APB Now

By Association of Professional BuildersBusiness

APB Now episodes

May 23, 2024135. Leveraging Partnerships With Adrian Ramsay
Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Adrian Ramsay, a seasoned professional in the field of architectural and building design. Throughout this episode, Adrian delves into the nuanced relationships between builders and designers, offering practical advice for builders looking to establish meaningful design partnerships.

INSIDE EPISODE 135 YOU WILL DISCOVER
The biggest difference between architects and designers

Key insights to consider when choosing a design partner

The role of social media and networking

Navigating the complexity of design partnerships

And much, much more.

ABOUT ADRIAN RAMSAY

Adrian Ramsay is the director of Adrian Ramsay Design House, which specialises in designing to the style of the client. Discovering your personal style, and understanding your lifestyle to bring together your wants and needs into your dream home. Working with luxury new homes and renovations, Adrian goes beyond meeting client expectations, he helps you create them!

Connect with Adrian: linkedin.com/in/adrian-ramsay-6197a73/

TIMELINE
1:15 Adrian's experience in the building industry

7:31 How Adrian fits into the industry

15:32 What Adrian looks for in a builder

21:06 The benefits for builders working with Adrian

23:55 How to build relationships with designers

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders
45 min
May 16, 2024134. How To Focus With Russ, Dani and Andy
Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with co-founder of APB Russ Stephens, APB’s Head Coach Andy Skarda and APB’s Head of Sales Dani Sady. Together, they delve into the critical topic of maintaining focus in your building company, highlighting the challenges builders face and the strategies to overcome them.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Buildern, a comprehensive all-in-one solution designed to make every step of the construction process as smooth as possible, clicking on the link below to learn more:buildern.com

INSIDE EPISODE 134 YOU WILL DISCOVER
The impact of a leader’s focus on the motivation of the entire team

Practical strategies for regaining and maintaining focus

The importance of strategic delegation

Long-term consequences of losing focus

And much, much more.

ABOUT RUSS STEPHENS

Co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, Russ is a data analysis expert who has introduced data-driven decision making to the residential construction industry. Russ is also a proud member of the Forbes Business Development Council.

Connect with Russ: linkedin.com/in/russstephens

ABOUT DANI SADY

Dani Sady is Head of Sales at the Association of Professional Builders. She has a demonstrated history of working in both wholesale and retail across a variety of industries. Dani is skilled in negotiation, business planning, customer service, sales and team leading.

Connect with Dani: linkedin.com/in/danielle-sady-267261ba/

ABOUT ANDY SKARDA

Head Coach at the Association of Professional Builders, Andy specialises in helping business owners in the building industry identify and implement the skills and systems they need to be successful, without needing to go back to school. Or more importantly, without going bust.

Connect with Andy: linkedin.com/in/andy-skarda-92a6875/

TIMELINE
1:08 Importance of planning to maintain focus

3:28 The impact of a leader’s focus on team productivity

5:01 Builders’ common complaint: not having enough time

16:29 Long-term consequences of losing focus for builders

20:48 The builders that think they can do it all

36:22 The critical role of a business plan in enhancing focus and efficiency

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders
51 min
May 09, 2024133. The Pricing Masterclass With Richard Armstrong
Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Richard Armstrong from Procalc. In this episode, Richard dives deep into the nuances of construction pricing, sharing insights from his extensive experience in the industry and the innovative solutions Procalc offers.

INSIDE EPISODE 133 YOU WILL DISCOVER
The limitations and risks of traditional pricing methods.

How technology can simplify and improve accuracy in construction estimating

The importance of a reliable cost validation tool in early client interactions

Strategies for managing client expectations and improving communication about costs

And much, much more.

Listen to the full episode to find out the impact a discovery process can have for your building company.

ABOUT RICHARD ARMSTRONG

Richard is the founding director at ProCalc, the builder's price guide. ProCalc informs opportunities for architects, designers, builders, developers and their clients. Drawing from real builders' pricing, Richard developed ProCalc into an online tool for professionals that delivers faster and more reliable price guides to support you through early concept design & feasibility.

Connect with Richard: .linkedin.com/in/richard-armstrong000/

TIMELINE
1:27 Introduction to Procalc and its purpose

6:41 How Procalc offers pricing range for early client interactions

16:29 The impact of pricing inaccuracies on builders' businesses and personal lives

24:09 Building trust with clients through initial small projects

32:02 Benefits of Procalc's market reflective pricing accuracy

34:19 How builders can charge for their expertise like professionals in other fields

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders
34 min
May 02, 2024132. Building Rapport With Sky Kolade
Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Sky Kolade, Co-founder of APB. Throughout this episode, Sky explains the importance of building a strong and professional rapport with your clients, and gets into the best practices you can implement to help build rapport without getting stuck in awkward conversations.

INSIDE EPISODE 132 YOU WILL DISCOVER
The importance of building rapport

How to effectively build rapport with clients and all stakeholders

Why you can’t build rapport on the fly

How to recoup from bad conversations

And much, much more.

ABOUT SKY KOLADE

Co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, Sky specialises in taking complex business strategies and converting them into actionable step-by-step guides for building company owners. Sky is also a proud member of The National Association of Women in Construction and the Top 100 Women in the broader construction sector.

Connect with Sky: linkedin.com/in/skycheristephens

TIMELINE
0:52 Common challenges with building rapport

5:50 Do market conditions make it harder to build rapport

11:05 Consequences of not building rapport

13:22 How builders can improve the way they build rapport

32:11 Mistakes builders make in sales conversations

42:44 Final tips to help builders build rapport

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders
46 min
April 25, 2024131. Referrals Are Not A Strategy With Rick Moore
Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Rick Moore, Executive Business Coach at APB. Throughout this episode, Rick delves into the reliance on referrals within the building industry and explores the broader implications for your business if referrals are your only ‘strategy’.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Smarter Content That Sells, set yourself up for success by clicking the link below to download their free report:smartercontentthatsells.com.au/report

INSIDE EPISODE 131 YOU WILL DISCOVER
Why relying solely on referrals won’t sustain your business

How dependency on referrals can impact your company's saleability

Marketing strategies that complement referrals

Instances where referral reliance could undermine your business

How to balance referrals with consistent lead-generation strategies

And much, much more.

ABOUT RICK MOORE

Rick Moore has been at the forefront of steering businesses that have collectively amassed a staggering market capitalisation exceeding $3 billion CDN, served as the CEO of the Canadian division of the world’s largest business coaching company, and is the author of “Scale-Up to Sell,” sharing his insights derived from his experiences, and his CEPA designation in exit planning underscores my commitment to guiding ventures towards successful transitions.

Connect with Rick: linkedin.com/in/rick-moore-4069383a/

TIMELINE
1:27 Are referrals enough to sustain a building company?

3:35 The implications of relying on referrals

6:18 Does a referral strategy make your business hard to sell

9:33 Marketing strategies that complement referrals

12:01 Instances where relying on referrals can go south

19:59 How to balance referrals with a consistent lead generation strategy

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders
27 min
April 18, 2024130. Starting Something New With Lane O'Brien
Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Lane O'Brien, Co-Owner of O’Brien Contracting Ltd. based out of British Columbia, Canada. In this episode, Lane gets into his building niche, Net-Zero homes, and uncovers why they're a pivotal step forward in today’s housing market.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 130 YOU WILL DISCOVER
Why investing in your niche is so beneficial

The consumer benefits of Net-Zero housing

The best way to establish expertise in your building niche

How to best market your niche

And much, much more.

ABOUT LANE O'BRIEN

Lane is a Net-Zero trained builder, with a background as a Red Seal Journeyman Carpenter. After years of working under other construction companies, Lane grew frustrated with how much waste was involved in the majority of building companies; and so, he decided to start his own company and be the change!

Connect with Lane: linkedin.com/in/lane-o-brien-456b7aa5/

TIMELINE
1:34 A bit about Net-Zero homes

6:08 The benefits of Net-Zero homes for consumers

17:13 How Lane cemented himself as an expert

18:57 Challenges in the sustainable housing market

24:17 How Lane got involved with APB

33:36 Areas embracing Net-Zero housing

38:06 Software Lane uses in his building company

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders
47 min
April 11, 2024129. Using AI In Your Building Company With Russ Stephens
Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with the co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders Russ Stephens. In the episode, Russ delves into how builders can harness the power of artificial intelligence to maximise efficiency in their building company.

INSIDE EPISODE 129 YOU WILL DISCOVER
The place AI has in your building company

How AI is impacting the industry

The best way builders can utilise AI

The most common mistakes builders make with AI

And much, much more.

ABOUT RUSS STEPHENS

Co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, Russ is a data analysis expert who has introduced data-driven decision making to the residential construction industry. Russ is also a proud member of the Forbes Business Development Council.

Connect with Russ: linkedin.com/in/russstephens

TIMELINE
0:48 Why we're investing in AI

3:23 How builders are adopting AI

6:26 How AI is impacting the building industry

19:53 How to successfully integrate AI in your business

38:54 What's next?

40:32 Our biggest AI insights

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders
53 min
April 04, 2024128. Getting More From Your Accountant With Josh Hallam & Sam Falanga
Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Josh Hallam and Sam Falanga from Falanga & Co., an accounting firm based in Australia. In this episode, Josh and Sam get into the biggest pain points builders have when consulting with accountants, how to alleviate them, and most importantly, how to get the most out of your accountant.

INSIDE EPISODE 128 YOU WILL DISCOVER
The importance of an accountant who understands your business

How builders differ from regular businesses

What to look for in an accountant

How builders should manage their cash flow

ABOUT SAMUEL FALANGA

Driven by a strong desire to help people build successful businesses, Sam established his own practice in 2011. Since founding Falanga & Co, Sam has built a highly capable team of business coaches, and has established the firm’s reputation as a trusted and effective partner for success across multiple industries.

Connect with Sam: linkedin.com/in/samuel-falanga-7939a265/

ABOUT JOSH HALLAM

Bringing over a decade of senior executive experience to Falanga & Co, Josh is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the firm’s operations. From the development and implementation of strategic plans, to ensuring the firm is meeting its financial and operational objectives, Josh plays a pivotal role in the strategic direction of the firm.

Connect with Josh: linkedin.com/in/josh-hallam-6904711b/

TIMELINE
0:41 A bit about Falanga & Co.

3:35 Biggest accounting pain points for builders

8:00 How builders can manage their cash flow

12:05 Addressing common misconceptions about accountants

15:05 Falanga & Co.'s proactive approach

20:37 Changes throughout 2024 and beyond

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders
31 min
March 28, 2024127. The Value Of Apprentices With Tom Coy
Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with Tom Coy, Owner of Coy’s Constructions based out of Melbourne, Australia. In this episode, Tom gets into the common misconceptions surrounding apprentices, the systems you can use to effectively train them, and how to set them up for success in the building industry.

INSIDE EPISODE 127 YOU WILL DISCOVER
Why you should take on apprentices

How to cater to different people's learning styles

The best way to retain apprentices once they’re qualified

Why open communication is essential

And much, much more.

ABOUT TOM COY

Tom Coy is the founder and director of Coy’s Constructions, Custom New Home and Renovation Specialists. Coy’s Constructions is a highly skilled building company delivering exceptional quality custom homes in the Yarra Valley and outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

Connect with Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-coy-96454a280/

TIMELINE
1:10 Addressing the myths about apprentices

3:44 How to show an apprentice the path forward

9:23 The systems and processes to train an apprentice

18:12 Retention strategies

20:36 The biggest challenges with apprentices

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders
29 min
March 21, 2024126. The SORCI 2024 Report Insights With Russ, Sky & Andy
Professional Builders Secrets brings you an exclusive episode with the co-founders of the Association of Professional Builders Russ Stephens and Sky Kolade, along with APB’s Head Coach, Andy Skarda. In this episode, the trio discuss the SORCI (State of the Residential Construction Industry) report for 2024, which gives insights into the trends and challenges faced by the building industry.

This episode is sponsored by Apparatus Contractor Services, click the link below to learn more:hubs.ly/Q02mNSsG0

INSIDE EPISODE 126 YOU WILL DISCOVER
The SORCI reports importance for builders looking to stay ahead of the curve

The extensive research process that goes into making the SORCI report

Key areas builders need to focus on throughout 2024

How to use the SORCI report as a business assessment tool

And much, much more.

ABOUT RUSS STEPHENS

Co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, Russ is a data analysis expert who has introduced data-driven decision making to the residential construction industry. Russ is also a proud member of the Forbes Business Development Council.

Connect with Russ: linkedin.com/in/russstephens

ABOUT SKY KOLADE

Co-founder of the Association of Professional Builders, Sky specialises in taking complex business strategies and converting them into actionable step-by-step guides for building company owners. Sky is also a proud member of The National Association of Women in Construction and the Top 100 Women in the broader construction sector.

Connect with Sky: linkedin.com/in/skycheristephens

ABOUT ANDY SKARDA

Head Coach at the Association of Professional Builders, Andy specialises in helping business owners in the building industry identify and implement the skills and systems they need to be successful, without needing to go back to school. Or more importantly, without going bust.

Connect with Andy: linkedin.com/in/andy-skarda-92a6875/

TIMELINE
1:35 What SORCI is and why it's essential for builders

17:08 The process of SORCI's data collection

26:39 The SORCI 2024 insights

36:12 SORCI sales insights

41:00 Trends for 2024 and beyond

LINKS, RESOURCES & MORE

APB Website: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com

APB Rewards: associationofprofessionalbuilders.com/rewards/

APB on Instagram: instagram.com/apbbuilders/

APB on Facebook: facebook.com/associationofprofessionalbuilders

APB on YouTube: youtube.com/c/associationofprofessionalbuilders
50 min