HBWeekly

10 Ways to Better Presentations

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Erika Carruth

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Many have been credited with this quote, from advertisements to great authors. It rings true with our personal and business relations and is the case with our business presentations. Let’s face it – some first impressions are simply better than others. Some leave you thinking while others are easily forgotten. Whether you are a keynote speaker or presenting to a potential client, a powerful presentation can make the difference between a signed and unsigned contract.

When you finally make contact with your HBW leads and have a chance to open the door, you should be ready to put your best foot forward. From PowerPoint to SlideShare, here are some things to keep in mind when developing your next presentation that will help you go from the mundane to the amazing with just a few easy tweaks:

Use a Guide – When presenting to a group, don’t rely on memory or improvisation. It is simply unnecessary to put that level of pressure on yourself. Have the guide broken down by slide (in order) and as an extension of the points presented on the slide itself. The guide should be for your use only; do not provide it as a handout. The guide and the details should remain with you, while the basics/outline should be in the presentation.
Sell Them – The purpose of your presentation is to engage and sell the audience. You may be selling an idea or service; either way, it is a sell and should include information of interest. Think about when you are buying a car… What gets you in the door of the dealership? Is it the flashy commercial or the 50-page guide about its functions? Most likely, your attention is initially taken by seeing the car on the road or the 30-second teaser on TV. Once you get to the dealership, you take it for a test drive and then get down to the nitty-gritty. My point is that you want to grab attention with key information of interest, not information overload. What services or product features are most important to your audience? Highlight and emphasize them.
Keep it Sleek – A crowded slide is a distraction. It distracts the audience from you and your message. Think minimalist when designing your slide. Include images (1-2 per slide) and/or video when it strengthens the message, not just to add visuals. Your images should be professional and help convey an idea; avoid cartoons and low-grade images. Your presentation should not serve as a teleprompter where you are simply reading to the room. Instead, your slides should reflect key concepts and a broad view of the content you will be discussing. Infographics and smart art can be helpful visuals as they serve both the purpose of being eye-catching and informative.
Incorporate Your Brand – Your slides should reflect your company’s unique style and brand. Slide design, color and layout should be consistent and aligned with your image and other promotional materials, especially those that will be distributed on-site. If you put your brochures, flyers, website and presentation on one table, you should see no major difference; they should look similar and use similar terminology, keywords and taglines. Company focus and description of services should be parallel across all media and materials.
Animate – Use animations and transitions, but be careful not to overdo it. Just as with images, animations are to be included only if they have a definite purpose and function. For example, you may use them to make an impression when beginning your presentation or for separating sections, but don’t just go from spin to dissolve because you have the option. If you are looking to grab attention or make an impact with a more intricate transition or animation, consider using it in the beginning or end of presentation.
Factor in Time – According to a recent article in Time, a new study from Microsoft indicated that the average attention span of an adult is now 8 seconds. Just 8 seconds! Thanks to our highly digitized world, you have very limited time to make an impact. Short attention span aside, you must also follow the schedule provided. If you have 30 minutes to give a presentation, stick to 30 minutes. Don’t run over even if you skip something and feel that it must be presented. Offer materials and one-on-one discussions after your presentation. Going over the allotted time can make you come across as disrespectful rather than thorough. Stick to the schedule and build time into your presentation for potential delays and Q&A.
Proofread – Once you proofread your slides and guide, have someone proofread for repetition and spelling errors. Although your slides will follow the “Keep it Sleek” rule in #3 above, the few words listed should make sense and be grammatically correct. Having a second set of eyes is useful since self-editing can be tricky. When we are too familiar with the content, it is easy for us to skip over errors. Also, don’t rely on automated spell-check, as words that are spelled correctly like “to” and “too” will fly under the radar and not be flagged for improper use. If you are the only one proofreading, make it a habit to review it in three separate sittings, reading it both aloud and silently.
Practice – We’ve all hear it – practice makes perfect. Practice and practice again. Run through the presentation, from content to timing with slides and animations. The slides should complement and strengthen the speaker, and the speaker should strengthen the slides – they work in unison. If you can, have someone listen to you; an outside perspective can be very helpful. The success of the presentation will depend on your ability to capture the audience and keep their attention. Try to have it down so well that you are no longer reliant on notes and don’t appear to be reading a script. Your notes should only serve as a guide (see #1).
Have a Call to Action – Your presentation has a purpose. If you are meeting with an HBW lead, you are there to secure a client. If you are a keynote speaker, you are there to educate and establish yourself as a resource. Either way, there should be follow-up and a call to action. Your final slide should have all pertinent contact information. Don’t leave without closing. Have a solid understanding of the next steps, a commitment to a date or future deliverables.
Have Fun – Too often we can become monotone or simply get tired of the same material and presentation. Remember that the people on the receiving end are hearing it for the first time, so keep it lively, engaging and fun. Some of the more obvious points would be to avoid a monotone voice or dragging on one concept for too long. Some of the less obvious but effective efforts include interacting with the audience, asking questions and examples from them. You may also consider having a break time for longer sessions and interactive activities that keep the group interested.

While fresh ideas, engaging material and sleek slides can grab attention, it is up to you, the speaker, to reach your audience with proper timing and material that caters to their needs and interests. Powerful presentations don’t just increase the likelihood of your HBW lead becoming a client; they serve as a powerful tool in standing out and ahead of your competition. Once you have the perfect presentation, revisit and revise it throughout the year so that it reflects the latest in the industry and your business.

Making the Most of Office Time

Posted on October 2, 2015 by Erika Carruth

Construction professionals must balance a number of responsibilities on-the-go; when there is finally time for getting back to the office, it is important to utilize the time efficiently and effectively.

If you are in construction, you know that office time looks more like driving time. Between site visits and meetings, time spent in the office is limited, making it easy for some of the most critical priorities to slip through the cracks. More than losing track of priorities, wasted office time can take away from business development. Sustaining day-to-day operations is one thing, but you also need to have time for nurturing client relationships and building new relationships with your HBW leads and prospects.

The good news is that there are a number of easy and effective ways to manage time in the office in order to get the most out of every minute. From utilizing the latest in apps and technology to being methodical with tasks and schedules, here are 5 ways to add value to time spent in the office:

Prioritize and Reprioritize – If you ask a contractor to list his/her priorities for the day, it would seem like an easy question. The obvious ones would be related to job timelines, estimates, proposals and/or meetings. Rarely would you hear “email” as a priority or all of the distractions in between. It’s easy to suggest to keep a list of priorities, but the truth is that for any busy contractor priorities shift throughout the day. As Allen Saunders (and later John Lennon) once eloquently put it: “Life happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” This does not mean you should abstain from planning and prioritizing, rather it means that you should adjust your priorities as needed. Being too rigid can limit your ability to address pressing issues and the unexpected, while being too flexible can lead to an endless circle of chasing your tail. When it comes to prioritizing tasks and action items, you can strike a balance by creating a weighted system for tasks – A 1-5 scale can be helpful, with 1 being immediate/high priority and 5 being on the lower end and back-burner. We can’t plan for many situations, but for those priorities that we know are outstanding, we can manage them by actively working them through a priority list, ensuring that the items that take precedence are met in a timely manner.
Keep Top Priorities Visible – By “visible” I am not referring to scattering several piles across your office that you have justified as an “organized mess”. Even the most organized of messes can become black holes for important correspondence, estimates, RFPs and notes. To keep priorities visible, you will want your list to be visible and in a place that you will view on a daily basis. There are a number of ways to ensure visibility… You may choose to create task reminders in Outlook or manage a checklist in Evernote or Excel. For old-schoolers, post-it notes may still be a method for list management (although troublesome when the notes go missing). However you choose to keep the list, just make sure it is centralized, easily accessible, and editable.
Curtail the Email – Many of you may be thinking: “No way! I receive too many emails in a day to stop checking.” Understood and agreed. With mobile technology, smartphones and tablets, we can run but can’t hide from email. It is seemingly nonstop and very much a constant distraction, especially if you have your phone set for alerts every time a new email creeps into your inbox. If you really want to take control of your office time, email is a great place to start. Checking email every time your phone dings is not an ideal way to manage your time; it is not reading the email that will eat away your time but the new priority that you may choose to act upon without adding it to and ranking on your priority list. Before you know it, you are spending the entire day on a new item that may or may not be priority #1 and is derailing a productive project. First step, turn off the new email alerts on your phone and tablet. Second, schedule 2-3 times throughout the day (30-minute increments) for reviewing and following up with email. You may need more or less scheduled times, but schedule it rather than make it a constant reflex action. Over time, you will notice that most email can wait an hour or two and that immediate action is not required 95% of the time. If somebody is desperate to reach you, they will find a way to contact you by calling or texting. Of course, there will always be those times when you are waiting to hear back from a potential client and feel compelled to check for the latest response, but for the most part you will want to avoid making a habit of checking every few minutes.
Schedule Social Media – It is easy to get sucked into social media, both business and personal. It happens all of the time, one post leads to a link, leads to a story, then a related story, then a related contact, etc. etc. One hour later, you are swirling in stories without completing one task on your priority list. Personal social media is an entire article in itself, and for the sake of time, we will skip it as it can be a major issue with staff and contains many layers. If you are managing social media for your business, make sure to add it to your schedule in the same way you would add a meeting. Try to use functions within the platform or apps like HootSuite, Buffer and Tweetdeck to schedule the posts in advance. Depending on your content, you may be able to get 1-2 weeks completed in 1-2 hours.
De-Clutter & Organize – A cluttered space is a cluttered mind. For those ideas and errands that pop-up throughout the day, simply jot them down in one place and review them at the end of the day to see where they fit on your priority list. Your desk should remain clear; if you are not using something on a daily basis or every other day, then put it away. Same rule for your email. Don’t think that just because you marked an email as “unread” that you will get to it later; that email will be out of sight after 10 new emails follow. For this reason, use the folders function to file content you may need at a later date and delete old email. Hard copies and digital copies follow the same rule – file it away if you don’t need it today. By having organized and consistent files, you will not waste time looking for documents later.

By streamlining your office time and creating an organized system for task and document management, you will free up time in your schedule for business development. By having more time for nurturing clients and HBW leads, you open the doors to new business and opportunity for growth.

What to Know About EMV Chip Card Technology

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Erika Carruth

October 1, 2015 is the deadline for U.S. businesses to be “chip-enabled”. Here’s what you should know about EMV technology.

Timing couldn’t be more perfect for offering a business brief. As you may already be aware, EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa) and the October 1^st deadline (Thursday) is buzzing all over the news and internet. EMV is a global standard that has been in Europe for nearly a decade and is now active in the U.S. By now, you and your business have probably received replacement cards from your banks and credit card companies with the new card that bears a “chip” on one end. The purpose of this technology is simple… With the increase in occurrences of major data breaches and counterfeit card fraud, U.S. card issuers have transitioned to new technology in order to reduce the costs associated with fraud and protect consumers. Unlike magnetic-stripe cards, every time an EMV card is used for payment, the card chip creates a distinctive transaction code that cannot be used again. In other words, typical card duplication won’t work.

As for actual transactions, offline transactions using the EMV chip card will involve the terminal communicating with the integrated circuits. This is a change from the previous method of using telecommunications to connect to the bank. The integrated circuits/terminal connection works in real-time, verifying the cardholder and payment authorization offline. When online, the chip generates a cryptogram that is authenticated in real time for a more secure transaction using the most current information available.

So what does this mean for you and your business?

Let’s move on from the technology of it all to the more practical information. For merchants and financial institutions, the switch to EMV means adding new technology and internal processing systems to comply with new liability rules. For consumers, it means activating new cards and learning new payment processes.

Consumers – The easy part is for consumers. In short, you will need to exercise a little more patience when “dipping” your card into the terminal as it requires a live read and communication from the chip on the card. It will not be as fluid of a process as the “swipe” offered by traditional cards, but it is intended to be a safer process. Although the U.S. is distributing more contact cards, there are some merchants that may offer contactless reading technology. Contactless is even faster than a swipe as you will just be required to “tap” your card (think Apple Pay). Still not comfortable with your new card and chip yet? No worries – Credit and debit cards without chips will continue to work until they expire or until the new card is activated. The old cards will also work at payment terminals that have been updated to accommodate chips. The first round of EMV cards will be equipped with both chip and magnetic functions so both consumer and merchant have ample time to adjust to the new method and system.

Businesses – As a merchant, there is critical information about this shift that impacts your business. Although nobody is going to force you to change your equipment and credit card processing terminals, after October 1, 2015 (Mastercard and Visa – Oct. 1, 2015; American Express – Oct. 16, 2015), the “liability shift” takes place. What this means is that card-present fraud will shift from the card company/bank to the party that is least EMV-compliant. If your business has not properly updated terminals and systems, you can be held liable should a counterfeit card be used. For example, if a consumer purchases $2,000 worth of design services with a counterfeit EMV chip card, and the business does not have an EMV chip card reader for processing the transaction, the merchant will be held responsible for the $2,000. There is simply no way around it, so not having the equipment at this point is a gamble. If you decide you still want to stick with the old system, you are free to do so. You will still be able to “swipe” smart cards since they will have both a chip and magnetic strip. Just remember that your company can be held liable for any counterfeit smart card transactions.

If you accept cards through a mobile app like Square or Paypal, Square has designed EMV-compatible card readers for Android and iOS devices that can read contactless mobile payments and process chip cards. Merchants can reserve the new payment devices for $49. They are also making it easy by offering it free of charge for a limited time for qualified sellers. The PayPal chip card reader will be available this week, and they are offering rebate incentives to get merchants started.

Although the upcoming deadline is in place to push all parties to become EMV-compliant, not all companies and consumers will comply by October 1^st. Larger banks like Bank of America are on the forefront of rolling out new cards, and due to the cost, smaller banks will be slower on converting their cards and systems, with debit cards falling to the back of the line. Even though the deadline is this week, don’t fret if you have not yet upgraded your system. Now that you are aware of the risks, you can begin the transition and make your credit card system safer and more secure.

HBW serves contractors and construction/design professionals in Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma. HBW offers the most current building trend and permitting activity reports, along with White Papers to assist in your marketing efforts. Contact us for a complimentary building data report or white paper today.

Mark Your Calendars for Trade Shows

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Erika Carruth

When attending a trade show, plan ahead so that your business gets the most out of the experience.

There are countless articles that communicate the benefits of and provide guidelines for exhibiting at trade shows. Just google “trade show booth preparation”, and you will come across everything from display designs and products to sales strategies and presentations. Vendors know the benefits of exhibiting at tradeshows. They have one place to reach their target audience face-to-face, nurturing client relationships and finding new ones.

On the other hand, contractors are inundated with invitations, notices, emails and mammoth glossy mailers inviting them to the next “best of” show, and through all of the commotion and promotion it may be difficult to identify the benefits of attending. Although attending every construction-related trade show is simply unrealistic, you should consider planning ahead and adding a few to the calendar. Contractors can reap major benefits, aside from the random raffles and freebies. Trade shows are a great way to network within your industry, gain new insight and stay informed of trends and your competition. So, let’s get started:

Check the Budget – Too often we book events with at the last minute, keeping our calendar open for business. Unplanned trade show expenses do not help the bottom line, so be sure to budget for trade shows well in advance. Beyond event fees, there are costs to consider: Travel to and from (airfare, rental car); lodging (hotel, tips, parking); dining (consider a stipend or fixed budget for employees); seminar and program fees. Make sure you include all team members who may be attending, # of days attending and any additional costs for related events such as banquets and luncheons.
Plan in Advance – Once the budget is in place, begin booking. Making plans early will increase the likelihood of being able to take advantage of room blocks or other discounts that the event host and related entities are offering. If you are bringing family with you, look into area partners that may be offering local attraction discounts. Trade shows often offer programs for spouses and children. Have your office contact the host in advance to secure spots, and consider offering the benefit to your team members. If you are limited on time and only have a day or so available to attend the event, contact the host to find out about traffic patterns; plan on attending the day(s) when attendance is at its peak.
Put On Your Networking Hat – Vendors are not the only ones who should stock up on business cards before a trade show. Contractors have the ultimate opportunity to build relationships and gain firsthand knowledge about their competitors. Get feedback from them on what they are experiencing in the industry and how their company deals with challenges. Truth be told, you may not always get straightforward responses and answers from competitors, but it is good business to take the time to connect with them and share information about the market and industry trends. When walking the floor, have a plan. It is easy to get distracted with offers, friendly faces and the crowd. If there are vendors that you want to make a point to see or certain products you want to explore, use the program and map to mark the booths you plan on visiting; check them off as you work your way through the aisles.
Gain Knowledge – Check out the educational programming that may be available. Most shows will offer a variety of industry-specific trainings and seminars. Often contractors will just enroll in any seminar that will meet their continuing education requirements. Try not to follow the credit; take time in choosing seminars and reading about the instructors and classes. Look into topics and subjects that are both of interest to you and have the potential for making a positive impact on your business. If there is a new product on the market that has your attention, find out if there will be a product demonstration or training. Trade shows are a great time to discover industry advances and the latest technologies available. We can refresh and find inspiration in new equipment and methods for managing data and job sites. Be open to new ideas and technology.
Mark Your Calendar – Although you probably have an inbox overflowing with trade show invites, you may not have taken the time to mark your calendar for those you will be attending. Here are a few conventions and trade shows to check out for 2016:

NAHB International Builders’ Show^®– January 19-21, 2016 (Las Vegas)
World of Concrete – February 2-5, 2016 (Las Vegas)
Dallas Build Expo 2016 – March 9-10, 2016
Southeast Building Conference – July 27-29, 2016 (Kissimmee, FL)

Plan ahead to ensure that you and your team get the most out of the event. Once you have attended a trade show, make an effort to meet with your teams to share and discuss new technologies, trends and contacts you have gained as a result of attending the show. Define follow-up and action items and assign them to the appropriate team members so that your business can reap rewards long after the expo floor closes.

Contractors Ask: How Should I Use #Hashtags?

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Erika Carruth

Hashtags flood social media. If you are incorporating hashtags in your posts, you will want to do so with purpose.

From common to over-the-top, Twitter and other social media platforms are inundated with hashtags. Hashtags are a recognized and popular symbol for categorizing your own content as well as connecting with and sharing others’ content. In fact, the term “hashtag” which many of us first learned as “pound” on our phones is such a widely used term in our culture that it was added to the Oxford Dictionary in 2010. Although established as a search tool for marking keywords and topics on Twitter, hashtags can be found everywhere from Facebook, Instagram and even advertisements, and the use of hashtags can serve a variety of purposes.

Social media and its use is constantly evolving and including a wide variety of platforms, content marketing strategies and approaches that most contractors simply do not have enough time to follow and develop. Larger businesses aside, most construction professionals do not have a budget for a full-time marketing department, and many simply pass the responsibility on to their office staff. Keeping up with the latest trends and hashtags may not be high on the priority list for contractors, but with the increasing importance of web presence and social media, all businesses (including construction) should keep content fresh and stay current with the changing social climate. When it comes to hashtags, it is important to use them with purpose and in a way that can be meaningful and constructive to the overall marketing effort. Here are 3 easy ways to get started and think about methods for incorporating hashtags (#) in your social media messages:

Connect to Industry Topics – There are simple and common hashtags in our industry. Try to go beyond the basics of #construction and #building by being more specific to the message or topic. For example, if you are currently working with a specific tile or technology, use a hashtag for the type of product you are using (#spanishtile) or the area of the building (#kitchenremodel) where the installation is taking place. Consider mentioning the brand to expand your reach and use hashtags that the brand uses to describe the product.

Industry events such as MetalCon and the NAHB International Builders’ Show’^® are great ways to connect with peers, as well as demonstrate your involvement in the industry. If you are attending an event, even better… Most events generate their own hashtags and offer public and live feeds of tweets containing the hashtag. Whether you choose to piggy-back on the buzz or provide your own feedback about the event, you can go as far as you want in being involved with an industry expo or convention.

Along with events, you can follow and get social with regional and national associations and related organizations. If you are a member of a building association, connect with them and share information. Often associations will provide benefits to their members including mentions and links to their websites. Also check out the news and hashtags generated by organizations that monitor building and safety standards, weather and other conditions that directly impact your business and projects.

Reinforce Your Brand – Hashtags can be found in advertisements and social profile headers, often as a memorable phrase or abbreviation for the business itself. If you are going to create a hashtag specific to your company name, slogan or services, you will want it to be catchy and easy to read. A hashtag like #homeremodelingmadeeasy may be good in concept but simply hard on the eyes. Try to keep it short, to the point and something that is easy to remember for both you and the reader. Less is more when it comes to developing a strong hashtag for your business or specific service. For example, HBW offers permit reports so using a hashtag like #HBWReports both captures the function and services offered by HBW, providing an easy way to search and connect to permit reports and associated content. Once you decide that you are ready to put some thought into a unique hashtag for your business, you can take a look at Twitter to find useful tips and guides for developing hashtags:

source: Twitter

Get In on the Buzz – Getting in on the latest craze, trend, viral tweet or video may sound easy, but you will want to proceed with caution. It’s easy to find out what is trending just by checking Google or your news feed. From the latest controversial stunt by a celebrity to videos about dogs doing outrageous things, jumping on the viral news train may be a way to get attention, but it may not be the right attention for your business. Although Twitter is designed to be a casual and “fun” social playground for the most part, don’t get too comfortable. Jumping on the latest controversial tweet from the MTV Music Awards would probably not be the best fit for a construction professional, but having your company join a community or cause benefiting challenge like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge may be just right. Other larger cultural events like the Super Bowl and holidays like New Year’s Eve can be safe ways to get in on buzzworthy topics of conversation. Be careful not to over-tag a single tweet – Twitter officially recommends no more than 2 hashtags per tweet. By limiting the number of hashtags per post, it allows you to focus on quality and effectiveness rather than attaching to as many trends as possible. When it comes to platforms like Instagram, the opposite can often be the case with a great number of hashtags in the post proving to be more effective than less. Bottom line: Consider the platform and the content before adding a popular and trending hashtag to your message.

There is an abundance of resources available for learning more about hashtags and best practices. Whatever method you choose for developing your own unique hashtag or whatever industry topic or trend you choose to incorporate in your message, make sure it is in line with all of your communications and marketing efforts. For additional information on marketing strategies, generating leads and white papers that will enable you to work smarter, not harder, contact HBW for your complimentary whitepaper.

Texas – Top 10 Builders in August 2015

Posted on September 18, 2015 by Erika Carruth

HBW subscribers who have their eyes on Texas most certainly know of new residential construction throughout the state. HBW receives new leads in Texas every day and new permits and related data continue to be added to the database.

Earlier this month, The Dallas Morning News reported that Dallas, along with San Francisco, led the country’s housing market for the month of August. Using information supplied by a recent report from Realtor.com, the article noted that Dallas, Midland, Austin and San Antonio made it to the Realtors’ top 20 ranking. As of the closing of August, median home sales prices in North Texas were 11% higher in comparison to the same period last year, with total sales increasing 5% for a new high.

The Texas Economy reported on the increase in construction since 2014, noting that in the last 12 months (closing July 2015), a total of 101,271 permits were issued, which is more than an 8% increase in comparison to the previous year. Additionally, there were nearly 5,800 multi-family building permits issued throughout the state in July 2015 alone which is approximately 31% more than July 2014. From month to month, Texas contractors are busy. To gain a better look at construction activity throughout the state, we accessed the latest information available from HBW and highlighted the Top 10 Home Builders in four major areas: Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.

Houston

At the top of the list in Houston, DR Horton led the area by far in August 2015 with 285 new home starts (total value: $43,239,636). With nearly half as many new starts but still holding an impressive presence in the area, Perry Homes is #2 on the list with 147 new residential construction permits (total value: $34,969,650). In a very close third, Lennar Homes came in with 144 new permits on file with a total value of $21,648,135.

Houston Top 10 Builders – August 2015

Dallas

Dallas has been buzzing in real estate. The market is hot, as workers, companies, and investors continue to flock to North Texas. The Dallas Morning News reported this month that North Texas home prices are at a remarkable high and growing at more than 2x the annual long-term rate. Thanks to the comprehensive construction activity tracking by HBW, we found that DR Horton is leading new residential construction in the area by a significant margin similar to Houston. DR Horton is #1 in Dallas for the month of August with a whopping 372 new home starts at a total value of $84,032,539. Standard Pacific (96 new homes – total value: $32,644,977) and First Texas Homes (95 new homes – total value: $26,244,034) came in second and third respectively.

Dallas Top 10 Builders – August 2015

Austin

The Austin area was also led by DR Horton for the month of August, along with Pulte Homes and Milestone Community Builders. All three companies hold the #1 spot with each having 65 new home starts for the month. Pulte Homes led in total value with $14,304,108. DR Horton’s total value came in at $10,974,272 and Milestone Community Builders has a total value of $9,354,245. Second and third for total number of new home starts are KB Homes with 55 (total value: $9,688,776) and Pacesetter Homes with 50 (total value: $5,361,700).

Austin Top 10 Builders – August 2015

San Antonio

#1 and #2 were very close in San Antonio. Continental Homes of Texas took the #1 spot with 71 new home starts (total value: $15,401,505), while KB Homes was very close in the second spot with 70 new permits on file (total value: $14,886,914). In third, Meritage Homes of Texas has 30 new starts on record for the month, totaling $4,140,731.

San Antonio Top 10 Builders – August 2015

All of the information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures was directly derived from HBW construction data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest permits in Texas and beyond, please contact HBW for details.

Industry Update: Dealing with the Labor Shortage

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Erika Carruth

The labor shortage is a common and growing concern in the construction industry, forcing many qualified contractors to turn down new projects and opportunities.

Let’s start with the good news: The United States housing market is showing signs of growth. Commercial spending is up 9.7% in the first half of 2015, and so far this year, housing starts have increased 11.3%. (source: Fortune.com, Sept. 2015) Now for the obvious and not so good news:The labor shortage is a common and consistent issue in the construction industry. In the news, we see it; as contractors, we live it. The need for skilled and professional talent is increasing, and many qualified contractors are being forced to turn down new projects due to the limited availability of trained and skilled construction workers.

The statistics and reports are seemingly published every day which certainly isn’t boosting morale in our industry. In an article by CNBC last month, it was noted that although contractors confirm a high demand in new construction, they are restricted by the lack of skilled workers. The article also highlighted the South as the most impacted area, as it experiences the most single-family home building in the nation. This week, the Wall Street Journal also reported on the issue, reviewing a survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors. In the article, it was noted that 86% of the construction firms surveyed claimed that they are struggling to find skilled workers from hourly “craft workers” to salaried specialists and supervisors.

The figures from this survey are consistent with the Associated General Contractors of America’s 2015 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook. In the 2015 Outlook, AGC projected a growing shortage in labor while compensation levels appeared to be increasing. Of the firms surveyed, 51% increased base pay of professionals and 46% increased compensation for skilled workers in order to retain their employees.

Various reports attempt to tackle the possible contributing factors to the shortage of skilled workers in construction. Rather than reviewing the potential causes, it is worth exploring some immediate and long-term solutions that may potentially alleviate some of the pressure contractors are facing on a day-to-day and job-to-job basis.

Increase Training – If you don’t have a regular and established training program in place, now is the perfect time to develop one. If you currently have a training program, now is the time to review, update and upgrade your training. Much like program development mentioned in a previous HBW post on safety, a technical training program would need to take your budget, time and resources into account prior to development. In-house training can be too costly for most small businesses and contractors, so consider hiring a third party and offering quarterly trainings, as well as on-the-job reviews and instruction. New hires should be welcomed with a strong onboarding process and technical training for those who need it. Your regional and national industry associations can be great sources for worker training videos and low-cost seminars and webinars.

Internships + Apprenticeships – From reaching out to upcoming graduates in trade schools to developing a comprehensive apprenticeship program, you could begin creating and nurturing your own talent pool. There are a number of outreach programs to engage the next generation and teach them about construction and requirements for a career in the industry. To provide opportunities to less experienced workers, you may develop an apprenticeship or internship program. You can refer to the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) in your state to ensure that your program meets mandatory requirements. The OA offers consultation and assistance in organization and management of such programs, and in some cases provides financing for registered apprenticeship programs. Here is a general guide to get you started:

Determine if your company’s budget allows for an apprenticeship program.
Create a detailed plan for the terms and conditions.
Provide a minimum of 144 hours of technical instruction each year. You may choose to pair with a local vocational school.
Create a schedule of wages for the apprentice, inclusive of incremental increases as new skills are mastered.
Develop outcomes and measurements for the apprentice, with a plan for regular evaluation and reviews.

Review the U.S. Department of Labor Employment & Training Administration’s (DOLETA) Apprenticeship Program standards to determine whether your apprenticeship program qualifies as a registered apprenticeship program.

Retain Skilled Workers – With the increase in demand for skilled workers, you will need to make every effort to retain your current crews. This can be easier said than done. Beyond increasing compensation, you may want to offer more benefits or performance and project-based bonuses. There are plenty of unscrupulous recruiters and competitors who are looking for talent. Make sure you offer trainings, incentives and competitive wages. Communication is key, so make it a habit to check in with your team more than just for performance reviews. An “open door” policy and expressed appreciation can go a long way in building and retaining a high-quality team.

Subcontractors – Most contractors are more than familiar with subcontractors. Make sure you are building a long-lasting and successful relationship with qualified, licensed and insured subcontractors. Start out small and monitor their crews as well as see if your relationship can work in terms of contracts and payments. It is important to build a mutual trust and not rely on a random subcontractor because you simply must get a job done. To avoid the dreaded subcontractor defaults, create a payment plan that includes progress payments and retainage.
Plan Ahead – You can only take on as much work as you can complete within a realistic time frame. As tempting as it can be, don’t bite off more than you can chew. Nobody wants to turn down new projects and opportunities, but if you do not have the labor to meet the client’s expectations, it is not worth the great risk you put on the job and your reputation. Work with your customer to see if there is flexibility in the timeline and schedule jobs accordingly. You will need to spread out and be strategic with the projects you book. Don’t expend you labor on a small job with a limited profit margin when they could be more effective in a larger job on the horizon.

The current labor shortage is a harsh reality in the construction industry – one that won’t be improved overnight. Nonetheless, with more training, efforts for retaining talent and developing new talent there is great potential to benefit your business now, as well as add to a labor pool for the future of our industry.

HBW Report: Pool Permits on the Rise in Florida

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Erika Carruth

Pool construction is on the rise in Florida, and HBW has the statistics and leads you need to stay in-the-know.

Pools have been buzzing in various construction media outlets as of late. With record temperatures across the globe and 2015 bringing record-breaking heat (source: NOAA), it is no surprise that pools are on the rise, especially in Florida. According to a recent survey conducted by Trulia, more than 38% of Americans describe their “Dream Home” as one with a swimming pool. Among the ten metro areas with the highest share of pools, six were located in Florida. Beyond the heat, there is the profit… Trulia also compared listing prices of homes; a home with a swimming pool in Florida can have a listing price more than 10% above that of similar properties without a pool.

HBW subscribers already know that pool construction permits are on the rise. In Southwest Florida alone, swimming pool construction has increased 29% since 2014 (Jan-August). Central Florida (20%) and West Florida (17%) have also experienced a significant increase in pool construction. While Northwest Florida has fewer new pools than other parts of Florida, pool construction is on the rise there by 16% so far this year.

FL Swimming Pool Construction YTD-August (2014 vs. 2015)

HBW reports offer unrivaled market analytics and construction activity trend reports, which allow us to further breakdown the increase from 2014 to 2015 and focus on areas and counties reflecting the most activity and leads. As of the end of August, Lee County (Southwest FL) is leading new swimming pool construction with 1,343 new permits in the HBW database, a more than 20% increase (YTD-August) in comparison to 2014. Collier County (Southwest FL) is also undergoing an impressive increase of 31% with 1,099 new pool permits on record, while Palm Beach County holds strong at a 4% increase since 2014 but high with 1,023 new pools. Central Florida is seeing an increase in pool construction with a prominent surge of 36% in Orange County, one of the higher increases in the state, and 988 permits on record through August.

FL Top 10 Counties – Pool Construction YTD-August

When reviewing the Top 10 counties for swimming pool construction through August, the previously mentioned jump in Orange County is noteworthy, but certain other counties are worth mentioning as well. Although Charlotte County (Southwest) did not make the Top 10 due to only 276 new pools being on record, this area has experienced a whopping 452% increase (Wow!) in pool construction since 2014; it may be an area worth watching as the demand for pools rises. Sarasota County is hanging on at #8 in the Top 10 counties through August and reflects a massive 51% increase. In the Southeast, Miami-Dade holds in 7^th with 727 new pool permits; despite this being a 12% decrease since 2014, neighboring counties in Southeast Florida keep the area steady in comparison to last year with a slight rise of 1% in Southeast Florida overall.

So what does new and growing pool construction mean to you aside from more swimming in Florida? It’s simple: Construction professionals who are proactive and knowledgeable of building trends and activity can strengthen their competitive edge, build their prospects and expand their reach. Pool construction permits are just one of the many reports that can be customized and provided by HBW. You can get a complimentary HBW building data report, specialized white paper or simply subscribe to HBW’s newsletter to stay informed and ahead of the competition.

Safety Update: OSHA Resources + Review

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Erika Carruth

It is a good idea to perform regular reviews of your job sites for safety and OSHA compliance. Here is a look at recent statistics and resources from OSHA.

As industry professionals, we are aware of the risks that our businesses and crews face each day on the job. We train our crews, provide proper safety equipment and develop safety policies and guidelines to protect our workers and clients. Truth be told – sometimes all the preparation in the world is simply not enough. OSHA site inspections happen daily, and no matter how much safety equipment and guidelines you have in place, they are worthless if not used and followed consistently.

For this reason, we reviewed some of the most common OSHA citations, updates and free resources that are available.

CITATIONS

It’s a harrowing feeling to drive up to a job site and notice that our crews aren’t following safety standards. Finding someone on a roof without a harness or not wearing protective gear while using chemicals is not just a hazard but a real liability. What are the most common OSHA Citations? We took a look at the latest statistics available on OSHA.gov to recap the 10 most common citations from 2013 to 2014 in the construction industry:

Diag. 1 HBWeekly.com – source: OSHA.gov

As evident in Diagram 1, Fall Protection is the most commonly cited OSHA standard within construction, with more than 96% of associated site inspection resulting in a citation. In general and within all industries, OSHA’s most frequently cited violations are as follows:

OSHA Top 10 Citations

Based on the high number of fall protection infractions, it is understandable that falls (36.5%) were the leading cause of death out of 821 construction-related fatalities in private industry during 2013 (source: OSHA.gov). OSHA considers it to be one of the “Fatal Four” worker fatalities, along with strikes by objects (10.1%), electrocution (8.6%) and caught-in/between (2.5%).

In order to assess hazards and protect workers, OSHA has developed a number of helpful and free resources for protecting crews:

Training – OSHA offers a wide variety of training programs and resources at www.osha.gov. The revised version of the Training Requirements is exhaustive and over 250 pages in length but will provide detailed information on what is required in meeting the training standard. If you are just getting started, the Training Tab on OSHA’s website provides quick links for locating educational programs near you, PowerPoint guides and more.

Updates – You can stay informed on the latest updates from OSHA by following their feed or subscribing to their semimonthly newsletter. The latest updates include modifications to the “Recordkeeping Rule” – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration revised its recordkeeping rule this year to now include two primary changes:

There has been an update to industries that are exempt from the requirement to routinely keep OSHA injury and illness records, due to relatively low occupational injury and illness rates. Click Here to learn more about who is required or exempt from keeping records.
The rule has been expanded to include severe work-related injuries that all covered employers must report to OSHA. The revised rule maintains the current “within 8 hours” reporting requirement for work-related fatalities and adds the requirement to report all work-related in-patient hospitalizations, amputations and loss of an eye within 24 hours to OSHA.

Safety Tools/Apps – OSHA has and continues to develop a number of interactive and user-friendly apps and training tools that contractors and crews can use to assess hazards on the job. Here are a few to get started:

OSHA’s Hazard Identification Training Tool is a web-based video game style training tool that can be used for learning the core concepts of hazard identification. The objective of this tool is to empower business owners and crews to better understand the process in identifying hazards in their own job sites.
Heat Safety Tool App was developed in conjunction with OSHA’s “Water. Rest. Shade.” campaign to decrease the number of heat-related injuries and fatalities. Heat illnesses and deaths are preventable, and this app is an easy way to calculate the heat index and understand risk levels. The app also allows the user to receive reminders about protective measures that should be taken.
Safe Lifting Calculator was developed by Oregon’s Department of Consumer and Business Services to automatically alert the user when he/she fails to use proper lifting techniques while picking up a box or similar load. Oregon OSHA’s app was designed based on research conducted on safe lifting in order to provide a maximum safe weight for various lifting scenarios.

Although the construction industry is chock-full of high risk hazards, your business and workers can stay safe with proper training, tools and understanding of the risks involved on the job. By staying abreast of the latest standards and utilizing apps and tools, such hazards and associated accidents can be avoided. As there are hazards specific to the construction industry, OSHA offers a webpage dedicated to construction, offering updates and tools that are easy to navigate and understand. Since standards can be revised at any time and new tools are developed each year, it is important that you continue to review your current safety guidelines/standards and make proper modifications to keep your crews informed and safe.

HBW Report: Things Are Looking Bigger in Texas

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Erika Carruth

According to the latest HBW Building Activity Trend Report, new residential construction is on an upswing in Texas.

If you are receiving HBW reports, you have probably noticed an uptick in the residential construction market in various parts of Texas. In a recent post by Housing Predictor, the 2015 Texas housing market was described as a market that has “been able to withstand the economic pressure” that most of the country has experienced and received a score of 8.5 out of 10. The article reported home values in Texas rising 7.4% in the last year with an expected increase of an additional 4.9% within this year.

Austin was listed as having the highest average home price ($261,923) and an annual job growth rate of 3.6% (above national average of 2%). Based on the latest permit data pulled from the HBW database, Austin’s residential construction activity is up 8% in the 2^nd Quarter of 2015 in comparison to 2014. Dallas is also a very hot market, with home prices remaining affordable but having jumped 9.3% (S&P Dow Jones Indices) in the last year; HBW reports a 16% increase in residential construction in the Dallas area through the 2^nd quarter (compared to Q2 of 2014).

Diagram 1 – New Residential Construction Q2 (2014 vs 2015)

As reflected in Diagram 1, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin are experiencing an increase in new residential construction through the 2^nd quarter of 2015 (compared to 2014). Although the Houston area has experienced a 4% decrease overall, Brazoria and Galveston reflect gains this year of 53% and 23% respectively. Additionally, if just comparing Q1 and Q2 of 2015 in the Houston area, there has been a slight increase of 3.5% which is a hopeful sign for new residential construction in the area in the coming months. Here’s a look at the difference and increase from the 1st to 2nd quarters of this year:

Diagram 2 – Texas New Residential Construction 2015 – Q1 vs. Q2

Various areas of Texas have reported an increase in new residential construction of homes valued over $500,000. Across the board, Texas has experienced an increase from the 1^st and 2^nd quarters of 2015 in new construction valued over $500,000, with Dallas and Houston leading the way.

Diagram 3 – Texas New Residential Construction Over $500k (Q1 vs. Q2)

When breaking down the figures, we can view significant increases in new construction permits for various counties. The largest visible increase in new residential activity from 2014 to 2015 is in Brazoria, Denton, and Ellis. Here’s a brief look at how the leading counties stack up throughout the state thus far:

Texas Growth by County – 2014 vs 2015 Q2

When looking to grow your construction business, opportunity continues to soar in the Lone Star state. As we are on the heels of closing out the 3^rd Quarter, HBW is busy capturing and tracking permit and construction data and will share the latest activity report for Q3 in the coming months. Whether you are looking to stay ahead of the competition with current construction trend analysis or simply refreshing your pool of sales leads, continue to check-in for the latest information available or click here to request a complimentary custom report.