Florida Swimming Pool Construction Report – March 2022

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A review of permit data for new swimming pool construction in Florida during the month of March 2022

New swimming pool construction in Florida is holding steady and exhibited a nominal decrease last month – Based on the latest HBW construction data reports, there were 2,565 new pool permits with a total construction value of approximately $161.5 million added to the HBW database for Florida; this reflects less than a one percent month-over-month decrease in new pool construction activity.

Out of the five major regions reviewed (Southwest, Southeast, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville), Southwest Florida held the highest concentration of new pool construction (755 permits), while Jacksonville held the highest average value of new construction (average value: $76,000).

Here is a closer look at new swimming pool construction activity by area for the month of March 2022:

Southwest

Last month, there were 755 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of nearly $45 million added to the HBW database for the southwestern region of Florida.  The average value of new pool construction was $59,191, and just about half of all new permits originated from the counties of Lee (193 permits) and Manatee (186 permits).

Out of more than 170 pool builders with new construction activity in the area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

BuilderTotal Permits
1-Aragon Pools & Spas52
2-Pinnacle USA42
3-Coast to Coast Pools40

Southeast

The southeastern region of Florida ranked #2 for new swimming pool construction, having more than 655 new permits with a total value of approximately $35.4 million on record for the month.  The average value of new construction was lowest in the southeast (average value: $53,939) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and the bulk of new permits originated from the two counties of Palm Beach (251 permits) and Miami-Dade (164 permits).

Out of more than 220 active pool builders with new permits on record last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

BuilderTotal Permits
1-RHR Pools23
2-AAA Custom Pools23
3-Van Kirk Construction19

Tampa

In Tampa, there were 420 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value in excess of $31.4 million on record last month. The county with the highest concentration of new construction activity was Hillsborough (169 permits), and the average value of construction in Tampa landed on the higher end of the spectrum (average value: $74,828) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed.

Out of approximately 125 active pool builders with permits on file last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

BuilderTotal Permits
1-Challenger Pools40
2-Tampa Bay Pools22
3-American Pools & Spas16

Orlando

In Orlando, there were 415 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value in excess of $25.7 million on record last month.  The average value of new construction was $62,042, and more than half of all new construction activity took place in the two counties of Orange (138 permits) and Brevard (87 permits).

Out of nearly 110 active pool builders with new construction activity in the area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

BuilderTotal Permits
1-American Pools & Spas37
2-All Seasons33
3-Dreamscapes Pools & Spas31

Jacksonville

Last month, there were nearly 320 new pool permits with a total construction value in excess of $24.2 million in the Jacksonville area. The average value of new construction was highest in Jacksonville (average value: $76,000) in comparison to other areas reviewed, and the majority of new permits originated from the counties of St. Johns (168 permits) and Duval (77 permits).

Out of more than 80 active pool builders with permits on file for the one-month period, the following rank as the top three for total new permits:

BuilderTotal Permits
1-Blue Haven Pools19
2-Pools by John Clarkson18
3-Tier 1 Pools and Spas17

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 – March 2022

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An overview of permit data and leading contractors in Florida for new home construction during the month of March 2022

Based on the latest HBW construction data reports, there were approximately 8,180 new residential construction permits with a total value in excess of $2.4 billion added to the HBW database for Florida last month.  Out of the five regions reviewed (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville), the greatest concentration of new home construction activity could be found in the southwestern region (2,189 permits), and the highest average value of new home construction could be found in the Southeast (average value: $361,807).

Total permits on record by region for the month of March are as follows:

Southwest: 2,189 permits

Tampa: 2,060 permits

Orlando: 1,618 permits

Jacksonville: 1,394 permits

Southeast: 918 permits

When reviewing the hundreds of contractors with new permits on record for the one-month period, three home builders were standouts, holding permits for approximately 35 percent of all new construction activity on record statewide. Those leading contractors were as follows:

Lennar Homes: 1,247 permits

D.R. Horton: 1,031 permits

Pulte Homes: 557 permits

From a county perspective, there were seven counties that carried just over 35 percent of all new home construction across the state; those counties are as follows:

  1. Polk County (Tampa) – 745 permits
  2. Hillsborough County (Tampa) – 585 permits
  3. Manatee County (Southwest) – 573 permits
  4. Duval County (Jacksonville) – 499 permits
  5. Lee (Southwest) – 491 permits

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.

Texas Swimming Pool Construction Review – March 2022

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A review of permit data for new swimming pool construction in Texas during the month of March 2022

Last month, there were more than 810 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database for Texas, reflecting a 15 percent month-over-month decrease in new pool construction.  Out of the four major metro areas reviewed (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), Dallas held the highest concentration of new pool construction (358 permits), while Houston carried the highest average value of new swimming pool construction (average value: $70,006).

Here is a closer look at the total permits, construction values, leading counties and contractors in Texas for new swimming pool construction during the month of March 2022:

Dallas

Out of the four major metro areas reviewed, Dallas carried the highest volume of new swimming pool construction permits, having nearly 360 new permits with a total value greater than $18.4 million added to the HBW database last month. The average value of new pool construction landed mid-range in comparison to other metro areas reviewed (average value: $51,405), and more than half of all new construction took place in the counties of Tarrant (94 permits) and Collin (87 permits).

Out of the more than 160 pool builders with new construction activity on record last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder
1-Riverbend Pools
2-Hauk Custom Pools
3-Puryear Custom Pools

Houston

The Houston area ranked #2 for new swimming pool construction last month, having approximately 240 pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $16.7 million.  The average value of new pool construction was highest in the Houston area in comparison to other Texas areas reviewed (average value: $70,006), and the bulk of new permits originated from the two counties of Harris (105 permits) and Galveston (56 permits).

Out of 130 pool contractors with new construction activity on record last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder
1-Platinum Pools
2-Anthony & Sylvan Pools
3-Avree Pools

Austin

Last month, there were nearly 110 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value in excess of $5.3 million on record for the Austin area. The average value of new pool construction was $49,306, and nearly all construction activity took place in the County of Travis (86 permits).

Out of approximately 65 pool contractors with new construction activity on record in the Austin area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits on record with HBW:

Builder
1-Denali Pools
2-Cody Pools
3-Premier Pools & Spas of Austin

San Antonio

In San Antonio, there were more than 105 new swimming pool permits with a total construction value greater than $3.7 million added to the HBW database last month. The average value of new pool construction was lowest in San Antonio in comparison to other metro areas reviewed (average value: $35,039), and the majority of new construction activity took place in Bexar County (84 permits).

Out of more than 40 pool builders with new construction activity on record last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder
1-Gary Pools
2-Cody Pools
3-Keith Zars Pools

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.

Texas Residential Construction Review – March 2022

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A review of permit data for new residential construction in Texas during the month of March 2022

During the month of March, there were more than 7,375 new residential construction permits with a total construction value in excess of $1.9 billion added to the HBW database for Texas.  Out of the four major metro areas reviewed (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio), Houston ranked #1 for greatest volume of new permits (3,185 permits), while Austin carried the highest average value of new home construction (average value: $307,571).

To gain better insight on these figures and new home construction activity in each metro area, here is a breakdown of the total permits, construction value and leading counties in Texas last month:

Houston

As previously mentioned, Houston ranked #1 for total housing starts in comparison to other Texas metro areas reviewed. Last month, there were approximately 3,185 new residential construction permits with a total value of more than $780.7 million on record for the area. The average value of new home construction landed on the lower of end of the spectrum in comparison to other areas reviewed (average value: $245,123), and nearly half of all new permits originated from Harris County (1,511 permits).

Dallas

In Dallas, there were more than 2,460 new residential construction permits with a total value of approximately $688 million on record with HBW last month. The average value of construction was $279,529, and the majority of all new permits originated from the counties of Tarrant (947 permits) and Collin (517 permits).

Austin

Last month, there were approximately 890 new residential construction permits with a total value in excess of $273 million on record for Austin. The average value of new home construction was highest in Austin (average value: $307,571) in comparison to other Texas metro areas reviewed, and nearly all of the new permits on record with HBW for the one-month period originated from the counties of Travis (383 permits) and Williamson (430 permits).

San Antonio

In San Antonio, there were 842 new residential construction permits with a total value of approximately $190 million last month. The average value of new home construction was lowest in San Antonio (average value: $225,757) in comparison to other Texas metro areas reviewed, and more than half of all new construction activity took place in Bexar County (475 permits).

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.

Atlanta Residential Construction Review: Q1-2022

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A review of permit data for new residential construction in the Metro Atlanta area during the first quarter of 2022

Earlier this week, we reviewed the latest construction data on record with HBW for new swimming pool construction in Atlanta; in the report, we recognized that the Metro Atlanta area has been off to a slower start when it comes to new pool construction, and when it comes to residential construction, it appears that the slow pattern continues.

Since the start of this year (through March), there has been a 24 percent year-over-year decline in new home construction, resulting in approximately 6,075 new permits being added to the HBW database. And while the Metro Atlanta area has experienced a decline in residential construction overall, there are some counties that have proven to hold steady or exhibit growth in the first quarter of this year (vs. Q1-2021); those counties include but are not limited to the following:

  • Dawson County (141 permits; +66 percent)
  • Dekalb County (237 permits; +9 percent)
  • Coweta County (265 permits; +5 percent)
  • Carroll County (150 permits; +95 percent)
  • Fayette County (187 permits; +17 percent)

When reviewing the latest HBW Building Activity Trend Report to identify areas with the highest levels of new residential construction activity, we found that there are five counties (out of 24 that make up the Metro Atlanta area) that carry approximately 47 percent of all new permitting activity; those counties are as follows:

  1. Gwinnett County (814 permits)
  2. Cherokee County (671 permits)
  3. Cobb County (528 permits)
  4. Fulton County (447 permits)
  5. Henry County (383 permits)

Other Metro Atlanta counties that held a higher volume of new residential construction in the first quarter of this year include: Hall County (354 permits); Forsyth County (328 permits); and Paulding County (286 permits).

Information utilized for the above listed figures for Metro Atlanta residential construction was directly derived from HBW 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 Quarterly: Atlanta Swimming Pool Construction Q1-2022

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A review of permit data for new swimming pool construction in the Metro Atlanta area through the first quarter of 2022

Based on HBW’s latest Swimming Pool Construction Activity Trend Report for the Metro Atlanta area, new swimming pool construction had a slow start in the first quarter of this year.  From January through March 2022, there have been 1,043 new swimming pool permits added to the HBW database, reflecting a 9 percent decrease in new pool construction in comparison to the same period last year.

Out of the 24 counties that make up the Metro Atlanta area, there were several that carried the bulk of new pool construction activity; to be more specific, approximately 55 percent of all new swimming pool construction permits on record with HBW through Q1-2022 originated from the following five counties:

1-Fulton County (200 permits, 19% year-over-year decrease)

2-Cobb County (112 permits, 33% year-over-year decrease)

3-Cherokee County (102 permits, 13% year-over-year decrease)

4-Gwinnett County (81 permits, 30% year-over-year decrease)

5-Coweta County (76 permits, 21% year-over-year increase)

While there is a fairly significant difference when comparing quarterly (Q1) figures from 2021 and 2022, the truth is that it’s still too early to identify any real patterns or set any solid predictions for swimming pool construction for the remainder of the year solely based on permit totals. After all, over the last two to three years, the leading counties of Fulton, Cobb and Cherokee have exhibited year-over-year growth in new swimming pool construction ranging from a low of 5 percent to a high of 75 percent. That being stated, it has been reported that supply chain issues are expected to continue through the year, as well as labor shortages and increased labor costs; while these factors will impact the pace of growth, new construction of all types will continue to be challenged.  With so many factors in play, HBW’s monthly construction data reports and activity trend reports will be useful in informing subscribers of the most updated and current status of new construction and permitting activity in their area.

As always, HBW will monitor, collect and report new permit data, as well as add the latest permits to its database, enabling us to report on growth and construction trends as we move forward through the year.

Information utilized for the above listed figures for Metro Atlanta swimming pool construction was directly derived from HBW 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.

3 More Ways to Engaging Social Media Posts

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Tips for developing engaging social media posts continued…

Earlier this week, we reviewed three easy ways to create variety in your social media content.  Today, we are going to continue on the same path by reviewing three more ways that you can ensure your social media presence never gets dull.

Here are a few more tips for keeping your target audience engaged and content interesting:

  1. Be Relatable – While it is always important to maintain a sense of professionalism in your company’s social media posts, it is equally important to offer some relatable information about you, your company, your employees – your business. From personal stories and employee introductions to customer experience videos and statements, there are many ways to provide a personal touch when presenting your professional services.
  2. Repost and Post UGC – What is UGC? It’s user-generated content. UGC is content that has been posted by your customers, ambassadors, corporate partners, employees, etc. about your company and brand. For example, a client may tag your company when posting about their new kitchen remodel, or a corporate partner may tag you in an industry event or project highlight. It is important that you take the time to “like” and recognize posts that recognize you, as well as reshare/repost so that prospects and clients can learn more about you through a third-party’s perspective. And although it goes without saying, you will only want to repost content that is favorable. In order to track and locate UGC, be sure to keep an eye out for social media mentions and include your branded hashtag on promotional materials so that you can easily search and find related content.
  3. Answer Questions – You most likely have an FAQ section on your website, but not everyone who follows you on social media will view it. For this reason, it is important to provide answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs) on social media. This is a good time to get ahead of questions that you know are coming down the pipe. For example, when COVID-19 hit, many people were asking businesses about their safety procedures – To be proactive and stay ahead of the guessing, many businesses published safety measures at the top of their social media profiles and websites. Only you will know what is asked from customers most often, so let them know that you are listening by answering a question or two. This type of post provides value to your audience and can help buyers make a decision, as well as create opportunity for you to highlight interesting features of your products or services.

There is no one-size-fits-all strategy for creating the perfect post, but by keeping social media content relevant, dynamic, and interactive, you will increase the likelihood of engaging current customers, as well as attracting new ones.

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.

3 Ways to Engaging Social Media Posts

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Tips for making the most of your social media marketing efforts

As a construction professional, coming up with creative social media posts is most likely not your first priority. While you may be creative and have the aptitude and/or experience for developing unique and engaging content, chances are that you do not have time in your schedule to focus on it.

For this reason, we have compiled a quick list of various types of posts that you can create for your social media profiles.  Whether you choose to be active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and/or all other platforms, it is important that you provide variety in the type of content you post in order to keep it “fresh”.  Here are three (3) easy variations of social content that you may want to consider for your upcoming posts and overall social media marketing strategy:

  1. Provide a “Walkthrough” – A “walkthrough” video, infographic or printable is a great way to familiarize your audience with your work and process. While a final product or build out may seem like the most obvious walkthrough content, there are other functions in your business that customers may be interested in understanding – For example, you may choose to explain the steps that a customer will go through from the start of a job to completion with your project manager or team; you may also conduct walkthroughs of specific services you offer or different products’ functions.
  2. Survey Your Audience – There is no better way to get to know your audience then to ask them questions. In social media, such questions should be quick, easy, and entertaining.  A good place to start is by asking questions in the form of “this or that” – preference questions. For example, you may post a side-by-side image of two similar products you offer or styles in your designs and ask the audience which one they prefer. This information not only allows you to form a loose connection with your audience, but it can also serve as informal market research to support more in-depth research you may already have in place.
  3. Share Success Stories – While testimonials can serve as a powerful tool in building trust, client success stories take it a step further by providing a more personal touch. Success stories can be a great way to support some of your leading testimonials by offering background on a project. For example, you may have a story of recovery for a property that sustained hurricane damage; or you may have a client who had previously experienced failed attempts to renovate, and your company was able to meet their needs. There are multiple ways that success of your services or products may shine through, and all of them can serve as engaging content through blog posts, videos and/or images.

While the above listed content ideas are just a few of many, they can be used as a launching point for developing other ways to create variety in your social media posts. To keep audiences engaged, it is critical that you continue to generate new information in ways that keep them entertained, informed, and ultimately interested in hiring you for their next project.

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.

Save the Date – The 2022 National Safety Stand-Down

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Resources and ideas for participating in OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down in May 2022

If you haven’t already heard, OSHA’s 9th Annual, National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is scheduled from May 2-6, 2022.

So, what is a Stand-Down?

OSHA describes a Safety Stand-Down as a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. Anyone who wants to prevent hazards in the workplace is eligible to participate; to take part in the event, employers simply schedule some time between May 2nd and 6th to focus on Fall Hazards and reinforce the importance of Fall Prevention. By scheduling time specifically to focus on safety, employees are given a chance to discuss safety topics and talk to management about fall and other job hazards that may have come to their attention on a job site or in the workplace.

Why is it important?

According to OSHA’s website, “fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 351 of the 1,008 construction fatalities recorded in 2020 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.”

How do I conduct a Stand-Down?

Companies can conduct a Safety Stand-Down through a variety of methods… Employers may choose to integrate safety discussions and share resources through toolbox talks, staff meetings or other safety activities. Resources to help you get started include: Suggestions to Prepare for a Successful “Stand-Down” and Highlights from Past Stand-Downs.

Once employers have participated in the event, they may provide feedback to OSHA about their Stand-Down, as well as download a Certificate of Participation.

OSHA provides a number of useful tools and resources that employers can use to plan a successful event for the 2022 National Safety Stand-Down. To get started, here are a few links to access resources that are available now so that you have ample time to plan an event in May:

Fall Stand–Down Resources:

To learn more about the Stand-Down, visit OSHA’s webpage dedicated to the event here. Participation in the event has never been easier, and it can serve as a good starting point for developing and improving your current safety program now, and in the future.

Florida Top Home Builders – February 2022

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A review of the leading home builders in Florida based on new permits on record with HBW during the month of February 2022

In our most recent post, we reviewed the latest HBW construction data reports for Florida and found that there were nearly 9,100 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database last month.  Today, we are using the same reports to review and identify the leading home builders that are driving residential construction in each of the five major regions of Florida.

Statewide, there are two companies that have continued to dominate the residential construction market month after month – Both D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes carry a large share of new home construction in Florida, and last month, the mega builders were responsible for more than 30 percent of all new permits on record with HBW, having 1,420 and 1,359 new permits on record respectively.

Here is closer look at top five home builders in each of the five regions of the Sunshine State based on the total amount of new permits added to the HBW database during the month of February:

Southwest

In Southwest Florida, there were approximately 415 contractors with new home construction activity on record with HBW last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder Total Permits  Average Value
1-D.R. Horton 415  $      194,805.00
2-Pulte Homes 329  $      186,031.00
3-Lennar Homes 281  $      144,798.00
4-Taylor Morrison 173  $      211,514.00
5-Neal Communities of SW FL 111  $      227,433.00

Tampa

Last month, there were 255 contractors with new home construction activity on record in the Tampa area, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder Total Permits  Average Value
1-D.R. Horton 389  $      257,320.00
2-Lennar Homes 388  $      295,710.00
3-Pulte Homes 101  $      283,432.00
4-Brandon Construction Services 93  $      111,242.00
5-Homes by West Bay 92  $      464,769.00

Orlando

In Orlando, there were approximately 170 home builders with new residential construction activity on record in the Orlando area, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder Total Permits  Average Value
1-D.R. Horton 344  $      268,668.00
2-Lennar Homes 313  $      279,368.00
3-Pulte Homes 88  $      358,845.00
4-Minto Communities 78  $      313,659.00
5-Taylor Morrison 66  $      287,167.00

Southeast

Last month, there were nearly 145 contractors with new residential construction activity on record with HBW for the southeastern region of Florida, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder Total Permits  Average Value
1-Lennar Homes 119  $      137,724.00
2-Pulte Homes 98  $      346,446.00
3-GL Building Corporation 78  $      352,688.00
4-Holiday Builders 57  $      285,378.00
5-Synergy Homes 42  $      145,266.00

Jacksonville

Last month, there were 145 contractors with new home 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-Lennar Homes 258  $      241,810.00
2-D.R. Horton 258  $      214,510.00
3-Dream Finders Construction 140  $      237,770.00
4-Pulte Homes 84  $      245,202.00
5-KB Homes 84  $      130,238.00


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.