Brian Cvetezar
In the pace of business life, we occasionally lose track of the basics. That is, the simple common-sense stuff that people expect, and we would expect of others. Occasionally, it is important to remind ourselves and our crews in meetings and morning huddles of the little things that can differentiate us and that customers expect and remember. The list below should be religion like doctrine in your concrete lifting business and rules drilled into your staff.
Prep Before You Leave the Shop
- Review the work before leaving the shop to ensure you have all materials you need (drill/saw/grinder/caulk/dye/etc).
- Before you roll, confirm your concrete lifting equipment is working, and job-ready.
Arrival & Timing
- Show up when you say you will — or call/text the day before if you’re running late.
- If the homeowner says “after 8:30 am because of kids/school,” respect it.
- Never arrive before 7:00 am unless explicitly told it’s okay (it almost never is in residential).
Communication
- Occasional 30-second updates to the homeowner if they are observing you: “The slabs are reacting well and we should be done by 3pm”
- If you do some damage you didn’t expect, tell someone immediately — before you take independent action. Do not try to hide it.
- Answer your phone/texts within an hour during the workday.
Cleanliness (This is the #1 complaint)
- Wash down, sweep or blow off the work area leaving it better than you found it.
- Never use the homeowners broom/ blower or hose without asking and return it clean to the exact position you found it.
- All trash you create goes in bags and with you for off-site disposal.
Noise & Dust Control
- No radio/bluetooth speaker above conversation level. AirPods exist for a reason.
- Warn the homeowner before you start anything loud (saw, drill).
Client’s House & Stuff (Inside Work)
- Do not walk on floors with mud/dirt on your boots — ever.
- Never use the client’s bathroom if you have mud, caulk, or other contaminants on your hands/clothes.
- Don’t eat or drink in the client’s home without permission.
- If you move furniture, put it back exactly where it was originally.
Parking & Access
- Park your concrete lifting equipment where you’re told — not blocking the neighbor, mailbox, or driveway.
- Don’t throw cigarette butts in the yard or street (yes, people still notice).
Other Trades
- Don’t touch another trade’s tools or materials without asking.
- If you accidentally damage something another trade did, own it immediately and report it.
Wrap-Up & Closeout
- Walk through the job with the customer after completion. If the customer is not home, call or text to tell them how the job went and thank them.
- Complete the job in Estimate Rocket before heading to the next job.
- If you’re running a concrete lifting system, leave the site cleaner than you found it.
Red Flags That You’re “That Guy”
- Blaming other trades or coworkers for problems in front of a homeowner.
• Showing up with an “attitude.” - Parking your concrete slab lifting trailer/van so the homeowner or neighbor can’t get out of their own driveways.
- Saying “That’s not my job.”
The crews that follow these simple common-sense rules get rewarded with referrals and a lot more. The ones who don’t… get replaced by someone who does.
