Even without doing the testing and measuring that our high-performance approach requires, residential replacement equipment costs have skyrocketed. Air conditioning units that once cost $10,000 to replace now cost between $13,000 and $15,000. If we perform testing and measurements followed up with air upgrades and duct renovations, those costs go up by more than $3,000!

Other issues that impact our business is the high cost of interest on lines of credit, supplier strictness regarding on-time payments, workforce issues, and more make it more difficult than ever to be in this business today.

Make no mistake. Current trends create current issues for all of us.

The Gold at the End of the Rainbow

The good news is that though these issues create cash flow and other problems in the short term, they also open doors to other opportunities if you continue offering high-performance services and solving customer problems. Our brand and reputation are helping us weather these current storms and are setting the stage for tomorrow’s opportunities. At least for the team here at DiMarco, the key is facing the hard truths of today’s environment and setting the groundwork for tomorrow.

There will always be opportunities. Our job, as I see it, is to pivot when necessary to accommodate customer needs now, then refocus on processes and approaches that built our reputation in the first place.

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Ben DiMarco owns DiMarco and Associates, a $5 million+ commercial and residential contracting firm operating in the Northeastern Ohio marketing area. DiMarco is a longtime practitioner of High-Performance HVAC contracting who sees the training and practice as a return to craftsmanship and a servant leader dedicated to customers. He can be reached at ncilink.com/ContactMe.