Blog

When you start to bid on jobs for clients, you may realize immediately that communication is key. If you ask questions in the right way, you will get better answers. Here are a few tips to help your clients communicate what they expect from the project. Start With Goals for the Project As you start talking to customers, you will …
Continue reading →

When you start your contracting business, you have to make some practical decisions about purchasing or renting equipment. With these tips, you can make a useful long-term investment for your business. What Is the Cost to Rent vs Buy? The first aspect you want to determine is cost, since what you pay matters a great deal for your bottom line. …
Continue reading →

Construction is a competitive field with an amazing amount of growth potential. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that construction jobs will increase in number about 5-10 percent by 2024. This means that the industry is growing faster than the average, with average pay about 17 percent higher than the national average. Licensed workers in some positions are …
Continue reading →

Working on an existing building requires extra care, to avoid damaging anything that is already there or may be brought onto the property. Insurance is key to keeping everything in the project moving smoothly, even when you literally hit an obstacle. With these tips, you can inform your clients about the practical uses of builder’s risk insurance, and whether or …
Continue reading →

Busy contractors spend most of their day out in the field where they work more with tools than with people. In a busy day, customer communications can easily fall by the wayside, leading to poor client relationships and customer disputes. These tips will help you avoid disputes with customers and develop productive relationships with your clients. Talk First, Email Second …
Continue reading →

Many people turn to the contracting industry because they want to be their own boss, instead of work for someone else. Contracting is a great way to earn a living while improving people’s lives and experiencing something different every day. Try these 10 tips to grow your contracting business and find success in the long term. 1. Join a Professional …
Continue reading →

In the construction business, change is a constant. Construction is impacted by the economy, the real estate market, home design, and much more. You’ll weather the market shifts with less stress if you have one or more niches in which you specialize. Learn why niches are key and how to choose your niche. Why Every Contractor Needs a Niche There …
Continue reading →

Experienced contractors groan when they hear the phrase “scope creep.” They know that this little term spells headaches, late nights, and long conversations with clients until the difference in your visions is resolved. Learn what scope creep means, why it’s a contractor’s nightmare, and how to prevent it in your jobs. What is Scope Creep? Scope creep refers to the …
Continue reading →

As a general contractor, you can earn a median income of $89,300 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Whether you’re switching careers or finishing up a contractor education, learn what skills are necessary to find success as a contractor.
Continue reading →

While modular homes are not new, experts are forecasting they will claim a larger market share in the future. Since modular homes are becoming more popular, what do builders need to know about working with prefab homes vs. conventional homes? Why Consumers Are Choosing Modular Homes   Compared with a new construction home, modular homes have a cheaper price point. …
Continue reading →

Think back to your old studying habits in high school. How well did they work? If you are like most people, your favorite method of studying was to read the book, look up what you didn’t understand, and hope like heck you could remember the material when test time came around. Does this sound familiar? If so, you are one …
Continue reading →

2017 is expected to be a booming year for the construction industry with single family homes leading the way. In this blog, we review the predictions and make a few of our own. Much of the US Housing market is strong, and in many states such as California, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Idaho, the housing market has fully recovered …
Continue reading →

The B2B business connection between one contractor and another is not about competition but about creating a better end product and improved customer satisfaction. It is also about developing win-win relationships that boost your business and the business of your B2B partners. Keep reading to learn why this is important. The Customer and Marketing You might have noticed in recent years …
Continue reading →

An article that appeared in Fortune points out that Airbnb is on target to profit by $3 Billion by 2020. That is a lot of growth and something on which contractors should focus. There are a lot of construction opportunities around hot industries such as the travel industry which Airbnb is driving. How many construction opportunities do you miss? Do You Have …
Continue reading →

Throughout your career, you’ll probably receive a large pile of invitations, notices, advertisements, and other mail for this conference or that symposium demanding that you REGISTER TODAY! So, you can pay an “early bird” ticket price now, rather than a more expensive “at the door” price later. But why should you go anyway? You’ve got better things to do and …
Continue reading →

There are many opportunities in the construction industry, and many of those opportunities are perfect for small businesses and new construction companies. Is specialization right for you?  In this blog, we discuss some of the considerations of starting a construction company that specializes. What’s Your Passion? Someone once said when your job is doing what you love, it isn’t work. Do …
Continue reading →

A home-based construction company is clearly not going to work well out of an apartment but for some property owners, home based is the perfect location for starting a small construction company. In fact, there are many benefits for starting small at home and building your empire. Inside, we look at a few of these benefits so you can start …
Continue reading →

A home-based construction company is clearly not going to work well out of an apartment but for some property owners, home based is the perfect location for starting a small construction company. In fact, there are many benefits for starting small at home and building your empire. Inside, we look at a few of these benefits so you can start …
Continue reading →

It’s July, and we’re in the thick of summer now.  The days are longer, the sun is hotter, and that means the dangers of heat stress and heat-related illness are on the rise.  In California we have extra hot summers where more daylight hours should mean more productivity, but the extreme heat index and humidity have different plans.  Acknowledging this …
Continue reading →

Good news! The construction industry future is looking bright – commercial, residential, and industrial construction specialty lines are reporting strong year-over-year growth and forecasting steady increases in total projects and revenue into the foreseeable future. This sounds great on paper and it has many construction professionals charging ahead to grow their operations while the numbers are good and the outlook …
Continue reading →