Qualified Remodeler’s TOP 500 LIVE 2025 arrived at a pivotal moment for the home improvement industry. This year’s event didn’t simply showcase trends. It revealed a sector actively re-architecting how it operates. For scaling remodelers, the conversations signaled a shift toward long-term stability, modernized systems, and leadership strategies capable of navigating rapid change.
We spoke with improveit 360’s Product Manager, Brendon Willenkamp, who attended key sessions, collaborated with industry leaders, and observed the tone of the event firsthand. His reflections point to an industry that is evolving with intention.
A Candid Atmosphere Reflecting a Transforming Market
The energy at this year’s conference was unmistakably different. While engagement remained high, conversations carried a deeper level of introspection.
The recent Renovo shutdown — along with broader concerns about private equity disruption — cast a quiet but persistent shadow over the event. Leaders were highly tuned in to risk, resilience, and structural vulnerabilities inside their own organizations.
But beneath that seriousness, something else was equally clear:
“Attendees were still overwhelmingly optimistic about the future. The energy was strong, and there was a noticeable increase in newer companies attending compared to past years,” Willenkamp said.
The overall takeaway? The landscape may be shifting, but the opportunity to grow has never been stronger for organizations willing to adapt.
AI: An Operational Mandate
If the industry’s concerns shaped the tone, AI shaped the content.
AI wasn’t simply pinned as a trend. It was discussed as a force multiplier across productivity, customer experience, and business resilience.
“The recurring theme was how companies can adapt, understand, and operationalize AI within their business,” Willenkamp said. “It created a mix of both excitement and uncertainty as teams try to determine where AI can truly add value and how quickly they need to adopt it.”
For larger organizations, the questions have evolved well beyond “What is AI?” They now revolve around:
- How do we modernize legacy processes in a sustainable way?
- What does responsible, practical AI adoption look like in remodeling?
- How do we prepare our data, teams, and systems for continual AI evolution?
These are not theoretical questions. They are strategic imperatives.
Transparency as a Competitive Strategy
Marcus Sheridan’s session, They Ask, You Answer in the Age of AI, resonated strongly with enterprise attendees. His thesis challenged remodelers to rethink how they communicate with homeowners. Not just to improve marketing, but to enable AI-driven search to reflect their businesses accurately.
For organizations managing large volumes of leads and complex sales cycles, this transparency translates into:
- Sharper demand capture
- Improved digital authority
- Reduced friction in early customer interactions
- Stronger alignment between brand promise and customer experience
Sheridan’s message was practical, strategic. and highly relevant for remodelers scaling nationally or regionally.
Efficiency, Modernization, and Organizational Resilience
One of the clearest patterns from the event was a shift in executive mindset. Leaders are no longer solely focused on chasing volume or expansion. They’re instead investing in:
1. Operational Efficiency at Scale
Scaling remodelers are actively trying to eliminate workflow bottlenecks and bring clarity to complex team structures.
2. Modernized Customer Journeys
Homeowners expect more transparency, faster communication, and digital simplicity. Larger companies are working to meet those expectations without adding strain to internal teams.
3. Business Resilience
Recent market events emphasized the importance of system reliability, platform independence, and operational predictability.
As our Product Manager shared: “Another interesting observation was how many owners are thinking about resilience — from economic uncertainty to staffing to dependency on third-party platforms. There’s a heightened focus on building sustainable, predictable growth rather than just chasing volume.”
For organizations with ambitious growth plans, these insights are critical.
A Moment of Reinvention for Industry Leaders
Perhaps the strongest signal from QR TOP 500 LIVE was the collective readiness to evolve. Despite uncertainty, the industry’s resilience — and drive to create something stronger and more future-ready — was unmistakable.
Willenkamp said, “TOP 500 LIVE felt like a moment of reflection and reinvention for the industry—acknowledging recent challenges while leaning heavily into opportunities around AI, efficiency, and customer experience. The optimism and energy throughout the event made it clear that contractors are ready to evolve.”
This mindset mirrors the direction of the industry’s most successful remodelers. Adaptive, data-driven, operationally disciplined, and prepared for what comes next.
Build Systems That Support Smarter Growth
For scaling remodelers, the path forward is becoming clearer:
- Invest in visibility across the entire organization
- Strengthen operational consistency through intelligent automation
- Evaluate system dependencies and build resilience
- Modernize the customer journey to meet changing expectations
- Integrate AI intentionally, not reactively
improveit 360 exists to support that journey. Built on Salesforce and engineered for remodelers who have outgrown “good enough.” Our platform helps leaders run smarter, scale more intentionally, and gain the clarity needed to grow with confidence.
Ready to see how improveit 360 equips your organization for tomorrow? Schedule a demo today.