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PODCAST

Modern Craftsman

Modern Craftsman

The Modern Craftsman is a podcast for builders who think beyond the jobsite. Hosted by Nick Schiffer and Tyler Grace, this show explores what it takes to build a better business, a stronger team, and a more sustainable career in the trades. Each episode features real conversations about leadership, project management, client communication, team culture, mental resilience, and long-term success in construction. Whether you"re a carpenter scaling your company, a remodeler refining your process, or a

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

37:51

Ballpark Pricing Without Overcommitting

Modern Craftsman ·

2026/01/08

Ballpark pricing can save you hours or trap you in a number you never should've agreed to. Tyler lays out how to give ranges with real context, explain the cost drivers, and use early budget talk to qualify the right clients and move cleanly into precon. Show Notes:00:00 Don't Apologize 00:44 The Ballpark Question 04:14 SWAG & Scope 07:27 Give a Range 12:07 Cost Drivers 15:47 Lead Red Flags 26:01 From Ballpark to Precon 33:49 2026 Updates Video Version:https://youtu.be/TPk5pRKa7iY Partners:

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01:02:13

388 The Owner's Manual for Every Build

Modern Craftsman ·

2026/01/04

Most builders "finish" a job and disappear, but Nick and Tyler break down how to hand off a project like an owner's manual, with the right info in the right format so clients are supported without getting overwhelmed. They get into O&M manuals, 30/90 day check-ins, and how post-build care turns into fewer headaches and more referrals. Show Notes: 00:00 Owner's manual mindset 01:36 Sponsor reads 04:22 Platform switch & shop talk 05:21 Listener question: after the keys 12:45 Closeout standards and

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01:08:00

387 Busy Isn't Productive, Stop Multitasking Your...

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/12/29

Nick breaks down why his calendar can look "full" while the real priority list stays untouched, and how hiring an assistant forced him to protect time instead of feeding distractions. Tyler pushes on the bigger question: are we building systems to grow, or just cramming more into the same day for no payoff. Show Notes: 00:00 Too many balls 03:29 Inbox takeover 08:58 One thing focus 16:47 Busy vs productive 27:35 Precon time sinks 35:23 Buying your way in 44:05 Risk stories 50:33 Simple systems win

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33:25

How to Track a Job Budget in Real Time

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/12/25

Stay out of the cold with these hot budget tips as Tyler breaks down exactly how he budgets a real porch job, from the precon fee and deposit strategy to tracking every cost day by day. The big takeaway is how to communicate "extras" without panic, keep cashflow protected, and still finish strong without rushing. Show Notes:00:00 Cold office, hot topic 02:05 Precon fee and setting the budget 05:15 Deposits and staying out of the red 08:40 Daily tracking and invoice cycles 13:55 Calling out extras

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01:04:44

386 Jobsite Photos That Actually Work For You

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/12/21

Builders already have thousands of jobsite photos on their phones, but most of those shots are not protecting them, selling future work, or showing what they really do. In this episode we break down a simple way to use your phone, a few habits, and better organization so your photos become insurance, a sales tool, and a real portfolio instead of digital clutter. Show Notes: 00:00:00 The Shot That Saves You 00:04:20 Meet Dave 00:08:00 How This All Started 00:10:28 Photos That Win Work 00:12:47 CYA

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01:07:34

385 Stop Letting "Cool Details" Kill Your Margin

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/12/14

Nick and Tyler break down how line item budgets, tiered estimates, and value engineering actually protect you when clients start pushing on price and scope. From losing out on a five million dollar job after an eleven hour estimate to using that same work to land better projects, they talk through transparency, expectations, and how not to let your own standards wreck your profitability. Show Notes: 00:00 Cold Open, Winter 05:04 Sponsors and Setup 13:09 Cordless Tools Talk 15:19 Precon Tier 1 21:55

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40:02

Why Two Owners Need More Than 1.5x Work

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/12/11

Tyler answers a listener's question about two belt-on GCs teaming up in a 50-50 partnership and trying to keep things simple while still making real money. He breaks down how to price owner labor, define roles, track time, and protect both your margins and your friendship when you run a tiny company with two owners. Show Notes:00:00 Two owners, tiny company 05:26 Ryan's email setup 08:00 One and a half myth 10:19 Where you make money 13:00 Self perform vs subs 15:00 Pros and cons of partners 17:20

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01:23:25

384 Too Tired For Precon, Too Broke To Skip It

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/12/08

Nick and Tyler break down how they use preconstruction to protect the architect's vision, keep clients on budget, and avoid the usual bid and bleed disaster. They get into real numbers, value engineering that is not just stripping scope, and how to track the everyday inefficiencies that quietly kill your profit. Show Notes: 00:00 Hidden inefficiencies 00:18 Precon and race recap 01:18 Sponsor break 08:47 Tyler's race story 16:12 What precon really is 18:42 Design build vs precon 22:10 Tier one

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35:26

What I'd Do Differently If I Started My Business Today

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/11/27

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

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57:31

383 Money, Anxiety, and Mental Health in the Trades

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/11/23

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

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32:36

382 Stop Wasting Time on the Wrong Leads

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/11/16

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

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28:43

It's Not the Lattes. It's the Math.

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/11/13

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

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01:02:21

381 Should You Stay in Your Lane?

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/11/09

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

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39:44

What I've Learned Since Buying the Excavator

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/11/06

A follow-up to the first excavator video—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. 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:

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28:57

Stop Pricing by Square Foot - You're losing so much...

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/10/30

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

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01:02:02

How we actually price a job

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/10/26

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

en

23:52

I Tried to Scale Up and Hated It

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/10/23

Tyler lays out why he still self-performs—from demo and drainage to framing and trim—and where he draws the line with subs, risk, and bandwidth. We get into scaling by margin instead of volume, keeping quality tight when you’re the one on the tools, and how to make a good living without taking the belt off. Show Notes: 00:00 Keep the belt on and make a living 02:01 Screened porch demo grading and concrete sub 05:16 Framing plan and roof timing 09:43 One job at a time and scale by margin 15:51 Frame

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01:03:35

Stop Overbuilding What You Can’t Maintain

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/10/19

From airtight envelopes to oversized HVAC, the guys unpack the sexy internet details versus what actually survives install and warranty. They get into service cavities, exterior insulation, window boxes, and why simplifying details, coordinating early, and charging to manage risk keeps you out of trouble. Show Notes: 00:00 Perfection Doesn’t Scale 04:44 Hiring: Attitude vs Skill 12:59 When a Great Fit Stops Fitting 39:54 HVAC Reality: Gear That Doesn’t Fit 42:43 Energy Code vs Exterior Insulation

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29:01

Why "No" is a Magic Word (and why you should say it...

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/10/16

Dependability is the quiet backbone of every project—show up, follow through, communicate. Tyler breaks down how to be the person no one has to chase: say “no” to protect your best “yes,” model reliability for your crew, build simple systems, and rebuild trust when you drop the ball. Show Notes: Dependability in Leadership and Business (0:00) Contractor Coalition Summit Announcement (1:25) Personal Commitment to Dependability (3:25) Dependability in Business and Employment (8:43) Leadership and

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23:10

Kids on Construction: Not Just for Boys

Modern Craftsman ·

2025/10/09

Three elementary-schoolers sound off on work, the trades, and whether construction is “just for boys.” Tyler turns their unfiltered takes into a reminder to open doors early and make the jobsite welcoming to everyone. Show Notes: 00:00 Cold open: “You’re capable” 03:02 What do adults actually do at work? 06:23 What is “construction,” in their words 09:31 Is construction just for boys? 11:02 Tyler on inclusion & respect on site 17:25 Starting a company: passion vs business 18:22 Advice for grown-ups

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246 results

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