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OSHA’s Final Rule on Workplace Injury/Illness Recordkeeping

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Just in time for the new year, OSHA recently issued a final rule regarding the maintenance of records for recordable injury and illness.

source: OSHA.gov

You may have heard about a final rule being released by OSHA regarding recordkeeping for workplace injuries. If not, don’t panic. The final rule, issued December 19, 2016 (effective January 18, 2017), serves primarily as a clarification and reminder that recordkeeping of work-related injuries and illnesses is an ongoing requirement for employers. The official title of this latest final rule is “Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness.” (December 19, 2016)

The latest rule was solely clarification of the existing regulation; according to OSHA’s recent press release (December 16, 2016), there are no major changes expected in the near future so take a deep (cue sigh of relief). No major changes aside, it is worth paying attention to their clarification to ensure that you and your team understand injury/illness recordkeeping obligations. Now, you should already have an injury record keeping system in place that is OSHA compliant. Whether you do or do not, here is a short list of the basics you need to know about the latest rule:

Clarification – The new final rule simply states employers’ obligations, which has been standard practice for the last 40 years. According to a recent press release by OSHA, Dr. David Michaels, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, stated “This rule simply returns us to the standard practice of the last 40 years. It is important to keep in mind that accurate records are not just paperwork; they have a valuable and potentially life-saving purpose.” (source: OSHA.gov).
No Change – Although the recent amendments contain revisions to titles of several existing sections and subparts, as well as changes to text in existing provisions, nothing has been added that requires you to drastically change what you have already been doing in this area of recordkeeping. The latest final rule does not add new compliance obligations and does not require you, the employer, to make new records for any illnesses or injuries that don’t already require such documentation.
Ongoing – As stated in the latest final rule, the duty to record an injury or illness continues for as long as the employer must keep records of the recordable injury or illness – there is no expiration for this responsibility, even in the case where the employer neglects to create the necessary records when first required to do so.

Long story short, the latest final rule is more of a formality and reiterates OSHA’s established position that an employer’s duty to record an injury or illness does not cease and continues for the full five-year record-retention period. Bear in mind, OSHA has stated the ability and right to cite employers for such recordkeeping violations for up to six months after the five-year retention period expires.

Now that you have the basics, share it with your team so that they can also perform a quick review as well as be prepared should an unfortunate workplace incident/injury arise. It is also a good time to review your safety policies and procedures. As the above listed information covers the bare bones of the latest final rule, visit OSHA.gov for more detailed information about workplace injury recordkeeping and employers’ requirements.

To gain direct access to details of OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements as they relate to injury and illness, visit their recordkeeping rule page. For more information on construction business and marketing tips, stay connected with the HBW Blog. If you would like 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.

Diving into Florida Swimming Pool Construction

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Florida swimming pool construction update for the month of November 2016

FL POOL BUILDERS HBW_edited

Out of the nearly 1,200 new pool permits and close to $50M in construction value in Florida last month, new pool construction was highest in the southwest region; the area had more than 320 new permits on file with HBW in November and a total construction value of approximately $14.3M. In the southwest, the county of Lee was also in the spotlight last month as it had the greatest number of swimming pool starts in comparison to the other counties throughout the state. Here’s a closer look at how the five major areas of Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, southwest and southeast Florida compared to one another last month:

FL Pool Permits by Area – Nov. 2016

Southwest

As the leading area for new swimming pool construction last month, the southwest region had 321 swimming pool starts and approximately $14.3M in construction value. As previously mentioned, Lee County was the leading county for total new permits, with 107 pool starts and approximately $5M in total value for the month. Out of the 93 swimming pool builders with permits on file for the given period, Aragon Pools and Spas had the most starts with 41 permits. The builder’s average value of construction landed just over $32k, with all new activity taking place in Lee and Collier counties.

Southeast

Next in line, southeast Florida was second highest for total new swimming pool permits in November. The area had 264 pool starts and nearly $12M in total value for the month. Most new construction activity took place in the counties of Palm Beach and Miami-Dade, with Palm Beach leading the area. Palm Beach made the top five list statewide with 102 new pool permits and more than $4M in construction value. As for the local builders, there were more than 120 active pool builders for the month, and construction was widely shared across the board. A & G Pools had the greatest volume of permits for the given period with 18 starts and an average value of construction running just over $55k. A & G had new pools on record in every county apart from the southern-most areas of Miami-Dade and Broward.

Orlando

The central metro-area of Orlando was ranked third highest for new swimming pool construction last month as there were close to 240 swimming pool starts with a total value of approximately $9.5M. In line with new residential construction in the area for the last several months, the bulk of pool starts took place in Orange and Osceola counties. Orange County had the highest concentration of permits for the month with nearly 100 starts and just over $4M in total value. All Seasons Pools was a dominate builder when it came to permits as they had 57 pool starts on file with HBW for the one-month period. All Seasons Pools had an average value of construction that was consistent with the average value for the area at approximately $37k.

Tampa

Right on the heels of Orlando, Tampa had 234 swimming pool starts last month with a total construction value close to $9.3M. Corresponding with new residential construction in the area, the larger county of Hillsborough had the most new development. In Hillsborough, there were 76 swimming pool starts and nearly $3.7M in construction value for the month. New permits were shared by 86 active pool builders in the area, with Tampa Bay Pools in the lead for total starts. Tampa Bay Pools had 16 new permits on file for the period and had an average value of construction coming in at $46k, just about 16% higher than the average value for the Tampa area.

Jacksonville

In November, there were nearly 120 swimming pool starts in the Jacksonville area with a total construction value of $4.9M. Nearly half of all new permits originated from the county of St. Johns, where there were 51 starts and more than $2.1M in value. Out of the nearly 55 active pool builders for the month, Surfside Pools and Spas had the most starts on file with 10 new permits for the given period. The pool builder’s average value of construction ran just about 7% higher than the area overall at close to $44k.

When looking at the average value of construction statewide, the southern-most portion of the state held the highest average value of construction. The southeast jumped up two spots since October and held the highest value of construction at $45,157, while southwest Florida held close with an average value of $44,462. Tampa and Orlando were comparable at nearly $40k and held the lowest average value of construction for the month.

FL Average Value of Swimming Pool Construction – Nov. 2016

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Florida swimming pool construction was directly derived from HBW construction data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest residential and commercial building activity in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, please contact HBW for details.

D.R. Horton Leads Home Builders in Texas – November 2016

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Last month, D.R. Horton continued its lead for total housing starts in Texas, ranking it #1 in the HBW database for new residential construction.

tx-top-builders

It’s been a while (a few months) since we’ve taken a good look at Texas home builders. Just last week, we reviewed new residential construction activity in Texas for the month of November, and now it’s time to review the leading builders behind the figures for new residential construction last month.

It should come as no surprise that D.R. Horton remains on top for total housing starts; after all, they have been on top since the start of the year. With 311 new residential construction permits from the combined areas within the “Texas Triangle” (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), D.R. Horton is tough to beat. In fact, the mega home builder ranked #1 for total new permits in the HBW database last month in every area except San Antonio.

When looking at leading builders statewide, the lineup of the top three remains the same with some variances in figures. Here’s the latest on the top three builders across the Lone Star State:

#1 D.R. Horton – Last month, D.R. Horton had a total of 311 housing starts and more than $53M in total value added to the HBW database. The builder’s greatest number of starts took place in Houston (128 permits), and approximately half of those starts occurred in Harris County. The average value of D.R. Horton’s housing starts in Houston was approximately $139.5k, and the home builder’s highest average value of construction was in Dallas at close to $217k.

#2 Lennar Homes – With 186 housing starts and nearly $40M in construction value, Lennar Homes ranked second for total new residential construction permits in November. Much like D.R. Horton, Lennar Homes had the most total new permits in Houston (87 permits) with greater concentrations of new construction activity in Harris, Montgomery and Brazoria counties. In Houston, Lennar’s average value of construction exceeded $175k, and its highest average value could be found in Dallas at nearly $262.5k.

#3 KB Homes – With Houston having the most housing starts out of the four major metro areas last month, it is understandable that KB Homes also had the greatest number of new residential permits coming from the area as well. Across the state, KB Homes had 122 housing starts with a construction value nearing $20M, and 55 of those starts originated from Houston. Much like Lennar Homes, the bulk of Houston construction for KB Homes took place in the counties of Harris, Montgomery and Brazoria. The builder’s average value of construction in Houston was approximately $136k last month, while its highest average value was in San Antonio at more than $197k.

Now that we have a better understanding of how builders stacked up across Texas last month, here’s a closer look at the top builders within each major metro area:

HOUSTON

As previously mentioned, D.R. Horton topped the list for total new residential permits in Houston last month (128 permits). Not far behind, Perry Homes had 105 housing starts and a total construction value of close to $24M. Hanging in at third highest, Lennar Homes had 87 housing starts in the area and a total construction value of more than $15M.

Houston Top Builders for Total Permits – Nov. 2016

DALLAS

Residential construction in Dallas was also led by D.R. Horton last month, with 75 housing starts and approximately $16.3M in total construction value. Next highest was Lennar Homes with 65 new permits (total value: >$17M), and Calatlantic Homes made its mark in third with 44 housing starts and more than $17.3M in total construction value.

Dallas Top Builders for Total Permits – Nov. 2016

AUSTIN

D.R. Horton was the leading builder in Austin last month with 104 housing starts and $18.5M in total value. KB Homes ranked second with 42 housing starts (total value: ~$7.8M), while Calatlantic Homes came in third highest with 36 new permits and a total value of $7M.

Austin Top Builders for Total Permits – Nov. 2016

SAN ANTONIO

Continental Homes of Texas took the lead in the San Antonio area with 31 housing starts on file and a total value of approximately $6.5M. KB Homes was second highest with 20 starts and a value of nearly $4M, and Meritage Homes held in third with 19 housing starts and nearly $2.3M in total value on file for the month.

San Antonio Top Builders for Total Permits – Nov. 2016

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Texas home builders and 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: Florida Residential Construction Brief for November 2016

Posted on December 14, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Out of the hundreds of active builders and thousands of housing starts throughout Florida last month, Tampa stood out on top with the greatest amount of residential construction permits in November.

fl hbw report

As HBW subscribers are already aware, thousands of new Florida residential construction permits were added to the HBW database last month. Out of the more than 2,700 housing starts and approximately $792M in construction value on file for November, Tampa pushed up three spots since October to lead with 662 new residential permits and more than $179M in construction value for the month. According to a recent article by Forbes, Tampa is a top area for real estate investors, ranking #5 in the country as investors reported experiencing above average returns (17.62%) over the past year (source: Forbes). The Tampa area was also listed as a top market for overall value (source: Bankrate.com) based on data through Q3 of this year. With the closing of Q4 around the corner, we will wait and see how the area ranks to other regions within the Sunshine State for 2016.

As for November, Tampa was just above the southwest portion of the state for housing starts. In the southwest there were 648 housing starts last month with a construction value exceeding $177M. Next in line, Orlando ranked third highest with nearly 600 housing starts while having the highest total construction value of almost $183.5M. In the Orlando area, the bulk of new construction was centered in Orange and Osceola counties, but every county reviewed had some level of residential construction activity and a variety of new permits. Closing the list, Jacksonville and SE Florida had 480 and 328 housing starts for the given period.

FL Total New Residential Permits – Nov. 2016

When reviewing the average value of new residential construction in the five major areas covering Jacksonville to South Florida, there was a large spread of more than $130k from top to bottom. Since October, every area increased in average value apart from Tampa which had a nominal month-to-month drop leaving it consistent with October. On top, Southeast Florida continues to hold the highest average value which was just over $390k last month. Toward the bottom of the scale, Jacksonville has maintained the lowest average value month after month at $259.5k in November.

FL Average Value of Resid. Construction – Nov. 2016

As for the rankings from a county perspective, Orange County in Orlando maintained its statewide lead for total housing starts with 242 new permits and more than $86M in value last month. In Tampa, Hillsborough County ranked second highest for total housing starts with 204 new permits and nearly $69M in total value. In Jacksonville, the county of St. Johns made a huge leap from #10 in October to ranking third highest in November with 201 housing starts and close to $59M in total construction value.

FL Top 5 Counties for Total New Permits – Nov. 2016

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.

Rewarding Employees During the Holidays

Posted on December 9, 2016 by Erika Carruth

holiday giving office - HBWeekly

With the holidays comes the opportunity to show gratitude and reward your team for a job well done. Some of your team may already have a holiday or end-of-the-year bonus structure in place, but don’t let the expected bonus deter you from recognizing your employees in more creative ways. Performance-based bonuses shouldn’t be considered equivalent to an actual holiday gift. Performance-based bonuses are part of the compensation structure and should be considered separate from holiday gifts. From field workers to office staff, everyone appreciates recognition for their hard work, and the holidays are the perfect time to reinforce a positive company culture that is supportive of your team and their families.

This year, the major holidays of Christmas and New Year’s Eve take place on the weekend, which will not provide much holiday break time during office hours. Unless your business is closing its doors for the weeks during the holidays, which is not an option for most, many employees may need a little boost to remind them that you value their time and effort. Here are a few things to consider when giving thanks through personal and warm wishes for the holiday season:

Company Party – If you haven’t already booked a venue and secured a menu, chances are your holiday party will need to take place in your office or conference room. Although planning ahead is ideal, don’t discard the idea of a party just because we are already in December. It’s not too late to celebrate. Depending on the size of your party (and budget), you may be able to book a nice luncheon or dinner at a nearby restaurant. If that’s not an option, call the caterers at a favorite lunch establishment, and have a party at your office or warehouse. Such casual gatherings provide employees a chance to be social and connect, while providing you a chance to personally thank your team.
Gift Cards – Gift cards can be purchased in bulk, sometimes with a discount, and there’s no wrapping required. Everyone appreciates a credit card gift card that can be used anywhere, but getting one for their favorite coffee shop or lunch spot can provide an additional personal touch.
Paid Time Off – This option is great for this year being that the holidays are on the weekends. Surprise your team with one or two extra paid days off. You may consider the Monday after Christmas and a day before or after New Year’s weekend.
Not So Equal – If you give one employee a holiday gift, then all employees should receive something for the holidays; that’s the equal part. As for the not so equal part, don’t think that all gifts and holiday bonuses must be the same thing or for the same amount. Although gift amounts don’t need to be equal, they most definitely should be consistent. It is easiest to simply give the same gifts to all employees, but if you choose to give tiered gifts, make sure that it is not personal or may be perceived as favoritism. Your safest bet would be to vary the gifts based on clear boundaries such as employee classification (administrative staff, upper management, field staff, etc.).
Check Last Year – Unless you have informed your staff in advance of cutbacks in holiday giving, make sure you are on par with the previous year. Although holiday gifts of any amount are appreciated, your employees most likely have expectations based on the gifts they received last year. Don’t give less than last year, and if you choose to give more, know that you will be raising and setting the bar for next year.

From gift cards and bonuses to paid time off and parties, there are plenty of options for showing your team appreciation this holiday season. More importantly, remember to say “thank you” and provide a personal greeting and well wishes. Along with it being the season of giving, it is also a season of gratitude. Closing the year on a positive note will allow you and your team to be refreshed and ready for a great start to 2017.

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 Residential Construction Review – November 2016

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Erika Carruth

texas homes HBWeekly.com

It’s no secret that Texas is gaining in popularity. Texas-style urbanism has been making headlines, with the “Texas Triangle” (Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio) reportedly accounting for 66% of the Lone Star State’s population. A new report titled “The Texas Way of Urbanism” from the Center for Opportunity Urbanism (COU) went into more depth about the rise in Texas cities. The report noted that the larger urban areas of Texas have added the most jobs and people since 2000 in comparison to larger coastal cities. Job growth has been impressive throughout the Texas Triangle, with Dallas and Houston having increased by 31% since 2000, while the less populated areas of Austin and San Antonio have experienced some of the fastest job growth in the nation (>52%).

In addition to the significant job growth since 2000, the report by COU stated that affordable housing proved to be an important part of the Texas model of urbanism. Texas cities clearly have significantly less housing costs in comparison to larger coastal cities throughout the nation. Based on the latest permitting data available from HBW, San Antonio had the lowest average value of new residential construction last month ($203,667). As for total housing starts, Houston had the most on file (1,483 permits) out of the Texas Triangle cities, and the area followed the affordability pattern as the average value of construction was $208,136 last month.

TX Total New Residential Permits – Nov. 2016

Out of the nearly 3,400 housing starts and approximately $838.5M in construction value throughout the Texas Triangle in November, the more densely populated areas of Houston and Dallas led for total new residential construction permits. As previously mentioned, Houston continued to lead the state for new residential construction with 1,483 housing starts and nearly $309M in construction value. While Dallas was second highest for total housing starts (1,063 permits), it was the leader for total construction value with a total close to $333M for the month. On a related note, the average value of residential construction in Dallas was also the highest of the four major areas reviewed at $312,877. Austin was next in line and ranked second highest for the month with an average construction value of $245,919.

TX Average Value of Resid. Construction – Nov. 2016

Although total permits were not as high as October, Harris County in Houston remained in the #1 spot for total new residential construction permits. In November, there were 676 housing starts in Harris County with a total construction value of $152.5M. Also in the Houston area, the county of Fort Bend was ranked second highest for housing starts with 348 new residential construction permits and a total value in excess of $52M for the month, bringing it up three spots on the chart since October. Holding steady and continuing to rank third highest for new residential construction, Collin County in Dallas had 343 housing starts and nearly $122M in value added to the HBW database last month.

TX Top Counties for Total Permits – Nov. 2016

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.

Preparing Your Profiles for the Holidays

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Erika Carruth

You may already be decking the halls (and your office) with holiday cheer, but are your website and online profiles holiday-ready?

Earlier this month we discussed a few ways to take advantage of the holiday hoopla that comes with Black Friday, as well as planning ahead for marketing in the coming year. Between the holiday promotions, office parties and vacations, time can easily get away from us, leaving us vulnerable to overlooking some of the most important tasks.

With the holidays comes the opportunity to new visitors on business websites, social media pages and profiles. For this reason, it is important to make sure your website and social media profiles are holiday-ready. Although schedules and meetings may be unstable this time of year, your website and online presence should remain steady. Here are few simple steps you can take to make sure that your business’s website and online profiles remain solid through the holiday season.

Update Schedules – If your office is closing for a holiday party or to observe the holidays during business hours, update your website and social media pages with this information. Obviously, a few hours for a holiday party need not be mentioned, but if you are closing the office for an extended period, publish the correct “holiday schedule”. Additionally, if you are open on days or hours when most other businesses are closed, let your customers know that you are offering services through the holidays.
Out-of-Office – If you or your staff will be taking a vacation, make it a policy to have an automatic out-of-office reply set up prior to leaving. Not everyone is making holiday time vacation time, and few things agitate a customer more than not having a call or email returned. Update voicemail messages and email responses to avoid unnecessary issues. When possible, offer an emergency number or alternate contact to handle pressing matters.
Home Page – Whether it is the home page of your website or main page on your social media profile, make sure to add your holiday promotions. One simple updated image in the slides on your homepage or header of your Facebook page can do the trick. For promotions, you may mention ideas for sprucing up the home/office for the holiday season by including your own products and services as suggestions for gifts, stocking stuffers, décor, etc.
Schedule Posts in Advance – If you don’t already have a social media schedule, now is a great time to begin developing one. Your social media updates and blog posts should be sensitive to the holiday season. In addition to mentioning your promotions, remember to wish your prospects and customers a happy holiday. As you and your staff will be busy with the holidays too, schedule the greeting in advance, like now, so that is doesn’t slip through the cracks.
Clarify Deadlines – Make your deadlines and turnaround time for orders prominent and clear. If you have a price list online, add the holiday deadline to it. If you expect a delay or an overabundance of requests during the holidays, consider posting an update on your social media profile informing clients of turnaround times for orders and requests.
Spruce Up Your Website – We’re not referring to a few bows or reindeer at the top of your page. Rather, sprucing up your site refers to making it clear and easy to get to the action. In addition to having your promotions prominently displayed, your site should be easy to navigate and provide direct access to the promotion. For example, if you are offering a discount on flooring or tile installation, the order or request form should be no more than one click away. Provide easy access to shopping, ordering and online payments.
Use Reports – If you monitor site visitors through Google Analytics or similar tools, now is the perfect time to check out the keywords that generated the most activity during the holiday season last year. Analytics are only effective if used, and by using last year’s statistics, you will know which keywords and promotions should be used this year and which ones should be avoided.
Boost Your Mailing List – Along with gaining new contacts through your December HBW construction data reports, consider adding a sign-up form for your newsletter or discounts to every page of your website. The higher traffic of the holidays provides an opportunity to pull in more email contacts so that you can continue marketing to them through the year, even if they don’t take advantage of this month’s holiday promotion.
Be On-the-Go – I have mentioned this in a few posts, but it is simply too important to go without mention… Make sure your website is mobile responsive. More viewing and shopping will be done from mobile devices this holiday, and your visitors will most likely not move beyond the home page if it is not optimized for mobile viewing. Double-check that your site and latest promotions are clearly displayed in the mobile version of your website, both from phone and tablet.
Check the Links – If your website has been around a while, chances are that it has seen its fair share of links to articles, resources, videos, etc. Some of those links may no longer be active, and you don’t want to send a visitor to the dreaded “404” error page. Although there are quite a few online tools available for scanning your website for broken links, if your website is of manageable size, it shouldn’t take much time to clean out old links and update those you want to keep.

Being holiday ready is more than just bows and mistletoe. Make your online presence inviting and welcoming this holiday season. A little sprucing up of your website and social media profiles can lead to unexpected holiday gifts.

Texas Swimming Pool Builders Report – October 2016

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Erika Carruth

In October, there were more than 700 new swimming pool permits in Texas with a total value exceeding $37M added to the HBW database.

HBW pool builder report

Since we last reviewed swimming pool construction in Texas (July), there has been close to a 30% increase in monthly pool starts. Out of the four major metropolitan areas of Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, Dallas led for the most starts with close to 400 new permits and a construction value over $18.3M. The highest average value of swimming pools last month was in Houston where the average value of construction was nearly $59M. And while we are looking at the highs, there was a county that stood out on the charts – The county with the most swimming pool starts for the month was Collin County in the Dallas area with 130 new permits and close to $7.6M in total construction value.

TX Top 5 Counties for Pool Permits – October 2016

TX Average Value of Pool Construction – October 2016

Here’s a closer look at the new pool construction activity in each area:

Dallas

The Dallas area was on top for new pool permits last month. As previously mentioned, there were nearly 400 pool starts with a value greater than $18.3M for the month. The county experiencing the greatest number of pools starts for the one-month period was Collin County, but there was also significant construction activity in Tarrant and Dallas counties. The average value on new pool construction in the area was $46,521, the lowest of all four metro areas. Out of the approximately 135 active pool builders, those leading for total starts are as follows:

#1 – Sandler Pools

#2 – Claffey Pools Inc.

#3 – Venture Custom Pools

Houston

Houston came in at second highest for total new swimming pool permits. In October, the area had just over 100 active pool builders and nearly $11M in construction value. More than half of all permits originated from the Harris County, although there was some level of new pool construction in every county reviewed. The average value of new pool construction was highest in Houston at $58,924. Construction activity was somewhat evenly disbursed between active builders in the area with the following positioned at the top for total new permits:

#1 – Anthony & Sylvan Pools

#2 – Platinum Pools

#3 – Premier Pools

Austin

In October, the Austin area had a concentration of new pool construction in the two counties of Travis and Williamson. There were forty active pool builders during the month and a total construction value of nearly $4.2M for the area. The builders with the most permits on file for the period are as follows:

#1 – Cody Pools

#2 – Texas Pools & Patios

#3 – Aquamarine Pools

San Antonio

Although San Antonio did not see the greatest number of swimming pool starts last month, the area had more than $3.2M in new pool construction. The lion’s share of new construction took place in Bexar County, while Guadalupe county was the least active. The average construction value of swimming pools in the area was $51,313, and there were approximately 28 active builders for the period. Keith Zars Pools led the area for total new permits and value, and the top three for the month were as follows:

#1 – Keith Zars Pools

#2- Blue Haven Pools

#3 – Gary’s Pools & Spas

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Texas swimming pool construction was directly derived from HBW construction data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest residential and commercial building activity in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, please contact HBW for details.

Preparing Your Marketing for the New Year

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Erika Carruth

The end of the year brings a new opportunity to strengthen your marketing efforts so that you can get ahead in 2017.

marketing tips HBWweekly.com

Depending on your business, the holiday season may bring your sales into an upswing, or it may feel more like a ghost town with the time off and scheduled vacations. No matter how busy or quiet, the end of the year is an ideal time to review your progress, budgets and marketing efforts. What worked in 2016, and what can you do without in the coming year?

When it comes to marketing, planning and creating a working schedule is essential in making your mark. For your marketing strategy to be effective, it is important that you revisit and modify it to fit your company’s growing needs and audience. Here are some areas to keep in mind as you begin the process of updating your marketing plan for the new year:

Budget – What did you spend on marketing in 2016? Which efforts proved valuable and which ones fell short? Are you going to try new avenues and methods in 2017, and how do they fit in your budget? It’s easy and often common to leave a brainstorming session with grandiose ideas; although the big dreams are great for setting goals, make sure that your caviar tastes can be supported by a realistic budget.

Know Your Target – Along with reviewing your marketing expenses, take time to review your sources of revenue to assess the top clients for service and product sales. What closed and how long did it take to close? What are the most common attributes of your top clients and which marketing efforts brought them to your business in the first place? Knowing your target audience is vital to the success of your marketing efforts. By reviewing the age, location, education level and typical project type and size of your top clients, you will have a better understanding of your ideal customer.

Define Your Sources – What are the best sources for new customers? How much of your new revenue was derived through referrals in 2016? Which sources provided the most opportunity to reach your audience? Remember that using the same stale sources will lead to the same stale leads. Look for sources that will provide you with refreshed lists without overlapping such as those gained through HBW construction data reports.

Communicate – Which methods of communication have gained the most response in the first, second and third touch points? What works bests for your clients? Have they preferred in-person, phone, email or text for your primary method of communication? Evaluate your communications from this year to gain a clear focus and be prepared for improving those areas in 2017.

Know Your Competition – Knowing your competition does not mean mimicking them. Review your top competitors to see if there is a growing need or demand in services or products that you offer but have yet to highlight. Healthy competition is good; it can often drive higher-quality and provide an opportunity for businesses to kick it up a notch and evolve with the industry. That being stated, remember to keep your eyes on what your business does best and its unique value-added offerings.

Review Your Content – Just as your contacts can get stale if not refreshed, so can your content. That website that you set up several years back or the dated brochure from several seasons ago decrease in value over time – unless, of course, you update them. Use this end of the year time to take stock of your marketing materials and all content to ensure that they accurately reflect your brand, products, services.

Although the holidays keep us busy at work and home, dedicating some time to reviewing your marketing efforts of 2016 will position you to have a powerhouse marketing plan in 2017.

Gearing Up for the Holiday Deals

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Erika Carruth

The holiday season is a perfect time to send holiday wishes and new promotions to your prospects and customers.

HBW holiday marketing

Thanksgiving is just a few short days away, and as with every holiday season, so begins the shopping season. Although retailers benefit most from the Black Friday commotion, home builders also have many opportunities to reach customers during the holidays. November through December is a great time to reach out to customers with messages of gratitude during Thanksgiving and happy holiday and new year wishes in December.

In addition to sending warm wishes, the holidays provide the opportunity to help consumers fulfill their gift wish lists and prepare homes for the holidays.

Celebrate the “Days”

Every year the holidays are partnered up with the highly anticipated discount days. Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Small Business Saturday get a lot of attention, and retailers are not the only businesses to benefit. It’s not too late for you to get on the days of discount bandwagon. Thanks to email marketing and social media, your latest promotion can gain exposure in just a few short clicks. By offering new promotions or repackaging an ongoing or new customer discount, your business can be highlighted during the busiest spending time of year. Here is the schedule of days and their corresponding hashtags:

Black Friday – Many businesses don’t just offer deals on Friday only. Think about using this day to launch your holiday promotions for the month ahead. Friday, November 25, 2016 #BlackFriday
Small Business Saturday – Concentrating on your local target and emphasizing the importance of small businesses, Small Business Saturday can help you reach your local community and customer base. You can gain additional exposure by listing your business and utilizing resources from shopsmall.com. Saturday, November 26, 2016 #SmallBusinessSaturday

Here are some ideas of how businesses are taking advantage of Small Business Saturday (source: MSNBC):

3. Cyber Monday – You’ve got just about a week left to prep your website and social media profiles for your Cyber Monday deals. As noted in a recent article by Forbes, Cyber Monday’s sales will exceed $3 billion, an increase of 9.4% over last year. That’s sales worth joining. With Cyber Monday being online, make sure your website is optimized and check that your server is ready for an increase in activity. Make sure that your promotions and brand message is consistent and seamless throughout the user experience. Monday, November 28, 2016 #CyberMonday

Although the major promotions begin this week, don’t stop engaging your customers there. Throughout the next month or so, think about gift packages that will be unique and are tailored to your clients’ needs. Consider offering maintenance packages to help clients have their homes ready for hosting the holidays. Provide easy and accessible links and information so that your services are “wrapped”, ready-to-go and packaged to make the perfect holiday gift.