Homestead Post

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!

Every business has a purpose . . . but if its team members aren’t aware of it or why it’s important, building a strong company culture becomes extremely difficult. Daniel Coyle’s book The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups shares insights about how to clarify purpose and leverage it for consistency and teamwork. Here are some take-aways to help contractors define their purpose and get everyone on the same page.

1. Build a short list of your top priorities.

What is most important for building your business? What do you care about most? Create a written list of your main priorities and share them with your team. If your employees don’t know what they’re aiming for, they’ll never hit the mark!

2. Be ultra-clear and reinforce your message.

Don’t just build your priorities list—talk about it in meetings and display it on posters to keep it top of mind. Re-evaluate your company’s purpose and values regularly. Ideally, ask your employees for their thoughts on how the company is (or is not) accomplishing the things it says it cares about.

3. Encourage proficiency and creativity.

The building trade requires proficiency skills, so it’s critical that workers follow rules of thumb consistently to do the job right. For example, they need to know how to read deck blueprints, measure precisely, and cut boards accurately. Creative skills are also essential because when the unpredictable happens workers need to adjust to the unique situation at hand.

Give your team not only the training and tools to equip them for typical on-the-job scenarios but also the autonomy to make their own decisions when they encounter the unexpected.

Next in our series: Establishing Purpose: Part 2. Did you miss our Building Safety and Share Vulnerability articles? Read them now:
Building Safety: Part 1
Building Safety: Part 2
Share Vulnerability: Part 1
Share Vunlerability: Part 2

An open invitation to share your thoughts and ideas with us.

Thank you for reading our newsletter and blog, attending our Business-Building Breakfasts, and being a loyal Homestead Outdoor Products customer!

As we consider future article topics and what to discuss in our 2026 breakfast sessions, we welcome your feedback and ideas.

Click here to make your voice heard!

In this article, we will expand on our insights about why sharing vulnerability is crucial for creating a company culture that nurtures collaboration and connectivity. Consider these practical takeaways from Daniel Coyle’s book The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups that we’ve adapted for professionals like you in the building industry.

1. Overcommunicate expectations.

Leaders should not only be clear about expectations for team members but also persistent in reinforcing those expectations. Even workers with the best intentions can forget things if not reminded. Repeat expectations—at meetings, on the job site, etc.—even when you think you sound like a broken record.

For example, “Remember, our goal is to strive for an excellent build every time, whether the customer seems to appreciate it or not.”

2. Reinforce that you’re a team—it’s not “every man for himself.”

Two things are bound to happen after bringing on new crew members or assembling a new crew:

• The first vulnerability (typically, the first mistake made on the job)
• The first disagreement

A healthy company culture does not glorify individual “winning” or destructive competition that knocks someone down when an honest mistake is made. Workers should understand the importance of growing together, so be sure to foster a learning environment that promotes constructive guidance and encouragement.

For example,. “Billy, stair posts need to be longer. It’s easy to forget that fact and miscut them. What might be a good way to remember that for next time?” and “Guys, do you have any helpful input about Billy’s suggestion?”

3. Resist reflexively adding your two cents.

Some leaders instinctively chime in before they know all of the details. Resist the urge to jump in with a canned solution that doesn’t address the nuances of an issue. Team members will be more receptive to suggestions after they feel heard and understood.

4. Make yourself scarce more often.

If a leader constantly hovers over their employees, those workers won’t gain the confidence to make decisions and solve problems on their own. Give your capable team members space to take responsibility and grow. Just make sure the individuals you give autonomy have the capacity to make crucial decisions. And ease them into that independence so you’re not suddenly leaving them high and dry after they’ve gotten used to relying on you for every decision.

Next in our series: Establishing Purpose for Your Team. Did you miss our Building Safety and Share Vulnerability articles? Read them now:
Building Safety: Part 1
Building Safety: Part 2
Cracking the Culture Code: Part 1

At Homestead Outdoor Products, you can count on us for much more than top-of-the-line quality materials for decks, railing, and fencing. We have every thing you and your customers need for virtually every deck-related project of any size and scope, no matter how simple or complex.

• From pressure-treated lumber to ledger flashing . . .
• From vinyl pergolas to Placid Point lighting . . .
• From PCA screen doors to Evolve® Stone veneers . . .
• From ready-mix concrete bags to Otter-Tech™ underdecking . . .

Find whatever your job requires for creating an exceptional outdoor living space, enclosed patio, or addition (think sunroom!) that maximizes natural light and enhances the view. We’re here to help you fulfill each and every customer’s vision!

Our Outdoor Products Include:

• Decking
• Railing
• Fencing
• Siding
• PT Lumber
• SPF Lumber
• OSB & Plywood
• Screening
• Lighting
• Fasteners
• Flashing
• Decking Clips & Screws
• Cabinets
• Stone
• Concrete
• Lattice
• Pergolas
• And MORE

We’re continually expanding our inventory and keeping up with the latest building trends and innovations, so you can get all that you need from one trustworthy source with the dependable Lancaster County service you’ve come to rely on.

Along with our experienced team’s expert advice, design assistance, and support, we also DELIVER products to your business location or job site! Stop by our showroom to explore what we offer and ask about how we can help you with every thing for your next project!

An open invitation to share your thoughts and ideas with us.

Thank you for reading our newsletter and blog, attending our Business-Building Breakfasts, and being a loyal Homestead Outdoor Products customer!

As we consider future article topics and what to discuss in our 2026 breakfast sessions, we welcome your feedback and ideas.

• What real-world challenges would you like us to delve into?
• What questions do you hear from customers that we might help you answer?
• What product features and installation tips would you like to learn more about?
• What information can Homestead Outdoor Products and our product suppliers provide that will help your business thrive and grow?

It only takes a few minutes to make your voice heard. Share your thoughts here.

Same location. Brand-new building. More space.

We’re thrilled to unveil our new office and showroom! Our beautiful new building features some of your customers’ favorite exterior products.

• Wolf® Portrait Siding Color: Pearl White
• UFP-Edge Siding Color: Lost Trail
• Evolve® Stone Color: Phantom Shadow

Visit us and check out our new space!

Our hours remain the same as before:

Monday–Friday: 6:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday: 7–11:30 a.m.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

A beautifully understated and sophisticated addition to Keylink’s sleek vertical and horizontal cable railing offerings, black cable railing is a perfect choice to satisfy customers’ functional needs and aesthetic vision.

Available for the Chesapeake and American railing series in textured and matte finishes, black cable railing is offered in 36” height with 6’ and 8’ length options. It provides the same high quality, durability, and versatility you expect from all Keylink cable railing products.

• A timeless look with less reflectivity preserves views and sightlines.
• Weather-tested, it’s proven to last.
• Ease of installation saves your team time and effort.
• It’s an ideal product for residential and commercial* projects.

Call us or drop by for more information to find out what we have in stock.

*Note that 36” vertical cable does not meet all commercial standards.

Showing vulnerability is essential for fostering a collaborative and cohesive company culture. Daniel Coyle’s book “The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups” discusses ways that leaders can earn trust and motivate their team members by demonstrating and encouraging vulnerability rather than running away from it.

Here are some takeaways from Coyle’s insights:

1. Lead by example.
Leaders who own up to their mistakes (even the best of us make them!) encourage others to be more transparent and accountable. Taking responsibility for our errors shows strength, not weakness. Don’t be afraid to say things like . . .

• • “I messed that up.”
  • “What could I have done better?”
  • “What can I change to help you work more effectively?”

2. Deliver negative feedback face-to-face.
While this may feel awkward and stressful, it minimizes misunderstandings and facilitates connection. In-person feedback shows that you
value others and care about helping them improve and succeed.

3. Practice trampoline-style listening.
Coyle recommends that leaders “listen like a trampoline.” That involves interacting, asking questions, challenging assumptions, and making suggestions that can lead to other pathways. The trampoline effect comes into play when you absorb what others tell you, support them, and add energy to the discussion—and then use repetition to explore the same issues from different angles.

4. Encourage candor through consistent debriefs.
Regularly reviewing completed projects (after-action reviews) as a team establishes a routine for self-assessment and honest communication about what went well and what should have been done differently. It helps individuals become more comfortable talking about their successes and failures and fosters an atmosphere of support, not blame. Coyle stresses that successful reviews should include constructive candor, not brutal honesty that comes off as a personal attack. The goal of consistent after-action reviews is to forge a path forward as
a group while helping individuals achieve their potential.

Next in our series: Share Vulnerability (Part 2). Did you miss our Building Safety articles? Read them now:  Building Safety: Part 1 and Building Safety: Part 2.