In this episode, we get into the weeds with David Obert and Aaron Brunko to figure out what’s actually driving the dip in claim volume, and what it means for us on the ground.

Spoiler: It’s not just the weather.

We break down six key contributors, from deductible creep to increased competition, and dig into how AI, estimating, and people power are reshaping the game.

Check it out:
[00:08:00] Why claim volume feels low, and what the data really says
[00:14:00] The impact of at-home workforces and tech-driven loss prevention
[00:19:30] New players, new pressure: PE-backed firms and claim share
[00:31:00] How centralized estimating is shifting the role of the estimator
[00:49:00] AI, automation, and the next 18-36 months in scope writing
[01:02:00] What contractors should focus on right now (hint: people)

Big takeaway:
This isn’t a time to coast, it’s a time to compete. How we make clients feel matters more than ever. Invest in your people. Dial in your process. Use tech to amplify, not replace.

thanks for listening,

Brandon and Chris

Thank you sponsors!

Liftify is for restorers who are looking to accelerate their online reviews. Consistent and fresh Google Reviews are critical to growing your online presence and establishing trust with your brand. Don’t leave it to chance; partner with Liftify and let them capture the feedback your team has earned.

https://www.liftify.com/floodlight

AnswerForce transforms the restoration industry by providing round-the-clock answering solutions. Their skilled team ensures no call goes unanswered, capturing and qualifying leads, scheduling appointments, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Benefit from industry expertise, scalability, and customized scripting while saving costs compared to in-house solutions. With AnswerForce, your business growth potential becomes limitless.

https://www.answerforce.com/floodlight

C&R Magazine is the industry’s oldest and longest-running media outlet. The team brings restorers all the current news, developments, education and resources that impact our business and the teams we lead. From print media to podcasts, C&R ensures the industry news you need is accessible from anywhere.

https://candrmagazine.com

Actionable Insights. The Actionable Xactimate Profile by Actionable Insights offers live guidance for more accurate and complete estimates in Xactimate, preventing costly errors and improving your team's workflow. It's an essential upgrade for enhanced estimating accuracy and efficiency.

https://getinsights.org/floodlight

Only 30% of businesses listed for sale actually find a buyer? Even more striking, just 10% of those sell for the price their owners anticipated or higher, meaning only 3% of all business owners achieve their desired sale price. By focusing on understanding and enhancing your enterprise value, you can significantly boost your chances of joining that successful 3%.

Start Assessment Know Your Enterprise Value. See Your Potential Gaps.

Complete this assessment in less than 15 minutes and receive a free assessment for your business that includes:

• A Lite Valuation Of Your Business
• Your Value Multiplier Per Your Industry
• Health Assessment Per Our PYB Methodology
• Business Value & Growth Roadmap Tailored For You
• Value Acceleration Strategies

Some people build their businesses one fire at a time. Sadiq Isu builds with the end in mind, and it shows.

Brandon and I sat down with Sadiq to talk about what it looks like to lead with clarity. He’s an immigrant who bought, built, and sold restoration companies, and did it on purpose. No scramble, no guesswork. Just steady, strategic growth with people and legacy at the core.

This isn’t theory. It’s what happens when you trade short-term wins for long-term impact.

Why You Should Listen:

• [08:22] From night shift to ownership, Sadiq’s first few years in the U.S.

• [16:41] Why he builds every company from the exit backward

• [24:12] How he 2–3x’d his company’s value before selling

• [26:00] The one trait that makes a partnership work

• [33:44] Faith, family, and values, not just talk, but operational strategy

• [40:35] What restoration leaders are missing, and how to course-correct

• [49:01] How to build a company that reflects who you are, not just what you do

If you're building something to last, this one’s worth a listen.

-Chris

Thank you sponsors!

Liftify is for restorers who are looking to accelerate their online reviews. Consistent and fresh Google Reviews are critical to growing your online presence and establishing trust with your brand. Don’t leave it to chance; partner with Liftify and let them capture the feedback your team has earned.

https://www.liftify.com/floodlight

AnswerForce transforms the restoration industry by providing round-the-clock answering solutions. Their skilled team ensures no call goes unanswered, capturing and qualifying leads, scheduling appointments, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Benefit from industry expertise, scalability, and customized scripting while saving costs compared to in-house solutions. With AnswerForce, your business growth potential becomes limitless.

https://www.answerforce.com/floodlight

C&R Magazine is the industry’s oldest and longest-running media outlet. The team brings restorers all the current news, developments, education and resources that impact our business and the teams we lead. From print media to podcasts, C&R ensures the industry news you need is accessible from anywhere.

https://candrmagazine.com

Actionable Insights. The Actionable Xactimate Profile by Actionable Insights offers live guidance for more accurate and complete estimates in Xactimate, preventing costly errors and improving your team's workflow. It's an essential upgrade for enhanced estimating accuracy and efficiency.

https://getinsights.org/floodlight

Only 30% of businesses listed for sale actually find a buyer? Even more striking, just 10% of those sell for the price their owners anticipated or higher, meaning only 3% of all business owners achieve their desired sale price. By focusing on understanding and enhancing your enterprise value, you can significantly boost your chances of joining that successful 3%.

Start Assessment Know Your Enterprise Value. See Your Potential Gaps.

Complete this assessment in less than 15 minutes and receive a free assessment for your business that includes:

• A Lite Valuation Of Your Business
• Your Value Multiplier Per Your Industry
• Health Assessment Per Our PYB Methodology
• Business Value & Growth Roadmap Tailored For You
• Value Acceleration Strategies

The Father, the Builder, the Balance - This one's personal. Chris and I sat down to talk about the real stuff behind building a business, being husbands, dads, friends—while staying ambitious. If you're in that tension too, you'll feel seen in this one.

Why You Should Listen:

• [04:47] Building can cost more than you think, especially at home.

• [06:10] Chris opens up about losing his dad and the emotional wreckage that followed.

• [16:32] What does it mean to live like a Renaissance man?

• [35:57] You don’t have to carry the whole business to win big.

• [44:44] “Are you ready to not matter to your business?” The exit nobody prepares for.

• [54:13] If you’re a dad or a son, this is your call to lean in.

No business strategy here, just two guys wrestling with what really matters.

-Brandon

Thank you sponsors!

Liftify is for restorers who are looking to accelerate their online reviews. Consistent and fresh Google Reviews are critical to growing your online presence and establishing trust with your brand. Don’t leave it to chance; partner with Liftify and let them capture the feedback your team has earned.

https://www.liftify.com/floodlight

AnswerForce transforms the restoration industry by providing round-the-clock answering solutions. Their skilled team ensures no call goes unanswered, capturing and qualifying leads, scheduling appointments, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Benefit from industry expertise, scalability, and customized scripting while saving costs compared to in-house solutions. With AnswerForce, your business growth potential becomes limitless.

https://www.answerforce.com/floodlight

C&R Magazine is the industry’s oldest and longest-running media outlet. The team brings restorers all the current news, developments, education and resources that impact our business and the teams we lead. From print media to podcasts, C&R ensures the industry news you need is accessible from anywhere.

https://candrmagazine.com

Actionable Insights. The Actionable Xactimate Profile by Actionable Insights offers live guidance for more accurate and complete estimates in Xactimate, preventing costly errors and improving your team's workflow. It's an essential upgrade for enhanced estimating accuracy and efficiency.

https://getinsights.org/floodlight

Only 30% of businesses listed for sale actually find a buyer? Even more striking, just 10% of those sell for the price their owners anticipated or higher, meaning only 3% of all business owners achieve their desired sale price. By focusing on understanding and enhancing your enterprise value, you can significantly boost your chances of joining that successful 3%.

Start AssessmentKnow Your Enterprise Value. See Your Potential Gaps.

Complete this assessment in less than 15 minutes and receive a free assessment for your business that includes:

• A Lite Valuation Of Your Business
• Your Value Multiplier Per Your Industry
• Health Assessment Per Our PYB Methodology
• Business Value & Growth Roadmap Tailored For You
• Value Acceleration Strategies

Brandon here. Look — I get it. Financial episodes don’t usually light people’s hair on fire. But this one? This one’s different. Chris and I sat down with Jim Emerich and Melissa Zinni from Backbone CFO — and I walked away with real answers to questions I’ve been wrestling with in my own business.

This convo was way more than spreadsheets and P&Ls. We got into the real mindset traps that keep us stuck — and the strategic moves that can unlock margin and cash flow.

Why you should listen:

• (34:42) Why business owners freeze — and how to break through indecision.

• (41:42) Controller vs. CFO — know the difference, save your business.

• (13:40) Expanding locations? Avoid the cash flow sucker punch.

• (47:43) What 20% profit actually looks like — and how to get there.

• (57:52) How one company saved $50K by ditching a bloated setup.

• (51:15) Self-insurance and group captives — the financial hacks nobody’s using.

This one’s loaded with takeaways. If you're trying to scale smart and stop leaving money on the table, don't skip it.

Thank you sponsors!

Liftify is for restorers who are looking to accelerate their online reviews. Consistent and fresh Google Reviews are critical to growing your online presence and establishing trust with your brand. Don’t leave it to chance; partner with Liftify and let them capture the feedback your team has earned.

https://www.liftify.com/floodlight

AnswerForce transforms the restoration industry by providing round-the-clock answering solutions. Their skilled team ensures no call goes unanswered, capturing and qualifying leads, scheduling appointments, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Benefit from industry expertise, scalability, and customized scripting while saving costs compared to in-house solutions. With AnswerForce, your business growth potential becomes limitless.

https://www.answerforce.com/floodlight

C&R Magazine is the industry’s oldest and longest-running media outlet. The team brings restorers all the current news, developments, education and resources that impact our business and the teams we lead. From print media to podcasts, C&R ensures the industry news you need is accessible from anywhere.

https://candrmagazine.com

Actionable Insights. The Actionable Xactimate Profile by Actionable Insights offers live guidance for more accurate and complete estimates in Xactimate, preventing costly errors and improving your team's workflow. It's an essential upgrade for enhanced estimating accuracy and efficiency.

https://getinsights.org/floodlight

Only 30% of businesses listed for sale actually find a buyer? Even more striking, just 10% of those sell for the price their owners anticipated or higher, meaning only 3% of all business owners achieve their desired sale price. By focusing on understanding and enhancing your enterprise value, you can significantly boost your chances of joining that successful 3%.

Start AssessmentKnow Your Enterprise Value. See Your Potential Gaps.

Complete this assessment in less than 15 minutes and receive a free assessment for your business that includes:

• A Lite Valuation Of Your Business
• Your Value Multiplier Per Your Industry
• Health Assessment Per Our PYB Methodology
• Business Value & Growth Roadmap Tailored For You
• Value Acceleration Strategies

Hey friends, Brandon here. This one hit different. Chris and I sat down with Holden Looper, CEO of Blue Shield Environmental and second-gen leader in the Southeast Restoration family. Still in his 20s, Holden’s already building something of his own — with a foundation of grit, integrity, and values that run deep in his family’s business.

We talked legacy, leadership, and how to do family business in a way that actually works. If you're navigating the generational handoff or raising kids in the business, this episode is a blueprint for how to do it with intention.

[00:04:00] – Thrown Into the Fire (Literally)

[00:13:00] – Transparency at Home

[00:41:45] – Launching Blue Shield Environmental

[00:51:24] – Advice for Family Businesses

Thank you sponsors!

Liftify is for restorers who are looking to accelerate their online reviews. Consistent and fresh Google Reviews are critical to growing your online presence and establishing trust with your brand. Don’t leave it to chance; partner with Liftify and let them capture the feedback your team has earned.

https://www.liftify.com/floodlight

AnswerForce transforms the restoration industry by providing round-the-clock answering solutions. Their skilled team ensures no call goes unanswered, capturing and qualifying leads, scheduling appointments, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Benefit from industry expertise, scalability, and customized scripting while saving costs compared to in-house solutions. With AnswerForce, your business growth potential becomes limitless.

https://www.answerforce.com/floodlight

C&R Magazine is the industry’s oldest and longest-running media outlet. The team brings restorers all the current news, developments, education and resources that impact our business and the teams we lead. From print media to podcasts, C&R ensures the industry news you need is accessible from anywhere.

https://candrmagazine.com

Actionable Insights. The Actionable Xactimate Profile by Actionable Insights offers live guidance for more accurate and complete estimates in Xactimate, preventing costly errors and improving your team's workflow. It's an essential upgrade for enhanced estimating accuracy and efficiency.

https://getinsights.org/floodlight

Only 30% of businesses listed for sale actually find a buyer? Even more striking, just 10% of those sell for the price their owners anticipated or higher, meaning only 3% of all business owners achieve their desired sale price. By focusing on understanding and enhancing your enterprise value, you can significantly boost your chances of joining that successful 3%.

Start AssessmentKnow Your Enterprise Value. See Your Potential Gaps.

Complete this assessment in less than 15 minutes and receive a free assessment for your business that includes:

• A Lite Valuation Of Your Business
• Your Value Multiplier Per Your Industry
• Health Assessment Per Our PYB Methodology
• Business Value & Growth Roadmap Tailored For You
• Value Acceleration Strategies

Hey friends this is Chris. In this episode, Brandon and I dive into the unique internal culture of 1Tom Plumber alongside guests Leah Hanlon (one of the OGs from Icon Restoration) and Alvaro Leal (Rocky's right-hand man). This isn’t just a recap of a Discovery Day or another 1Tom Plumber promo—it's a transparent look behind the curtain at how intentional culture creation drives growth, team loyalty, and operational excellence. There's a lot of real talk about leadership, trust, "failing forward," and fostering a tight-knit work family.

[00:08:23] – Why Employees Stay (Leah’s Perspective)

[00:15:25] – Fail Forward Culture

[00:38:51] – Working Interviews: Secret Weapon

[00:51:56] – Hiring Systems and Final Takeaways

Thank you sponsors!

Liftify is for restorers who are looking to accelerate their online reviews. Consistent and fresh Google Reviews are critical to growing your online presence and establishing trust with your brand. Don’t leave it to chance; partner with Liftify and let them capture the feedback your team has earned.

https://www.liftify.com/floodlight

AnswerForce transforms the restoration industry by providing round-the-clock answering solutions. Their skilled team ensures no call goes unanswered, capturing and qualifying leads, scheduling appointments, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Benefit from industry expertise, scalability, and customized scripting while saving costs compared to in-house solutions. With AnswerForce, your business growth potential becomes limitless.

https://www.answerforce.com/floodlight

C&R Magazine is the industry’s oldest and longest-running media outlet. The team brings restorers all the current news, developments, education and resources that impact our business and the teams we lead. From print media to podcasts, C&R ensures the industry news you need is accessible from anywhere.

https://candrmagazine.com

Actionable Insights. The Actionable Xactimate Profile by Actionable Insights offers live guidance for more accurate and complete estimates in Xactimate, preventing costly errors and improving your team's workflow. It's an essential upgrade for enhanced estimating accuracy and efficiency.

https://getinsights.org/floodlight

Only 30% of businesses listed for sale actually find a buyer? Even more striking, just 10% of those sell for the price their owners anticipated or higher, meaning only 3% of all business owners achieve their desired sale price. By focusing on understanding and enhancing your enterprise value, you can significantly boost your chances of joining that successful 3%.

Start AssessmentKnow Your Enterprise Value. See Your Potential Gaps.

Complete this assessment in less than 15 minutes and receive a free assessment for your business that includes:

• A Lite Valuation Of Your Business
• Your Value Multiplier Per Your Industry
• Health Assessment Per Our PYB Methodology
• Business Value & Growth Roadmap Tailored For You
• Value Acceleration Strategies