Building Optimal

Solid relationships with your contractors (trade partners) is a crucial ingredient, like mustard on a 🌭. Four ways to build a win/win that will keep paying dividends...

1. Detailed specs on your bid requests - If contractors have to guess, they are going to guess high. Take the risk out for them by giving them a clean, detailed plan to bid. You'll get a better price plus more speed in the field.

2. Have the job ready when you say it will be - No one likes dry runs, and if you get a reputation for it, your contractor will absolutely deprioritize your jobs in the future. Also, don't stack everyone on top of each other. Remember, everyone is just trying to do their job and make some money. Help them by being a good partner to your trade partners.

3. Set a company policy for when you will pay your contractors - Stick to it...religiously. This saves you from people requesting same-day payment and you having to always be reacting and scrambling. It always provides clear expectations to your contractors so they can properly plan when they do your work. Setting expectations and being consistent are key.

4. If you want to build a relationship with a contractor rather than always bouncing around to the low bidder, simply communicate when their bid is out of your budget. Maybe they can make some adjustments. Maybe they can't. Regardless, you give them the "right of first refusal" to win the contract if they can and want to take the work for your budgeted price. Word of caution...don't always drink from this well. Find contractors that give you good value for the price, and stick with them. Nothing wrong with price checking every so often if the price seems to go out of market or out of budget. Just communicate and give them the chance to adjust if that happens.

Costs are a little outta control these days, huh? Well, here are a few tricks out of our bag at my home building company that may help you out a bit. Have any of your own? Comment below to help out your fellow builder brethren!

And be sure to sign up for our newsletter at buildingoptimal.com to help you build a better business and make more money while you’re at it!

What are some top systems you can install in your project to move it closer to a passive house? Trey Farmer of has a few answers for us.

In this episode we are exploring Trey’s personal home he built as a case study of what worked great and what he would do differently next time.

Enjoy the episode!

A peak at our newest home under construction in Tarrytown. 4 beds, 4.5 baths, with a casita (guest quarters) attached by a large patio.

Our agent is just starting to market the home privately for $3,299,000. We are targeting about 8 months to completion, as we are just starting framing.

Once again we will be partnering with and . The range will be out of France.

A few other features:
✔️ plumbing fixtures
✔️ counters
✔️White oak flooring and select cabinets @ Tarrytown, ATX

After spending the last three months on some major software conversions for my own building company, apps are on my mind. Here are my lead horses. What am I missing? What do you use?

BTW, check out episode 60 of Building Optimal Radio for my explanation behind each of these.

Happy building! @ Austin, Texas

If you are hearing a lot of conflicting and confusing info about how the stimulus package affects builders, we Building Optimal were! That’s why we called Sheri Allshouse, our go-to expert on all home building finance matters.

In this brief episode, Sheri covers the two primary loans that are available as well as the new tax credits. Please note the information surrounding these loans is very dynamic and changing frequently. Please consult your accountant for the latest information.

I also highly recommend you navigate our to Sheri’s website, The Allshouse Group, to request from them their white paper on the topic. It’s filled with a lot of good, actionable info.

And thanks to NWC Alliance and Douglas Lynch my insurance pros, for sponsoring the episode.

Y’all be well!

Buildingoptimal.com

If you haven’t yet, check out our interview with Treacy Duerfeldt of NWC Alliance for some strategies, both tactical and psychological, to get through this situation. Show links in bio.

And if you don’t already, be sure to follow us here at Building Optimal and sign up for our emails on the home page of buildingoptimal.com.

As we have all heard, the tough times are what define us. Those are the times when our stories are written. Everyone can lead in the good times. Every can love in the good times. Everyone can prosper in the good times.

So, what happens when the good times go? Because they always do. They come and they go.

My wish for you is that you will be the leader your employees, family, siblings, and friends look up to, and find hope in.

My wish for you is you can find ways to give and to help others in this time, and prosper in return.

Just the other day, I had someone email my company (I’m the owner of a custom home builder and consultant in Texas) telling me he has a large project to give us, but he imagines the economy is about to tank and builders are going to be hurting for business. So he asked if I’d consider cutting my fee in half.

How did I respond? I didn’t. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I just deleted it. I don’t have much concern or time for people who seek personal gain at the expense of others.

Here’s another perspective...maybe you gain more by helping. Who around you could use a hand right now? I know my barber has been struggling with their shop closed down. I told him I’d pay him in advance for the next four cuts to help him get by a little easier. Who can you help? How can you lead?

Your story is being written every day. What will yours be?

By the way, be sure to check out our latest blog post for a few actionable ideas to navigate these times. Link in bio.

NWC Alliance founder, Treacy Duerfeldt is back for a second episode with Building Optimal to talk CORONAVIRUS and a few strategies to cope with it not just from a business and risk management standpoint, but from a mental health standpoint.

OSHA and the corresponding State charters have come out with initial COVID19 work Safety guidelines
Check out the graphic below:

Treacy is an insurance expert who runs NWC Alliance and also WISE Insure. He and Douglas Lynch also happen to be my company’s insurance providers and recurring sponsors for our show. So a special thank you to them for their support!

Listen to Building Optimal latest PODCAST here:
https://buildingoptimal.com/episodes/55-coronavirus-strategies-with-risk-expert-treacy-duerfeldt/

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