The Building Code

Episode 174: On this episode of “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are discussing how to find and hire top talent with Paul Sanneman, founder and president, and Ed Earl, chief operating officer, of Contractor Staffing Source. Paul and Ed are passionate about helping residential contractors find talented staff to grow their construction company. Their extensive knowledge and expertise have contributed to their company’s success as a leading recruiting service in the residential construction industry. Tune in to the full episode to hear more about what to look for when hiring team members and how to build a company culture that people want to be a part of.   Join “The Building Code” Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebuildingcodecrew/   Follow us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildertrend/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildertrend/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/buildertrend LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildertrend/

Episode 173: Today on “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are sitting down with Vengan Anandan, the director of financial services here at Buildertrend, to talk about the importance of lending options for construction businesses. Vengan has spent his entire career in the fintech space where he helped launch new fintech products at companies like American Express and Anheuser-Busch. Today, he’s working with our team to ensure a superior customer experience with enhanced financial tools and services. Tune in to the full episode to hear about lending options for both your business and your clients and why taking advantage of loans can actually be beneficial.   Join “The Building Code” Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebuildingcodecrew/   Follow us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildertrend/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildertrend/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/buildertrend LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildertrend/  

Episode 172: On this episode of “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are chatting with Josh Schaffer, owner of Rog & Wilco in Denver, Colorado. After growing up and working for his dad’s framing company, he swore he would never come back to it after he graduated college. He spent ten years in the United States Airforce as a pilot before eventually making his way back to construction. Josh and his wife flipped houses for three years before starting to design and build their own homes. Listen to the full episode to hear about how Buildertrend’s educational opportunities and training helped their team find success using construction management software.   When did you make the decision to expedite implementing Buildertrend into your processes? “We have 10, 12 projects going on. So, it got to a point over the summer where my project managers were just like, ‘We need a better process. There's got to be a better process.’ We had done a year of just trying to work our way through it until my senior project manager and I went to Buildertrend on the Road, hosted here in Denver. We learned about Onsite Consulting, and we were like, ‘Oh, this is exactly what we need.’ And it was so refreshing to really hear from her that, ‘Hey, this is what other builders do, and you guys aren't alone.’"   What did the Onsite Consulting process look like for you? “I want to say we did about six weeks of pre-work, and then it was the two days of Onsite Consulting. Then it extended past that for another three, four weeks. As we implemented the things we set in place during the onsite period, we had follow-up to say ‘Hey, how's this working? Do we need to pivot at all?’ So, I would say the whole thing was two months long. I was really impressed with the pre-work that was done and that we got all the hard work done. And when I say hard work, I mean really digging into how we do things. So, when Chloe was here in person, we had specific questions, and we weren't wasting anyone's time.”   LINKS AND MORE As home builders and residential remodelers begin to wonder what an impending economic downtown means for their business, one thing's for certain: the more prepared you are, the more resilient you'll be. Consider this your guide. We surveyed hundreds of home builders and spoke with economic experts for insights on where the industry stands now – and how you can be ready for whatever comes next. Read our recently published 2023 construction outlook to learn more.   Related content: Tune in to the last episode of “The Building Code” to hear about how Piper Stromatt started her career in construction, how other women paved the way and how she’s currently helping women break into the industry. Subscribe here, and never miss an episode. Got podcast topic suggestions? Reach out to us at podcast@buildertrend.com.   The Better Way, a podcast by Buildertrend: Looking to improve how you run your construction business? On the newest season of “The Better Way, a podcast by Buildertrend,” we’re exploring how our software calms complex processes and allows you to work simpler. Subscribe and stream today wherever you listen to podcasts.   Follow us on social: Instagram Facebook Listen to “The Building Code” on YouTube! And be sure to head over to Facebook to join The Building Code Crew fan page for some fun discussions with fellow listeners.

Today on “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are joined by returning guest, Piper Stromatt, director of interior design and partner at Boutique Living by Curate in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Piper grew up in the construction world and recalls being on job sites before she could even walk. The passion for the industry came to her at a young age and has remained with her over the years. Tune in to the full episode to the hear about her career in construction, how other women paved the way and how she’s currently helping women break into the industry.   Join “The Building Code” Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebuildingcodecrew/   Follow us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildertrend/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildertrend/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/buildertrend LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildertrend/  

On today’s episode of “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are live from IBS with Steven Sanders-Myers, general contractor at Brightwater Homes in Sandy Springs, Georgia. While waiting tables, Steven was offered a construction job after a simple handshake – and hasn't looked back. He then got his degree in construction management and joined the team at Brightwater Homes where he shares their passion for economical building. Listen to the full episode to hear more about Brightwater Homes’ sustainable building practices and how they’re implementing technology and group purchasing to ensure continued success.   Join “The Building Code” Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebuildingcodecrew/   Follow us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildertrend/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildertrend/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/buildertrend LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildertrend/  

Dan Houghton, CEO and co-founder of Buildertrend, shares insights from his 17-year journey in the construction software industry. He discusses the recent rebranding and emphasizes a customer-first mindset that drives product innovation. The conversation covers the evolution of project management tools into growth platforms, the impact of industry trends like home remodeling, and leadership philosophies that prioritize customer engagement. Houghton’s reflections highlight the importance of adapting to market challenges while focusing on quality and community.

Episode 167:   On today’s episode of “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are talking to Mark Boud, a real estate economist. Mark’s modeled forecasts and analytics are trusted by major builders, land developers and capital groups and financial institutions. He and his team conduct master planned residential market research throughout the nation.  Tune in to the full episode to hear more about the economic outlook for construction in 2023 and how to prepare your business.   How will the small to mid-sized builders benefit in the forecasted economic climate?   “What I've seen most recently is the advantage kind of shifting to smaller builders, and I like that. I love working with small- to medium-sized private builders. They tend to be a little bit more nimble and a little bit more sensitive to market trends. And I think that can translate to them having the ability to change more quickly during an inflection point where most public builders take some time to right that ship. A smaller builder can change pretty quickly. They still need research to do that. And the weakness that I see some of those smaller builders having is that they don't necessarily invest in research the way the big builders do. That's changing. I do a lot of presentations for CBUSA and of course Buildertrend. I've seen that change mainly because of entities like yourselves (Buildertrend) have enabled them to group together for educational purposes, for supply line purposes, for all kinds of advantages that those larger entities have had in the past. You kind of translate that to the smaller builder, which I think is really encouraging.”   What economic advantages are you seeing for smaller builders in terms of material supply?   “There might be a little bit of an advantage for those smaller, more nimble builders because a lot of those larger builders during the past 24 months in fear of losing supply entered into long-range, long-term contracts at the very peak of the market in order to control that supply. So, the smaller builders were left out of that and had a real hard time with all kinds of supply issues. However, that pendulum is now shifting with those larger builders stuck with those very high costly contracts and the smaller builders being able to move in and take advantage of what I think is going to be a correction in supply. I mean, we're already beginning to see that a little bit, but I think during the next six months, the smaller builders will be able to take advantage of that while the larger builders are still trying to calm down the supply pipeline that they currently have. To me, there's a potential advantage in there for the smaller builders, now that we're in the midst of this inflection point.”     LINKS AND MORE   Check out Harvard University’s Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity report.   Learn more about Boxabl’s accessory dwelling units. Related content: Listen to the last episode of “The Building Code” to hear more about the importance of managing your construction team with grace and how to prioritize giving back to your community. Subscribe here, and never miss an episode. Got podcast topic suggestions? Reach out to us at podcast@buildertrend.com. The Better Way, a podcast by Buildertrend: Looking to improve how your team plans projects with the top residential construction management platform this year? Pick up Buildertrend project planning pro tips on the newest season of “The Better Way, a podcast by Buildertrend.” Subscribe and stream all five bingeable episodes on your favorite listening app now. Follow us on social: Instagram Facebook Listen to “The Building Code” on YouTube! And be sure to head over to Facebook to join The Building Code Crew fan page for some fun discussions with fellow listeners.

The Building Code Ep 168   Today on “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are chatting with Heather Tankersley, co-owner and vice president of operations at Tankersley Construction in Sacramento, California. Before taking on a full-time role at the company, Heather managed complex electrical projects for some of the largest electrical contractors in the United States. Tune in to the full episode to hear more about how making connections in the construction industry promotes success and what to expect at the upcoming International Builders’ Show panel that Heather will be a part of.   Join “The Building Code” Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebuildingcodecrew/   Follow us on social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildertrend/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildertrend/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/buildertrend LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildertrend/  

Episode 166   Today on “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are talking to Joe Christensen, founder and owner of Cardinal Crest Homes in Kansas City, Missouri. Joe got an early start in construction by working on his family farm. He then earned a degree in construction management and a minor in business management from Brigham Young University. Today, Joe works closely with clients to make their dream homes a reality. Tune in to the full episode to hear more about the importance of managing your construction team with grace and how to prioritize giving back to your community.   How do you promote positivity with your construction team? “If you can't find satisfaction in your job, you're going to quit. You're going to move on. And I've seen that happen in our industry right now. Jobs are delayed, they're over budget and they're really difficult to get done. And if your boss is also yelling at you, why would you stay? I know we're passionate about construction, but you've got to find the silver lining. So, we try really hard to celebrate the small wins and try to not sweat the small stuff and move on. Correct it, but be like, ‘Okay, it's time to move on.’ We try to have a lot of fun. And during closing days or the day after closings, we like to have lunches together. We take the team to lunch. I think it's important.”   What community work does your team do to bring them together? “We just did a charity event called Rebuilding Together. And they have a day where we're assigned a couple homes. They have a day or a couple weekends where you go, and you might be adding ADA ramps, doing new flooring, fixing up these people's homes because they can't do it themselves or can't afford to do it. And we want to make it something we do every year. Because it's something we do already. We know how to build. And it’s nice to be able to rub shoulders with each other while we're helping out. It's such a big team building exercise.”     LINKS AND MORE Related content: Read their case study to see how Cardinal Crest Homes uses Buildertrend’s construction management software to promote efficiency and build more than a dozen Kansas City custom homes per year, totaling upwards of $20 million. Listen to the last episode of “The Building Code” to hear more about what it takes to be a successful project manager and how building relationships is a key component. Subscribe here, and never miss an episode. Got podcast topic suggestions? Reach out to us at podcast@buildertrend.com. The Better Way, a podcast by Buildertrend: Looking to improve how your team plans projects with the top residential construction management platform this year? Pick up Buildertrend project planning pro tips on the newest season of “The Better Way, a podcast by Buildertrend.” Subscribe and stream all five bingeable episodes on your favorite listening app now. Follow us on social: Instagram Facebook Listen to “The Building Code” on YouTube! And be sure to head over to Facebook to join The Building Code Crew fan page for some fun discussions with fellow listeners.

Episode 165: On today’s episode of “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are talking to Tom Henning, director of construction management at Westminster Canterbury Richmond. Tom has an extensive career in the industry that started when he was in college. After graduating with in field engineering, he worked for several companies managing projects and even owned his own construction company for over five years. Tune in to the full episode to hear more about what it takes to be a successful project manager and how building relationships is a key component.   What is one thing you’ve learned after so many years in project management? “What I've learned with all my wisdom is that you should be humble enough to say, ‘Look, I'm not the smartest guy in the room.’ And that's what you find as you get older. You don't want to be the smartest guy in the room. I want the smart guys doing the work. You know what I'm trying to say? What I want people to look at me as being smart for is I get the right guys doing the work. That's where you're smart. I think that only comes with experience, and it also comes with just good people skills and working well with folks.”   How has Buildertrend helped manage so many renovations at the same time? “I have a schedule on Buildertrend, so I actually use Buildertrend. I actually have a Westminster Canterbury renovation tab job that everybody has access to, and you pop that open and it has a schedule in there of all my bids, when they're due, and what apartments they are, and what time the pre bids are. Going to Buildertrend University though I learned, not only can I do that, but I can actually have them put the bids in. I truly believe it's the Buildertrend organization pieces that I'm using, that helps my guys just stay dialed in. The schedule feature alone is phenomenal. You just pop guys, when you update stuff and they're tied into the schedule. The plumber gets an update that, hey, we didn't pass an inspection, so you're going to have to come back tomorrow. It's not going to get done today, or whatever it might be. It's phenomenal.”     LINKS AND MORE Related content: Listen to the last episode of “The Building Code” to hear more about what it’s like starting a remodeling business in a booming construction industry and how tech is making it possible to achieve a work-life balance. Subscribe here, and never miss an episode. Got podcast topic suggestions? Reach out to us at podcast@buildertrend.com.   The Better Way, a podcast by Buildertrend: Looking to improve how your team plans projects with the top residential construction management platform this year? Pick up Buildertrend project planning pro tips on the newest season of “The Better Way, a podcast by Buildertrend.” Subscribe and stream all five bingeable episodes on your favorite listening app now. Follow us on social: Instagram Facebook Listen to “The Building Code” on YouTube! And be sure to head over to Facebook to join The Building Code Crew fan page for some fun discussions with fellow listeners.