Tampa Leads New Residential Construction in February

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HBW Monthly Report: Florida New Residential Construction Update, February 2017

While Orlando was leading Florida for new residential construction in January, Tampa has been bustling and came out on top in February.  While every major region in Florida, with the exception of Orlando, experienced a month-over-month increase in housing starts, Tampa took center stage as it was up 13% since January with 1,183 new permits and approximately $316M in total construction value.  In Tampa, the counties of Hillsborough (401 permits) and Polk (369 permits) held the greatest amount of new residential construction activity, while the county of Pinellas had the fewest housing starts for the month.

FL Total Housing Starts – Feb. 2017

Statewide, residential construction throughout Florida experienced a month-over-month increase of 8%, resulting in close to 4,700 starts and approximately $1.3B in construction.  Just behind Tampa and ranking second highest for housing starts in February is the southwest region; with a 21% month-over-month increase, the southwest had just about 1,080 housing starts and a total value in excess of $293M. Most counties across the southwest had substantial new construction activity, but more than half of all HBW permit data in Tampa originated from Lee (294 permits) and Sarasota (292 permits) counties.

Next in line, and having dropped a couple of spots since January, Orlando ranked third with more than 1,050 housing starts and nearly $309M in value last month.  The city-central county of Orange continued to be on top, both in Orlando and statewide, having 421 starts and approximately $141M in construction value.  The average value of construction in Orange County was higher than Orlando as a whole, coming in at $335k for the month.

Although Jacksonville and Southeast Florida did not have as many housing starts as other regions across the state, both areas experienced the greatest month-over-month increase.  With more than a 27% increase in residential construction activity since January, Jacksonville had 750 housing starts with a total value close to $176M.  And while the southeast portion of Florida doesn’t have the highest concentration of new construction, it had both the greatest increase and greatest average value for housing starts.  Having experienced a 50% month-over-month increase in housing starts, the southeast had more than 600 new permits with a value of nearly $213M on file with HBW last month.  Nearly a third of housing starts in the southeast took place in Miami-Dade (~200 permits) where the average value of construction was $300k.

FL Average Value of New Construction – Feb. 2017

When looking at the average value of residential construction, the lineup has been consistent since the start of the year.  In February, the southeast remained on the high end of the spectrum with an average value of $352k, and Jacksonville continued to rank at the low end of the spectrum with an average value just over $234k.  The southwest region and Jacksonville have been the most consistent when it comes to construction value, as they have held just about the same average since the start of the year.  And while Orlando was down in total housing starts last month, it experienced a small 5% increase in the average value of new residential construction.

FL Top 10 Counties for Total Resid. Permits – Feb. 2017

When it comes to counties, Orange County in Orlando continues to kick out new residential construction in greater volume than other Florida counties.  Orange maintained the #1 spot in February with 421 housing starts and just about $141M in total value.  Next in line was Hillsborough County (Tampa) which jumped up four spots since January and ranked second highest with 401 housing starts and approximately $132M in value.  Polk County has remained third highest for starts with 369 new permits on file, and St. Johns (Jacksonville) jumped up three spots to come in fourth highest with 360 housing starts in February.

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Florida 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.

Texas Residential Construction Report – February 2017

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New residential construction in Texas has been on the rise since the start of the year, as the Lone Star State experienced close to a 25% month-over-month increase in February.

A new report by Fitch Ratings recently suggested that the Texas housing market is so hot and overvalued that it may be unsustainable.  In 2016, Texas real estate saw tremendous highs, higher “than it’s ever been before.” (source: HousingWire)  Although this boost in the Texas real estate market is mostly centered around Dallas and its rising value, the metro areas within the Texas Triangle are certainly heating up in the HBW database when it comes to new residential construction.   In February, Texas residential construction was up nearly 25% in comparison to January, resulting in close to 5,500 housing starts and approximately $1.3B in total construction value.  The greatest amount of new construction could be found in Houston; having experienced a 16% month-over-month increase in new home construction, Houston ranked #1 for total permits with 2,230 housing starts and just about $444M in construction value.  More than half of all new residential construction activity in Houston took place in the central county of Harris (1,230 permits), which is no surprise considering it is the most populous county in Texas and third-most populous county in the U.S.

Texas New Residential Construction Permits – Feb 2017

Next in line is Dallas – Having experienced more than a 6% month-over-month increase in new residential construction, there were approximately 1,680 housing starts totaling more than $411M in value last month, and the highest concentration of activity took place in Collin and Tarrant counties. According to Dallas News, the Dallas market is considered “overheated” as home prices are 10%-14% above expectation, having one of the biggest U.S. home price gains in January.  This leaves Dallas homeowners in a pretty position as they are seeing home price appreciation at a rate far ahead of the rest of the country.  And while the Dallas/Fort Worth area’s median home values are slightly above the national average (source: Zillow), the area’s average value of new home construction has and continues to be significantly above other Texas metropolitan areas.  In February, Dallas remained at the top of the charts with an average construction value of $304,665.

Another area experiencing gains last month is Austin.  In February, Austin had 886 housing starts with a value in excess of $185M on file with HBW, reflecting an 11% increase since January.  More than half of all new construction activity took place in Travis County, while Williamson County had the highest average value of construction in the area at $232,765.  Although not significant, the average value of new home construction in Austin experienced a month-over-month decrease of 6% (avg. value: $209,312), leaving room for San Antonio to bump up to ranking #2 for average value of new construction.

In San Antonio, residential construction had a major comeback since January, having more than six times as many housing starts last month.  With 653 starts and approximately $159M in total construction value, San Antonio home builders were busy, especially in Bexar County where close to half of all activity took place (317 permits).  According to recent reports from the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, the area is expected to experience significant growth in job opportunities and population over the next year.  Also growing, and previously mentioned, is the average value of construction in San Antonio.  Moving up a spot since January, San Antonio’s average value for new home construction ranked second highest out of the four major metro areas reviewed at $242,963.

Texas Average Value of New Resid. Construction – Feb. 2017

 

Feb. 2017 – Harris County (Houston) and Collin County (Dallas) continue to lead for housing starts in Texas.

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Texas 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.

Content Marketing for Contractors

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A little content can go a long way when spreading the word about your business.

As home builders and contractors running multiple construction projects, marketing your business can easily fall to the bottom of the priorities list.  With the myriad of marketing strategies, methods and options, you can feel lost before you even get started.  While grand marketing campaigns may not be in the budget this year (or next year), there are a few additions to your current marketing efforts you can make to strengthen your visibility and reputation online.

Enter content marketing.  The term “content marketing” gets tossed around quite a bit with the rise of social media, blogs and YouTube.  It really is one of the easiest ways to reach your audience but can also be one of the most difficult aspects of your marketing strategy to develop.  When boiling it down, content marketing is basically the creation and sharing of content online in a way that does not overtly promote a brand but sparks interest and steers the reader/viewer back to a company’s products or services; prime examples would be a “how-to” video or an educational blog.  By approaching your target audience from a place of education and resources rather than in-your-face sales, you can encourage more engagement, attract valuable leads and ultimately generate and increase revenue.

So, how does a home builder attempt to embark on content marketing?  While there are certainly no expectations for overnight success, home builders can begin building their content marketing cache through research and sharing current content that may already be on hand.  By collecting pertinent information, videos, tutorials and the like, you will eventually have a rich set of tools and resources that can be used for different purposes at different points in the content marketing cycle.  Here are a few simple steps to follow when creating a framework for your content marketing program:

  1. Research – Conduct research and collect data pertaining to the industry as it relates to your services/products; additionally, collect information regarding your target buyer and the locations where you will be posting your content.
  2. Plan – Chances are you will not be alone on your journey through content marketing. Make sure all active players in your marketing strategy collaborate and have open and regular communication regarding content creation opportunities, timelines for distribution and potential locations for sharing.  Together, your team should develop and have a clear understanding of your plan for content development and when and where it will be shared.
  3. Create – Although this part can seem the most overwhelming, it can really be the best part of the ride if you have conducted thorough research and are properly prepared. Your content should be created and tailored to the audience and platform. Content can and should include a variety of forms and mediums from videos and images of your latest projects to details and stories on your blog and social media profiles.  Change it up by offering a variety of content including: how-to video tutorials; informative infographics; valuable blog topics; FAQs; product videos and explainers; interactive polls and eBooks; eye-catching images of your products and projects; live blogging, presentations, interactive meetings and more.
  4. Share – Choosing where and when you will share your content is just as important as the creation process. In order to maximize the opportunity for reaching and attracting your target audience, you should have a plan for where and when you can best reach them.  For example, providing information or videos on preparing your home or landscape for winter should be shared a couple of months before the season and through outlets that reach homeowners.  Also, don’t overlook user-generated content (UGC); sometimes the most persuasive content will be created by your customers and prospects, so be sure to encourage and provide incentives for being brand advocates.

Although content marketing can be time consuming, it can also provide quite a return on your investment when effectively executed.  Sharing content simply to put something “out there” can often do more harm than good.  By staying focused and taking appropriate steps to define a clear objective and plan for creating and sharing content, you can open the door to new possibilities for marketing and customer engagement.

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.

5 Tech Tools for Home Builders

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Tools for kicking your construction business up a notch in the technology department

Socrates once stated that “the secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”  As construction professionals, we are well aware of the benefits of new construction, upgrades and renovations to existing structures, but when it comes to day-to-day business operations, you may find more “fighting” than “building” when facing new technology.  Change can be difficult, especially when it comes to adopting new technology for managing projects and operations, but it is important to be open to the possibility of new tools that can help your business function more efficiently.  Here are five tech tools that have been gaining ground in the construction industry:

  1. Drones – We have seen much in the way of drones and aerial technology and the many regulations required to operate them. Flying regulations and licensing have made jumping on the drone train a bit intimidating for many contractors.  In addition to regulations, there is the actual operation of the device and the daunting task of choosing the right drone for the job.  That being stated, don’t let the early stages of setting up discourage you.  Drones aren’t going away any time soon; according to an article by Forbes, the evolving drone industry is expected to exceed $5 billion by 2020.  Drones can serve a purpose well beyond simply taking some high-quality photos of your completed project.  Drones can be useful with the initial phases of construction, from surveying and planning to viewing areas and property that may be difficult to access on foot.  Along with recording images and data on the property and surrounding terrain, some drones can provide live-streaming footage so that you can access any area of your job site remotely.
  2. Mobile Project Management – Construction project management is a complex process involving planning, coordination, and direction over the many developing tasks and priorities that make up a construction project.  Every project has its own unique set of intricate tasks that are dynamic and change from project to project, requiring solid communication and problem-solving skills. From task and time management to proposal and bid creation, there are apps and software to make it easier to collaborate with your team on-the-go.  There are many apps available that are specifically designed with the contractor in mind.  The more comprehensive apps and programs provide tools and support for every stage of a project’s lifecycle, starting as early as the bidding process through the scope of the project to completion. By having one place for all project activity, your team can create, share and modify project estimates, bids and proposals, plans and specifications, project budgets, schedules, change orders and more.
  3. Contact Management – Contact management is important in all stages of your projects. From the moment you have a lead to the closing of a contract, stages of communication and relationship development should be documented and tracked so that it is easy for any team member to know the status of a contact.  The first step in contact management should be to verify your contacts and their information.  For prospects, having verified leads like those offered through HBW’s Construction Data Reports is an effective way to save time and money by having the verification done for you.  Next, you will want to choose a Client Relationship Management (CRM) system that allows the flexibility of mobile management, as well as customization for users.  A solid CRM system will offer the ability to automate your list of leads, sales pipeline, sales follow up and forecasting.  Other desirable and useful features to look for in a CRM system include: the ability import/export data; integrate with marketing campaign; synchronize with other systems such as MS Office and Outlook; collaborate and share with other users from remote locations.
  4. Automated Billing – Automated billing is by no means new, and it is certainly becoming more common and often expected by clients. Paper invoicing isn’t only outdated – it’s inefficient and a waste of resources. Mailing invoices and requiring written checks can lead to your business looking like a dinosaur.  For those businesses that still prefer to keep it old school when invoicing, automated billing can prove to be a major time and paper saver. Automated billing is offered through general accounting software like Quickbooks, but it can also be processed through web-based programs and apps.  Whatever method you choose, make sure it allows for customization with your business information and logo, professional appearance and an easy interface for tracking and processing payments.
  5. GPS Tracking –Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has experienced remarkable advancement over the last several years. Along with locating and getting detailed directions to a job site, the systems of today can be quite useful in lowering overhead and increasing productivity.  For the purpose of improving safety, every vehicle in your fleet can be equipped with a GPS device.  The device can notify managers and report on the speed of vehicles and speed limit violations. Beyond driving patterns, owners can even be alerted to seatbelt use (or lack thereof) and car maintenance requirements through monitoring tire pressure and setting automated reminders for oil changes.  For insurance purposes, GPS is useful for tracking the location of a vehicle should it be lost/stolen or misused, as well as documenting and tracking delivery of materials.

Change is good, when properly executed.  While technology seems to be changing overnight, changes to your business and operations should be planned and integrated over time.  By ensuring that your team is ready and has the capacity to incorporate new technology into your operations, your business will be better positioned to grow with, rather than retreat from, new technology.

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.

Making Construction a Little Greener

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A quick guide to green building certification programs

Sustainable construction – It’s a growing industry that is slated to have a direct contribution to U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that will reach $303.5 billion from 2015-2018. (Source: USGBC) While construction is notorious for doing “business as usual” and not having much in the way of change in comparison to other industries, sustainable construction is appealing as much as it is necessary.  With the population increasing at an astounding rate and resources having their limits, well, you do the math. One of the great aspects of green construction is that you don’t have to go big to get on board.  Sustainable construction can start as small as the products and materials used to as big as Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB).  Along with the obvious environmental benefits that apply to sustainable construction, it is also vital for creating resilient, high-quality buildings that can lower energy costs and create new jobs.

With green building applying to everything from building methods and materials to waste and post-project maintenance, we could easily go on for days on how to make a project “greener”.  So for the purpose of having a starting point, here are a few basics to know about green building rating and certification systems to lead you to the right resource for making green construction an integral part of your home building business:

Green construction really started rearing its head in design in the 1990s, when the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) was created.  The U.S. Green Building Council soon followed and developed criteria for improving the environmental impact of buildings through what most of us know as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a rating system for new construction.  Since LEED gained popularity, other groups formed in response such as the Green Building initiative (GBI) by NAHB.

Green building ratings or certification programs cover construction projects as a whole, and they do not offer a one-size-fits-all framework; with each construction project being unique and bringing its own set of dynamic features, one rating system may be the perfect fit for one project and not applicable to another.  Additionally, some programs may be focused on a single attribute such as energy or water, while other programs may cast a wider net with a multi-attribute approach covering multiple areas such as emissions and toxicity.

  • Energy Star – Energy Star is a government certification that uses a benchmarking method and is managed by the U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE. According to their website, $362 billion have been saved on utility bills and 2.5 billion tons of greenhouse gases reduced since 1992 due to Energy Star.  The website offers a multitude of benchmarking tools, energy design checklists and resources that can guide builders through the process to earn the EPA’s Energy Star.
  • LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)  – LEED is a multi-attribute green building rating and certification system covering new construction, existing buildings (operations and maintenance), commercial interiors, schools, homes, neighborhood development and more. Managed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED has projects in more than 164 countries and territories (source: usgbc.org), and overall “LEED-certified buildings have 34% lower CO2 emissions, consume 25% less energy and 11% less water while having diverted more than 80 million tons of waste from landfills.” (Source: USGBC)  LEED is the most widely used green building rating system and is based on a points system.  Put simply, the more points you earn, the higher your rating (certified, silver, gold, platinum). Points can be gained in areas including water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and indoor environmental quality.  The website is a great resource offering everything from credentials and education for the individual to resources and guidelines for LEED construction at any stage of a building’s lifecycle.
  • Green Globes – Green Globes Certification (Green Building Initiative) is a green building guidance and assessment program for existing and new construction and interiors. The certification process allows building owners and managers to choose sustainability features that best fit their building and occupants, and Green Globes recognizes projects that meet at least 35% of 1,000 points available to earn. Depending on how high the percentage of points earned, a property can achieve one to four “green globes”.
  • NZEB – Net Zero Energy Building Certification uses the structure of the Living Building Challenge (by the International Living Future Institute) which can be applied to any building type. Net Zero Energy construction projects currently include some of the “greenest” buildings in existence today.  To be NZEB certified, a project must generate 100% of the project’s energy requirements onsite through use of renewable energy.  Incentive programs, as currently listed on their website, are offered in California, Massachusetts, New York and Oregon.
  • Passive House Institute US – PHIUS is a non-profit organization with the objective of making high-performance passive building the mainstream market standard. Certified projects include single-family homes, multi-family apartment buildings, commercial and education buildings.   “Maximize your gains, minimize your losses” summarizes the passive house building approach with a focus on five building-science principles: continuous insulation without thermal bridging; airtight designs; balanced heat- and moisture-recovery ventilation with minimal space conditioning systems; maximization of solar gains for both heating and moderating climate. Visit their website to learn more about submitting a project for PHIUS+ 2015 Certification.

With the many green construction rating and certification criteria and systems available, it is easy to become overwhelmed and wonder where to begin.  Truth be told, a building does not have to be certified to be considered well-built and sustainable.  As previously mentioned, “green” efforts can start with something as simple as offering sustainable materials and energy-saving building options, appliances and/or equipment.  While energy efficiency and limiting one’s carbon footprint doesn’t require a certification, it is prudent to follow proper guidelines and refer to the various resources available by green building initiatives and organizations to make sure you put your best “green” foot forward in your next construction project.

For more information on construction business tips and industry insights, 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.

Swimming Pool Construction on the Rise in Orlando

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HBW Florida Swimming Pool Construction Report – January 2017

FL Pool Permits by Area – Jan. 2017

In Florida, there is no shortage of swimming pools, and when it comes to new pool construction, Orlando was in the spotlight last month.  Out of the more than 1,675 swimming pool starts and approximately $73M in construction value on file with HBW for the month, Orlando was the only area that experienced an increase in new swimming pool construction since December.  With a 45% month-over-month increase in swimming pool starts, there were more than 430 new permits and approximately $18M in total construction value in Orlando during the month of January. Out of the nearly 80 active builders in the area during the one-month period, All Seasons continued to hold its ranking in the top spot for total permits with 61 pool starts at an average value close to $39k.

Just ahead of Orlando was the southwest region of Florida as there were nearly 440 swimming pool starts and approximately $20M in construction value last month.  Month after month, the southwest region has remained a leader for new pool construction, and in January, more than half of all pool starts took place in the counties of Lee and Collier. Out of the 112 active builders with new permits on file for the month, Aragon Pools and Spas maintained its lead at the top of the charts with 36 pool starts having an average value just over $40k.

Down one spot since December, the southeast region of Florida had 370 swimming pool starts with close to $17M in construction value last month.  The bulk of new construction was concentrated in the areas of Palm Beach and Miami.  New construction was widespread and shared by nearly 140 active builders over the one-month period, with A&G Concrete Pools remaining in the #1 spot for total starts.  With 24 new pool permits at an average value just over $43k, A&G Concrete Pools was mostly active in the counties of Indian, St. Lucie and Martin.

FL Top Pool Builders by Region – Jan. 2017

In Tampa, new swimming pool construction took place in all major counties last month, with the highest concentration of starts occurring in Hillsborough County.  During the month of January, there were 277 pool starts and close to $11M in construction value in Tampa.  Out of the five major regions reviewed, Tampa had the lowest average value of new swimming pool construction at $39,051, while the highest average value could be found in Jacksonville; the Jacksonville area experienced a 20% month-over-month increase in average value of new pool construction, topping the list at $47,306. In Jacksonville, new pool construction remained somewhat consistent with December’s totals as there were close to 160 starts and just about $7.5M in construction value.  Approximately 70% of all pool starts took place in the counties of St. Johns and Duval, and the highest average value of construction could be found in St. Johns County at $52,456.

FL Average Value of New Pool Construction – Jan. 2017

Across the state, the counties with the highest concentration of pool starts could be found in south and central regions.  Lee County (SW) had the most pool starts of any one county reviewed with 154 new permits and more than $7.5M in total construction value.  Palm Beach (SE) and Orange County (Orlando) also experienced a high level of new pool construction last month with just about 135 starts taking place in each county.

FL Top Counties for Swimming Pool Permits – Jan. 2017

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for swimming pool construction in Florida 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.

Orlando Ranks #1 for Housing Starts in January

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HBW Florida Residential Construction Report for January 2017

In Florida, new residential construction has held solid at the start of the year with nearly 4,300 housing starts and approximately $1.2B in construction value on file with HBW for the month of January.  Since December, the Orlando area has pushed to the top for new residential construction, bumping Tampa and the southwest last month and ranking #1 for total new permits.  Orlando’s 47% month-over-month increase in new construction activity resulted in more than 1,360 housing starts and nearly $383M in total construction value.  The bulk of new permits could be found in the counties of Orange, Osceola and Brevard, spanning an expansive distance across Central Florida.

The Orlando area isn’t just catching attention in the HBW database this month… In a recent listing of the Top 25 Fastest Growing Cities (2017) released by Forbes, Orlando ranked second highest out of all U.S. cities.  The criteria Forbes used for compiling the list included population growth, employment, wages, output and increases in home values.  When focusing solely on employment opportunities, Orlando was positioned in an even better spot, taking #1 for projected job growth.

Coming in at second highest for total housing starts last month, Tampa had nearly 1,050 starts and more than $265M in total construction value.  The greatest amount of new residential construction in Tampa took place in Polk County (341 permits), while the least amount of new construction was found in the smaller county of Citrus (35 permits).  When looking back on the Forbes list of America’s Fastest Growing Cities, Tampa fared well ranking #8 in the U.S.

Next in line, the southwest region ranked third highest for total housing starts in Florida last month.  In the southwest there were nearly 900 housing starts and more than $242M in construction.  The highest concentration of new residential construction took place in Lee County.  Lee County was also featured in the Forbes List of Top 25 Fastest Growing Cities, ranking its coastal city of Cape Coral #1 as it is experiencing some of the swiftest growth rates in the country.

Jacksonville and Southeast Florida remained in the fourth and fifth spots for housing starts last month with Jacksonville having 587 housing starts and Southeast Florida having just over 400 housing starts on file for the one-month period.

Florida New Residential Construction Permits – Jan. 2017

When it comes to high value construction, all eyes are on the southeast.  Although most areas held steady for the most part, Southeast Florida experienced a month-over-month increase of approximately 5% in the average value of residential construction.  Consistently ranking #1 for higher value housing, the southeast had an average value of residential construction nearing $369k in January.  Orlando ranked second highest with an average value of construction close to $281K, and the southwest region held in third with an average value in excess of $272k.  Jacksonville had the lowest value of new residential construction at approximately $235k, and the northern metro area held its own when looking at growth; Jacksonville ranked #5 on the previously mentioned list of Top 25 Fastest Growing Cities.

FL Average Value of Resid. Construction – Jan. 2017

With Florida being such a sizeable area to cover, we make a habit of reviewing the top ranking counties for housing starts each month.  In January, Orlando area counties made their mark as Orange and Brevard took the top spots with 400 and more housing starts in each.  In Tampa, Polk County held the highest concentration of housing starts in the area (341 permits) and ranked third out of all Florida counties reviewed.  Here is a closer look at Florida counties with the highest levels of housing starts last month:

FL Top Counties for New Resid. Permits – Jan. 2017

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Florida 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.

5 Tips for Improving Sales by Phone

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Looking to make progress with your sales calls? Here are a few quick tips for maximizing phone time with potential clients.

sales article HBWeekly.com

With email, texting and the rise of emojis, phone conversation skills may be falling short for many marketing and sales executives.  Although face-to-face contact is ideal, distance and busy schedules can make it difficult to get the face time you desire.  For this reason, knowing how to hold a valuable conversation by phone that leads to a meeting or even closing a deal is vital for the success of your business.  Here are a few tips for making the most of your phone time with prospects:

  1. Verify Contacts – Your information on prospects is only of use if the information is current and valid. Having verified leads like those available through HBW construction data reports, will allow you to reach real prospects in less time, saving valuable resources and money.
  2. Listen – Although it is easy to jump right in with a sales pitch, make sure you take the time to listen. Even if you think that you already have a clear idea of your contact’s needs, ask more questions that elicit meaningful conversation rather than giving a speech.  You may offer every service ranging from new construction and landscaping to additions and remodeling, but the phone call is not the time to be an audio brochure.  On the phone, it is even more challenging to get a read on a person’s disposition than in a face-to-face encounter; for this reason, allow time for them to respond so that you can truly tailor your offerings to their requirements.
  3. Keep it Brief – Know your beginning, middle and end. What is the ultimate goal of your conversation?  Are your prepared for questions, and do you have succinct answers ready? If the purpose of your call is to introduce your services, offer to forward additional information about your business via email or mail, rather than go into a lengthy discourse. If your calling to close a sale, set an agenda and have the action items ready for confirming the scope of work and commencing the contract.
  4. Avoid Pressure – While diamonds are formed under pressure, high-pressure phone sales will not always lead to precious treasures for your business. Unlike an in-person meeting, it is very easy for someone to hang up or say they have another call if your demeanor is too intense and lined with pressure.  When it comes to decisions regarding home building and remodeling, there is usually more than one party that will be involved in the decision-making process.  Rather than coming in with an “act now or else” approach, offer a no-obligation, complimentary consultation or review.
  5. Don’t Give Up – Let’s face it, phone sales aren’t easy, and not everyone has the desire or time for a phone conversation. Just because you are met with disinterest on your first call, doesn’t mean that you don’t have a potential client on the line.  There are a multitude of factors that can impact the success of a call ranging from timing to temperament.  For this reason, keep detailed notes and track your progress with each lead.  Even if phone contact isn’t successful, other methods for communication (mail, email) may just be what finally piques their interest.  It’s all about following up and following through, and one call won’t do it all.

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was any one business.  By remaining steadfast and focused in your phone sales efforts and tracking your progress, you will be able to build your client portfolio one call at a time.

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.

Texas Home Builders Spotlight – January 2017

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Out of the four major metropolitan areas in Texas, D.R. Horton continued to lead the Lone Star State for housing starts in January.

tx-top-builders

With nearly 4,500 new residential construction permits and more than $1B in total value on file for Texas last month, home builders were gaining a good start to the new year.  Although D.R. Horton continued its lead for housing starts across the Texas Triangle, there were several notable home builders who were making their own marks in various regions. From the metro areas of Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, here is a closer look at the companies with the highest concentration of housing starts in January:

TX Top Home Builders for Total Permits - Jan. 2017

TX Top Home Builders for Total Permits – Jan. 2017

D.R. Horton ranked #1 in all metro areas reviewed with the exception of San Antonio.  Having more than 600 new residential construction permits and an excess of $104M in total value, the mega builder remains untouched on the charts.  D.R. Horton’s highest average value for new builds could be found in Dallas at approximately $214k, while its lowest average value was in Houston at just under $149k.

Ranking second highest, Lennar Homes had an excess of 175 housing starts totaling more than $36M last month, with approximately half taking place in Houston, while Pulte Homes ranked third with 170 housing starts and approximately $33M in total value on file with HBW for the month.

When breaking down new residential construction activity by metro area, several other companies come into focus as they drive construction in specific cities.

HOUSTON

In Houston, there were close to 270 active home builders on file for the month, and D.R. Horton was on top with more than 200 starts and nearly $30.5M in total value.  Next in line, Camillo Properties pulled more than 110 new residential construction permits with the majority of construction taking place in Harris County.  Lennar Homes ranked third highest in Houston for the month with nearly 90 starts and the highest average value of construction out of the top five builders at close to $176k.

Houston Top Home Builders for Total Permits - Jan. 2017

Houston Top Home Builders for Total Permits – Jan. 2017

DALLAS

Out of more than 230 active builders in Dallas last month, D.R. Horton continued to be positioned at the top of the charts with nearly 200 housing starts totaling more than $42M in value. Pulte Homes ranked second highest with 57 housing starts last month that took place in the counties of Collin, Tarrant and Denton.  Not far behind, Calatlantic Homes held third for total starts with 52 new residential construction permits and the highest average value out of the top five builders at nearly $357k.

Dallas Top Home Builders for Total Permits - Jan. 2017

Dallas Top Home Builders for Total Permits – Jan. 2017

AUSTIN

Like the other major cities mentioned, Austin’s new residential construction was dominated by D.R. Horton in January.  Out of the 112 active builders on file for the month, D.R. Horton was off to a strong start to the year with close to 200 housing starts totaling more than $31.5M.  Lennar Homes was also active in the area with more than 55 starts for the month, and KB Homes ran a close third with 52 housing starts.  KB Homes had the highest average value of construction out of the top three builders at nearly $199k.  All three builders carried an average value of construction that was lower than the average value across the metro Austin area (Austin average value – $222.6k).

Austin Top Home Builders for Total Permits - Jan. 2017

Austin Top Home Builders for Total Permits – Jan. 2017

SAN ANTONIO

As mentioned in our Texas Residential Construction Update last week, San Antonio is off to a slow start to the year based on figures from January.  There were approximately 30 builders and just less than 100 housing starts on file for the one-month period.  All new residential construction activity took place in Bexar County, and KB Homes was positioned on top with 19 permits.  Out of the top five home builders listed for total starts, the lowest average value of construction was held by KB Homes at approximately $140k, while Meritage Homes held the highest average value at nearly $176k.

San Antonio Top Home Builders for Total Permits - Jan. 2017

San Antonio Top Home Builders for Total Permits – Jan. 2017

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Texas 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 Report: Texas Residential Construction Update – January 2017

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Texas is off to a steady start in residential construction with nearly 4,500 housing starts and more than $1B in total value at the start of the year.

Texas home building report

Although Texas did not experience the spike previously seen in December, new residential construction was off to a healthy start in January.  With nearly 4,500 new permits and over $1B in construction value added to the HBW database last month, there is ample permit data to review for gaining insight on the market spanning Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.

Out of the four major metropolitan areas reviewed, all of the cities have recently been recognized as some of the most desirable places to live in the U.S.  According to the latest listing by U.S. News & World Report, Austin has peaked to rank as the #1 city to live in the US, and Dallas and Houston ranked amid the top 20.  Houston and San Antonio ranked high for value, while Austin was noted as having a high quality of life and overall appeal.

During the month of January, Houston continued to flourish and hold at the top of the HBW database having more than 1,900 housing starts and close to $381M in new construction.  The majority and an overwhelming amount of residential construction took place in Harris County where there were nearly 1,100 housing starts with $204M in total value for the month.  Although the average value of homes in Houston experienced a slight increase since December, the area continues to maintain the lowest average value of construction out of all four metropolitan areas at just less than $200k.

The booming City of Dallas, which ranked #15 on the U.S. News & World Report of Best Places to Live, continued to have the highest average value for new residential construction at $310,248.  Known for striking a nice balance between big-city excitement and well-designed suburban communities, Dallas came in as second highest for total housing starts with 1,576 new permits and approximately $489M in construction value last month.  The greatest amount of new construction activity took place in Collin County where there were 573 housing starts and more than $197M in total value.

TX Residential Construction Permits by Area - Jan. 2017

TX Residential Construction Permits by Area – Jan. 2017

As previously mentioned, Austin has recently taken the top spot as the #1 place to live in the U.S. (source: U.S. News & World Report).  Per the report, approximately 50 people move to Austin every day, and it is appreciated for being a place for music (known as the “Live Music Capital of the World”) and culture.  Although Austin was positioned as third highest in the HBW database for total housing starts, it was second highest for average value of residential construction at $222,581.  That same value continues to hold in the area’s real estate as the average sales price of a home is close to double the national average.

Out of the nearly 800 housing starts and more than $177M in construction value in the Austin area last month, more than half of all new residential construction took place in Travis County.  As the fifth most populous county in Texas, Travis ranked third highest statewide for housing starts with more than 450 new permits and $99M in total value.

TX Top 5 Counties for Total New Resid. Permits - Jan. 2017

TX Top 5 Counties for Total New Resid. Permits – Jan. 2017

Finally, we have San Antonio.  Although San Antonio has increasingly garnered attention for becoming a more popular place to live and ranked #23 in the previously mentioned U.S. News & World Report list, the metro area experienced a dip in housing starts last month.  Having just close to 100 new permits on file and nearly $19M in total value, San Antonio had a slow start to the year in January.  That being stated, it is certainly an area that will be one to watch; after all, it is the seventh largest city (population) in the U.S. In addition to having a cost of living that is lower than the national average, it has maintained a lower average value of residential construction at just over $200k last month.

TX Average Value of New Resid. Construction - Jan. 2017

TX Average Value of New Resid. Construction – Jan. 2017

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Texas 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.