The Building Code

New heights in home accessibility with Pete Newstrom

Advances in technology, foresight in construction, and Americans’ growing desire to age in place have expanded the installation of home elevators and stairlifts in the U.S. And Arrow Lift, with its 13 locations nationwide, has been a leader in this accessibility transformation.

On today’s episode of “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley learn all about home accessibility from Pete Newstrom, Arrow Lift’s vice president of finance and accounting.

Plus, Pete shares how Arrow Lift has reaped the rewards of Buildertrend as a subcontractor.

 

EARLY ON, YOUR CLIENTELE NEEDED ELEVATORS AND LIFTS DUE TO LIFE CHANGES OR DESIRED LUXURY. WHAT’S CHANGED?

“Now it is much more common for folks to plan ahead, and a lot of times they are putting the elevator in before it is physically looked at as a need, or if that is not in the budget, they might just stack closets in advance so that however many years in the future, when an elevator is in the budget or is needed, it is that much easier to add to the home.”

 

HOW HAS BUILDERTREND BENEFITED YOUR TEAM’S WORK AS A SUBCONTRACTOR?

 

“One reason that we like Buildertrend is that those jobs tend to go relatively smoothly. It might be because the type of builder that uses Buildertrend is the type of builder that really is deliberate with open communication with their clients and subcontractors, or it might be because of the added benefit that Buildertrend provides with communicating with subcontractors like us. But in any event, it does seem to help things go smoothly.”

 

LINKS AND MORE

Related content:

Explore the elegant elevator offerings of Arrow Lift that have Charley raving.

 

Are you a subcontractor curious about Buildertrend? Learn more about how our platform can enhance your relationships with general contractors.

“The Better Way” a podcast by Buildertrend:

Improve how you use the world’s No. 1 construction management software. Subscribe and stream all four seasons on your favorite listening app now.

Follow us on social:

Instagram and Facebook:

@Buildertrend

 

We want to hear from you! Reach out to us at podcast@buildertrend.com.

 

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.

 

Building customer relationships to last with Paul Ledet

Chris Ledet Homes has thrived in southeast Louisiana despite the ups and downs of the building economy and routine setbacks from hurricanes. A secret to their longevity? Customer service that connects with the homeowner and extends well behind move-in.

On today’s episode of “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley talk to owner Paul Ledet about what it takes to create customer relationships that withstand the stresses of construction.

Ledet also shares his thoughts on taking over his father’s business, navigating new tech and the personal touch of customer relations, and the hardest part about building in a hurricane hotspot.

 

WHAT ASPECT OF THE BUILDER-HOMEOWNER RELATIONSHIP DO YOU FEEL BUILDERS STRUGGLE WITH?

“I find that the more transparent you are with having your selections or allowances open and available, and my vendors are uploading quotes that they can view, I mean, that goes a long way for an owner to be able to see a flooring selection, to be able to click through there, and they can see, basically, exactly the labor amount, the flooring amount, the square footage, the labor rate, the flooring rate. And they just give them a better sense of trust, I suppose. I know not everybody does that and that may be a weird concept for some builders, but when you open that door to have that trust and communication, I find that the jobs, generally, go a lot smoother.”

 

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC COMPLICATED CUSTOMER RELATIONS?

“The last two years have been pretty weird with COVID. Lots of loose ends that are way more loose ends than normal, things taking lead times, are taking forever and you try to move them in without appliances and stuff. Managing their expectations is the key, but even then, we're trying to manage them and we're wrong several times because we rely on information, too, but really just trying to manage their expectations and trying to set deadlines, but not, ‘Hey, look, we're trying to commit to this two weeks, but we want it to be finished before you move in.’ That was a real tough one for us.”

 

LINKS AND MORE

Related content:

Download Buildertrend’s guide to maintaining strong relationships during a custom build.

 

Enjoy hearing Paul’s take on building? Listen to his podcast “The Wasted Hour” on any major streaming platform.

 

“The Better Way” a podcast by Buildertrend:

Improve how you use the world’s No. 1 construction management software. Subscribe and stream all four seasons on your favorite listening app now.

 

Follow us on social:

Instagram and Facebook:

@Buildertrend

 

We want to hear from you! Reach out to us at podcast@buildertrend.com.

 

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.

 

Capitalizing on the outdoor contractor off-season with Corey Halstead

Slammed by surging demand, pool builders and other outdoor contractors head into an off-season as busy as ever. So how should they seize that downtime to set up their 2022 season for success?

Today on “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley uncover how outdoor contractors can optimize their marketing and sales processes in the off-season with Corey Halstead, co-owner of Halstead Media.

Corey helps outdoor contractors increase their sales and has worked in all facets of the industry, including on an installation team, as a project manager, in design/sales, and for an industry product manufacturer.

He shares his insight on how to capitalize on the off-season building break, offers strategies to improve your business’ marketing game, and analyzes how building in the pandemic may change how outdoor contractors think about their goals.

 

LINKS AND MORE

Related content:

See how you can stay financially competitive with tips from Russ Stephens on a recent episode of “The Building Code.”

Busy as ever? See why Halstead Media believes you shouldn’t let up on marketing your business.

Want tools and tips to improve your marketing and sales process? Check out the latest season of the “The Better Way” a podcast by Buildertrend. Subscribe and stream this bingeable series on your favorite listening app now.

 

Follow us on social:

Instagram and Facebook:

@Buildertrend

We want to hear from you! Reach out to us at podcast@buildertrend.com.

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.

 

Contractors and subs: Working better together with Jesse Kath

How can general contractors and their subs streamline back-and-forth communication and share ever-changing schedule and vital project details easily?

Today on “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley learned how construction software like Buildertrend has helped general contractors better collaborate with their subcontractors from a Minnesota builder who’s worked in both roles.

Jesse Kath, founder of Jkath Design Build + Reinvent, got his start in construction building cabinets and now runs a boutique remodeling firm.

Listen to the full episode to hear Jesse’s insight on how builders win with construction management software and how and when to implement change in an industry slow to adapt tech.

 

Staying financially fit in residential construction with Russ Stephens

Today on “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley discuss how builders can remain competitive in a turbulent construction environment with Russ Stephens, cofounder of the Association of Professional Builders. The Australia-based organization helps construction company leaders maximize their profitability through training and consulting to ultimately make the home-building process a world-class experience for consumers and contractors.

Listen to the full episode to hear Russ’ advice for builders looking to bolster their business amid the trials of a construction boom and the best ways to ensure profitability and ultimately, viability.

 

Our powerful partnership with The Home Depot featuring Frank Blake

Today on “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley explore Buildertrend’s exciting, new partnership with The Home Depot that will simplify product and expense management for builders. Frank Blake, The Home Depot’s general manager for outside sales, joins the podcast to highlight the exciting aspects of integrating Buildertrend with Pro Xtra, the leading home improvement retailer’s loyalty program for construction pros.

Tune in to the full episode to hear Frank’s insights on how this partnership will help builders better their businesses, what values drive both companies and more.

Learning from builders to better Buildertrend with Catie Brown

On this episode of “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are chatting with Catie Brown, a user researcher on the Data and Research team here at Buildertrend. Catie is an expert in collecting and analyzing customer feedback to determine areas of strength and where we can get better.

Tune in to the full episode to learn more about why we call ourselves a user-centric company and why we collect customer feedback on a daily basis. Hear about how we use this research to inform our important decisions and the improvements we make within the Buildertrend platform.

Building for the extreme: Earthquakes with Bill Gray | Episode 124

Today on “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are learning all about what it takes to create homes that can withstand the extreme impacts of earthquakes in New Zealand. They’re joined by Bill Gray, expert builder at LMC Building and Construction, to hear about his personal experiences as well as the strict standards for building in a known earthquake zone.

Tune in to the full episode to hear Bill’s insight on what it really means to build earthquake-proof homes. It’s not just about preventing houses from falling apart. It’s about saving lives.

Establishing processes to take on more projects with Marge Haley | Episode123

On this episode of “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are chatting with returning guest, Marge Haley, a development coordinator here at Buildertrend. Marge is an expert on the inner workings and processes that make up our construction project management software.

 

Listen to the full episode to hear Marge’s insights about setting your team up for success with the Buildertrend onboarding process and how to maximize and save time on the job.

Survive or thrive: The reality of using group purchasing with Ryan Lipcheck | Episode 122

Today on “The Building Code,” Zach and Charley are joined by Ryan Lipcheck, vice president of sales at CBUSA, to talk about group purchasing and why it’s becoming more of a necessity with the growing material costs and shortages of the post COVID-19 environment.

Check out the full episode to hear Ryan’s view on the best ways to run purchasing departments and the outlook for construction pros who aren’t taking advantage of group buying power.