Selling Preconstruction Services
Part of our “Building Business” series appearing in Fine Homebuilding magazine.
By HELM co-founder mel baiser
Contractors who sell preconstruction services capture the true value of their expertise while helping clients plan projects more effectively.
My pépère (French-Canadian for “grandpa”) was a master builder. Even in his 70s, he was still “bags on” and framing roofs when he suddenly passed from a heart condition. Aside from a modest home he built with wood he logged and milled from his land, some aches and pains, and his pride, he didn’t have much to show for a lifetime in the trades.
I remember in my early 20s coming home to visit after landing my first carpentry apprenticeship and realizing that despite a generation of difference in experience, our hourly wages were shockingly similar. I thought it was odd, given that many of his clients were well-resourced, building second and third vacation homes that often sat vacant much of the year.
Continue reading at Fine Homebuilding Magazine (November 2025, Issue 335)