Building Consensus

Brandon goes from @joneshomesKC to @bbuildsit and explains what drove his decision to fold his company's operations into Aarow Building as he takes on the role of Construction Manager overseeing all operations in Columbia and KC. Working for someone else can be hard after being the boss, but Brandon's gonna give it a go.

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

• Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt
• Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt
• Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/
• Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit 

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When do you pay a subcontractor, when do you fire them and when do they fire themselves? Jake Bruton joins the BuildConPod to sort out when deposits are appropriate, how they tie payment to scopes of work, and what procedures are best for managing subcontractor relationships on the administrative side.

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

• Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt
• Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt
• Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/
• Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

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Since Travis and Brandon can’t agree on the proper way to waterproof the showers in their builds they sought an arbitrator. Jake Bruton joins the discussion to settle whether it’s Schluter or GoBoard, Hardie/Durock and Red Guard or whatever. It’s a Shower Waterproofing Systems Throw Down from guys who probably need showers.

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

• Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt
• Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt
• Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/
• Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

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Lucky number 13? Maybe not...you may have noticed this is Part 1 of TOOLS. Our audio flip-flopped, so check out Episode 113 for Part 2.

There's an awful lot of brand loyalty for tools in the trades and there are good reasons for that, but there’s also some ridiculous “team” mentality at play there. This episode considers what tools are the best choice and why someone might choose one over the other. Is it possible to reach consensus on who manufactures the best cordless tools for residential building?

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

• Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt
• Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt
• Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/
• Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

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Lucky number 13? Maybe not...you may have noticed this is Part 2 of our conversation about tools. Our audio flip-flopped, so check out Episode 114 for Part 1.

TOOLS! Having already parsed the cordless tools offerings based on their features and various applications, the guys dive into what hand tools they carry in their bags. Starting with the bags themselves the guys go through their preferred hammers, tapes, knives, chalk lines and pry bars in an effort to decide which are really best and why.

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

• Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt
• Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt
• Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/
• Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

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Special guests Nick Schiffer and Tyler Grace continue the conversation with Brandon and Travis they began on the Modern Craftsmen podcast in this episode, but with a specific question in mind. When does it make sense to staff up, grow your company or even start another business to serve the demand you’re seeing in the market? Or does it make sense to let those demands be served by others while owner / operators maintain limited volume to offer more focused or boutique services

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

• Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt
• Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt
• Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/
• Brandon’s Instagram: @joneshomeskc

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Working for clients with whom you have an existing personal relationship can be more complicated since there’s more at stake beyond the build. When the way the project is going can effect the personal relationships of your spouse or your kids, you have to factor that into the risk beyond that of a regular construction project. Would we be better off avoiding this risk altogether, or is it our responsibility to care for these uniquely associated clients?

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

• Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt
• Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt
• Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/
• Brandon’s Instagram: @joneshomeskc

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Is there value in sharing detailed schedule with clients? How much is it worth to them? When we assign realistic costs to the time spent implementing, updating and maintaining software based solutions for schedule and budget tracking we find clients less interested in covering that amount, despite their desire for constant updates and access. Is it better to commit the time and money to a software platform or utilize lower tech solutions to keep everyone in the loop?

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

• Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt
• Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt
• Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/
• Brandon’s Instagram: @joneshomeskc

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What do you subcontract and what do you self perform? Can your subs complete things with the same result your crew would deliver? When building we are faced with a decision as to what work we will subcontract and what we’ll handle in-house. Some of these choices are simple (excavation, paint, etc.) but others are more nuanced, but the real trouble begins when we start talking about reaching one hundred percent completion. 

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt
Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt
Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/ 
Brandon’s Instagram: @joneshomeskc

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History going back to the ancient Egyptians suggests that the Master Builders of that time weren’t just overseers but also designed and constructed things with their own hands. In todays residential build process things are way more specialized, so the guys discuss what it takes to be a builder these days and how each of them measure up. Spoiler: neither is willing to claim the title of “Master” despite their willingness to claim expertise as Builders.

Find Travis & Brandon on the Web

• Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt
• Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt
• Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/
• Brandon’s Instagram: @joneshomeskc

Don't miss a single episode of Build Show content. Sign up for our newsletter.