Logan sits down with Sean Beliveau and Cassidy Jones of Slate Creek Builders to break down how they've built an award-winning remodeling team in a small college town—without relying on job boards, recruiters, or desperation hires.

Based in Blacksburg, Virginia, Slate Creek Builders has grown to a 14-person team delivering multi-million-dollar remodels in a market of just 35,000 people. In this conversation, they unpack how community reputation, always-on recruiting, strong systems, and a clearly defined org chart allow them to attract talent before they ever need it.

If you're struggling to hire, retain great people, or build a culture that recruits for you, this episode offers a real-world playbook—especially for remodelers operating in smaller or tighter markets.

🎯 Timestamps:

00:00 — Why Slate Creek attracts talent without actively recruiting
03:00 — Building a high-end remodeling business in a small market
06:30 — How community reputation fuels growth and referrals
10:45 — The pressure (and upside) of working in a small town
14:00 — Why most of Slate Creek's hires come from personal networks
17:00 — Always recruiting—even when you're not hiring
20:45 — Hiring a "unicorn" without a job opening
23:15 — Using org charts to justify new roles
27:30 — How systems give confidence to hire ahead of demand
31:15 — Dividing leadership: vision vs. execution
34:30 — Protecting work-life balance as a core cultural value
38:00 — Learning from bad hires (and why desperation hires fail)
42:00 — Turning a questionable hire into a long-term win
46:30 — Separating emotion from estimating and pricing
50:30 — What Slate Creek looks for in cultural fit
55:00 — Hiring for skilled roles vs. training from scratch
59:30 — Why people stay once they join the team
01:02:30 — The benefits of building a business in a tight-knit community

If you want employees lining up before you post a job, systems that support confident growth, and a culture people genuinely want to be part of—this episode shows what that looks like in practice.

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network Podcast, Logan sits down with Andrew Nuhfer, founder of AKN Interiors, to unpack how clear communication, structured systems, and expectation-setting fuel high-end remodeling growth.

Andrew shares how he's scaled AKN Interiors to over $3M annually while running 15–20 active projects—without sacrificing the client experience. From pre-construction planning and interior design collaboration to daily logs, scheduling, and post-project follow-ups, this episode breaks down what it actually looks like to run a modern, client-first remodeling operation.

If you're looking to reduce friction, avoid misaligned expectations, and build a repeatable communication process your team and clients can trust, this conversation is packed with real-world insight.

🎯 Timestamps:

00:00 — Andrew's background and why he started AKN Interiors
03:00 — Making the leap from employee to business owner
07:50 — Why planning and expectations matter more than craftsmanship alone
10:00 — Setting pricing expectations early (and why transparency wins)
14:00 — Using past projects to anchor budget conversations
17:20 — Integrating an interior designer into the remodel process
19:45 — Allowances, proposals, and preventing budget surprises
23:20 — Managing 15–20 projects at once without chaos
26:00 — How AKN uses JobTread for daily communication
28:30 — Daily logs, schedules, and keeping homeowners informed
31:10 — Hiring for communication skills, not just construction experience
34:40 — Getting subcontractors aligned with your systems
36:30 — Post-project follow-ups, warranties, and long-term trust
38:00 — Using JobTread as a sales tool before contracts are signed
42:00 — Lessons Andrew wishes he knew earlier about client experience
44:00 — Handling missed expectations and tough conversations honestly
48:30 — Treating remodeling as a partnership, not a transaction

If you want to build smoother projects, stronger reviews, and happier clients—this episode is a masterclass in what that looks like in practice.

In this episode, Logan sits down with AJ Ballantine to break down how Cornerstone Remodeling grew from $2M to $10M in five years—without hiring five times the people. The secret? A radically optimized design process, driven by empathy mapping, technology, and sales finesse.

AJ walks through the systems, tools, and scripts he used to cut his sales cycle, boost his close rate, and wow clients—all while keeping a high-touch, boutique feel. If you're a design-build remodeler struggling with lengthy sales processes, low perceived value, or slow growth, this episode is your blueprint for change.

Optimize, Don't Overhire
→ AJ's sales team used to close $3M/year—now they close at a $10M pace with the same team
→ The shift: 6–10 hours to build a high-impact "first pass" proposal that converts faster

Perceived Value > Just Deliverables
→ AJ's team builds proposals in Canva with floor plans, mood boards, and personalized designer quotes
→ Clients feel like they're already halfway through the project before competitors even send a bid

Use Tech to Speed Trust
→ Render's "Invite to Capture" feature lets homeowners scan their space remotely
→ Clients feel empowered, and your team gets measurements without stepping foot in the home

Empathy Mapping = Sales Gold
→ AJ's team mapped out client pain points like option overload and lack of clarity
→ Solutions like curated samples, mood boards, and visual timelines de-stress the process

Charge to Impress
→ Clients pay 1% upfront for a first pass proposal, then 5% more before design revisions
→ Conversion after that second payment? 100% (outside of rare exceptions)

• Render – 3D space scanning tool AJ co-developed

• Canva – Used for building visually stunning proposals

• Calendly – Streamlined consult scheduling

• JobTread – Estimating and construction management

• DocuSign – Seamless proposal signing + payments

• Loom – For walking clients through proposals remotely

• 00:00 – Why growing a business doesn't mean hiring more people

• 01:30 – AJ's background: design + build = natural fit

• 04:00 – How Render's space scanning changed the game

• 07:45 – How to ask clients to scan their space without losing trust

• 10:35 – Case study: A $75K bathroom turned $150K with the right process

• 13:00 – The power of the phone call as a pattern interrupt

• 15:30 – What goes in a "first pass" proposal and how it's delivered

• 20:00 – Using the Moscow Report to align budget and finishes

• 24:00 – Proposal design: how aesthetics drive perceived value

• 26:50 – Creating speed and momentum to outpace competitors

• 30:00 – Including designer mood boards and personal touches

• 35:00 – The metrics: 76% close rate, $1M–$2M months, 6–10 hours per proposal

• 39:00 – The second phase: formal measurements, structural confirmation

• 44:00 – No-surprises contract pricing explained

• 48:00 – Selection process: curated samples over option overload

• 51:00 – Designing for the busy, not the picky

• 54:00 – Solving for process friction: empathy + accountability

• 57:00 – The sales and marketing adjustments that made it all work

• 1:02:00 – Why everything is digital (except the printed permit plans)

• 1:05:00 – How AJ got team buy-in on massive change

• 1:11:00 – 40X and driving a culture of accountability

• 1:14:00 – Start with WHY if you want your new process to stick

"We used to spend $2,000 worth of effort on a proposal and hand over a spreadsheet. Now, we hand them a deliverable that looks like a million bucks—and they're halfway to signing."
— AJ Ballantine

Logan sits down with Chris Landis, co-founder of the award-winning Landis Architects/Builders in Washington, D.C. With over 35 years of experience, Chris shares how his architecture background shaped the firm's design-build approach—and what remodelers can learn from their detailed, phased design process.

From feasibility studies and pre-construction agreements to hiring in-house designers and scaling team structure, this episode is a masterclass in how to elevate the design side of your remodeling business.

Whether you're just starting to charge for design or scaling up to larger, more complex projects, Chris offers clear takeaways on how to structure your process, train your team, and charge what you're worth.

• Why Landis' design process includes 3 clear phases: schematic, DD, and CD

• How feasibility studies help pre-qualify projects and set expectations

• What to look for when hiring designers—and how to train them

• How a team leader role bridges sales and design for smoother execution

• Why charging properly for design leads to better clients, work, and profits

• How Landis keeps clients excited and engaged throughout long design timelines

• What it looks like to run a design department that actually makes money

00:00 – Intro to Chris Landis + Landis Architects & Builders
01:30 – From Wall Street offices to handyman work: how the business started
05:30 – Why drawings matter (and why they should never be free)
11:00 – Overview of Landis' design services: feasibility, pre-construction, full design
15:00 – Three phases of design: schematic, DD, and CD
20:00 – Aligning sales and design with a "team leader" role
27:00 – How Landis prices design and stays ahead on billing
30:00 – In-house vs outsourced design teams: pros and cons
36:00 – Matching designers to project types and geographic regions
38:00 – Keeping clients excited during long design and permitting windows
45:00 – How Landis markets high-end projects (and the power of awards)
47:00 – Design isn't a loss leader—it's a profit center
52:00 – Why charging for design leads to better hires, better clients, and a stronger brand

Logan and Aaron unpack one of the most powerful but underused sales strategies in remodeling: assignment selling. Originally coined by Marcus Sheridan, this method bridges the gap between marketing and sales—by arming prospects with the right information before they ever get on a call.

You'll learn how to apply this approach in your own sales process—whether it's sending project walkthroughs before a meeting, using content to pre-qualify leads, or walking clients through your website in real-time. If you've been creating great content but aren't sure how to use it to actually close deals, this episode will show you how.

• What assignment selling is (and isn't)

• Why content belongs in your sales process, not just your marketing

• How to reduce unqualified leads and shorten the sales cycle

• What kinds of content work best at different sales stages

• How to personalize resources based on each prospect

• The difference between automations vs one-on-one communication

• How to ask clients to consume content—without sounding pushy

00:00 – What is assignment selling (and why does it matter)?
03:00 – Mapping your sales process to identify content gaps
06:30 – The difference between marketing automation and sales enablement
12:30 – Why production quality matters in sales content
18:00 – Examples of content that actually move the sale forward
25:00 – What happens when a prospect doesn't do their assignment
32:00 – Using your website like a live sales deck
37:00 – Emotional buy-in vs logical overload
43:00 – How to map your process and assign content that supports it
48:00 – How CGN uses this strategy in their own sales calls

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan and Aaron break down what it takes to build a memorable, recognizable remodeling brand in your community—before prospects are even ready to hire.

From truck wraps to social media ads, they walk through the most common "top of funnel" marketing strategies, explain when to use them, and how to measure impact over time. If your goal is to become the remodeler people think of first, this episode is your blueprint.

• Understanding the marketing funnel and where branding fits

• Truck wraps, yard signs, and how they signal trust

• Why remodelers should use social media—even without going viral

• The new way Meta ads work (and why they're easier than ever)

• The role of email marketing in nurturing leads

• Direct mail that doesn't feel like junk

• Trade shows, magazine ads, and when (and when not) to use them

• How to measure success when ROI isn't immediate

00:00 — Why household-name remodelers dominate neighborhoods
04:00 — Who "top of funnel" marketing is really for
10:00 — Truck wraps, yard signs, and company shirts as branding tools
23:20 — Using social media effectively (paid and organic)
30:00 — How to turn high-performing posts into local ads
40:00 — Building and nurturing your email list
49:55 — Direct mail: how to make it worth the cost
54:58 — Trade shows and community event sponsorships
57:21 — Billboards, magazine ads, and long-term brand recall
01:00:46 — Tracking top-of-funnel performance through branded searches

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan and Aaron break down how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way homeowners search for remodelers—and what you need to do to keep getting found. With tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google's AI Overviews shifting how search results are delivered, contractors who rely on organic leads can't afford to sit this out. From local SEO to AI-friendly website structure, Logan shares what's working right now (October 2025) and how remodelers can prepare for a future where search engines are smarter—and less likely to send users to your site by default.

If you've heard phrases like "zero-click search" or "retrieval augmented generation" and don't know how they affect your marketing, this is the episode to listen to.

Logan is hosting a free live webinar on November 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM EST to go even deeper on this topic—with tactical examples and live Q&A.

👉 [Register here] https://www.contractorgrowthnetwork.com/google-ai-remodeler/

Can't make it live? Use the same link to access the replay after the event.

The Game Is Changing—But Not Gone
→ Google still dominates local search (AI Overviews only show in ~6% of local searches).
→ Organic SEO is still king—but AI is adding new rules to the playbook.

AI Search Works Differently Than Google Search
→ Tools like Gemini and ChatGPT don't just scan top search results—they combine multiple searches and synthesize answers.
→ If you're not in the top 10 organic results, you may be invisible in AI search.

SEO Fundamentals Still Matter
→ Clear website structure, fast load times, keyword strategy, and quality content are still foundational.
→ Blogs and project pages should be conversational and answer real homeowner questions.

Citations and Consistency Are More Important Than Ever
→ The more places your business info appears (and matches), the more credible you seem to AI and Google.
→ Directory listings, Houzz profiles, YouTube videos, and local backlinks all help.

Get Found Where the AI Is Looking
→ It's not just about your website anymore—YouTube, Google Business, Instagram, and even Houzz or Angie listings can all feed AI.
→ Quality, relevance, and proof-based content wins in every search format.

"If you're not in the top 10 organic search results, you're not getting found by AI search tools."
"Google wants to keep people on Google. So if your site doesn't offer a better experience, they won't send users to you."
"AI search isn't about clever hacks—it's about clarity, credibility, and being everywhere your ideal client is."

• Check your Google Business Profile for accuracy and reviews

• Reformat your blogs to include question-based headers (AI scans better this way)

• Get listed on trusted directories like Houzz, Yelp, and local chambers

• Structure your site to make important pages 1–2 clicks from the homepage

• Continue investing in SEO—the top 10 spots matter more than ever

Most remodelers see their website as a brochure—but it should act like a salesperson. In this episode, Logan and Aaron explain how your site can guide homeowners through the same trust-building process as an in-person consultation. From project storytelling and emotional connection to page flow and calls-to-action, they break down what turns casual browsers into high-quality leads—and how to future-proof your site for the coming era of AI search.

00:00 Why your website matters – It's not just "online presence," it's your digital salesperson.
03:29 Traffic vs. conversion – Why more visitors don't fix a bad website.
04:45 What homeowners really want – Proof, price, process, and trust.
09:59 Sell excitement, not necessity – Remodeling is emotional, not logical.
13:18 How to self-assess – Does your site answer the right homeowner questions?
19:33 Story-driven websites – Turning photos into HGTV-style transformations.
26:56 The feature project page – How storytelling doubles engagement.
45:16 Beyond project pages – Why process and service pages build trust and SEO.
52:42 Preparing for AI search – Structuring your site so future tools can read and recommend it.