driven weeks) * 24:00 Fix the sales process for hesitant buyers (education + trust) * 27:40 Rehash: the market share lever most contractors ignore * 33:10 Staying consistent wins 2026 (stop "day trading" your budget) * 37:00 Contractors Edge Playbook: what's inside + who it's for * 40:10 NFRA Conference plug (June 23-26) + live interviews *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-69c43826-e070-832e-a185-20276190ee07-3" data-testid= "conversation-turn-38" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> If demand feels choppier, leads feel inconsistent, and you're hearing "we need to think about it" more often, the Contractor's Edge Growth Playbook helps you pinpoint the real bottleneck and fix it with a step-by-step plan. Diagnose the problem (lead diversification, unclear offer and brand, weak website conversion, KPI confusion, and lead and call management leaks) and identify the next right move based on your revenue stage - because what works at $3M does not work at $5M, and what works at $5M breaks at $7M. For $99, less than the cost of another bad lead, you'll have clarity you can act on immediately and a repeatable framework to drive better leads and a better year. Ready to stop the leaks and win market share this year? Get the Growth Playbook now and install the systems that create leads and predictable growth. https://yourcontractorsedge.com/growth-playbook [https://yourcontractorsedge.com/growth-playbook] Connect With The Contractors' Edge Hosts: Mike Stiers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstiers/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstiers/] Anthony Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-brown-419009106/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-brown-419009106/] Podcast Sponsored By: Greenbaum Stiers Strategic Marketing GroupThe all-in-one marketing and growth solution for contractors and business owners looking to create predictable leads and revenue. Learn more about our services and approach at www.greenbaumstiers.com [https://www.greenbaumstiers.com] Visit The Contractors' Edge Website: www.yourcontractorsedge.com [https://www.yourcontractorsedge.com] Visit us LIVE at The NFRA Annual Conference: https://foundationrepair.org/nfra-events/35-260623/main [https://foundationrepair.org/nfra-events/35-260623/main]

Contractor Review + Referral Hacks With Snoball: Turning Customers Into Your Best Sales Team

If you're a home service company doing good volume, you already have something most contractors ignore: past customers who should already trust you. If you're not consistently turning those customers into reviews and referrals, you're missing revenue that lowers how dependent you have to be on your paid leads budget. In Episode 20, we sit down with Landon Taylor, founder of Snoball, to break down the system that keeps working after the job is done. No relying on "ask when you remember." No sending one generic text and hoping for an outcome. They created a real follow-up process that helps you stay in touch, get more reviews, generate more referrals, and create repeat business without adding another task to your week. Let's say you do $3M a year at a $10,000 ticket. That's about 300 customers who already have a relationship with your company. Even 10 referral jobs in a year is $100,000 in added revenue at that ticket size, and those referral jobs are usually the easiest close for your sales team. Landon shares what to send, when to send it, how to avoid triggering negative reviews, and how Snoball handles outreach through text and email with real human follow-up for contractors and home service business owners. Timestamps 01:10 Common problem: no system for reviews and referrals 03:25 Why buying leads keeps getting harder (cost up, quality down) 05:10 Why referral programs fail inside companies 07:05 The sequencing that works: referral first, review second 10:05 How to plant the seed (3 to 4 touches) and why it matters 12:10 Why referrals, reviews, and repeat are one flywheel 14:05 Using Snoball for lifecycle messaging (non-transactional touch points) 16:10 Why human follow-up beats canned automation 23:10 Failure points: overpromise, underdeliver, broken payout trust 25:10 Escalation and triage: turning detractors into advocates 27:15 Unhappy customers are a 5-star opportunity 29:10 Building referral partnerships beyond homeowners 32:10 Keeping partnerships alive: stay top of mind + deliver experience 34:10 Simple 30-day action plan: map the lifecycle + list 6 partners 36:10 Video testimonials: how Snoball captures and edits them Want to fix this in your business? Get more customers from your happy customers through referrals, reviews, reputation assets, and video testimonials. Learn more about Snoball and schedule a free demo: www.snoball.com [http://www.snoball.com/] Contact Landon Taylor: landon@snoball.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/landonstaylor/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/landonstaylor/] Connect With The Contractors' Edge Hosts:Mike Stiers on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstiers/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstiers/] Anthony Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-brown-419009106/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-brown-419009106/] Podcast Sponsored by: Will Blake and his team at Perf4rmance.IO Sold the job? Great. Now keep the profit. Per4mance.io is a pay for performance platform that helps you recruit and keep top talent, motivate installation teams, and simplify the whole process with clearer bonuses and less labor chaos. Trusted by 50+ companies and 1,000+ tradesmen in North America. Exclusive Contractors' Edge offer: book your demo using this link to get 2 free months. Offer ends March 31. Tell Will's team you heard it on Contractors' Edge. https://per4mance.io/contractors-edge-demo [https://per4mance.io/contractors-edge-demo] Greenbaum Stiers Strategic Marketing Group: The all-in-one marketing solution for contractors and business owners looking to create predictable leads and revenue. Learn more about our services and methods at www.greenbaumstiers.com [https://www.greenbaumstiers.com/] Visit The Contractors' Edge Website: www.yourcontractorsedge.com [https://www.yourcontractorsedge.com/]