Most contractors did not intentionally build a complicated software stack. It just happened over time. One platform handled leads. Another handled quoting. Someone added a scheduling app. Accounting lived somewhere else. Then came customer communication tools, an app for jobsite photos, one for taking payments, spreadsheets, retailer portals, and mobile apps for crews in the […]
The Contractor Tech Stack Problem Nobody Talks About Read More »
The first quarter earnings reports from Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, and other major suppliers are starting to paint a clearer picture of where the home improvement industry is heading. The broad slowdown many contractors feared has not fully materialized. At the same time, this is not a booming market driven by large discretionary remodels
Q1 2026 Earnings: What the Big Boxes and Suppliers Are Signaling to Contractors Read More »
Last week at FAST Remodeler Live in Nashville, we walked the sponsor floor. The pattern was hard to miss. AI marketing platforms. Lead generation. Financing tools. All-in-one CRMs promising to do everything from first call to final invoice. Nearly every vendor at the event was selling something to help a contractor win more work. Very
The Industry Is Selling Contractors the Wrong Software Read More »
by Nick Mraz – Cilio Pro Advisor Every disconnected tech stack started with good intentions. Someone needed a better way to manage leads. They bought a tool. Someone else needed to track job status. They bought another tool. The estimating process was a mess, so they added a quoting platform. A new manager came in
A Pro Advisor Perspective: The Shiny Object Graveyard Read More »
By Paul Wyman | A Cilio Pro Advisor A few weeks ago I had a tree contractor come out to repair some irrigation damage in my yard. He showed up, looked at the damage, and told me he did not have the right PVC elbow on his truck to fix it. The job was incomplete.
A Pro Advisor Perspective: When Nobody Can Make the Call Read More »
If you’ve worked within Lowe’s installation programs for any length of time, you’ve likely noticed the same pattern. When a job goes poorly, the customer completes the survey. When a job goes well, you hear nothing. The result is a response rate that hovers around three percent, with feedback that often skews negative. That creates
Why Lowe’s Customers Don’t Complete LTR Surveys (and What to Do About It) Read More »
By Horacio Galaviz | Cilio PRO Advisor | Former VP of Operations, Eclipse Flooring I have managed subcontractor networks for eleven years. At different points, more directly. At others, more indirectly. But always, the same truth held. The network is not a support function. It is the business. Everything the customer experiences flows through the installer at the door.
A Pro Advisor Perspective: The Subcontractor Network Is Your Business Read More »
“Why are we staying busy but not making more money?” It’s a question a lot of contractors are asking right now. Crews are working. Jobs are getting done. But when you look at the numbers, something feels off. In many cases, the issue isn’t the work you’re winning. It’s what happens after the sale, when
How Contractors Lose Profits After the Sale Read More »
On March 19th, 2026, Cilio hosted a webinar titled “Leads, Labor & Lending.” The session brought together (6) industry experts to help home services contractors navigate a market that feels more unpredictable than ever. Gary White, VP at Installations Made Easy, provided current housing and retail trends. Josh, CEO of Toolbelt, spoke about workforce and labor capacity. Ken Conway from Bayview Financial/Fastlane Lending shared insights on lending and
Leads, Labor and Lending: The Three Pillars Every Contractor Must Master in 2026 Read More »
By Paul Wyman Over the past three decades I’ve worked with installation contractors across the country through national programs at both The Home Depot and Lowe’s Companies, Inc.. During that time, I’ve seen small contractors grow into large regional providers. I’ve also seen capable companies struggle and eventually walk away from big box work altogether.
