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Lead Management and Preparation for 2020

Posted on December 6, 2019 by Erika Carruth

Tips for reviewing and managing leads in preparation for the new year

With the holidays upon us, your company’s year-end preparations are most likely well underway. From tax preparations and accounting to team performance and department reviews, the end of the year provides us a chance to look at the successes (and failures) of previous years in order to make improvements in the year ahead. Such opportunities don’t just apply to accounting and human resources; rather, your marketing and sales efforts should undergo the same review and preparations.

More specifically, your leads and customer relationship management tools can always benefit from tracking and tweaking as necessary, and since we are on the heels of 2020, there is no time like now to make sure your lead management is in order and ready for the new year.

Here are a few easy ways to better manage your sales leads and be properly positioned for new business:

Measure Results – Which campaigns have been most effective in 2019? What content was most engaging and which outreach methods proved to be most successful? In order to measure your success, you and your team must first decide what defines that success. Ultimately, you will want to identify, monitor and make improvements based on the data you collect, and from there, you can determine the ROI of your campaigns and focus on those that lead to and increase sales.
Manage Customer Relationships – To be effective in your sales efforts, your team must have the tools they need to track engagement and interaction with your current and future customers. Take time to review your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools, and make sure that all team members are properly trained and utilizing the system consistently and appropriately. Your contact management system will only be as good as the data that is entered, so it is important that everyone is on the same page and understands their requirements and how to use it. No matter the tool you choose, you will ultimately get the most out of it by integrating different channels such as your website, social and email marketing campaigns.
Be Quick – As an HBW subscriber, you have access to new leads every week, and while a fresh batch of prospects is exactly what your sales team needs, they will only be of value if properly used. For this reason, it is important that you distribute new leads to your team expeditiously. Furthermore, once contact is made with a prospect and they express interest, follow up should occur as soon as possible. You will increase your closing rate if a prospect receives a response within 48 hours of making contact. By responding quickly, you will be providing the service and response time that customers appreciate and expect.

By taking time now to improve your contact management systems and identify strengths and weaknesses in your sales and marketing efforts, you will be better positioned to convert prospects to customers and increase sales in the new year.

For more information on construction business and 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.

Tips for Happy Holiday Marketing

Posted on December 4, 2019 by Erika Carruth

Black Friday has come and gone, and many of us are still in the midst of Cyber Monday sales that have now become “Cyber Week”, but believe it or not, the seasonal sales wave has just begun. There are still a few weeks of gift-givers in search of the perfect present for their friends and family, making it the ideal time for you to spruce up your marketing efforts.

Here are a few easy tips that you can apply to your marketing strategy now to make the most of the holiday rush and get in front and center of your target audience:

Make it Easy – This time of year can be overwhelming for shoppers, and often it is challenging to work through the noise and figure out the perfect gift for everyone on their lists. For this reason, make it easy for shoppers by offering several unique gift suggestions. Consider aligning with a corporate partner to offer gift combinations, bundles or discounts.

Give Thanks Early – Don’t wait until the last weeks of December to send a holiday greeting to your customers. Rather, send out holiday “thank you” emails and/or cards that show your gratitude for their business in the first weeks of December; this is also a good time to offer additional discounts, a gift guide and referral incentives.

Make the Most of Mobile – According to a recent article by Mashable, the future of shopping has gone mobile, and the proof is in this year’s “Black Friday” sales. Based on a holiday shopping report by Adobe, Black Friday 2019 saw a total of $7.4 billion in online sales, with $2.9 billion coming from consumers making purchases on their smartphones; this officially made “Black Friday” of 2019 the biggest U.S. mobile shopping day on record. Due to the fact that smartphone purchases made up 39 percent of all e-commerce sales (a 21 percent increase over last year), it is crucial that you set your email marketing, website, landing pages and online stores (if applicable) to be optimized for mobile viewing.

Get Camera Ready – While you will most likely send holiday greeting cards in the mail or by email, don’t overlook the power of video for sending a holiday message to customers. According to Wordstream, 64 percent of consumers make a purchase after watching branded social videos, and the power of video marketing continues to grow. In previous posts, we have explored video for the purpose of marketing your products and services (instructional, behind-the-scenes, portfolio and project highlights), and the holiday season is a great opportunity to use video for connecting to customers. Videos may include a creative holiday greeting, personal holiday messages from employees, or a peek into your own holiday parties and/or seasonal preparations. While you always want to maintain a professional appearance, a holiday video can also be a chance to show a lighter and more personal side to your business.

The holiday season gives all of us a chance to celebrate and focus on things for which we are grateful, and by extending your own company celebrations and appreciation to your customers, you can connect with them in a way that is special, sincere and memorable for them well into the new year.

Florida Top Swimming Pool Builders – October 2019

Posted on November 30, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A review of HBW’s latest swimming pool permits and the leading builders by region throughout Florida during the month of October 2019

Earlier this week, we published a report covering the latest new swimming pool permits added to the HBW database for Florida during the month of October. Today, we are breaking down the data further to identify the top swimming pool builders throughout the Sunshine State last month. From the northern point (Jacksonville) through Central Florida (Tampa, Orlando) and down to the Southeast and Southwest, hundreds of pool contractors were active and had new permits on records with HBW.

Here is a look at the top five pool builders by region and based on the total number of new permits started for the one-month period:

Southwest

Out of the more than 115 swimming pool builders with pool starts on record last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits in the southwestern region of Florida:

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-Aragon Pools & Spas	65	$ 33,385.00
2-Coast to Coast Pools	36	$ 55,945.00
3-Holiday Pools of West FL	31	$ 39,405.00
4-Aquadoc	28	$ 48,264.00
5-Pinnacle USA	28	$ 41,824.00

Tampa

Last month, there were more than 100 pool contractors with pool starts on file in Tampa and surrounding counties, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-Olympus Pools	35	$ 58,407.00
2-Gulfstream Pools & Spas	26	$ 61,319.00
3-Tampa Bay Pools	19	$ 60,898.00
4-Tropical Pools & Pavers	19	$ 47,313.00
5-Challenger Pools	17	$ 51,426.00

Orlando

Last month, there were more than 80 pool contractors with swimming pool starts on record with HBW, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-Bob’s Pool Service	40	$ 22,991.00
2-Holland Pools	27	$ 22,783.00
3-Dreamscapes Pools & Spas	25	$ 24,840.00
4-All Seasons	24	$ 44,947.00
5-Intercoastal Pool & Spa Builders	14	$ 22,829.00

Southeast

In the southeastern region of Florida, there were approximately 150 active pool builders with new swimming pool construction permits filed last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-Swimming Pool Contractors	32	$ 23,488.00
2-Paradise Swimming Pools & Spas	20	$ 30,541.00
3-Sunsational Pools & Spa	17	$ 35,505.00
4-Treasure Pools & Service	16	$ 57,749.00
5-Van Kirk & Sons	16	$ 51,814.00

Jacksonville

Out of the more than 75 active pool builders with new construction activity on record in the Jacksonville area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits			Average Value
1-Pools by John Clarkson		18	$ 72,915.00
2-Agua Pools & Spas		11	$ 51,864.00
3-Crystal Pools & Spas		9	$ 48,243.00
4-Blue Haven Pools		9	$ 44,393.00
5-Waldhauer & Son		8	$ 48,600.00

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.

Florida Swimming Pool Permit Report – October 2019

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A review of permit data for new swimming pool construction in Florida during the month of October 2019

During the month of October 2019, there were approximately 1,960 new swimming pool construction permits with a total construction value in excess of $96 million added to the HBW database for Florida. Out of the five major regions reviewed (Southwest, Southeast, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville), the Southwest ranked #1 for having the highest total amount of starts on record (561 permits) for the one-month period, while Tampa held the highest average value of new pool construction (average value: $54,679).

Here is a look at the latest permit data for new pool construction in the Sunshine State last month:

Southwest

As previously mentioned, the southwest region held the highest concentration of new permits in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed. Last month, there were more than 560 pool starts with a total construction value of $29.3 million. The average value of construction was $52,184, and more than half of all permits originated from the counties of Lee (175 permits) and Sarasota (124 permits).

Southeast

Last month, there were more than 480 new swimming pool construction permits with a total construction value of $21.3 million added to the HBW database for southeast Florida. The average value of new pool construction landed just over $44k, and more than half of all new permits originated from Palm Beach County (274 permits).

Orlando

In Orlando, there were 355 pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $15 million last month. The average value of construction was lowest in the Orlando area (average value: $42,393) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and the county with the highest concentration of new permits was Orange County (137 permits).

Tampa

Last month, there were more than 345 pool starts with a total construction value of approximately $19 million in the Tampa area. The average value of new pool construction was highest in Tampa (average value: $54,679) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the county with the greatest concentration of new permits for the one-month period was Hillsborough County (~120 permits).

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there were 215 new swimming pool construction permits with a total construction value of nearly $11.7 million last month. The average value of construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum (average value: $54,291) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and the bulk of all new pool construction took place in the counties of St. Johns (87 permits) and Duval (58 permits).

Florida Top Home Builders – October 2019

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A review of leading home builders in Florida with the greatest amount of new residential permits added to the HBW database for the month of October 2019

Every month, HBW adds thousands of new residential and commercial construction permits to its database for subscribers to use and keep their leads fresh. Every report provides new prospects to be perused and pursued, and with the ability to filter by region, permit dates, construction values, builders and more, it makes it easy for everyone from interior designers and landscape architects to remodelers and swimming pool service providers to reach their target audience at precisely the right time and place. Additionally, having access to archived permits can help businesses monitor market patterns and direct their marketing efforts effectively.

Earlier this week, we reported on the total amount of housing starts and construction values in five major regions throughout the Sunshine State for the month of October 2019; this week, we are digging deeper to identify and list the leading home builders in each Florida region. So, what defines a “leading home builder”? The answer is simple – For our purposes, we pull the top five contractors with the greatest amount of new residential construction permits added to the HBW database for a given period; in this report, we are covering the home builders with the greatest amount of new permits on file for the month of October 2019 in the five Florida regions of Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Southwest and Southeast. Here is a look at the top five builders in Florida last month:

Tampa

In Tampa, there were more than 205 active home builders with housing starts on file last month, and the following ranked as top five for total new residential construction permits:

Builder	Total Permits	Total Construction Value
Lennar Homes	292	$ 93,073,465.00
D.R. Horton	175	$ 41,445,879.00
The Villages of Lake Sumter	104	$ 31,831,365.00
Pulte Homes	87	$ 26,639,580.00
Highland Homes	67	$ 12,721,112.00

Southwest

In the southwestern region of Florida, there were 265 contractors with new residential construction activity added to the HBW database last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder		Total Permits	Total Construction Value
D.R. Horton	248		$ 51,933,425.00
Lennar Homes	223		$ 46,414,245.00
Pulte Homes	145		$ 32,814,283.00
Neal Communities of SW FL	61		$ 11,326,908.00
Taylor Morrison	46		$ 12,453,025.00

Orlando

In Orlando, there were approximately 160 active contractors with permits on file last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits for the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits	Total Construction Value
D.R. Horton	156	$ 43,699,214.00
Mattamy Homes	99	$ 28,600,672.00
Lennar Homes	88	$ 18,171,674.00
Meritage Homes	45	$ 14,753,876.00
Pulte Homes	35	$ 11,487,432.00

Southeast

There were nearly 165 active contractors with housing starts in Southeast Florida last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new residential construction permits on file with HBW for the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits	Total Construction Value
GL Building Corp	127	$ 46,399,582.00
Lennar Homes	119	$ 23,332,598.00
D.R. Horton	46	$ 7,787,303.00
Pulte Homes	39	$ 14,172,280.00
Standard Pacific of FL Group	27	$ 12,378,641.00

Jacksonville

Out of the 120 active home builders with permits on file in the Jacksonville area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total permits:

Builder	Total Permits	Total Construction Value
Lennar Homes	114	$ 28,949,415.00
D.R. Horton	88	$ 13,959,102.00
Dream Finders Home	73	$ 16,168,574.00
Mattamy Homes	62	$ 13,243,727.00
KB Homes	56	$ 7,764,620.00

Florida Residential Construction Report – October 2019

Posted on November 20, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A review of the latest construction data based on permits in the HBW database for Florida during the month of October 2019

When reviewing the latest permit data available in the HBW database for Florida last month, we found more than 5,700 new residential construction permits with a total value of approximately $1.6 billion. Out of the five major regions reviewed (Tampa, Southwest, Orlando, Jacksonville, Southeast), Tampa landed the top spot for total housing starts (~1,555 permits), while the higher value residential construction could be found in the Southeast (average value of construction: ~$311k).

Here is a closer look at the total permits, construction value and counties with the highest concentration of new construction in Florida during the month of October 2019:

Tampa

As previously mentioned, Tampa held the highest concentration of housing starts last month in comparison to other Florida areas reviewed. During the month of October, there were approximately 1,555 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $436 million in Tampa and surrounding areas. The average value of construction was $280.5k, and more than half of all new permits originated from Hillsborough County (539 permits) and Polk County (442 permits).

Southwest

The southwestern region of Florida ranked second for new home construction, having more than 1,415 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $358.5 million last month. The average value of new home construction landed on the lower end of the spectrum in comparison to other Florida regions (average value of construction: $253k), and just over half of all new permits originated from the counties of Lee (418 permits) and Sarasota (327 permits).

Orlando

In Orlando, there were approximately 1,110 housing starts with a total construction value of $330 million last month. The average value of new construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum in comparison to other regions reviewed (average value of construction: $301k+), and the county with the greatest concentration of new residential construction activity was Orange County (380 permits).

Jacksonville

Jacksonville and surrounding areas had nearly 870 housing starts with a total construction value of $213.5 million last month. The average value of new home construction was lowest in Jacksonville (average value of construction: $246k) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and bulk of new residential construction activity took place in the counties of St. Johns (366 permits) and Duval (248 permits).

Southeast

Last month, there were approximately 770 housing starts with a total construction value of $239 million in Southeast Florida. The average value of construction was highest in the southeast (average value of construction: ~$311k) in comparison to other Florida regions, and the majority of new permits originated from the counties of Palm Beach (254 permits) and St. Lucie (186 permits).

3 Quick and Easy Marketing Tactics

Posted on November 15, 2019 by Erika Carruth

Three easy marketing tactics that you can do right now to make a lasting impact on the growth of your business

In the service industry, word-of-mouth advertising is golden, but it will only get you so far when it comes to generating new business. Most small business owners know that services simply don’t sell themselves, and it takes a consistent and strategic marketing effort to build and maintain momentum.

Truth be told, most contractors are not experts in designing and implementing impactful marketing plans, and often smaller businesses do not have the time or budget to hire a full-time marketing manager. For this reason, it is important to have some quick and easy reminders and methods to add some instant strength to your marketing strategy.

Building upon our previous and most recent posts “3 in 3 – Three Marketing Tips in Three Minutes” and “3 More Marketing Tactics”, here is a list of three actions you can take to give a boost to your marketing efforts today:

1 – Make a Video – According to a recent report, roughly 86% of marketers are using video content to advertise, educate, and entertain, and one-third of online activity is spent watching video. That adds up to a lot of space and time where your company can be front and center. Not to mention adding video content to your emails can increase your click rate by 300%! Consider featuring your latest build or a client testimonial to get your video engine going. From there, the door is wide open… From tutorials and DIY to company and industry events, there are so many valuable activities to explore, cover and share. Remember to keep the content professional, visually appealing, informative and under two minutes (preferably ~1 minute) to keep viewers engaged.

2- Share Content – While it is ideal to have everyone sharing your company’s content, it is equally important to share industry-relevant posts from other sources. In addition to demonstrating that you remain current on topics that are buzzing in the industry, sharing content also indirectly engages the other source’s audience. Be sure to tag the source, share their hashtags and provide positive feedback. After all, social media is “social” by design, and by spreading the word on industry news by others, you can begin expanding your own network in the digital realm.

3 – Get Listed – If you have not already done so, your business should be listed with online directories. Just think, mega directory Yelp has over 185 million reviews published, and your business can be just one of the many that has positive feedback on your services that will rank higher with search engines. There are numerous location-specific and industry-specific business listing sites from which to choose, so it is important to list with the sources that are the best fit for your services. You will also want to take into account that someone on your team will need to be responsible for tracking and responding to reviews (positive and negative) and performing profile updates as needed. To get started, some free business listing directories include Google (aka Google My Business), LinkedIn Business Directory, Apple Maps and Facebook.

While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for marketing success, your company can test and measure methods and tactics to find the ones that engage your target audience and gain the greatest response. Before you know it, you will have your own list of top marketing tactics that are specific to your business and can be used in your campaigns and strategies moving forward.

Texas Swimming Pool Construction Update – October 2019

Posted on November 13, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A review of the latest construction data based on new swimming pool permits added to the HBW database for Texas during the month of October 2019

Last month, there were 720 new swimming pool permits with a total construction value of nearly $44 million added to the HBW database for Texas, reflecting a 6 percent month-over-month decrease in new pool construction. Out of the four major metro areas reviewed (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), Dallas ranked #1 for new pool construction having 324 starts on record for the month and the highest average value of construction (average value: ~$70k).

Here is a closer look at the latest construction permit data on record with HBW for the four major Texas metro areas last month:

Dallas

Total Permits: 324

Total Construction Value: $22.7 million

Average Value of Construction: $ 69,909

Top County for Total New Permits: Tarrant County (95 permits)

Out of the more than 125 active pool contractors with permits on record for the month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder

1-Riverbend Pools

2-Puryear Custom Pools

3-Prestige Pool

Houston

Total Permits: 245

Total Construction Value: $14.2 million

Average Value of Construction: $ 57,854

Top County for Total New Permits: Harris County (152 permits)

Out of the more than 105 active pool contractors with permits on record for the month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder

1-Platinum Pools

2-McKinney Custom Pools

3-Cypress Custom Pools

Austin

Total Permits: 88

Total Construction Value: ~$5 million

Average Value of Construction: $ 56,589

Top County for Total New Permits: Travis County (67 permits)

Out of the approximately 45 active pool contractors with permits on record for the month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder

1-Cody Pools

2-Texas Pools & Patios

3-Premier Pools & Spas of Austin

San Antonio

Total Permits: 63

Total Construction Value: $1.8 million+

Average Value of Construction: $ 29,181

Top County for Total New Permits: Bexar County (47 permits)

Out of the nearly 25 active pool contractors with permits on record for the month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder

1-Keith Zars Pools

2-Pool Concepts by Pete Ordaz

3-Aquamarine Pools

Texas Residential Construction Report – October 2019

Posted on November 9, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A review of the latest residential construction data from permits on record with HBW during the month of October 2019

During the month of October 2019, there were more than 6,040 residential construction permits with a total construction value of nearly $1.5 billion added to the HBW database for the Lone Star State.

Out of the four major metro areas reviewed (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), Houston carried the highest amount of housing starts (2,471 permits), and Dallas maintained its lead with higher value construction having an average value of construction of approximately $282.8k last month.

When looking at top builders across the state, D.R. Horton continued to dominate in three out four metro areas (Houston, Dallas, Austin) and had more than 640 housing start on record for the one-month period.

Here is a closer look at the latest construction data derived from Texas residential construction permits on record with HBW during the month of October 2019:

Houston

Month after month, Houston continues to be the leading Texas metro area for new residential construction. Last month, there were more than 2,470 housing starts with a total construction value of $485.5 million. The average value of construction was lowest in comparison to the other metro areas reviewed (average construction value: $196,487), and more than half of all new construction took place in Harris County (1,309 permits).

Out of the nearly 315 active builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on record for the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	235
K Hovnanian Homes	174
Lennar Homes	151
Camillo Properties	143
Perry Homes	114

Dallas

Dallas ranked #2 for new home construction, having more than 2,080 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $589 million last month. As previously mentioned, Dallas continues to maintain its lead for higher value construction, having an average construction value of approximately $282.8k for the month. While the HBW database gained new permits for every county in the area, more than half of all new permits originated from the two counties of Tarrant (576 permits) and Collin (526 permits).

Out of the more than 240 home builders with construction activity on file with HBW last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	297
Lennar Homes	130
First Texas Homes	88
LGI Homes	85
Bloomfield Homes	80

Austin

In Austin, there were nearly 870 housing starts with a total construction value of $222 million last month. The average value of construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum (average value: $255,473), and the majority of all new permits originated from the County of Travis (537 permits).

Out of the nearly 115 active home builders in the Austin area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	107
KB Homes	61
Lennar Homes	57
Gehan Homes	52
Taylor Morrison Homes	45

San Antonio

Last month, there were 620 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $153 million in the San Antonio area. The average value of new construction was $246,180, and more than 66 percent of all new permits originated from Bexar County (411 permits).

Out of the 85 active home builders with permits on file for the month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	88
KB Homes	77
Continental Homes of Texas	66
LGI Homes	38
Pulte Homes	26

Florida Swimming Pool Construction Review: Q3-2019

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An HBW quarterly report on the latest construction data for new swimming pool construction in Florida from January through September 2019

Since the start of this year (through September 2019), new swimming pool construction in Florida has continued its upward growth pattern that we have seen for the last five years. Through Q3-2019, there have been more than 19,650 new swimming pool permits added to the HBW database for Florida, reflecting a 6 percent year-over-year increase in pool starts. Out of the six major regions reviewed (Southeast, Southwest, West, Central, Northeast, Northwest), the highest concentration of new pool permits originated from the southwestern region (5,262 permits), and the area that has exhibited the greatest amount of growth so far this year is the western region (+14 percent).

Here is a breakdown of total permits, top counties and areas experiencing growth in new swimming pool construction throughout the Sunshine State through the third quarter of 2019:

Southwest Florida

In the southwest, there have been more than 5,260 pool starts since the beginning of the year, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 9 percent. The counties with higher levels of new pool construction include: Lee County (1,591 permits), Collier County (1,200 permits) and Sarasota County (1,047 permits).

West Florida

Through Q3-2019, West Florida has experienced a 14 percent year-over-year increase in swimming pool construction, resulting in 3,825 new permits added to the HBW database. More than half of all new pool construction took place in the two counties of Hillsborough (1,191 permits) and Pasco (775 permits), with both counties reflecting year-over-year gains of 4 percent and 27 percent respectively.

Southeast Florida

In comparison to the same time last year, new pool construction is tracking slightly higher in the southeast. Since the start of this year, there have been 3,540 pool starts, reflecting a 2 percent year-over-year increase in new swimming pool construction. The counties with the highest concentration of new permits and carrying more than half of all new swimming pool construction activity are Palm Beach (1,111 permits) and Miami-Dade (976 permits).

Central Florida

Out of all Florida regions reviewed, Central Florida is the only one where new pool construction has been slowing as of late. Last year, the area had experienced an annual decrease of 11 percent in new pool construction, and so far this year, the slowing has continued. Since the start of this year (Q3-2019), there have been 3,090 pool starts in Central Florida, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 5 percent. While new pool construction has decreased in the region overall, the larger County of Orange is exhibiting a rise in swimming pool construction, with a 15 percent year-over-year increase that has resulted in more than 1,100 permits on file with HBW.

Northwest Florida

Since the start of this year, the northwestern region of Florida has experienced a 10 percent year-over-year increase in new pool construction, resulting in nearly 2,000 new permits added to the HBW database. Counties exhibiting both higher concentrations of new permits and growth in construction include Santa Rosa County (418 permits) with an 18 percent year-over-year increase and Walton County (303 permits) with a 24 percent year-over-year increase in new pool construction.

Northeast Florida

New pool construction in the northeastern region of Florida is ahead of last year’s figures by 7 percent, resulting in approximately 1,940 new pool permits for the area. The areas where more than half of all new construction has taken place include the counties of St. Johns (~650 permits) and Duval (504 permits).