HBWeekly

3 More Marketing Tactics

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A continuation of the previous “3 in 3” article, reviewing three additional marketing tactics that can be easily executed in minutes

In follow up to last week’s post 3 in 3 – Three Marketing Tips in Three Minutes, we decided to take a look at a few more marketing tactics that you and your team can execute in limited time. You don’t need to be a marketing guru to follow these tips, and whether you have a seasoned veteran or new recruit handling your marketing efforts, all levels of experience can benefit from a few reminders and refreshers. Here are three more tips to keep the momentum going:

Ask Customers – Surveys serve a variety of purposes, especially in marketing. First, a survey allows you to gauge your customers’ interest in a new product, service and experience with your brand; such feedback can act as a guide to help you develop content around your target audience’s interests so that you maximize engagement. Additionally, surveys are a great way to gather information and quotes for testimonials. For this reason, your survey should not be limited to multiple choice; instead, offer a chance for them to provide honest and open comments that you can address when there is an issue and share when there is a success.
Recycle – Just like recycling and repurposing paper and plastic, so can you recycle your content. When repurposing previously published content, it is important to make sure that you are connecting the content to something relevant today. For example, you may have posted an article or video that highlighted the features of a new project or installation; consider revisiting the project in five years to demonstrate the longevity of a roof in a construction project or the growth and expansion of a garden in a landscape design. Additionally, posts with instructional content or product information may be repurposed to address recent questions. Seasonal content may also be repurposed and expanded with any new information that may have developed since the original message was published.
Email Your List – As an HBW subscriber, your lead list is growing every day, and with it comes the need for maintenance. Often, we gravitate to new leads, new names and new opportunities, and while keeping it fresh is vital to your marketing success, you will also want to maintain communication with contacts who may be further down the list. For this reason, you should have consistent, and somewhat regular, communication with all of your contacts. Use your time wisely, and consider reaching out to customers and contacts just to wish them a happy holiday, provide valuable advice about their property or offer an exclusive discount. Monthly or quarterly e-newsletters or news briefs can also be helpful in keeping in touch while simultaneously providing value to your customers.

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.

Planning for Severe Weather Events

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A look at preparations that construction professionals and business owners can take to keep their crews and businesses safe during hurricanes and severe weather events

If you are anywhere near the State of Florida (even Georgia at this point), then by now you have witnessed the state of chaos that ensues when a hurricane is announced. Gas stations are already backed up with long lines, and many grocery stores remain sold out of water; with the mad rush, it is easy to join the wave of panic when it comes to preparing your family and your business for a hurricane. But don’t panic just yet… As of today, 08/30/19, there is still ample time to make efforts to secure your office and job sites, as well as provide helpful information to the public and your clients about staying safe before, during and after the hurricane makes landfall.

Prepare Your Employees – From your employees to your subcontractors, now is the time to confirm their availability and readiness post-hurricane. First and foremost, you should have an established evacuation plan and system for everyone checking in and reporting their safety status. Down power lines and trees may prevent them from getting to where they need to be in a timely manner. This system should factor in potential power outages, flooding, satellite/internet interruption, as well as the various locations where crew members may be situated; it can be as simple as a call-in system, phone/call tree, and/or a form that everyone fills out in advance.

Prepare Job Sites – With the latest report (source: Weather Channel) reflecting a delay in the storm making landfall in Florida, there is still time to prepare your job sites. While having your crews out during the weekend isn’t ideal, I have yet to meet a client who would turn down the support and property preparation. In addition to securing open projects and making sure they are watertight, all equipment, tools, materials and machinery should be removed from job sites. Loose objects and materials become major hazards with heavy wind, and by leaving them on the job site, you are leaving your clients and surrounding neighbors at risk for property damage.

Prepare Your Clients – As outlined in a previous post (“Communication is Crucial During Hurricane Season”), communication with customers before and after the storm should be an integral part of your preparations. Even if you do not have an open job with a client, informing your client base of your closing or revised hours would be the bare minimum and can be executed with a simple email blast. As a construction professional, you are well positioned to provide storm safety resources and tips to your clients for ensuring that their homes and properties are properly prepared for high winds, heavy rain and potential flooding. Use this time as an opportunity to engage customers and provide tools to guide them through what can be a daunting, and sometimes panic-filled, process. OSHA, FEMA, CDC and other government agencies offer checklists and hurricane preparedness advice that can benefit you and your clients, including but not limited to:

Checklist for disaster and emergency supplies kit

A worksheet and tools for building your emergency response plan

Tips for Preparing an Emergency Food and Water Supplies

Clean Up Safety Guidelines

Prepare the Office – Preparing your business and office goes beyond shutters and protecting high value equipment and technology. Important insurance documents, client records and legal paperwork should be secured in a waterproof/fireproof container. Additionally, all digital files and databases should be backed up in at least two places; don’t rely on cloud-based technology alone. Consider external drives for back up, one stored onsite and one offsite.

Having a hurricane or disaster-preparedness plan in place doesn’t just apply to Hurricane Dorian and areas susceptible to hurricane force winds. From earthquakes and wildfires to hurricanes and tornadoes, your business should have a clear and written plan for all team members; by being proactive and planning ahead now, your team can feel more secure, safe and perhaps avoid the last-minute chaos that is so common with severe weather events.

3 in 3 – Three Marketing Tips in Three Minutes

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Erika Carruth

Three easy marketing maneuvers that you can execute and add to your strategy in less than three minutes of time

As a construction professional, marketing is most likely not on the top of the list when it comes to skills or priorities. Especially small business owners are looking for new ways to reach their target audience, but limited time (and budgets) can easily hold them back from creating or improving upon their marketing strategy.

Although this post is titled “3 in 3”, by no means does a strong marketing strategy take three minutes to create or execute – Rome wasn’t built in a day. That being stated, there are some easy actions that one can take to up their game and make the most of smaller opportunities when it comes to marketing and developing content. Here are three easy actions to build your presence on the web and reach your target audience.

Create a Calendar – I cannot stress the importance of scheduling when it comes to marketing. It is just too easy to lose track of the last article, social media post or online interaction without following a clear schedule for creation and distribution. When it comes to editorial content, a calendar is a must if you want to be successful and efficient. An editorial calendar is a powerful tool that will serve as the structure from which you build your strategy. From blog posts, event announcements, holidays, milestones and project timelines, calendars need to be in place to ensure that action items become completed items.
Respond to Comments – If you are on social media or have a blog, chances are you have comments. Even if you have decided to stay away from social media entirely (not recommended), you probably have comments or feedback somewhere online about your business (Yelp, Google Reviews, BBB). Whether comments are positive, negative or simply “meh”, you should respond both in a timely manner and professionally. You would be surprised by how quickly a negative review can become a positive and public interaction just by taking the time to engage in thoughtful discourse. Sure, most business owners dread the thought of having to interact with an irate customer or internet “troll” within a public domain, but go in with a level head and rip off the band-aid; it can potentially hurt more to ignore it.
Refresh Leads – As an HBW subscriber, you have access to continually refreshed and new leads. From the latest residential construction permit data to new swimming pool construction, there is no reason for you to allow your lead pool to go cold. Additionally, you will want to make sure you have a contact management system in place that enables all members of your sales team to track and update current, active and future leads.

The list can go on (and will in future posts), but keep in mind that each action is only effective if you take the time to do it consistently. One time is not enough, and by taking a little time and attention to review and improve upon your marketing efforts and web presence now, you and your business can experience benefits for years to come.

Florida Top Home Builders – July 2019

Posted on August 24, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An HBW report on new residential construction activity in Florida during the month of July 2019

Each month, HBW conducts a review of the latest construction permit data available from the HBW database for a given time period and area. Based on the latest figures, last month there were approximately 6,835 new residential construction permits with a total construction value in excess of $1.8 billion added to the HBW database. Out of the five major regions reviewed (Tampa, Southwest, Orlando, Jacksonville, Northeast), Tampa carried the highest concentration of new home construction (1,968 permits), and Orlando held the highest average value of new home construction (average value: $291,627).

When looking at the leading builders statewide, a few major players continue to lead the market, including D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes. That being stated, each region had its own lineup of top builders – Here is a look at the top home builders in Florida based on the total permits on file with HBW for the month of July 2019:

Tampa

In Tampa, there were approximately 1,970 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $546 million. The average value of new construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum ($277,399), and the county with the highest concentration of new permits was Hillsborough (643 permits).

Out of the 230 active home builders with construction activity on file for the month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	484
D.R. Horton	200
The Villages of Lake Sumter	125
Pulte Homes	94
Highland Homes	49

Southwest

The southwestern region ranked second for new residential construction activity, having 1,445 housing starts with a total construction value of more than $360 million on record for the month. The average value of new construction was on the lower end of the spectrum in comparison to other regions reviewed (average value: $249,415), and the county with the highest concentration of housing starts was Lee (458 permits).

Out of the approximately 220 active home builders on record for the month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	236
Pulte Homes	177
D.R. Horton	131
Taylor Morrison	66
Neal Communities of SW FL	47

Orlando

Not far behind the southwestern region, Orlando ranked third and had 1,397 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $407.5 million. As previously mentioned, the average value of new construction was highest in Orlando (average value: $291,627) in comparison to other regions throughout the state, and the county with the greatest concentration of new construction activity was Orange (456 permits).

Out of the more than 200 active home builders with activity on record for the month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	104
Lennar Homes	83
Ryan Homes	56
M/I Homes	40
Park Square Homes	40

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there were more than 1,190 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $276 million during the month of July. The average value of new construction was lower in Jacksonville than other regions reviewed (average value: $231,679), and the bulk of all new residential construction activity took place in the counties of St. Johns (448 permits) and Duval (412 permits).

Out of the more than 150 active home builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on file with HBW:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	179
D.R. Horton	165
KB Homes	76
Mattamy Homes	68
David Weekley Homes	55

Southeast

Last month, there were approximately 835 housing starts with a total construction value of $218.5 million in Southeast Florida. The average value of new construction was $261,993, and more than half of all housing starts originated from St. Lucie County (450 permits).

Out of the more than 175 active home builders in the area, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on record for the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	87
GL Building Corp	71
Maronda Homes	59
Pulte Homes	44
Kolter Signature Homes	40

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 Construction Review – July 2019

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An overview of the latest new swimming pool construction permit data added to the HBW database during the month of July 2019

When reviewing the latest construction permit data for Florida, we find approximately 2,110 new swimming pool permits with a total construction value of nearly $99 million added to the HBW database for the month of July 2019. Out of the five major regions reviewed (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast and Jacksonville), Southwest ranked #1 for total new permits for the month (684 permits), while Jacksonville held the highest average value of new construction (average value: $56,559).

Here is a breakdown of new swimming pool construction by Florida region for the month of July 2019:

Southwest Florida

The greatest amount of new pool swimming construction activity could be found in the southwestern portion of Florida last month as there were 684 new permits with a total construction value of nearly $31 million in the area. The average value of new construction was $45,217, and the county with the highest concentration of new permits was Lee County (213 permits).

Tampa

Last month, Tampa ranked second highest for new pool construction having 457 new pool permits with a total construction value of nearly $22 million added to the HBW database. The average value of new pool construction was $47,545, and the greatest amount of pool starts took place in Hillsborough County (148 permits).

Orlando

In Orlando, there were approximately 380 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of nearly $18 million last month. The average value of new construction was $47,328, and more than half of all new permits originated from the counties of Orange (126 permits) and Osceola (94 permits).

Southeast Florida

Last month, there were 367 new swimming pool permits with a total construction value of approximately $15.8 million added to the HBW database for the southeastern region of Florida. The county with the highest concentration of swimming pool starts was Miami-Dade (152 permits), and the average value of new construction was lowest in the area in comparison to other regions reviewed (average value: $43,067).

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there were 222 new pool swimming permits with a total construction value in excess of $12.5 million added to the HBW database last month. The average value of new construction was higher than other regions reviewed (average value: $56,559), and more than half of all new construction activity took place in St. Johns County (79 permits) and Duval County (63 permits).

Texas Swimming Pool Construction Report – July 2019

Posted on August 16, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An HBW review of new pool construction and leading builders in four major metro areas of Texas during the month of July 2019

Last month, there were nearly 900 new swimming pool permits added to the HBW database from the combined Texas metro areas of Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. As could be expected, new construction activity ranged from low to high depending on the area, and leading builders varied widely by region.

Out of the four major metro areas reviewed, Dallas held the highest volume of new swimming pool permits (411 permits), and Austin held the highest average value of new construction (average value: $93,233). Here is look at the leading builders by area as based on construction permit data reports for July 2019:

Dallas

Just about 46 percent of all new swimming pool permits in Texas last month originated from Dallas and its surrounding areas. During the month of July, there were 411 pool starts in Dallas with a total construction value in excess of $18.7 million. Approximately half of all new construction took place in two counties: Collin (103 permits); Tarrant County (97 permits).

Out of the approximately 165 active pool builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on file with HBW:

#1 – Riverbend Pools

#2 – Premier Pools

#3 – Claffey Pools

#4 – Venture Custom Pools

#5 – Gold Medal Pools

Houston

Not far behind Dallas, Houston ranked second for total new swimming pool permits on file with HBW. During the month of July, there were 314 pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $19 million for the area. From a county-wide perspective, higher concentrations of new construction activity could be found in Harris County where more than half of all new construction took place (188 permits).

Out of the more than 150 active pool builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on file with HBW:

#1 – Southern Charm Pools

#2 – Regal Pools

#3 – Anthony & Sylvan Pools

#4 – C3 Building Solutions

#5 – Supreme Pools & Spas

Austin

Last month, there were approximately 110 swimming pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $10 million in the Austin area. Nearly all new permitting activity took place in Travis County where there were 85 new swimming pool permits added to the HBW database.

Out of the 60 active pool builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

#1 – Cody Pools

#2 – Anthony & Sylvan Pools

#3 – Texas Pools & Patios

#4 – Edgewater Pools

#5 – Majestic Poolscape

San Antonio

In San Antonio, there were nearly 60 swimming pool starts last month with a total construction value in excess of $2 million. The majority of new construction could be found in one county (Bexar County) where there were 44 new pool permits for the one-month period.

Out of the nearly 30 active pool builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on file with HBW:

#1 – Keith Zars Pools

#2 – Cody Pools

#3 – Blue Haven Pools

#4 – Gary Pools

#5 – Alamo Pool Builders

Texas Residential Construction Report – July 2019

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An HBW review of the latest residential construction permits for Texas during the month of July 2019

Last month, there were more than 6,460 new residential permits added to the HBW database for Texas. From the four major metro areas reviewed (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), more than 42 percent of new construction activity originated from Houston (2,805 permits), while the highest average value of new construction was found in Dallas (average value: $294,993).

Here is a closer look at new residential construction permit data from Texas, and the leading builders by area, for the month of July 2019:

Houston

As previously mentioned, Houston ranked #1 out of the four major metro areas reviewed for total new residential construction permits last month. There were more than 2,800 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $577 million in the Houston area, and more than half took place in Harris County (1,411 permits). The average value of construction landed on the lower end of the spectrum in comparison to the other metro areas reviewed, coming in at $205,712.

Out of the nearly 345 active home builders in the area, the following ranked as the top five for total permits on file with HBW for the month:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	198
Lennar Homes	194
K Hovnanian Homes	159
Perry Homes	136
KB Homes	116

Dallas

While Dallas held the highest average value of new home construction last month (average value: $294,993), it ranked second for total new permits on file with HBW; during the month of July, approximately 2,010 new permits with a total construction value of nearly $593 million were added to the HBW database, and more than half of all new construction originated from Tarrant County (720 permits) and Collin County (422 permits).

Out of the nearly 275 active home builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on file with HBW:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	266
Pulte Homes	117
First Texas Homes	85
Highland Homes	66
Bloomfield Homes	65

Austin

Austin ranked third for new home construction last month as there were 1,115 new permits with a total construction value of approximately $290.5 million added to the HBW database. Nearly all new construction took place in the counties of Travis (631 permits) and Williamson (411 permits), and the average value of construction was $260,592.

Out of the more than 115 active home builders in the area, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
Pulte Homes	116
D.R. Horton	98
Lennar Homes	92
Gehan Homes	83
Milestone Community Builders	74

San Antonio

Last month, there were more than 530 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $107 million in San Antonio. The average value of new home construction was lower in San Antonio than other Texas metro areas reviewed (average value: $201,827), and the majority of all new permits originated from Bexar County (433 permits).

Out of the approximately 110 active home builders on file for the month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits added to the HBW database:

Builder	Total Permits
LGI Homes	62
KB Homes	42
Rausch Coleman Homes	41
Lennar Homes	40
New Leaf Homes	23

Quarterly Report: Florida Swimming Pool Construction Q2-2019

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A review of new swimming pool permits in Florida and on file with HBW through the second quarter of 2019

FL New Swimming Pool Construction Permits by Area Q2-2018 vs. Q2-2019

When you think of Florida, you can’t help but think of sun, beaches and swimming pools. Over the past five years, the Sunshine State has experienced annual gains in new swimming pool construction year after year, and there appears to be no signs of slowing. From January through June of this year, there has already been a 3 percent year-over-year increase in new pool construction, resulting in approximately 12,420 new swimming pool permits added to the HBW database.

Similar to and in line with Florida’s new residential construction through the second quarter, the western regions (West, Northwest, Southwest) of the state have demonstrated the greatest annual gains in new pool construction ranging from 5 percent (Southwest) to 10 percent (West). When reviewing volume of permits, the western region as a whole maintained its lead in the market as it held more than half of all new permits (6,920 permits) in Florida for the six-month period.

When moving to the central portion of the state, including Orlando and surrounding areas, we find that while overall the area is off to a slower start than last year (8 percent year-over-year decrease), Orange and Volusia County have demonstrated year-over-year gains ranging from 9 percent to 10 percent. Out of the more than 1,940 new pool permits in Central Florida through June of this year, more than half originated from Orange (377 permits) and Volusia (275 permits), while the other half were sourced primarily from the counties of Osceola (442 permits) and Brevard (442 permits).

Finally, in the eastern regions of Florida, there have been gains of 2%-3% in comparison to last year. In the southeast, there have been 2,280 pool starts, reflecting a 2 percent year-over-year increase, and in the northeast there has been a 3 percent year-over-year increase in new pool construction, resulting in 1,277 new permits on file with HBW.

Florida New Home Construction Holding Steady

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A review of HBW’s Building Activity Trend Report for new residential construction in Florida through the second quarter of 2019

Based on the latest “Building Activity Trend Report” available from HBW and covering new residential construction permits, overall new home construction in Florida has been holding steady since the start of this year (in comparison to 2018). Since January 2019 (thru June 2019), there have been approximately 40,600 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database for the Sunshine State, which is in line with figures from the previous year. And while there were year-over-year decreases in residential construction for most regions reviewed, the growth in West and Southeast Florida pulled statewide figures up to be somewhat even with last year.

Out of the six major regions reviewed (Central, West, Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, Northwest), West Florida appears to be booming in new home construction and exceeding the norms. Over the past five years, the area has experienced annual increases in residential construction ranging from as low as 6 percent to as high as 23 percent, and the growth pattern has continued so far this year. From January through June, there have been 9,678 housing starts in West Florida, reflecting a 14 percent increase in comparison to last year. Growth and high concentrations of new home construction permits could be found in Hillsborough County (2,821 permits) which is up 6 percent in comparison to last year, and Polk County (2,636) where there has been an 18 percent year-over-year increase in new residential construction permits.

Continuing in the western region, Southwest Florida ranked #2 for total new permits, having 7,425 new permits added to the HBW database through the second quarter. While the area is on track and in line with last year’s figures, the southwest region of Florida has experienced annual spikes in residential construction year after year since 2015, and for this reason, it will certainly be an area to watch over the next six months.

Here is a look at all six regions reviewed, total permits added to the HBW database for the given period and changes (%) in comparison to last year:

FL New Residential Construction Permits Q2 2018 vs. 2019

Florida’s Top Spots for New Home Construction – June 2019

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A review of the top three spots in Florida for new residential construction permits during the month of June 2019

In June, more than 5,300 new permits were added to the HBW database for residential construction in Florida. Out of the five major regions reviewed (Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Southeast, Southwest), three areas came out on top when reviewing total volume of housing starts as they held nearly 70 percent of all new residential construction activity in the state for the month:

Tampa – 1,523 permits
Southwest Florida – 1,119 permits
Orlando – 1,028 permits

Here is a look at the breakdown of new permitting activity for the top three Florida regions in June 2019:

Tampa

The Tampa area ranked #1 for total housing starts, having 1,523 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $429 million. The average value of new construction was $281,702, and nearly all new permits originated from the counties of Hillsborough (542 permits), Polk (462 permits) and Pasco (305 permits).

Out of the more than 200 active builders with new permits in the area for the one-month period, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on record with HBW:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	254
Pulte Homes	92
The Villages of Lake Sumter	79
D.R. Horton	74
M/I Homes	46

Southwest Florida

The Southwest region ranked #2 for total new residential construction permits, having 1,119 permits with a total construction value of approximately $281 million added to the HBW database. The average value of new construction was $251,107, and nearly half of all new construction took place in Sarasota County (278 permits) and Lee County (263 permits).

Out of the approximately 225 active home builders on file for the month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	195
Pulte Homes	138
Neal Communities of SW FL	61
D.R. Horton	59
Taylor Morrison	38

Orlando

During the month of June, the Orlando area gained 1,028 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $324 million. The average value of new home construction was highest in Orlando (average value: $315,422) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and nearly half of all new construction activity took place in the counties of Orange (291 permits) and Volusia (202 permits).

Out of the approximately 170 active home builders in the area for the month, the following ranked as the top five for greatest total amount of new permits on file with HBW:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	123
Lennar Homes	68
Mattamy Homes	51
Ryan Homes	47
Pulte Homes	29