Shows
The Construction Leading Edge PodcastCritical Pitfalls Every Home Builder Needs to Avoid w/ Brad HaubertEPISODE 354: Are you tired of constantly putting out fires in your construction business? Does it feel like you’re always one step behind? In this episode of the Construction Leading Edge podcast, I sit down with Brad Haubert, a home building industry expert since 1993. Brad takes us through his journey from running a family-owned home building business to consulting for builders across North America. His mission? To help builders avoid costly mistakes that can lead to business failure. We’ll explore the crucial role of pre-construction planning, why having systems and processes in place...2024-09-2358 minThe Construction Leading Edge PodcastCritical Pitfalls Every Home Builder Needs to Avoid w/ Brad HaubertEPISODE 354: Are you tired of constantly putting out fires in your construction business? Does it feel like you’re always one step behind? In this episode of the Construction Leading Edge podcast, I sit down with Brad Haubert, a home building industry expert since 1993. Brad takes us through his journey from running a family-owned home building business to consulting for builders across North America. His mission? To help builders avoid costly mistakes that can lead to business failure. We’ll explore the crucial role of pre-construction planning, why having systems and processes in place...2024-09-2358 min
Sticks and Bricks PodcastScott Sedam - 10 Ways to Beat the Material ShortageIn this last audio re-shares from this past year's International Builders Show Livestreams, I am honored to bring you the discussion I had with industry Titan, Scott Sedam, on how to beat the material shortage that builders everywhere are facing. It was the first time I had a studio audience, too! Enjoy!!2022-03-2030 minSticks and Bricks PodcastHeidi Schroeder - Don't Stop Talking To Your Customers After They Buy From You!In this episode, Heidi Schroeder - Senior Consultant with Lasso CRM - furthers the discussion about talking to your clients. Specifically, we talk about how builders often are good at speaking with their prospects until they sell them a house. Then - all of that managed conversation just stops, and the Home Builders goes into "build mode." Listen in and learn why you shouldn't.2022-03-1315 minSticks and Bricks PodcastJen Barkan - Is It Time to Manage Your Leads?In this episode, I share the audio from the live podcast episode I did with Jen Barkan (Do You Convert) where we discuss how an Online Sales Counselor (and/or process) is so important for home builders off all sizes. Think you're too small? Think again!2022-02-2629 minSticks and Bricks PodcastKen Pinto: Why Breaking Out Material Labor/Parts is so Important PLUS Why You Should Care About Your Trades' BusinessesIn this replay of one of the Livestream events done during the 2022 International Builders Show in Orlando, FL (from high atop the ECI Software Solutions booth). Listen in and enjoy as Ken talks about the importance of improving margins by putting more detail into your purchasing - and - as a bonus, we talk about how Home Builders who take the time to help their Trades run their businesses see a great Return on Investment that they may not necessarily realize.
Enjoy!2022-02-1936 min
The Ben Beard ShowThe Ben Beard Show Season 3 Episode 05 - Brad HaubertThis month, we feature Brad Haubert, Senior Consultant with MarkSystems. Ben interviews Brad to learn more about his experience in the home building industry, his impressions on how the industry has changed, and get his advice on what builders need to look for in a new system.You can find Brad HaubertLinkedInInstagramTwitterFollow Red Cliff HomesWebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedInYoutube2022-02-1841 minSticks and Bricks PodcastSEASON 2 - Introduction to a New Season/Hear My Story!I'm back - finally! After taking a year or so off to re-assess what I wanted this podcast to be, the time has come to get things started again. I get a little more personal in this episode - sharing my personal journey in this industry so you get to know more about who I am, what I've been through, and why I'm making this podcast.
I also give you a sense of what this season is all about. In short, this season is tailored to focus on those home building businesses who are "getting it done" - B...2022-01-2924 min
Sticks and Bricks Podcast#32: Matt Hobbs - Are Third Party Warranty Companies Just Sales Gimmicks?Hey, folks. This week we’re going to be talking about that necessary evil that all builders face – home warranties. And, let’s face it, warranty claims are no fun. If you don’t keep a close tab on them, they can quickly spiral out of control – and – often, builders use their own administrative staff to handle the warranty calls that come in.
Although that may seem practical on your wallet, it can often cost you more than you think.
You really want to think about warranty as something more than just a cost of doing busine...2020-11-2236 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#31: Scott Sedam - PART TWO: 10 Lessons From Last Downturn vs. COVID-19 SituationAs I bring my first season of the Sticks and Bricks Podcast, I am so excited to continue the conversation I started last week with Scott Sedam of True North Consulting - a well-known and often-published thought leader in the Home Building Industry.
In this second part of our interview, we continue to discuss an article that he wrote in October of last year that reviewed 10 Lessons Learned from the last downturn – and – we see if and/or how those 10 Lessons relate to the current COVID-19 situation.2020-05-0934 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#30: Scott Sedam: PART ONE - 10 Lessons From Last Downturn vs. COVID-19 SituationAs I get ready to wrap up my first season of the Sticks and Bricks Podcast, I am so excited to offer a two-part interview series with a well-known thought leader in the Home Building Industry. For as long as I can remember, I always gravitated to the writing and wisdom of Scott Sedam in the articles he wrote in Professional Builder and other industry publications.
Scott is the owner of True North Consulting – and – he’s been helping home builders improve operations for such a long time. I held on to an article that he wrote in Oct...2020-05-0238 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#29: Handling Warranty While Working RemotelyThis week, I’m offering up a recording from a Webinar-type program I hosted from my day job at ECI Solutions. In this time of working remotely, home builders everywhere are just trying to figure out how to do those things that were so simple before.
So, we organized some talks – called MarkChats – with home builders all across North America to share concerns and ideas on how they’re dealing with very real things that happen every single day in their businesses. And I thought it would be good to share these recordings with my listeners, too.
Th...2020-04-2656 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#28: Melanie Deziel of StoryFuel - 10 Content Ideas You Can Use Right Now!I just love reading books about business and marketing. And – every once in a while, I come across a book that I just love so much, I want others to know about it. One of my latest favorite books is The Content Fuel Framework by Melanie Deziel.
Why I love this book is that it’s a really more of an active tool than it is something to read. Too often, business books are good on theory – but – they lack any practical use. This book is so practical that Melanie gives you an easy tool that you can use...2020-04-1844 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#27: Tim Bailey with Avid Ratings - Key Times (and Questions) to Ask Your Home Building CustomersThis week, I invited Tim Bailey, Chief Strategy Officer for Avid Ratings, to come on and talk about how you can use information from your customers to improve your business and your marketing.
Avid Ratings really is THE name in home building surveys, and I couldn’t think of a better person to share ideas on the best times – and questions – to ask customers in their home building journey.
And – even though I’m typically the one asking the questions – Tim’s a mastermind of finding information. So, I’m embarrassed to say he used his skills and g...2020-04-1143 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#26: Ron Williams of Hoodle.com - Is This The Next Big Thing in New Home Search?This week, I explore Hoodle.com – a search site (and more) for new construction that started in Central Illinois and is quickly popping up in markets all across the United States. Ron Williams, the Founder and CEO of Hoodle.com, takes a bit of time to talk about how this site came to be by solving a problem that he could solve – and – where the site is headed.
We all know and understand that online search is so important. In these days – when people are being required to stay at home for a month or so – that online sea...2020-04-0434 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#25: Building Remotely - Keeping It All Together (Even When Your Team Isn't)!This week, I’m doing something a little different than my typical episode. While this podcast is my personal podcast, many know that my day job is with ECI Solutions – specifically with MarkSystems, a home building ERP software.
This past week, for that day job, I hosted a Webinar about Building Remotely – a topic that is on everyone’s mind right now with the coronavirus forcing us all to rethink our operations and making us figure out how to work with a remote workforce.
It was so well received that I thought it would be great to...2020-03-281h 08Sticks and Bricks Podcast#24: Mike Helsel - Is Outsourcing Your Vehicles Worth It?Have you ever been called on by a representative from a Fleet Management Company – who wants to come in and talk to you about the possibility of outsourcing your business’s vehicles? I know how it goes – the call comes in while putting out the normal daily fires, and – to that representative’s chagrin – you end up turning down the meeting.
That Fleet Management Rep is persistent, though. After several contacts, you finally agree to meet him or her. Quite honestly, sometimes that meeting comes in the midst of those daily fires, and you don’t really get a chance t...2020-03-2120 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#23: Bob "R.J." Fisher - Use Technology to Save Money Exploring Land DevelopmentIf you’ve ever developed ground for a new community – OR – you’re thinking of jumping into the land development game, this is going to be an interesting episode for you. I speak with Bob “R.J.” Fisher of R.J. Fisher Engineering to explore the complicated (but exciting) process of using newer technology to explore the feasibility of land development.
AND – because our discussion includes a look at how quickly the software can layout a development on top of a piece of raw ground – I thought this was the perfect podcast to include video along with audio.
...2020-03-1534 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#22: Paul Cardis - Put The Customer First in These 5 Key InteractionsWe’re continuing to look at the Customer Experience that home builders want to deliver to their customers. We explored the sales process last week. This week, I wanted to talk a little more about what happens from the time a customer signs the Agreement of Sale right through the warranty period.
And I was so excited to land a guest who has experience monitoring those customer experiences over the years. Paul Cardis was the original founder of Avid Ratings – the leader in home building surveys and data gathering. Last year, Paul started a brand new company, The...2020-03-0746 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#21: Paul Gortzig - Looking at Your Company's Processes Through Your Customers' EyesHome builders everywhere believe the processes they perform every day have been honed and perfected after years of experience. Many of those home builders think their way is the best way, and they believe that all their home buyers fully understand and appreciate how the whole process unfolds.
But do their home buyers really appreciate – and even like – the process?
That’s what today’s episode is all about. Paul Gortzig of the Bokka Group joins me to talk about taking a hard look at your home buying process through the eyes of the buyer. That can...2020-03-0144 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#20: StoryBrand's J.J. Peterson: Stop Telling Your Customers You're a Home Builder! Tell a Story Instead.I am just over-the-moon for this week’s episode. I’ve been a Super Fan of the StoryBrand company since I first found the book, Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller. It’s an extremely practical book that you can read and immediately start using in your business.
After finding that book, I also found the StoryBrand Podcast that has both Donald Miller and today’s guest Dr. J.J. Peterson as co-hosts. It’s a fantastic podcast that you should also check out.
J.J. is a lot of fun – and – he truly is passionate abo...2020-02-2239 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#19: Jerry Leach: Is There Still Value in a Builders Association?Looking at the calendar, it’s that time of year again. All across the country, Home Shows and other events to get people excited about building a new home start to happen. And many of those events are organized and run by Builders Associations.
Seeing the early promotion of our local show got me to thinking about our local Home Builders Association and the times I spent attending events and even serving on the Board in the past. When I was involved, the Board often spoke about retaining and growing the membership. That’s nothing new. Associations ever...2020-02-1634 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#18: Greg Bray: Find the Perfect Digital Marketing Agency For Your Business!It’s Valentine’s Day week as this episode goes live – so I thought it only fitting that I bring to you an episode on finding the perfect match with no need to swipe left or right – well, at least when it comes to your business looking for the right digital marketing agency!
I talk to Greg Bray, President of Blue Tangerine, a Digital Marketing Agency who focuses on creating digital marketing solutions for home builders all over the place. We talk about what you should look for (and expect) when you’ve decided that it’s time to get...2020-02-0942 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#17: Flora Posteraro - When the Media Come A-Knockin'Have you ever watched the local news station when you saw that group of journalists who ask customers who feel they’ve been wronged to contact them. You know the one…..the journalists have that serious look on their face……arms are crossed as they stare into the camera…..and, for some reason, have to walk dramatically slow?
It’s the type of news team that strikes fear into the heart of any home builder. You see the end result when there IS an actual story – and – the reporter marches up to the front door (or greets the home builder as he/she are ge...2020-02-0227 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#16: Sam Sparks - Save Money, Time and Your Reputation with This Simple Clause!Have you ever had a customer who was quick to say “I’m calling my lawyer!!” I think we’ve all had at least one. Since lawyers have been able to freely advertise their litigation services, this has become even more prevalent.
So, this week, I wanted to explore avenues that you can follow so you’ll have the best way to respond if/when you get the next customer who wants to drag you into the legal arena over a dispute in your home building project.
Sam Sparks, a home building veteran who has served as...2020-01-2648 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#15: Jeff Rutt - Build One House. Impact Thousands! How One Home Builder Uses His Business to Fight Poverty Worldwide!This week, I wanted to introduce you to a home builder who has taken charitable giving to a whole new level. And he’s done it in a way that allows him to pretty much run “business as usual” while impacting thousands all across the world.
Jeff Rutt is the Owner and CEO of Keystone Custom Homes in Lancaster, Pennsylvania who builds several hundred homes each year. Back in the late 90’s – after connecting with a sister church across the ocean – Jeff was called to find a way to help individuals in underdeveloped countries who were struggling with poverty...2020-01-1926 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#14: Dr. Carrie Delone - Fighting Drug Use On Your Jobs (and Across the State/Country)This week, I’m giving you the second part of a two-part series on an issue that builders everywhere face – and that’s drugs on the jobsite. If you don’t think it’s happening on your jobsites, think again!
I had a very personal experience with this when I had a Trade Partner who was working in my house when I received a call from the girlfriend of one the employees – telling me that her boyfriend was addicted to heroin. With two young children in my house at the time, I was faced with a dilemma on what exac...2020-01-1237 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#13: Keith Graves - Retired Cop/International Drug Trainer Talks Tips for Dealing With Drugs On Your JobsitesThis week, I’m giving you the first of a two-part series on an issue that builders everywhere face – and that’s drugs on the jobsite. If you don’t think it’s happening on your jobsites, think again!
I had a very personal experience with this when I had a Trade Partner who was working in my house when I received a call from the girlfriend of one the employees – telling me that her boyfriend was addicted to heroin. With two young children in my house at the time, I was faced with a dilemma on what exactly to do.
Although...2020-01-0634 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#12: Kerry Mulcrone - Good Customer Service is Not A DepartmentTo end out the year, I wanted to share an interview I did with award-winning sales educator, mentor, motivator and speaker - Kerry Mulcrone- during a Webinar for ECI Software Solutions' homebuilding management ERP, MarkSystems (my day job).
If you'd like to see the video version of this, CLICK HERE.
To find out more about Kerry Mulcrone and her services, her website is: KerryandCo.com
And - if you'd like to learn more about MarkSystems - here is the link that will get you more information: https://www.ecisolutions.com/home-builders-land-developers
Ha...2019-12-291h 01Sticks and Bricks Podcast#11: Todd Hallett - The "Win-Win" of Lean Home DesignThis week, I wanted to dive into the topic of Lean Home Design, and I was able to snag Todd Hallett – the Muddy Shoe Architect himself from TK Home Design – as my guest. I’m a huge fan of Todd and the plans his company puts out to the industry.
You may have seen his work in Builder magazine. He’s often one of the architects who shows how simple re-designs of existing plans can result in a more-efficient and better-looking house.
To some, Lean Design can be misconstrued to mean “cheapening up your product” – or – “building...2019-12-1633 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#10: John Sattler - Find The Ideal Home Building PositionI’m excited – and, admittedly nervous – about this week’s episode, because it really dredges up some old memories of mine that weren’t so pleasant.
In early 2017, I found myself at a critical and unpleasant time in my home building career. Never fully recovering from the great housing recession, we decided to close the doors to our home building businesses.
It was a dark time for me, personally. And I found myself trying to figure out what I was going to do next in my life. One of my wife’s friends gave me the name of...2019-12-0945 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#9: Alan Sladek - Working With Family....When You're Not FamilyThis week’s episode hits close to home for me. My home building career existed inside a family business – of which I was one of the family. So, I wanted to explore what it’s like to be a NON-Family member in a family-owned home building business.
Fortunately, I was able to snag Alan Sladek of Sandlin Homes in the Dallas, Texas area. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and Alan has a big job. He’s the Chief Operating Officer for not just one family home building business – but – a collection of entities owned by different fa...2019-12-0226 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#8: Paul Hanson - Is a Home Building Franchise Right For Your Business?I’m excited to have Paul Hanson, President of Epcon Franchising, as my guest to discuss how buying into a home building franchise can benefit your home building company. I had often seen the advertisements for Epcon in the major trade magazines, but I never reached out to explore if this could have worked for our business. After our discussion, I really wish I had – at the very least – took a peek at what they had to offer.
Paul explains the advantages of franchising for home builders in all markets – and – how using their plans and their repeatable...2019-11-1824 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#7: Kelly Bosetti - Improving Operations Through the Use of a Digital StrategyToday, I’ve invited Kelly Bosetti to join me to talk about creating a digital marketing strategy for your home building business. Kelly is the President of CEA Marketing – a multi-year award-winning digital marketing agency – and I couldn’t be more excited to have her as a guest!
What is really interesting about our conversation is that we discuss how the process of designing this digital marketing strategy actually is BIGGER than just marketing. It oozes through your entire organization and can really set you on a path to be a better home builder.
If you want...2019-11-1151 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#6: Nicole Landau - Risks of Running a Lean Accounting StaffToday, I’m sharing my conversation with Nicole Landau – owner of Landau Consulting Services – who helps home builders and construction companies with their accounting needs. And – since she’s also a Certified Fraud Expert – you’ll want to listen closely.
We discuss how so many home builders want to run their businesses as lean as possible. Naturally, that often leads to keeping key parts of the business staffed with only one or two people. And – those very small staffs often wear many hats and their duties cross over into other parts of the business.
It makes sense that...2019-11-0433 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#5: Jason Minick - Lessons Learned From Building For a FriendIf you've ever done business with a friend - even a best friend - you probably did things a little differently than you did for your typical customer. And - if your friendship is strong enough - that friend will provide honest and straightforward feedback to you.
I've been fortunate enough to have been best friends with Jason Minick for 35 years. A few years back, he became my customer when I built a new home for him and his wife. In this episode, we take the time to discuss the situations that came up when we did bus...2019-10-2840 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#4: Daniel Levitan - Recession-Proof Your Home Building BusinessFor today’s episode, I sit down with Dan Levitan – a home building consultant who’s been in the industry for a few decades now – to talk about ways home builders can weather the storm of the next slowdown – whenever that may be.
Dan shares 10 Steps that Home Builders should be taking NOW to recession-proof their company.
Dan’s steps are practical and easy to follow. You just need to take the time out of your busy schedule to take those steps so that your company can be ready to go if and when that next downturn2019-10-2241 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#3: Chris Hartley - Surviving a MergerEver find yourself wondering what it's like to go through a merger or acquisition? Or, maybe you're going through one right now.
In this episode, I have the opportunity to hear firsthand from Chris Hartley who is a leader for a Texas home builder that recently went through an acquisition by a leading national home builder.
We discuss how roles have changed - and - how the news was relayed to employees and customers about the transition. And Chris gives tips on anyone else who may be thinking about - or going through - a mer...2019-10-1535 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#2: Anya Chrisanthon - Beat the Resales!Your new homes are in constant competition with resale homes. And, when you rely on independent Realtors to bring you sales, you need to face the fact that you're competing with faster close times (and faster commission payments).
To win that business from the resale homes, you need to win over the Realtors.
In this episode, I talk with Anya Chrisanthon - who spent years on a builder's payroll before transitioning over to a full-time independent Realtor (among MANY other notable endeavors - just one of them being her own awesome podcast, New Construction Marketing Podcast).
Because of her experience, you...2019-10-0836 minSticks and Bricks Podcast#1: Damon Comerio - Deciding to Go "All In" with Social MediaEver wonder if social media really is worth the effort for your business? Tried a few posts only to get discouraged because the only people who interacted were your mother or other co-workers on your team? Think you're too small to make an impact?
Then this episode is for you! Listen in as I interview home builder/remodel professional, Damon Comerio of the Kansas City area about his recent dive into social media as a way to get exposure for his company.
In this episode, you will learn:
The ONE thing Damon did to make him stay committed to posting con...2019-10-0130 minSticks and Bricks PodcastSticks and Bricks Podcast: What It's All About!Thank you so much for checking out my podcast!
This is a quick recording to give you an idea of what to expect if you subscribe to this podcast - and - who I am. 2019-09-2302 min