HBWeekly

Using Your LinkedIn Profile to Benefit Your Business

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Erika Carruth

Did you know that your personal profile on LinkedIn can be just as important as your company page when it comes to promoting your business? LinkedIn has been gaining momentum among social media platforms, and the stats make it difficult to ignore; in fact, as of the start of this year, the network reported having 875 million members, and more than 58 million businesses have LinkedIn accounts. It is a prime spot to not only find your next hire, but to make B2B connections as there are 2.7 million companies posting on LinkedIn every day.

LinkedIn has held strong as the primary professional social media platform, providing space for networking, and making connections to boost business, industry presence and partnerships. Aside from the obvious of setting up a company page and linking it to your personal profile, there are several ways you can improve upon your personal LinkedIn profile to build brand awareness. Here are 5 actions to get you started:

Have a Strategy – When you first established a personal profile, you most likely just put down the basics – name, company, photo. If that sounds familiar, then you may want to revisit it with a strategy in mind. Who are you trying to reach? How is your message aligned with your business goals? It is essential that you understand your audience and have a clear intention for using the platform. If you are a construction professional who is looking for a job, then your profile should look different than an established business owner looking to attract new clients.
Use Impactful Images – On LinkedIn there are two primary images that will serve as a first impression to someone visiting your profile – your profile photo and your header image. While having a professional photo for your profile may seem obvious, you would be surprised by how many users have blurry, low-resolution, or less than professional photos for their profile. It is worth investing in a one-time photo session to get it right, and you may choose to enhance it by having your logo on your shirt or in the background. As far as the header image is concerned, it is often left blank on personal profiles, when it could be optimized as a space to highlight some of your top-notch projects and designs.
Check Your Headline – Your personal “headline” will follow you wherever your profile shows up in searches and across LinkedIn, so it is important to put thought into the terms you use. For example, instead of having “Contractor” or “Business Owner” as your headline, consider something like “Custom home builder specializing in…” Be direct and clear; it should serve as an introduction without sounding like a one-liner business promotion.
Activate Features – Did you know that there is a “featured” section on LinkedIn? The featured section enables you to add a link to your website and portfolio, as well as show examples of your work. Click on “Add Profile Section”, and under “Recommended” you will find the “Featured” section where you can add videos, documents, articles, images and links.
Align Your “About” – Just like your website and nearly any social platform, LinkedIn has an “About” section. Many people keep this section blank or copy an introductory statement from their resume, but it could be used as an opportunity for viewers to connect with you and your brand. Consider crafting a unique statement that summarizes what you do and why it is important to you. Be both brief and inspirational, and keep your future clients in mind – What are they looking for in a provider of your services and/or products?

LinkedIn has been gaining traction over the years, evolving from a resume style platform to a full multi-purpose professional network. In order for your business to grow, you must expand your presence. Continue to make new “connections” and share your company’s posts within your personal network. By creating a solid personal profile that reflects your brand and business activity, you can get the most out of LinkedIn while making meaningful connections along the way.

For more information on construction business marketing tips, stay connected with the HBW Blog. To get ahead of construction activity and gain access to the latest permitting data in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Alabama and Oklahoma, contact HBW for more information on construction data reports and industry leads.

Florida’s Top Home Builders – February 2023

Posted on March 24, 2023 by Erika Carruth

A list of Florida’s leading home builders based on permit data on record with HBW for the month of February

If you follow the HBW blog, then you know that we recently reported that there were 5,685 new residential construction permits with a total construction value of nearly $1.85 billion added to the HBW database for Florida last month. The figures were derived from HBW’s latest construction data reports covering new home construction and permitting activity across the Sunshine State.

Today, we will be using the same reports to review and identify the leading residential construction contractors that are behind the permit data in each of the five major regions of Florida (Southeast, Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville). Statewide, two home builders have continued to have a strong presence in the market. Holding more than 25 percent of all new residential construction permits for the month, both Lennar Homes (827 permits) and D.R. Horton (603 permits) are major powerhouses that are positioned on the leaderboard in every region reviewed.

Here is a closer look at the top five home builders driving new residential construction in each Florida region during the month of February:

Tampa:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	304
2-The Villages Land Company	140
3-D.R. Horton	117
4-Highland Homes	84
5-Casa Fresca Homes	66

Southwest:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	224
2-D.R. Horton	135
3-Pulte Homes	124
4-Taylor Morrison	55
5-Neal Communities of SW FL	54

Orlando:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	157
2-Lennar Homes	144
3-M/I Homes	111
4-Dream Finders Homes	83
5-Minto Communities	63

Jacksonville:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	154
2-Lennar Homes	70
3-Dream Finders Construction	67
4-Pulte Homes	52
5-AMH Development	44

Southeast

Builder	Total Permits
1-GL Building Corporation	113
2-Lennar Homes	85
3-D.R. Horton	40
4-Holiday Builders	33
5-Toll Brothers	23

To gain more information on the builders, homeowners and permits for the construction activity above, check out HBW for your copy of the latest construction data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest residential and commercial building activity in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, please contact HBW for details.

HBW Report: Florida Residential Construction – February 2023

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Erika Carruth

An overview of permit data for new home construction in Florida during the month of February

Based on HBW’s latest construction data reports, there were 5,685 new residential construction permits with a total construction value of nearly $1.85 billion added to the HBW database for Florida last month; this figure reflects an 11 percent month-over-month decrease in new home construction. Out of the five major regions reviewed (Southwest, Southeast, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville), the southwestern region held the highest concentration of new residential construction permits (1,621 permits), while the highest average value of new home construction could be found in the southeastern region of the state (average value: $421,071).

Here is a closer look at the total number of new permits, average construction value, and leading counties for new home construction in each of Florida’s five major regions during the month of February:

Southwest

The southwestern region of Florida ranked #1 for new home construction last month, having 1,621 new permits with a total construction value of approximately $532.6M last month. The average value of new home construction landed mid-range (average value: $328,547) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and more than half of all new residential construction activity took place in the counties of Lee (589 permits) and Manatee (302 permits)

Tampa

Tampa ranked #2 for new home construction last month as there were 1,365 new residential construction permits with a total value of nearly $403.8M. The average value of construction was $295,795, and more than half of all new permits originated from the counties of Hillsborough (382 permits) and Pasco (366 permits).

Orlando

The Orlando area ranked #3 for new home construction, having 1,265 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $433.5M on record with HBW last month. The average value of new home construction was $342,701, and the majority of new residential construction permits originated from the counties of Orange (426 permits) and Brevard (364 permits).

Jacksonville

Last month, there were nearly 830 new residential construction permits with a total value of $229.4M on record for the Jacksonville area. The average value of construction was lowest in Jacksonville (average value: $277,421) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the bulk of new home construction activity took place in the counties of St. Johns (328 permits) and Duval (244 permits).

Southeast

During the month of February, the southeastern region of Florida carried the lowest level of new home construction activity in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed; during the one-month period, there were 607 new permits with a total construction value of approximately $255.6M; the average value of new home construction was highest in the southeast (average value: $421,071), and the counties with the greatest concentration of new residential construction permits were St. Lucie (273 permits) and Palm Beach (160 permits).

Permit Update: New Swimming Pool Construction in Florida – February 2023

Posted on March 17, 2023 by Erika Carruth

New swimming pool construction permit data is now available in the HBW database.

During the month of February, more than 1,925 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of $142.2 million were added to the HBW database for Florida. From total permits and average value of construction to leading counties and contractors, here is a quick overview of the latest data on record for new pool construction in the Sunshine State last month:

Permits

Out of the five regions reviewed (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Southeast), the highest concentration of new pool construction activity could be found in the southwestern region of the state (491 permits), while the fewest permits originated from Jacksonville (195 permits). When looking at the average value of construction in each region, Jacksonville (average value: $105,424) took the lead with the highest average value of construction, while the lowest average value could be found in Orlando (average value: $63,593).

Top Counties

Approximately 30 counties were accounted for in the latest regional construction data reports, and the following ranked as the top five statewide for total new permits on record for the one-month period:

Palm Beach County (Southeast) – 165 permits
Lee County (Southwest) – 143 permits
Hillsborough County (Tampa) – 142 permits
Orange County (Orlando) – 140 permits
Polk County (Tampa) – 112 permits

Top Pool Builders

Last month, there were hundreds of contractors with new swimming pool construction permits on record with HBW, and the following ranked as the #1 pool builder (based on total permits) in each of the five Florida regions:

Orlando: Bob’s Pool Service (65 permits)

Tampa: Bob’s Pool Service (58 permits)

Southeast: A&G Concrete Pools (26 permits)

Southwest: Pinnacle USA (25 permits)

Jacksonville: Epic Pools & Hardscape Construction (13 permits)

Texas Top Home Builders – February 2023

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Erika Carruth

A list of the leading home builders across Texas based on the latest construction permit data on record with HBW for the month of February.

As reported on the blog last week, Texas exhibited a 5 percent month-over-month increase in new home construction during the month of February, resulting in approximately 3,710 new permits with a total construction value of nearly $1.1 billion added to the HBW database. While we have already reviewed the total amount of permits and counties where new home construction was on a high, today we are using HBW’s construction data reports to identify the leading home builders driving construction throughout the Lone Star State.

In Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, two companies took top placement on the leaderboard for new residential construction – Lennar Homes and D.R. Horton. Last month, both mega builders (Lennar Homes and D.R. Horton) carried the greatest volume of housing starts, having 532 and 267 new residential construction permits on record with HBW respectively. In Austin, BBL Building Company (77 permits) ranked as the top builder for the one-month period.

From a regional perspective, leading home builders varied by area last month – Here is a look at the top five home builders in each major Texas area, based on the total number of new permits on record with HBW:

Houston

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-Lennar Homes	270	$ 177,283.00
2-D.R. Horton	89	$ 239,507.00
3-David Weekley Homes	74	$ 275,888.00
4-K Hovnanian Homes	74	$ 151,617.00
5-Perry Homes	58	$ 420,966.00

Dallas

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-Lennar Homes	163	$ 236,703.00
2-D.R. Horton	91	$ 212,226.00
3-Trophy Signature Homes	47	$ 236,930.00
4-Beazer Homes	32	$ 428,760.00
5-Gehan Homes	29	$ 219,563.00

Austin

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-BBL Building Co	77	$ 175,806.00
2-D.R. Horton	44	$ 216,313.00
3-Highland Homes	22	$ 648,985.00
4-Pulte Homes	21	$ 530,796.00
5-Austin Concrete Development	17	$ 196,582.00

San Antonio

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-Lennar Homes	84	$ 178,001.00
2-D.R. Horton	43	$ 203,526.00
3-LGI Homes	15	$ 220,467.00
4-AHV Vertical	14	$ 202,377.00
5-Tri Pointe Homes	13	$ 631,938.00

Texas New Home Construction Review – February 2023

Posted on March 10, 2023 by Erika Carruth

A summary of the latest residential construction permit data on record for Texas with HBW for the month of February 2023

During the month of February, the Lone Star State experienced a 5 percent month-over-month increase in new residential construction, resulting in approximately 3,710 new permits with a total construction value of nearly $1.1 billion added to the HBW database. Out of the four major metro areas reviewed (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), Houston held the highest concentration of new home construction (1,736 permits), while the highest average value of construction could be found in Austin (average value: $339,736).

Here is a closer look at the total number of new residential permits and related construction activity on record with HBW for the month of February:

Houston

As previously noted, Houston carried the greatest volume of new home construction in comparison to other Texas metro areas reviewed, having 1,736 new permits with a total construction value of $453M on record for the one-month period. The average value of new residential construction was $260,962, and more than half of all new permits originated from the County of Harris (915 permits).

Dallas

Dallas ranked #2 for new home construction last month, having 1,156 new permits with a total construction value of nearly $385M on record with HBW. The average value of new residential construction projects landed on the higher end of the spectrum in Dallas (average value: $332,952) in comparison to other areas reviewed, and more than half of all new construction activity for the month took place in the counties of Tarrant (338 permits) and Collin (267 permits).

Austin

In Austin, there were approximately 430 new permits with a total construction value of nearly $146M last month. The average value of construction in the Austin area (average value: $339,736) was higher than any other Texas region reviewed, and the county with the highest concentration of new home construction activity on record for the month was Travis with 193 new permits.

San Antonio

Last month, there were nearly 390 new residential construction permits with a total value of approximately $92.5 million in the San Antonio area. The average value of new home construction was lowest in San Antonio (average value: $238,322) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and the majority of permits originated from Bexar County (217 permits).

Top Texas Pool Builders – February 2023

Posted on March 8, 2023 by Erika Carruth

An overview of permit data and leading builders for new swimming pool construction in Texas during the month of February

Last month, there were approximately 520 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of nearly $30M added to the HBW database for the Lone Star State. Out of the four major metro areas reviewed (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), Dallas held the greatest concentration of new permits (247 permits), while Houston had the highest average value of construction ($72,520).

While there wasn’t one single builder that dominated across the state, we identified top contractors in each major metro area based on the total number of new permits on record for the one-month period. Here is a breakdown of new swimming pool construction in the four major metro areas of Texas during the month of February:

Dallas

Last month, there were more than 135 active builders in the Dallas area who contributed to a total of 247 swimming pool construction permits with a total value of approximately $13.6M.

Average Value of Construction: $55,006

Top Builders:

1-Riverbend Pools

2-Claffey Pools

3-Robertson Pools

Houston

In Houston, there were more than 90 active pool builders responsible for generating more than 135 new permits with a total construction value of approximately $9.9M. Houston held the highest average value of new pool construction out of the four metro areas reviewed.

Average Value of Construction: $72,520

Top Builders:

1-Platinum Pools

2-Avree Pools

3-Premier Pools

Austin

In Austin, new pool construction was somewhat evenly shared by all of the active builders in the area. From the 43 pool builders with new construction on record in Austin, there were 67 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $4.1M on file with HBW last month.

Average Value of Construction: $61,862

Top Builders:

1- Cody Pools

2-Premier Pools & Spas of Austin

3-Fun N Sun Pools of Austin

San Antonio

In San Antonio, there were 68 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of more than $2.3M added to the HBW database last month. There were nearly 35 pool builders with new construction activity on record for the one-month period, with the top three carrying 30 percent of all new permits.

Average Value of Construction: $34,469

Top Builders:

1-Cody Pools

2-Keith Zars Pools

3-Gary Pools

HBW Report: Florida’s Top Home Builders – January 2023

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Erika Carruth

Highlighting the top ranked home builders in Florida based on the total number of new permits on record with HBW during the month of January.

Have you checked HBW’s construction data reports yet? If you are an HBW subscriber, then you have access to the latest and greatest construction permit data, building trend reports, and lead generation tools available. Earlier this week, we used a January HBW construction data report for Florida residential construction, and we reported that there have been just over 6,370 new permits with a total value of nearly $2B added to the database for the month.

Today, we will be using the same reports to highlight the leading home builders across the five major regions of the Sunshine State (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville) …

Statewide, there are two primary players that continue to lead new home construction – D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes. While each region’s top ranked contractors are varied and regionally based for the most part, both D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes have been consistently strong statewide, having 1,083 and 701 new permits on record respectively for the one-month period. Out of the five regions reviewed, both home builders landed on the top five list in every single area.

Here is a closer look at the leading home builders based on the total number of new residential construction permits on record with HBW in Florida during the month of January 2023:

Southwest

In January, there were approximately 320 home builders with new permits on record in Southwest Florida, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-Lennar Homes	204	$ 175,412.00
2-Pulte Homes	173	$ 171,357.00
3-D.R. Horton	146	$ 213,220.00
4-Taylor Morrison	54	$ 229,007.00
5-Ordonez Construction	53	$ 191,981.00

Tampa

Out of more than 210 home builders with new residential construction activity on record in Tampa during the month of January, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-D.R. Horton	478	$ 251,437.00
2-Lennar Homes	325	$ 307,372.00
3-The Villages Land Company	241	$ 175,000.00
4-Pulte Homes	93	$ 248,950.00
5-Ryan Homes	64	$ 260,090.00

Orlando

In Orlando, there were more than 160 home builders with new construction activity on record for January, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits during the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-D.R. Horton	187	$ 243,774.00
2-Pulte Homes	79	$ 411,090.00
3-Lennar Homes	65	$ 227,120.00
4-Minto Communities	57	$ 324,138.00
5-Meritage Homes	35	$ 258,343.00

Jacksonville

In January, there were 135 home builders with new construction activity on record with HBW in the Jacksonville area, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-D.R. Horton	240	$ 202,461.00
2-Summit Contracting Group	126	$ 184,269.00
3-Dream Finders Construction	109	$ 272,556.00
4-American Classic Homes	94	$ 85,000.00
5-Lennar Homes	77	$ 245,737.00

Southeast

Out of nearly 110 contractors with new residential construction activity on record for Southeast Florida during the month of January, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-GL Building Corporation	83	$ 480,078.00
2-D.R. Horton	32	$ 240,691.00
3-Holiday Builders	31	$ 283,536.00
4-Lennar Homes	30	$ 177,413.00
5-Pulte Homes	29	$ 434,201.00

Florida New Home Construction Report – January 2023

Posted on February 28, 2023 by Erika Carruth

An overview of permit data for new residential construction in Florida during the month of January 2023

In January, there were just over 6,370 new residential construction permits with a total value of nearly $2B added to the HBW database for the Sunshine State; this figure reflects a 7 percent month-over-month decrease in new home construction. Out of the five Florida regions reviewed (Tampa, Southwest, Orlando, Jacksonville, Southeast), the Tampa area (1,935 permits) held the highest concentration of new residential construction activity, while the southeastern region carried the highest average value of new home construction (average value: $360,709).

Here is a closer look at the total permits, construction values and leading counties for new residential construction throughout Florida during the month of January 2023:

Tampa

As previously mentioned, Tampa ranked #1 for new home construction last month, having 1,935 new permits on record with a total construction value of $527M. The average value of construction in Tampa was $272,370, and more than half of all new permits originated from the counties of Pasco (819 permits) and Sumter (353 permits).

Southwest

Not far behind Tampa, the southwestern region of Florida ranked #2 for new residential construction as there were 1,710 new permits with a total construction value of nearly $556M last month. The average value of new construction was $325,333, and more than half of all new permits originated from Lee County (485 permits) and Collier County (433 permits).

Jacksonville

Last month, there were more than 1,150 new residential construction permits with a total value of nearly $296M in the Jacksonville area. The average value of new home construction was lowest in Jacksonville (average value: $256,431) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the majority of new permits originated from the counties of Duval (527 permits) and St. Johns (356 permits).

Orlando

In Orlando, there were approximately 1,050 new residential construction permits with a total value in excess of $355M on record with HBW last month. The average value of new home construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum in Orlando (average value: $338,485) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and nearly half of all new residential construction activity took place in the counties of Brevard (256 permits) and Orange (234 permits).

Southeast

In the southeastern region of Florida there were 525 new residential construction permits with a total value of approximately $189.4M last month. The average value of new home construction was highest in the southeast (average value: $360,709) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the counties with the greatest concentration of new residential construction activity were St. Lucie (224 permits) and Palm Beach (132 permits).

Florida Swimming Pool Construction Review – January 2023

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Erika Carruth

An HBW report on new swimming pool construction permitting activity in Florida during the month of January 2023

Last month, there were 2,190 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database for the Sunshine State. Out of the five major regions reviewed (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast and Jacksonville), the greatest concentration of new pool construction could be found in the southwestern region (710 permits), and the highest average value of new construction could be found in Jacksonville (average value: $88,183). Here is a breakdown of the new swimming pool permits on record with HBW for the month of January 2023:

Southwest

The Southwest ranked #1 for new pool construction last month, having 710 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $48 million. The average value of construction was $67,714, and the highest concentration of new permitting activity took place in the counties of Lee (149 permits) and Collier (263 permits).

Out of nearly 160 pool builders with new construction activity recorded for the month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Pinnacle USA	47
2-Casa Pools	47
3-Aragon Pools & Spas	46

Southeast

Last month, the southeast ranked #2 for new pool construction, having approximately 475 new pool permits with a total construction value of nearly $33.5million. The average value of construction was $70,661, and the majority of permits originated from the two counties of Palm Beach (159 permits) and Broward (98 permits).

Out of more than 180 contractors with new pool construction activity on record in the southeast last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-A&G Concrete Pools	26
2-Van Kirk Construction	21
3-Fountain Blue Pool Service	20

Tampa

Tampa ranked #3 for new pool construction, having more than 430 permits with a total construction value of nearly $30 million last month. The average value of new pool construction was $68,742, and close to half of all new permits originated from the counties of Polk (113 permits) and Hillsborough (87 permits).

Out of approximately 145 pool builders with new construction activity on record last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Central Florida Pools	32
2-Cody Pools	23
3-T&D Pool & Spa Construction	22

Orlando

In the Orlando area, there were more than 365 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of $25.6 million on record last month. The average value of construction was $69,987, and the majority of permits originated from the counties of Orange (113 permits) and Brevard (78 permits).

There were nearly 110 pool contractors with new permits on record in Orlando last month, and the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-All Seasons	43
2-Dreamscapes Pools & Spas	32
3-American Pools & Spas	20

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there were nearly 210 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value in excess of $18.4 million added to the HBW database last month. The average value of construction was highest in Jacksonville (average value: $88,183) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and nearly half of all new permits originated from St. Johns County (100 permits).

Out of the 75 contractors with new pool construction activity on record in the area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Agua Pools & Spas	13
2-Blue Haven Pools	13
3-Epic Pools & Hardscape Const	10