In this episode of Builders, Budgets & Beers, Reece sits down with Owen Drury of Bricks & Bytes to tackle the pressure from big-tech clients demanding lightning-fast delivery. They dig into UK vs. US timelines, the surge in HVAC/heat-pump installs, the chaos of forecasting & retainage, and how offsite prefab + AI-powered tools are turning 24-month schedules into predictable, profitable builds.

https://bricks-bytes.com

Show Notes: 

Welcome & Quick Intros (00:00)
HVAC Boom & Heat Pump Surge (04:00)
From Trades to Quantity Surveying (06:28)
Forecasting Pitfalls & Retainage (09:46)
Design Deficits & Scope Creep (13:10)
Renovation Roulette & Hidden Hazards (18:06)
Why Lowest Bid Always Wins (25:05)
Tech Trends: Prefab, AI & Fast Builds (37:37)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Chloe Brown, founder of Wildest Dreams, discusses the importance of accurate job costing and financial tracking in construction. She highlights that many builders fail to recoup thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars per job due to inadequate financial management. Brown emphasizes the value of using tools like Adaptive for better integration and efficiency, noting that Adaptive's user interface significantly outperforms QuickBooks. She also stresses the significance of optimizing the Accounts Receivable (AR) cycle to improve cash flow and financial health. Brown offers free consultations to help builders improve their financial operations.

https://www.thinkwildest.com

Show Notes:
Chloe Brown's Introduction and Background (0:00)
Chloe's Sales Consulting and Custom Solutions (1:45)
Transition from Custom Solutions to Adaptive (12:30)
Case Study: Uncovering Unbilled Costs (12:45)
Impact of Cost Codes and Financial Tracking (16:27)
Forensic Audits and Adaptive's Role (26:00)
Improving Cash Flow and AR Cycle (31:44)
Technology's Role in Construction (47:01)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Jake Bruton, from Aarow Building, talks about the painful $180,000 lesson that forced him to completely rethink his construction business pricing model. Learn how moving from fixed fee to cost plus saved his company, improved client relationships, and created a more transparent, financially sound business approach. This episode is a must-listen for builders looking to protect their profits and build trust with clients.

https://www.aarowbuilding.com

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Rudy Marroquin, founder of Atlas Homes in Austin, joins Reece to break down how he went from a $500 startup budget to building luxury homes in Montecito and Malibu. Rudy shares how vertical integration, strategic hiring, and cultural fluency helped him cut costs, maintain quality, and scale fast — including flying his Texas crews out to California to keep margins tight. Whether you're just starting or looking to systematize and scale, Rudy's no-BS insight is packed with practical lessons and unapologetic ambition.

https://www.atlashomesatx.com

Show Notes:

Introduction to Rudy Marroquin and Atlas Homes (0:00)
Vertical Integration (2:43)
Expansion into California (3:51)
Financial Management and Team Dynamics (9:34)
Final Thoughts and Shoutout to Adaptive (30:46)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Thomas Joseph, co-founder of Joseph Design Build, joins Reece to talk about moving from high-end custom infill homes to building at scale—with intention. He walks through how getting out of the “just wing it” mindset and leaning into systems, numbers, and rhythms changed how he runs his business—and why clarity is the difference between having a job and building an actual company.

https://jdbatx.com

Show Notes: 

Introduction and Background of Thomas Joseph (0:00)
Challenges and Market Conditions (6:55)
Strategic Shifts and Organizational Changes (12:09)
Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks (46:39)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Custom builder Will King of High Cotton Homes shares hard-earned lessons on how to actually make money in construction. From markup vs. margin to pre-con agreements and spotting bad clients early, this episode is packed with real talk and tactical advice for builders who want to run a profitable business.

https://www.highcotton-homes.com

Show Notes: 

Introduction and Overview of High Cotton Homes (0:00)
Will King's Journey from Fireman to Builder (3:18)
Joining the Southern Living Custom Builder Program (5:30)
Implementing Financial Management Practices (13:02)
Challenges and Strategies for Increasing Profitability (17:36)
The Importance of Pre-Construction Agreements (29:24)
Advanced Payments and Cash Flow Management (40:09)
Building a Strong Network and Learning from Peers (47:55)
Conclusion and Final Thoughts (51:30)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Garrett “Goldsy” Goldsberry joins Reece Barnes to share how he and his wife left cushy jobs, started Salt Creek Homes from scratch, and grew it to a thriving remodel and new construction business. He walks through the overlooked pain points of early financial systems, the shift into software, and the real-life lessons that come from building while still figuring it all out.

https://www.saltcreekhomesco.com

Show Notes: 

Introduction and Background of Garrett Goldsberry (0:00)
Transition from Cushy Jobs to Construction (3:09)
Challenges and Successes in Project Financial Management (8:33)
Managing Project Financials and Profit Erosion (18:21)
Exploring Software Solutions for Better Processes (27:37)
Final Thoughts and Future Plans (27:50)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Dirk van der Velde, co-founder of Momenta, opens up about the early missteps in aligning business structure with execution—and how tightening operations led to meaningful gains. From auditing underused software to designing a high-output team culture, Dirk shares lessons on building a company that actually runs the way it was envisioned.

https://momentasize.com

Show Notes: 
Introduction and Guest Background (0:00)
Dirk's Background and Momenta Size (2:47)
Challenges and Solutions in Construction (6:49)
Adoption of Adaptive Software (19:58)
Impact of Adaptive Software on Business Operations (23:39)
Emotional and Tactical Advice for Business Owners (32:01)
Final Thoughts and Recommendations (38:22)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Julian Miller, Director of Operations at NS Builders, shares how his experience in commercial construction built the foundation for his process-driven approach in high-end residential work. From implementing operational systems to maintaining craftsmanship, Julian explains why structure, communication, and internal efficiency are critical for builders looking to scale sustainably.

https://www.nsbuilders.com/

Introduction and Guest Background (0:00)
Impact of Commercial Experience on Operations (2:43)
Relationship Between Operations and Financials (4:59)
Operational Enhancements and Financial Impact (9:51)
Adoption of Technology and Efficiency Gains (13:53)
Profit Erosion and Internal Efficiencies (23:59)
Final Thoughts and Recommendations (29:30)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Melissa Leediker, Founder of Turquant Builder Services, LLC, discusses the most common and costly errors in construction accounting, focusing on job costing, cost coding, and duplicate payments. She emphasizes the importance of implementing consistent processes and leveraging technology to improve financial accuracy and profitability for construction businesses.

https://turquantservices.com

Introduction to Melissa Leediker and
Construction Accounting (00:00)
Three Most Common Accounting Errors in
Construction (02:03)
Challenges of Costing to the Right Job (08:18)
Importance of Accurate Cost Coding (14:31)
Preventing Duplicate Payments (24:15)
Scaling Challenges in Construction Accounting (28:43)
Technology and Process Improvement Strategies (31:42)
Final Insights and Recommendations (33:28)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media