Tyler answers a listener email about what he'd do differently if he were starting his business today, beyond just setting up insurance, lawyers, and an LLC. He digs into why chasing "sexy" high-end projects can crush your margins, how T&M and paid pre-con changed his business, and why the less you work, the more you can actually make when your systems and numbers are dialed.

The Preconstruction Course: Click Here

Show Notes:

00:00 What I'd Do Differently Starting Today
03:59 Chasing Sexy Projects Instead Of Profit
08:42 Scaling Back And Resetting The Business
12:30 Dialing In Pre Con Overhead And Job Type
21:56 Forty Hours Vs Eighty Hours For The Same Pay
27:00 The Three Levers Of Profit In A Small Shop
30:28 Learn To Walk Before You Run Your Company

Video Version:

https://youtu.be/kpu9RmFKCwQ

Partners:

Andersen Windows

Buildertrend

Harnish Workwear

Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear

The Modern Craftsman:

linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast

Find Our Hosts:

Nick Schiffer

Tyler Grace

Podcast Produced By:

Motif Media

This episode gets real about money stress, comparison, and the head noise that comes with trying to run a construction business and still show up at home. We talk through how we handle the dark season — from boundaries and better systems to finding people you can actually be honest with.

Show Notes:

00:00 Intro, sponsors and setup
04:10 Why we are talking about mental health
05:35 Comparison trap and feeling behind
09:44 Money stress and your relationship with cash
16:07 Why this season hits builders so hard
24:20 Taking inventory, boundaries and time off
30:14 All in on the 45 White Oak project
35:00 Serving others without chasing every upside
45:13 Diversifying work and reducing risk
51:01 You are not alone in this
56:10 Precon course offer and wrap up

Video Version:

https://youtu.be/0oyG44Xtgfo

Partners:

Andersen Windows

Buildertrend

Harnish Workwear

Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear

The Modern Craftsman:

linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast

Find Our Hosts:

Nick Schiffer

Tyler Grace

Podcast Produced By:

Motif Media

Nick and Tyler sit down live at CCS in Chicago to walk through how they go from 100 inquiries to one real client and why risk is the number one reason people never build. They break down self-qualifying leads, budget reality checks, and using precon and VE to protect both your business and the homeowner before anyone signs.

Show Notes:

00:00 Why clients don't build
04:48 Live from CCS in Chicago
05:58 From lead gen to lead conversion
09:28 Getting clients to self-qualify
18:00 When the budget and scope don't match
22:09 Using precon to de-risk the job
30:33 Converting right way

Video Version:

https://youtu.be/o_huhOG3FMU

Partners:

Andersen Windows

Buildertrend

Harnish Workwear

Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear

The Modern Craftsman:

linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast

Find Our Hosts:

Nick Schiffer

Tyler Grace

Podcast Produced By:

Motif Media

Tyler tears into the "stop buying lattes" take and runs the numbers that actually break buyers and clients. The squeeze lands on builders too - changing bids, quality, and what projects even pencil out.

Show Notes:

00:00 The meme and why it's off
04:00 Life costs vs "coffee" costs
06:30 1981 starter home vs today's code & specs
07:25 Rates, prices, and the real math
10:35 How this hits builders and quality
12:05 Healthcare, childcare, and budgets
13:45 Remodel numbers that don't work
16:10 Myths Tyler hears vs reality on site
20:00 The human toll and what needs to change
27:50 Wrap-up

Video Version:
https://youtu.be/qJxBE_2G6t4

Partners:

Andersen Windows

Buildertrend

Harnish Workwear

Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear

The Modern Craftsman:

linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast

Find Our Hosts:

Nick Schiffer

Tyler Grace

Podcast Produced By:

Motif Media

The guys dig into the real split between self-performing and running a GC outfit and what actually moves a build when design runs headfirst into the schedule. From Bugatti-level brand lessons to field fixes (bracing, factory edges, install expectations), this one's about picking a lane and building like you mean it.

Show Notes:
Anderson Windows and Big Doors Promotion (0:00)
Builder Trend and Client Management (2:13)
Harnish Workwear and Personal Experiences (3:47)
Self-Performing vs. General Contractor (5:42)
Building the Bugatti of Homes (8:50)
Balancing Hands-On Work and Management (17:58)
Efficiency and Learning from Mistakes (19:56)
Project Management and Communication (39:46)
Balancing Quality and Efficiency (47:50)
Personal Reflections and Future Goals (52:01)

Video Version:

https://youtu.be/HNd4rd6yFVQ

Partners:

Andersen Windows

Buildertrend

Harnish Workwear

Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear

The Modern Craftsman:

linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast

Find Our Hosts:

Nick Schiffer

Tyler Grace

Podcast Produced By:

Motif Media

A follow-up to the first excavator episode—now that it's seen real use. Tyler shares what's working, what surprised him, and what he'd rethink after owning and running it for a while.

First excavator episode: Is An Excavator Actually Worth It?

Show Notes:
Initial Investment and Purchase Details (0:00)
Financing and Tax Benefits (3:56)
Usage and Maintenance (5:59)
Cost Considerations and Insurance (32:58)
Operational Efficiency and Tax Strategy (33:44)
Consulting and Future Plans (37:49)

Video Version:
https://youtu.be/6lnrWjeBQ20

Partners:

Andersen Windows

Buildertrend

Harnish Workwear

Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear

The Modern Craftsman:

linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast

Find Our Hosts:

Nick Schiffer

Tyler Grace

Podcast Produced By:

Motif Media

Pricing by square foot is how budgets blow up. Tyler breaks down the real process—scope first, design up front, WAGs, SWAGs, and contingency noted so the numbers hold once you hit the job.

Show Notes:
00:00 Understanding client priorities and personal update
01:35 Consulting call and estimating process
02:54 Client communication and zoning variance
06:07 Budget creation and design iterations
07:24 Detailed budgeting and cost tracking
09:01 Handling unexpected costs and client communication
13:23 Scope of work and subcontractor coordination
17:08 Managing client expectations and budget adjustments
20:00 Pre-construction and design consulting
26:44 Contractor Coalition Summit and affordability

Video Version:

https://youtu.be/KqBLZFtHACs

Partners:

Andersen Windows

Buildertrend

Harnish Workwear

Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear

The Modern Craftsman:

linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast

Find Our Hosts:

Nick Schiffer

Tyler Grace

Podcast Produced By:

Motif Media

The guys get into the messy reality of pricing—no templates, no magic—just expectations, scope, and the triangle of quality, budget, and time. We cover scope gaps, site protection, and how pre-con (plus a little AI) de-risks the job so your estimate actually matches how the work gets built.

Show Notes:
00:00:00 Intro & our awesome sponsors
00:05:22 Sick kids and water bottles
00:08:51 Welcome & rapid-fire plan
00:09:51 Estimating process overview
00:13:45 Row house example & takeoffs workflow
00:17:21 Automation vs AI in estimating
00:21:17 Using AI as an assistant, not a black box
00:31:21 Who owns scope gaps
00:43:47 Site protection that actually protects
00:47:31 Client fit and non-negotiables
00:53:13 Attracting the right clients
00:56:53 Precon course & Summit invite
01:01:46 Modern Craftsman tee & sign-off

Video Version:

https://youtu.be/A1BPmpmv_vQ

Partners:

Andersen Windows

Buildertrend

Harnish Workwear

Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear

The Modern Craftsman:

linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast

Find Our Hosts:

Nick Schiffer

Tyler Grace

Podcast Produced By:

Motif Media