It’s no secret the building industry expects many challenges in the coming years. Long lead times for supplies and material shortages are likely to continue. Economic uncertainty and discussions of a recession are top of mind. Then, there’s labor. A recent analysis by the Associated Builders and Contractors estimates that the industry will need to hire 650,000 workers to keep pace with buyer demand. Shortages are impacting project scope, budgets and timelines. To meet demand, construction businesses are being forced to get creative. Some businesses are recognizing the need for a change in mind ..read more

So many YouTube videos, so little time. With 500 hours of content uploaded every minute to the video-sharing platform, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. We want to help you get to the quality content – and quickly. The type that helps motivate and strengthen your business. Lucky for you, with more than 51 million active content creators on the social media site, there’s plenty of construction YouTube channels to choose from. Here are 12 of our picks. They’re a great place to start to learn new skills, see some awesome work and just be entertained. Matt Risinger and&n ..read more

You just received building plans, and it’s time for you to sit down and start measuring. Rulers in hand and pencils at the ready, you sit down to start your calculations. But every time your pencil hits paper, the phone rings and you have to break focus.  “[Manual takeoff] is very laborious, it takes a lot of time to put those together … anybody that’s done that before is probably having flashbacks of how terrible it is,” jokes David Livingston, estimating and takeoff specialist, on an episode of “The Better Way.” Doing everything by hand takes a lot of work. You’re double-checking calcul ..read more

An inconsistent approach to client payments can mean headaches for your financial team or accountant. Apart from messing up cash flow, you could be putting yourself at risk for an unbalanced general ledger, payment disputes, liability and poor customer satisfaction. You could even experience loss of future business from repeat customers or word-of-mouth referrals. No one wants that. To avoid these dangers, we’ve put together a list of things to do – and things to avoid – to ensure financial success every time. Do: Create a customer contract agreement We can’t stress enough the importance of ha ..read more

Contrary to popular opinion, turning a lead into a paying client doesn’t solely rely on the initial meeting. In fact, 80% of sales require five follow-ups after that first point of contact. What is a sales follow-up? It’s how you reach out to a potential client after your initial meeting to encourage them to become a paying customer. Sure, you could rely on automated email campaigns or generic phone messages to reach those necessary five follow-ups. However, if that’s your strategy, it could be too impersonal – or even a little boring. Don’t let the competition sweep your potential clients off ..read more

Nationwide, industries are feeling the strain of inflation and continued supply chain shortages. In construction, we’re seeing a small break from high material costs as things like lumber, steel and exterior paint start to decrease in price. Still, construction costs are likely to remain high as other expenses eat into cost savings gained with material costs. (Namely, energy cost, labor shortages and tariff rates.)    This economic uncertainty isn’t just affecting builders. Home buyers are also experiencing financial barriers as they plan on future construction projects. And, as home ..read more

Picture this: You’re in the middle of a build and when you come to work, equipment is missing, and materials are damaged. Now you’re left picking up the pieces and playing the tough game of “who did it.” This phenomenom isn’t rare. Across the U.S., construction equipment theft is costing businesses millions. With the price of materials reaching a high and shipping delays halting timelines, it becomes even more critical to protect your job site and equipment. Unsecured job sites are at the risk of theft. As a small business owner, you may wonder what you can do. To keep potential criminals from ..read more

Have you ever sealed a subcontractor deal with a handshake? No sign-on-the-line, and the only element at stake is a good word from both parties? Sound familiar? Have you also regretted this same casual agreement when the job hits some unexpected bumps? Shaking hands on a sophisticated transaction leaves both you and your sub at risk. On the other hand, writing out clear terms between contracting parties firmly puts everyone’s feet on safer ground. So how do you get there? Here are five simple steps for negotiating subcontractor agreements that aim to protect and simplify both parties’ business ..read more

The price increase of materials over the last couple years has been squeezing construction and interior design budgets across the country. Because of this, clients are seeking out more affordable alternatives for their new homes, including self-install flooring options. But as a home builder, you can offer the benefit of a high-quality, long-lasting finish that’s compliant with the manufacturer’s warranty – and you can complete the installation far quicker than almost any DIY-er could. A survey of 49 industry experts about flooring trends found that the three most important characteristics in ..read more

Customer complaints: A hazard of the job. Whether or not you want to admit it, every contractor has encountered a bump in the road when it comes to customer service. There are always a few of those clients who make the building process even more difficult, perhaps with a list of demands or ongoing complaints. When conflicts arise, it’s never easy – and never fun — but finding a solution can be smooth and speedy if you take the right actions. Here are a few tips to help you respond to customer complaints and help you improve your client relationship management moving forward. 1. Don’t be afraid ..read more