1. Close Out Open Opportunities Before Winter

Now is the time to revisit any estimates or inquiries from the spring and summer that didn’t close. Reach out to those potential clients and remind them that winter is fast approaching. Stress the importance of protecting their homes from the harsh winter weather, and offer to squeeze them into your schedule before the season ends. If they’re hesitant, take the time to address their concerns—whether it’s about cost, design, or timing. You can even use design tools like Renoworks Pro to show them a visual of how the project will look. Avoid jumping straight to discounts; instead, offer value by addressing their specific concerns.

2. Document Completed Projects with After Photos

Fall provides the perfect conditions for capturing high-quality after photos of your completed projects. The grass is still green, and the weather is mild, making for great-looking images. Be sure to get your clients’ permission to use these photos in your marketing efforts. Over the slower winter months, you can build a library of stunning visuals for your website, social media, and promotional materials. If you’ve been using design tools, such as Renoworks Pro, include before-and-after shots to show the transformation from concept to completion.

3. Ensure No Loose Ends on Summer Projects

Before winter hits, make sure all your summer projects are wrapped up. The last thing you want is to leave a big job half-finished when the weather turns harsh, forcing you to put it on hold until spring. Double-check with your clients to ensure they’re satisfied and that all work is complete. This will save you from headaches later on and provide peace of mind as you head into the slower months.

4. Revisit and Improve Your Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Now that the busy season is winding down, it’s an excellent time to review how your operations went this year. Gather your team and discuss what worked well and what didn’t. Were there inefficiencies that slowed you down or processes that need improvement? Taking the time to revisit your Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) while the season is fresh in your mind allows you to make adjustments that will boost efficiency next year.

5. Strengthen Your Online Presence with Reviews and Referrals

Positive reviews and referrals are gold for any contractor’s business, especially as you gear up for a new year. Now is the time to reach out to your summer clients and ask for online reviews. Consider offering small jobs at a lower price or even for free in exchange for a 5-star review. You can also create a referral program, offering incentives like gift cards for every new customer referral. Building a strong online reputation now will pay off in the long run when potential clients search for contractors in the spring.

6. Prepare Your Marketing Materials for Next Season

The slower fall and winter months are perfect for refining your marketing strategy. Use the time to update your website, create new promotional materials, and plan your social media content. Make sure your messaging is clear, your photos are high-quality, and your branding is consistent. If you’ve been using design software like Renoworks Pro, use these visuals to create engaging content that showcases your work. Being proactive now will put you ahead of the game when the busy season kicks off again.

7. Winterize Your Equipment and Tools

Before the freezing temperatures hit, take stock of your equipment and tools. Make sure everything is cleaned, serviced, and properly stored to prevent damage during the cold months. This includes your vehicles, heavy machinery, and smaller tools that could suffer in harsh conditions. Winterizing your equipment now ensures that you won’t face unexpected repair costs or delays when you’re ready to get back to work in the spring.

St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District, already full of boutique, independent restaurants, bars, and retail outlets, has attracted another unique business in the form of Hostess, a micro-event space and gift shop set in a 1950s bungalow and created by owners Shelby Pletcher and Michelle Whiting, who cultivated an air of mystery around the establishment prior to its opening this week at 2635 Central Avenue.

“We’ve been very vague about everything thus far,” Pletcher says, “But honestly, it was pretty unintentional. We’ve just been working overtime to get the space ready and didn’t have the manpower to devote to marketing. Instead, we decided to soft open first and then launch marketing once images of Hostess were ready.”

Whiting and Pletcher, though, are known quantities. They own a clothing store called Canvas Fashion Gallery that has locations on 4th Street North in St. Pete and in Tampa’s Hyde Park Village. But Hostess, which will offer grab-and-go food, as well as wine and beer, for small gatherings, is a significant departure.

“This is a whole different arena for us to enter into,” Pletcher says. “A big part of our business will be events once the space is completely built out and furnished. It really was different from opening a clothing store … it was a little more complex.”

Hostess spans about 2,800 square feet, including the second-story office and storage space. Shoppers will find a selection of home décor for sale, and they’ll be able to drink a glass of vino from the wine bar while they peruse the store’s offerings.

“It will be anything you would bring as a hostess gift,” Pletcher says of the merchandise, “or something you need as a hostess. All the retail centers around that story.”

A painstaking level of attention to detail has gone into the furnishings and décor found at Hostess. For example, the space’s garden bar, which will offer nine distinct wine offerings, was originally the lobby bar from a boutique hotel in Thailand.

Whiting says the wine selection will consist of small-batch, unique varieties “that you can’t find all over town,” such as wines made by female vintners. The beverage menu will also include some beer selections from 3 Daughters Brewing in St. Pete.

“We’re trying to carve out a little niche,” she says. “When you see the space, the images, the content, it’s very women-centric but men are definitely welcome. Everyone is welcome.”

Lolita’s Wine Market, just a few blocks east on Central, will provide catering services for events held at Hostess, as well as a selection of pre-made food.

“There will be some carryout items,” as well, Pletcher says. “You can come in, shop, grab a little bit of bubbly and maybe a chicken salad croissant, go outside, and have lunch.”

Whiting and Pletcher have envisioned Hostess’s event space as an ideal venue for intimate gatherings such as bridal showers, baby showers, and birthday celebrations, but the entire house can be rented for larger events like cocktail parties.

“It feels homey and intimate, but it’s also elevated,” Pletcher says, adding that she and Whiting believe Hostess meets “a huge need” in St. Pete, which “doesn’t have a lot of options” for the type of events that their new business intends to draw.

Hostess’s normal retail hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Sunday retail hours will be noon to 5 p.m. Private micro events, however, can be booked for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturdays and Sundays. Maximum capacity for micro events is 24 but 50 for larger occasions.

The shop will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Follow Hostess on Instagram at @toastthehostess and visit their website at toastthehostess.com.

1.Wire Shelving

Wire shelving is a type of storage organization that uses shelves made of wire. It’s popularity is deserved because it is affordable, versatile, and easy to install. Wire shelving can be used in a variety of settings, including the home, office, garage, and more

2. Wall Pegboard

Pegboard is a type of hardboard with regularly spaced holes drilled into it. These holes are used to hold pegs or hooks from which various objects can be hung. Pegboard is commonly used in workshops and garages to organize tools and other equipment. It can also be used in the home for things like organizing keys, leashes, and other small items.

Pegboard is an easy way to add organization and storage to any space. It is versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. Whether you need a place to hang tools in your workshop or want to organize your keys and leashes, pegboard is a great solution.

3.Garage Cabinet

A garage cabinet is a storage system that helps to organize a garage by providing a place to store tools, equipment, and other items. Garage cabinets come in many different styles and can be made from various materials, such as wood, plastic, or metal.

Garage cabinets can be purchased at many home improvement stores or online. They typically come in standard sizes, but custom sizes are also available. Garage cabinets can be mounted on the wall or placed on the floor. When choosing a garage cabinet, it is important to consider the size of the garage and the type of items that will be stored in it.

4.Tool chest

Tool chests are a great way to get your garage or workshop organized. They provide a place to store your tools, so you can easily find them when you need them. Tool chests come in a variety of sizes and styles, so you can find one that fits your needs.

Tool chests are a great way to organize your tools. They provide a place to store your tools, so you can easily find them when you need them. Tool chests come in a variety of sizes and styles, so you can find one that fits your needs.

Tool chests are an essential piece of equipment for any garage or workshop. They provide a convenient way to store your tools, so you can always find them when you need them. Tool chests come in all shapes and sizes, so you can find one that fits your specific needs.

In conclusion, everyone can benefit from taking the time to organize their garage. By doing so, you can create more space, find items more easily, and protect your belongings from the elements. Additionally, an organized garage can help you sell your home more quickly and for a higher price. So if you’re looking to improve your home’s value and functionality, start with your garage.

Lawn care is an important part of keeping a home looking its best, but it can be time consuming and expensive.

In the next few years, there are a few items you can add to your lawn care routine to make your work easier and more efficient. I am choosing the best overall for all them. Here are four of them:

Lawn Mower

Ryobi. 20″ RY40190 40-Volt Brushless Lithium-Ion Cordless Battery Self Propelled Lawn Mower

Our best overall pick for most yards is the RYOBI 40-Volt Brushless Self-Propelled Mower.

• It holds its own against gas-powered models, has a 20-inch deck that mulches and bags, and an optional side-discharge chute (sold separately). It can run for up to 40 minutes per charge.

We sent this mower to our tester to try at home. They were particularly impressed by the power of the self-propelled feature and found that it could cut through thick, dense grass with ease. They also appreciated that there were seven cutting height options. While it was a breeze to push up hills, it was harder to maneuver around corners, though it’s so lightweight it’s easy to lift.

• In addition to power and versatility, this mower offers other great features, like high-intensity LED headlights that allow you to see better at dusk.

• The mower has an onboard battery storage compartment where you can stash an extra battery, so you can swap it out quickly if you need a charge in the middle of mowing.

We also love that it has handles that can adjust to your height, lock in place, and fold nicely for more compact storage.

Trimmer

The RYOBI 40V Expand-It Cordless Battery Edger

• lightweight cordless design that you could carry all around your yard.

• As a bonus, you can use its power head with other RYOBI Expand-It Attachments, making it a string trimmer, brush cutter, hedge trimmer, and more. The edger has an 8-inch dual serrated blade, and when it starts to dull, you can simply reverse the blade to extend its lifespan.

• The tool has a variable-speed trigger for increased control, and a guide wheel on the head of the tool helps you cut beautifully straight lines around your garden beds and walkways. 

• This battery-powered edger weighs less than 10 pounds, making it significantly lighter than many similar sized units, and its cutting depth extends to 6.5 inches.

The package includes a 40-volt 4Ah lithium-ion battery and charger, and you also can use the tool with batteries from other RYOBI tools you may own. A 3-year warranty backs the edger, and a 5-year warranty covers the power head. One downside: The tool creates clean, straight lines in most applications but can get clogged in wet or dense dirt.

Leaf Blower

Using a leaf blower can be cumbersome. For an electric blower that delivers powerful airflow, it’s hard to beat the Worx Turbine Corded Leaf Blower. It delivers air at speeds up to 110 MPH with an impressive 600 cubic feet per minute (CFM), which is enough to corral even wet leaves and gravel. Our tester found that she could move a good amount of leaves in far less time than it would take to rake or broom—”[It] made tidying up the patio, a task that would usually take 15 minutes with a broom, a 3-minute job.”

Chainsaw

While most battery-powered tools are best suited for quick, light-duty jobs, the EGO Power+ CS1401 is ready and willing to do more.

• A 56-volt lithium-ion battery powers its 6,300 rpm motor, and it has a 14-inch bar. Experts give it top marks for ease of use, handling, and cutting speed.

The CS1401 features a low-kickback design with a chain brake, tension adjustment, and a high-efficiency brushless motor.

• The battery can handle roughly 100 cuts on a single charge, and the battery recharges reasonably quickly. The tool is powerful enough to cut through limbs up to a foot thick—not too shabby for a battery model.

At nearly 12 pounds, this chainsaw is a bit heavier than some lighter-duty models. A five-year warranty backs it; the battery is warranted for three years.