HBWeekly

Keeping Crews Cool for the Summer

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Erika Carruth

With temperatures rising, it is important to make sure your crews are safe and ready for summer.

As mentioned in last month’s HBW Florida swimming pool report, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center has this summer expected to be one of the hottest on record. Although this is great news for those looking to offer swimming pool construction and maintenance services in the coming months, for home builders it means taking proper precautions to ensure the safety of crews that will be working outdoors. From hot tar on roofs to asphalt that can get up to a few hundred degrees, summer heat can lead to heat-related illnesses and, in some case, be fatal.

The truth is that the common advice of staying indoors or under the shade is simply not an option for a variety of construction crews, from roofing to landscaping. It is unrealistic to expect to be in the shade all summer. Sun and heat exposure are a constant and inevitable variable in onsite safety and is not a subject to be taken lightly. From protecting skin to preventing heat exhaustion, here are a few easy tips for keeping your crews cool this summer:

Schedule – Whenever possible, have crews work away from direct sunlight. If that is not an option (as in most cases), try to push your job start time to earlier in the day. If your project has both indoor and outdoor sections, focus on the outdoors during the morning hours and bring your team indoors in the afternoon.
Educate – Teach your crews to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses. From early warning signs such as heat cramps and dry mouth to more advanced symptoms like fainting, vomiting and rapid heartbeat, your team should know what to look for in their crew members and how to handle the situation.
Safety Kits – Although many companies leave certain supplies up to employees, your safety kit should be a given on the job site. Make sure it is up-to-date and that all products have not reached their expiration. Single-use cold packs are not just for acute muscle injuries; providing packs to wear on the neck or head can assist in bringing the body temperature down fairly quickly.
Water Breaks – Reinforce mandatory water breaks. Your job site should be equipped with a continuous supply of water that is kept cool and easily accessible. Along with water, you should also offer an electrolyte replacement beverage. Your foreman should ensure that all crew members are drinking water and taking a sufficient amount of breaks to replenish their fluids.
Provide Shade – In addition to water, you should have a shaded break area. If a particular site does not have a shaded area, it is worth investing in portable shade. There are a number of pop-up tents and umbrellas that are offered by industry suppliers that will keep both the refreshments and your crews cool.
Dress for Heat – Depending on your required uniform, you may want to offer coolmax or similar fabrics for shirts, as well as wide-brim hard hats. Sports and performance fabrics may have a heftier price, but they prove to be effective in drawing perspiration away from the skin and keeping the body cooler. Garments should be loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored. Cooling bandanas are also effective in moderating body temperature. Also, don’t forget about sunblock. Although it doesn’t keep the body cooler, it is key in preventing sunburns, sun poisoning and, of course, skin cancer. Choose a product that has an SPF of at least 30 and says “broad-spectrum” on the label. “Broad-spectrum” (or full-spectrum) means that the product protects against both the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. It should be applied 15-30 minutes prior to sun exposure, and crews should be provided time to reapply throughout the day.
Use the App – As I have mentioned in a previous safety post, OSHA offers a free Heat Safety Tool App. With the app, workers and supervisors are able to calculate the heat index for their site and understand the risk level to outdoor workers. With just a “click,” they can receive reminders of proper precautions for reducing the risk of heat-related illnesses. Additionally, there is helpful information about rest breaks and how to handle emergency situations.

Although heat exhaustion and stroke can be scary, the survival rate is 100% when rapid and proper treatment is given to someone suffering from the condition. Through simple precautions and education, your crews can stay safe, productive and cool this summer.

For more information on construction business tips, safety and industry updates, 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.

Pinterest for Your Home Building Business

Posted on June 3, 2016 by Erika Carruth

With image-heavy content and a myriad of topics, Pinterest can be an effective social media marketing tool for construction professionals.

Think Pinterest is not for business? Think again. Often associated with crafters and hobbyists, Pinterest can be overlooked by businesses. Believe it or not, there is a place for home builders and remodelers on Pinterest. In fact, Pinterest has more than 100 million daily active users and billions of “pins”. According to their success stories, major powerhouse companies like Bank of America and Sony use Pinterest, and home renovators like Bob Vila reported a 33% increase in referral traffic to their website.

If you are part of the Pinterest community or interested in joining for the first time, there are a few things to consider before getting started…

Know Your Audience – In order to get the most out of Pinterest, you should have a basic understanding of who you are reaching. This is important because the content you develop for Pinterest should be relevant to users and cater to their interests. According to the latest stats and a Pew Research report published last year, Pinterest is dominated by a female audience. That being stated, Pinterest has reported an impressive 120% increase in male monthly users in 2015. The social media platform is also known for being popular with millennials as they are using it as much as Instagram (source: Business Insider).

Use the Tools – Pinterest has a section of tools dedicated to the business user. From tracking tools like Pinterest Analytics to promoted pins, there are a variety of ways to engage your audience and build awareness of your brand. Additionally, you can find easy-to-follow guidelines to maximize use of Pinterest by checking out their Brand Guidelines page.

Develop Interesting Content – In addition to knowing your audience, your content should be interesting and dynamic. Pinterest is all about sharing and “pinning” content, so post images that people will want to share. High quality images are important, as well as ones that have text overlay from how-to information to a call to action. The image is the first thing your Pinterest audience will see, so make sure it is original and visually appealing. Although it makes sense to envision Pinterest as an extended portfolio of sorts, don’t limit yourself. Consider sharing videos, infographics, customer success stories and links to blog posts or other original content that would be of interest to your viewers.

Get the Pin It/Save button – Just as with any social media platform, you will want to make sure your website visitors can find you on Pinterest, as well as pin content from your website. Along with having a Pinterest widget included in the sharing links of your website, add a save button (pin it button) to your website; this will allow site visitors to share content from your website, enabling your brand to gain greater exposure.

Optimize Pins for Searches – The number of categories can be intimidating for first time users of Pinterest. To remedy the issue, search functionality was recently upgraded with a new added feature called Guided Search. With this tool, pinners can use descriptive guides to help sift through content. In order to be easily found, you will need to create pins that are in appropriate categories for your business. Look into the most popular categories and assess whether or not your content fits within them. To optimize content for searches, make descriptions as detailed as possible. For example, instead of “kitchen tile”, describe it as “blue subway tile for kitchen backsplash”. Along with descriptions, the images should follow proper dimensions (ex: profile photo 600×600).

From developing creative and relevant content to adding save/pin buttons to your website and other profiles, your business can become a visible member of the Pinterest community. As a home builder, creating original, professional and beautiful designs is the easy part; now it’s just a matter of getting out there and welcoming pinners into the world of your business, ideas and designs.

For more information on construction business tips and industry updates, 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 Top Home Builders – April 2016

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Erika Carruth

As noted in our Texas residential construction report earlier this month, more than 5,000 new permits were added to the HBW database in April. Out of the nearly $1.2 billion in new residential construction that took place in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio in April, there were a handful of home builders that were leading new projects across the state. Looking at all four metropolitan areas combined, the top three builders who had the most housing starts on file last month were as follows:

#1 D.R. Horton – Continuing to dominate new residential construction in Texas, D.R. Horton has more than 460 new permits on file with HBW in April.

#2 Pulte Homes – Moving up one spot from #3 in March, Pulte Homes has 277 housing starts for the month.

#3 Lennar Homes – Still holding close to second, Lennar Homes came in third highest for total housing starts with 272 new permits on file for the month.

Although D.R. Horton continues to have a strong presence in new residential construction projects across the state, when we take a closer look at each area there are some other prominent builders that make the top spots for housing starts. Here are some highlights and listings of the top five home builders by area for the month of April:

Dallas

In Dallas, D.R. Horton didn’t just continue its lead… it was actually up 25% in housing starts in comparison to March. With 192 permits and a total value close to $30M, D.R. Horton held strong and in #1 for April. Next in line, Pulte Homes made a giant month-to-month leap in residential construction since March with twice as many housing starts (113 permits) and a total construction value in excess of $24M. Not on the top five list last month but in the #3 spot this month, First Texas Homes had 64 housing starts for the month and a total construction value of nearly $20M.

Top Dallas Home Builders April 2016

Houston

Still leading, D.R. Horton came out on top in Houston with 161 housing starts in April and more than $23.5M in total construction value. Although in second, Lennar Homes had a 14% increase in starts in comparison to March, placing it very close to D.R. Horton with 160 permits on file and a higher total construction value in excess of $25M. Up two spots since March, Perry Homes was third highest for new residential construction with 119 housing starts and a leading construction value of nearly $27M.

Top Houston Home Builders April 2016

Austin

Just as in March, D.R. Horton maintained the #1 spot for total housing starts in April with 106 new permits on file and more than $18M in construction value. Moving up one spot since March to #2, KB Homes had an 85% increase in activity with 95 housing starts in the area and more than $14M in construction. Pulte Homes also jumped up since March (from fifth to the third) with 74 new permits on file and a total construction value in excess of $16.5M.

Top Austin Home Builders April 2016

San Antonio

In San Antonio, Continental Homes held steady and maintained its lead from March with 83 housing starts and more than $18M in construction. Although there is a significant gap between the first and second top spots, coming in at #2 KB Homes had a 20% increase in residential construction activity in comparison to March. With 31 new permits on file with HBW, KB Homes had more than $7M in construction value in April. Up one spot since March, Meritage Homes was the third highest for total housing starts with 27 new residential construction permits and nearly $5M in construction value.

Top San Antonio Home Builders April 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.

Managing Your Workload During Vacation

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Summertime is here which means vacation for you and your team. Here are a few tips for making the most of your time away from the office.

Vacation – What’s that? Vacation is becoming a bit of a legend for the busy home builder. Between constant email and ongoing high-maintenance jobs, the unreachable and seemingly mythological idea of vacation can feel impossible – not to mention the tidal wave of email and mountains of paperwork most of us fear facing upon return. How can anyone truly have a “relaxing” vacation when unplugging is an impossibility and the phone notifications just don’t stop?

The answer isn’t simple. The truth is that events, questions and client emergencies may crop up, but there are a few steps you can take to make your summer family time more of a vacation and less of a traveling office.

Clear the Desk – Although you may have to put some extra hours in, by clearing your desk of outstanding items, from email to hard mail, you will avoid being completely overwhelmed upon your return. Purge your desk of useless clutter, and have all completed documents filed away. Try to complete all pending items, including estimates and follow-up reports. The less you have when you leave, the more time you will have to get to new business after vacation.
Empower Your Team – Let’s face it… Your work won’t stop just because you leave. For this reason, make sure you have a team member covering your core communications and responsibilities. This leader should be reliable and well-informed on what to expect, how to handle expected scenarios and know how and when to reach you. Have them keep a list of action items as well as track any actions they have taken on your behalf. Keep it simple, and even if their support is not needed, you will have peace of mind in having back-up.
Make Your Absence Known (and your presence) – Some business owners worry about the mice at play when the cat’s away and don’t inform their team of their upcoming leave. This is not a good idea, and may cause more harm than good. By having everyone aware of your leave, from clients to employees, it allows you to answer any questions in advance that may come up during your vacation; additionally, clients who are accustomed to receiving immediate attention from you won’t be shocked when they don’t receive a lightning-fast response. For clients, it can be as simple as an out-of-office message on voicemail and email that informs them of your date of return. For your employees, consider having a brief meeting informing your team of your back-up leader or direct report that will be acting as your proxy. Your team should be encouraged to present all items in need of your attention prior to your departure date. It is also a good time to let them know that you will be checking in periodically and following up with them on progress and projects. Although you will be out of the office, your authority should be clearly present.
Unplug (partially) – Although completely unplugging for a week is ideal, most of the time it is not possible. In order to still maintain a sense of vacation, try scheduling a time to check email and voicemail once a day while away. Only get to the things that require immediate attention; everything else can wait. Be careful with opening Pandora’s box because it can be very easy and tempting to get caught in the wave of email. Limit yourself to one hour or less, and do not get sidetracked with every message. Plugging back in while on vacation should just be to get to any immediate items that are crucial and cannot wait until you are back in the office.
Add a Day to Your Vacation – Adding a day doesn’t mean having one more day of beach time or sightseeing. The extra day that you should add is your first day back in the office. No matter how much planning and delegating you did to prepare, you will have outstanding emails and work waiting for you – Just expect it. Try to block one day to catch-up on your emails, mail and inbox. Close your office door, and don’t schedule any meetings. This one day is important because it will allow your first official day back in the office to be clear and back on schedule.

With a little strategic planning and proper delegating, the mythical unicorn called vacation can be a reality. Everyone needs to break away from the routine now and again, and taking a few days to be unproductive can result in you being refreshed and ready to take on projects with more verve and vitality than before you left. A little down time may just be what you need for a little upswing in production.

HBW Report: New Swimming Pool Construction in Florida – April 2016

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Earlier this week, NOAA reported that most of the United States will be faced with one hot summer. The report indicated an expectation of well above average summer temperatures, according to the latest outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, which means temperatures in the warmest third of all summers in the current record (1981-2010). (source: climate.gov). With already warmer temperatures in Florida, it is the ideal time for consumers to consider pool construction before the real heat sets in. Although most will plan ahead, there was certainly no shortage in pool construction across Florida in recent months. From Jacksonville to South Florida and major cities in between, Florida had nearly 1,600 swimming pool starts in April and more than $66.2M in total construction value.

Florida Pool Permit Totals by Area – April 2016

Based on reports from the HBW database, more than 50% of new swimming pool construction in Florida last month took place in the southwest and central (Orlando) regions of the state. Southwest Florida was in the lead for total swimming pool starts with 460 permits on file and nearly $18.8M in total construction value. The second highest for pool construction was the Orlando area with 387 new permits in April and a total value close to $15M. Although Southeast Florida was third for total permits (318 permits), it was second highest for total value with more than $15.1M in new construction for the month. Tampa and Jacksonville came in at fourth and fifth for the month with 259 new permits (total value: $10.1M+) in Tampa and 168 new permits (total value: $7.1M+) in Jacksonville.

From a county perspective, and as one may expect, all of the top five counties for total new permits were in the southwest and central regions of the state. Lee (SW) County was #1 for total starts with 150 new permits and more than $6.1M on file with HBW for the month. Also in the southwest portion of the state, Collier County was second highest with 130 starts and nearly $5.7M in total construction value. Orlando continued to hold strong last month with 118 new swimming pool permits on file and close to $5.3M in total value. In at #4 and #5 we have Manatee (SW) and Brevard (Orlando) counties which had 113 and 112 swimming pool starts respectively.

FL Pool Permits by Top Counties – April 2016

As for average value of pools constructed in Florida last month, the southeast region of the state pushed up to #1. In the first quarter of the year, Jacksonville had maintained the highest average value of the five areas reviewed, but at the start of Q2, swimming pool construction in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties are pushing totals and values in the southeast. The average value of pools constructed in SE Florida last month was $47,703. Jacksonville is second highest for average value with $42,387. Southwest Florida came in third with an average value of $40,849. Here is a look at the average value of swimming pool construction across the state:

FL – Average Value of Pool Construction April 2016

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures 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.

Summer Industry Conventions and Trade Shows

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Erika Carruth

With summer here, it is a perfect time to plan for your next business vacation.

Industry conventions and trade shows can be a great way to refresh your team and get inspired by new products. Whether attending as an exhibitor or as a guest networking on the floor, industry events can provide a reason to regroup and assess which of your own products or services can use an upgrade. In addition to the trade show floor, there may also be educational programs or seminars that can assist you in upping your game and staying “in the know” on the latest trends in home building.

With summertime officially here in just one month, it’s only natural to begin thinking about the next family vacation or getaway. Although personal breaks are important, don’t forget to provide the same opportunities for recharging your team and business. Choosing the right event for your company is a good place to start… You will want to make sure there are networking opportunities, product previews of interest and educational programs that suit your needs. Logistics are also a major factor. You will need to plan ahead to ensure that travel and related expenses have been factored in and fit your budget. Whether you are making time this summer or simply need some ideas for the coming year, here is a list of industry tradeshows and events that are worth checking out this summer:

BOAF Annual Conference & Expo, June 5-9, 2016 (Clearwater, FL) – Although this event is presented by the Building Officials Association of Florida, this expo is not designed solely for Building Officials. The BOAF Annual Conference & Expo caters to various building professionals and offers educational sessions from Florida building code to business ethics. The program runs for five days, but if you just want to attend the expo, plan on being there for two (June 6-7).
Build Expo Houston, July 13-14, 2016 (Houston, TX) – The Houston Build Expo takes place at the NRG Center this summer. Along with demos of thousands of products and services, their website lists a variety of seminars and educational sessions that are complimentary to attendees.
FWCCA Annual Convention & Trade Show, July 21-24, 2016 (Orlando, FL) – The Florida Wall and Ceiling Contractors Association is holding their annual trade show in Orlando this summer. With ten guest speakers and educational sessions each day, this event provides a nice summer getaway for industry professionals who focus in this area of home building.
Brevard Home and Garden Expo, July 23-24, 2016 (Melbourne, FL) – If you offer home and garden services in Central Florida, this event would be worth considering to be an exhibitor as it caters to the public. If not as an exhibitor, it is also a great way to see what other home builders are offering in the area.
Southeast Building Conference, July 27-30, 2016 (Kissimmee, FL) – A great summertime event, SEBC is in its 28th year. It is the largest building industry trade show in the Southeast, and it offers three days of educational seminars and more than 200 exhibitors.
Home and Garden Expo of Oklahoma, July 29-31, 2016 (Tulsa, OK) – Just as most Home and Garden Expos, this event in Oklahoma caters to the public interested in home improvement products and services. If you offer services in Oklahoma, attending as an exhibitor can provide exposure for your business, while attending as a guest can allow you to connect and network with similar businesses in the area.
Sunbelt Builders Show, August 3-4, 2016 (Grapevine, TX) – Operated by the Texas Association of Builders, this show is one of the largest of its kind in the country. According to its site, this show draws thousands of residential construction industry professionals and offers more than 200 exhibit booths. Taking place at the Gaylord Texan Resort, it is a convenient location for HBW subscribers in Dallas.

For tips on getting the most out of your tradeshow experience, check out last year’s post on planning for industry events. For more information on construction business tips and industry updates, 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.

OSHA Update: Final Rule on Reporting Workplace Injuries and Illnesses

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Last week, OSHA issued a final rule on reporting workplace injury and illness; here is what you need to know about the latest requirements to take effect this summer.

Keeping up with the changing and evolving rules and regulations of OSHA can sometimes feel like a full-time endeavor. For this reason, we offer periodic “OSHA updates” to highlight some of the regulations that pertain to you, the construction professional.

Just a few years ago, OSHA updated the rules on employers’ requirements and responsibilities for tracking and reporting workplace injuries and illnesses electronically. Last week, on May 11^th, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the final rule regarding this effort to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses. Although employers are already required to collect data on injuries and illnesses that occur in the workplace, the new rule requires that employers must submit the data to OSHA; this is no longer a voluntary step in the process. The intention is not only to ensure that the appropriate information is collected when an injury or illness takes place, but the new rule also exists so that OSHA can use the data to improve workplace safety and injury prevention through the use of behavioral economics.

According to the latest press release from OSHA, more than three million workers suffer from workplace injuries on an annual basis, yet limited to no information is currently available to OSHA or the public about injuries and illnesses that occur at an individual employer’s place of work. With the new rule, high-hazard industries “will send OSHA injury and illness data that the employers are already required to collect, for posting on the agency’s website.” (source: OSHA press release). This will keep the public (investors, clients, job-seekers) and OSHA informed of safety conditions at a particular workplace, as well as encourage employers to maintain and/or improve current workplace safety conditions and programs.

So, you may be asking: “Does this new rule apply to my business?” The answer is simple: If you are a business with 20 or more employees, then keep reading… Under the new rule, if you have 250 or more employees, you will be required to electronically submit injury and illness information to OSHA through Forms 300, 300A and 301. If you are a company with 20-249 employees, then you are required to electronically submit OSHA Form 300A only.

The new requirement will take effect August 10, 2016 with phased in data submission beginning in 2017 (source: OSHA.gov). The new rule does not change an employer’s current obligation to complete and retain illness records under the Recording and Reporting Regulation (Standard 1904.0). To gain access to more information on the final rule, visit the Federal Register. To review instructions and referenced forms for recording work-related injuries and illnesses, click here.

Florida Residential Construction Review – April 2016

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Out of more than 3,800 new permits in Florida that were added to the HBW database last month, approximately 27% were from the Orlando area.

Opening the second quarter of 2016, Florida is looking good as the HBW database continues to grow with new permits and new leads. Focusing on Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Southeast and Southwest Florida, we found more than 3,800 housing starts on file for the Sunshine State and nearly $1.1 billion in total construction value.

FL Total Permits by Area – April 2016

In the center of it all (Central Florida), Orlando was #1 for total housing starts. With 1,032 new permits and more than $294M in construction value, Central Florida is flourishing in new residential construction. The average value of homes started in the area last month was $285,020, the second highest average in the state. Orange County (the center of Orlando) was #1 in the state for total starts with 342 permits and close to $111M in total construction value. Osceola County was the next highest for total housing starts in Central Florida with 260 new permits on file and a total construction value just over $43.8M.

The southwest region of Florida was not far behind Orlando with 960 housing starts in April and a total construction value in excess of $262M. Four out of five of the counties reviewed in the southwest region made the top 10 list for total starts in Florida (see chart below). New residential construction activity was somewhat evenly dispersed throughout Lee, Collier, Sarasota and Manatee counties. Lee County took the lead in the area for total housing starts (240 permits), while Collier County was on top for total value of construction (~ $82.7M) last month.

Tampa was third highest last month for both total housing starts and average value of new residential construction. There were nearly 800 housing starts and more than $221M in new construction in the Tampa area last month. The average value of homes started in April was $278,372, and the bulk of construction activity took place in Hillsborough County; Hillsborough had 319 starts last month and the highest total construction value in the area of more than $103.7M. Polk County was second highest in activity with 202 new permits and a total construction value greater than $40.1M.

In Jacksonville, there were clearly two counties that dominated in new residential construction. Out of the 669 housing starts and more than $168M in construction taking place in the Jacksonville area, Duval and St. Johns counties carried the bulk of the activity. More than 242 housing starts with a total value in excess of $73.7M took place in St. Johns County last month. Duval County was second highest in the area with 210 housing starts and a total construction value greater than $37.7M.

Finally, in the southeast region there were fewer total housing starts in comparison to other regions throughout the state. With 368 new permits on file for the month, SE Florida made up for the lack of total starts by having the highest average construction value of any other area in the state (average value: $378,373). Palm Beach County was #1 in the southeast for total housing starts (102 permits), while Miami-Dade County took the lead for highest total value of new construction (> $43M).

FL Average Value of Residential Construction – April 2016

When comparing counties throughout Florida, Orlando’s Orange County was #1 for total housing starts in April (342 permits), while Tampa’s Hillsborough County came in at a close second with 319 new permits on file. Here’s a closer look at the top 10 counties throughout the state for the month:

FL Top 10 Counties for Total New Resid. Permits – April 2016

Texas Residential Construction Report – April 2016

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Erika Carruth

The stats are in for April, and Texas residential construction held strong for the month with more than 5,000 new permits on file with HBW. Out of the nearly $1.2 billion in new residential construction occurring in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin combined last month, Houston led with the most housing starts (2,020 permits), while Dallas experienced the greatest increase in starts since March (+8%). Across the board, every metropolitan area reviewed was slightly ahead of totals for March, and overall, there was more than a 3% increase in housing starts from March to April.

Texas Residential Construction Permit Totals – April 2016

Earlier this month, Forbes reported on the nation’s top 10 hottest markets for 2016 (as per Zillow), and Dallas took the #1 spot. According to the report, the Dallas-Fort Worth area is expected to see home values increase by 5.6% this year (source: Forbes). Consistent with the Forbes report, Dallas is also on top in the HBW database for highest average value in residential construction (~$293k – April). Additionally, the total value of residential construction in the Dallas area was the highest out of the four areas reviewed with more than $498M in April.

Average Residential Construction Value (April 2016):

Dallas – $292,532

San Antonio – $240,971

Austin – $228,562

Houston – $190,515

On the other end of the spectrum of average construction value, we have Houston. Just a few weeks ago, the Houston Business Journal cited the slump in crude oil prices as the cause for a drop in Houston’s luxury home market. According to the most recent data released by the Houston Association of Realtors, sales of homes valued at or above $500,000 dropped by 12.4% year over year in March. Although demand for high-value custom homes has reportedly fallen in Houston, the area came out on top for total housing starts (2,020 permits) and was second highest for total construction value for the month (~$385M).

In Austin, new residential construction remained steady in comparison to March with just over a 1% increase in activity and a total construction value close to $207M. Out of the 904 housing starts in Austin last month, more than half occurred in Travis County.

Finally, we took a look at San Antonio which had more than $106M in total construction value for the month. Although the area had the least total new residential construction permits on file in April (441 permits), San Antonio was second highest for average value of residential construction (~$241k). Nearly half of April’s new residential construction took place in Bexar County – Bexar also made the Top 10 list for total housing starts.

Texas Top 10 Counties for Total New Permits – April 2016

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

5 Tips for a Better Website

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Just like home building, website design requires plenty of planning and maintenance to serve its purpose now and in the future.

Whether you currently have a website or are looking to launch one, there are a few simple things to keep in mind to ensure you are getting the most out of your web presence. Your website doesn’t only serve as a way to be found on the internet; it is one of the first places your HBW leads will look to learn more about your company and services. Even if you have a website manager who handles the technical aspects of your site, you are most likely responsible for website content. In addition to reflecting your brand, your website should be user-friendly, easy to navigate and provide the information that your target audience will be searching. Here are five areas to review when building a new website or simply making “renovations” to your current one:

Keep it Simple – Long gone are the days of lengthy “About” sections and a never-ending scrolling list of services. Consider this: The attention span of a human is only 8 seconds (source: The Telegraph), one second less than a goldfish, and our fast-paced digital world isn’t helping. Thanks to smartphones, scrolling news feeds and our on demand lifestyles, there is simply not enough time in the day for a visitor to sift through mountains of text. For this reason, make your website simple, fresh and clean. Your navigation bar should be free of clutter, and your contact information and social links should be obvious and easily accessible.
Pay Attention to “Home” – Don’t neglect your “Home” page; it is the one page that most of your site visitors will see, and it serves as both an anchor and front door to your business online. A busy first page can be cumbersome to navigate and too time-consuming for the reader to get to any other page. Think of a driveway and entryway to a home – the more cluttered and obstructed in design, the more challenging it will be to enter the home. The same concept applies to your opening page. The home page should consist of the essentials including a clear headline and sub-headline, main call-to-action, visible navigation bar, supporting image and key features and benefits. Other important information like resources, testimonials and product and service details should be viewable through other pages and links, easy to locate and one-click away.
Be Mobile – Almost every new website will have a mobile version, but what about the one you launched five years ago? If not up-to-date, it is possible that the site is not viewable from certain mobile devices. Once you have a mobile version, you will want to test every page from both tablets and phones (ios and android). The content should be formatted to fit a variety of screen sizes, and images should load properly. Also, keep in mind that some viewers may still prefer the desktop version of your site, so offer the option to view the site on “Desktop Version” at the top and/or bottom of each page.
Be Unique – Don’t limit your site by following a singular model. Although you should aim for simplicity in design, you still want to make a strong first impression. Having a website that looks like everyone else, including your competition, offers less than a memorable experience for your visitors. The more authentic your images and content, the better chance you have to stand out from the crowd. Being unique can simply be attained by remaining true to your brand and offering images and videos that originate from your company. Although stock images and video can be useful in some instances, when it comes to your website, your unique designs and offerings should be showcased in a framework and layout that is distinctive and reflective of your brand.
Track it – This one gets overlooked time and time again. Many small businesses may check how many “likes” or “followers” they have on social media but fall short when it comes to website visitors. It’s easy enough to gauge and analyze site visitor traffic by getting started with Google Analytics. It is free and an important tool for monitoring visits and learning more about pages and content that are of interest to your audience. It is also useful in tracking the impact of your marketing efforts including social media campaigns and any email marketing or other communications you may develop to reach your HBW leads.

Just like any home or property, a website requires upkeep and upgrades to stay current and in proper functioning order. Through appropriate maintenance and repair, your website will continue to have the curb appeal it needs to get the visits and prospects in the door.