Modern Craftsman

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System 1: Clarity Before Construction

Most construction projects don’t fail during construction. They fail long before that. They fail because of vague budgets, unqualified clients, rushed design, and decisions made without enough information. By the time the build starts, the risk is already baked in. This course exists to stop that. Clarity Before Construction teaches you how to run preconstruction as a real system, not a loose phase at the front of the job. You’ll learn how to lead clients earlier, control scope and budget before design runs away, and get paid for the work that actually protects your business. This is the same framework we use to qualify projects, structure preconstruction agreements, guide design teams, and convert aligned clients into profitable builds. It’s designed for builders who want fewer surprises, better projects, and more control over their time.

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System 2: Know Your Numbers

Most builders making $2M to $5M can't tell you their net profit margin within 5%. They have a bank balance. They have a P&L their bookkeeper sends once a quarter. They have a feeling about whether the last project made money. None of that is the same as knowing. Know Your Numbers is the financial system we use at NS Builders to know — in real time — exactly where every dollar is going on every project.

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System 3: Run The Build

Your projects don’t run themselves. They run through your phone, your superintendent’s text thread, and your inbox at 11 p.m. That’s not a project management system. That’s chaos with good intentions. Run the Build is the production system we use to run residential construction through documented processes. Not the owner’s memory. You’ll learn how to move from preconstruction to construction, build a master schedule, manage inspections, trades, change orders, client decisions, and project closeout with confidence. The course includes 16 proven templates, including a Production Kickoff Checklist, Master Schedule, Daily Site Checklist, 2-Week Look-Ahead, Change Order Log, Punch List, Project Closeout Checklist, and more. This is the system behind 12+ years of projects ranging from $1M to $10M+.

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System 4: Attract The Right Work

Most builders post their work and hope the right clients find them. That’s not a marketing strategy. Attract the Right Work is the lead generation system I built over 7+ years growing Modern Craftsman into a trusted brand that attracts builders, architects, homeowners, and real projects—without paid ads or chasing viral content. You’ll learn how to define your ideal client, position your business, create trust-building content, generate referrals, build relationships with architects and designers, qualify leads before they waste your time, and run discovery calls that convert prospects into paid preconstruction. The course includes 14 templates and frameworks you can implement immediately, plus a 90-day content plan to help you consistently attract better clients and better projects. This isn’t about going viral. It’s about building a reputation that brings the right work to you.

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System 5: Build The Team

You’re the bottleneck. Every decision runs through you. Every problem ends up on your phone. Your team waits for you before they move. Build the Team is the system Nick Schiffer used to grow NS Builders from a solo operation into a company that runs without him making every decision. You’ll learn how to build the right org chart, define clear roles and ownership, hire the right people, onboard them effectively, lead productive performance conversations, develop leaders, protect your culture, and know when it’s time to let someone go. The course includes 13 practical templates, including org charts, role definitions, job descriptions, interview frameworks, onboarding checklists, performance reviews, SOP templates, meeting agendas, and more. If you’re the bottleneck in your business, this is how you stop being one.

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The Complete Modern Craftsman System

The complete operating system for residential builders doing $1M–$10M. Five courses. 133+ lessons. 100+ templates. Everything you need to build a construction company that runs efficiently. Get all five for $3,996 — a $999 savings over buying them individually.

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