Homestead Post

We’re excited to bring another series of Business Building Breakfasts to you in 2026!

Featuring a FREE breakfast and coffee at New Holland Coffee Co., each morning session will give you an opportunity to learn about product updates, get installation tips, and ask questions of representatives from our favorite vendors.

Watch your email in-box in the coming weeks for dates, times, and topics!

Suggest a topic! We want to hear from YOU!

With this season’s weather conditions less than optimal for outdoor projects, these winter months are the perfect time to think about ways to ensure a safe working environment in the New Year.

Three Tips to Enhance Safety

1. Review your safety record
   What accidents or near-misses occurred over the past few years, and what can you do to avoid them in the future?
2. Consider getting safety accreditations and certifications
   Boost your team’s awareness and strengthen customer confidence with official stamps of approval from organizations such as OSHA (10- or 30-hour programs), National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) certification, and local trade association training (e.g., ABC Keystone, BIA of Lancaster County).
3. Inspect your equipment
   Carefully examine tools and machinery for cracks, leaks, and other damage or flaws that could impact their effectiveness or potentially cause harm. If you find issues, repair or replace your equipment to avoid injury risks. Also, review manufacturers’ manuals to ensure you are following their recommendations for ongoing maintenance; this will help keep your assets in safe working condition and deliver a stronger return on your investment.

Leave the frustration of splines behind with this innovative solution for creating an insect-free environment.

• Hassle-free installation: Smart design and simple process eliminate the need for splining.
• Durability-tested: Withstands winds of up to 140 mph!
• Versatility: Spans up to 150 sq. ft. and has frame options for openings of virtually any shape.
• In Stock: Ready for your next project!

Decking. Every Thing You Need!

James Clear’s book Atomic Habits centers on the idea that lasting change happens through tiny improvements in our habits over time rather than major revamps in an effort to achieve a goal.

Without devoting time to changing underlying habits, failure is inevitable.

The Layers to Changing Your Habits

Clear identifies three layers involved in making behavioral changes.

1. Outer layer of Outcomes (goal layer)
2. Middle layer of Processes (habits layer)
3. Inner layer of Identity (beliefs layer)

It’s important to work from the inner layer out. Rather than making the goal the sole focus, we should identify the type of person we want to be and the habits necessary for getting us closer to that goal.

As we demonstrate habits consistent with our desired identity, we begin to prove to ourselves that we can be the person we want to be. Clear also suggests we must envision ourselves as who we aspire to be. He shares this example to convey that point: If someone who wants to quit smoking is offered a cigarette, rather than replying with, “No thank you, I’m trying to quit,” they should respond with “No thank you, I’m not a smoker,” to reframe their self-perception.

Key Takeaways:

• Whenever you act in a way that aligns with your desired identity, you are becoming that identity.
• Incrementally adopting better habits will allow goal accomplishment to happen naturally.

Stay tuned for the next article in this series: Make It Obvious.

Back by popular demand, our Business Building Breakfasts, featuring a free breakfast and coffee at New Holland Coffee Co. will return this winter!

We look forward to once again inviting reps from our favorite vendors to share product updates, offer tips and best practices for handling installations, and answer your questions.

Stay tuned for information about dates, times, and topics!

Suggest a topic! We want to hear from YOU!

Need lumber for a deck project? With our wide variety of standard lumber products in stock, we make it fast and convenient to get what you need when you need it.

• Pressure-treated lumber
• Glulams (glue-laminated beams)
• LVL (untreated is in stock; we can order treated LVL on request)
• And more!

Decking. Every Thing You Need!

The features and benefits of your services may be enough to attract some customers, but that transactional approach isn’t the path to ongoing success. Your company’s core values are your superpower for building customer loyalty.

Your core values represent what your company stands for and believes in. They are unique to you and set the bar for how everyone on your team should approach their work and behave toward others. In addition to setting you apart from your competition, your core values help to engage customers emotionally with your business.

Upholding Your Core Values

Your core values should be reflected in actions and attitudes, not just in your mission and vision statements. Otherwise, they’re just lip service.

• Remind your employees about your core values by posting them on your office walls and revisiting them during meetings.
• Explain that each person contributes to sustaining those values in the work they do and their interactions with customers, vendors, and coworkers.

Strengthening Your Core Values

Hiring employees whose personal values match your company’s core values can help fortify them. However, don’t overlook the value of bringing in people with values that complement, but aren’t identical to, the core values of your business. If there are core values you aspire to elevate or add to your list, seek out new hires who can bring what’s missing to your organization.

The Reward

When you demonstrate your core values as you conduct business and live life, customers can see that you walk the walk. They will not only buy from you, they will also buy into you—and that’s a successful formula for a sustainable business.

To dig deeper into the power of core values, we recommend the book Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman.

In this final article of our series featuring wisdom from Daniel Coyle’s book The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups we revisit establishing purpose and explore some valuable and practical takeaways to help you foster a healthy company culture.

1. Harness the Power of Catchphrases

Although they may seem cliche or cheesy, catchphrases can clearly communicate industry best practices and help set expectations. Choose phrases that are straightforward, simple, and action oriented. For instance, “Measure twice, cut once” conveys that accuracy and waste reduction are important and reminds workers to take the time to re-check their work before using materials.

2. Measure What Matters

Concentrate on metrics that reinforce your culture and commitment to work quality and beware of those that can encourage bad habits. For example, although time spent on a jobsite is a contributing factor to profitability, an emphasis on measuring it could backfire if workers feel pressured to reduce time on their projects and make mistakes as they rush through jobs. Conversely, a focus on monitoring customer satisfaction may yield better long-term results because it directly correlates to maintaining a strong work ethic and doing the best job possible.

3. Display Mementos of Your Team’s Successes

Have you received thank-you cards from customers to express gratitude for your team’s work? Or perhaps there’s a softball from your last company outing that has a funny story behind it ?

By prominently displaying physical objects with special meaning, you can strengthen your team members’ sense of unity and common purpose.

4. Set the Bar for Best Practice Behavior

Some employees may find it challenging to translate a company’s values and mission into concrete actions. So, consider what everyday tasks epitomize the culture you’re building.

For example, if you’ve embraced the catchphrase “Sweat the details,” spotlight your punch-list process. Review the steps with your team and explain the connection between your punch list and your company’s goals and objectives. By zeroing in on a specific task, you can hammer home the concept that attention to the little things really does matter.

Missed our past posts in this series? Check them out now!

• Building Safety: Part 1, Part 2
• Sharing Vulnerability: Part 1, Part 2
• Establishing Purpose: Part 1

In an increasingly competitive business environment, word of mouth remains as important as ever.

It is without a doubt the most economical—and a highly effective—form of advertising. When you provide a great product or service, you earn your customers’ trust and they will recommend you to others.

How can you encourage more word-of-mouth opportunities and make the most of them?

1. Ask for referrals.

Not every customer takes the initiative, so nicely invite them to share their positive experience with the people they know. Your satisfied customers’ friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and even casual acquaintances are warm leads (a.k.a., low- hanging fruit) that can go from “prospect” to “new customer” with only a little energy on your part.

2. Don’t make them wait.

Prospective customers who have reached out to you after someone referred them expect a response sooner rather than later. Silence is a sure way to lose opportunities! Reply promptly, at the very least acknowledging you received the person’s inquiry and will get back to them to discuss their project.

3. Live up to your stellar reputation.

Naturally, referrals will have expectations of high quality and service based on what your existing customers have told them about you. By treating every project with the same care and professionalism, your legacy of excellence will continue . . . leading to more opportunities.

While word of mouth is carried out by customers, it’s up to you to follow through and plant the seed to expand its potential for growing your business.

Fall Promo: Free Box of Ninja Clips With Decking Purchase

Get one free 900-count box of Ninja clips when you order 300 sq. ft. or more of Wolf® or Fiberon® grooved decking.

Offer runs through October 31, 2025. Call or stop by for details!