ROCKWOOL insulation is picking up steam as a go-to insulation in many parts of the country. With it’s thermal performance, durability, and effect on indoor air quality, it’s easy to see why.

Dan Edelman, Head of Business Development for ROCKWOOL, joins us on the show for an overview of their product.

Show Notes:

[4:04] - The history and growth of ROCKWOOL.

[5:18] - What makes ROCKWOOL different.

[8:10] - ROCKWOOL indoor air quality relative to other options.

[12:08] - How does ROCKWOOL stack up with price.

[14:22] - How to get a crew trained on ROCKWOOL insulation.

[16:30] - The thermal performance of ROCKWOOL.

[18:10] - ROCKWOOL’s exterior insulation product.

[19:44] - Dan’s preferred wall assembly.

[22:45] - Where to find Dan and ROCKWOOL’s Elite Builder Program.

David Lupberger of remodelforce.com is back ONE MORE TIME to show us how to win more clients and build a remarkable brand by selling our “why.” In a commodity-like business such as building, finding your metaphorical moat to differentiate you from your competitors is a must.

David is a speaker, author, and consultant on the national stage. He has some wonderful programs, so be sure to check him out online.

This episode is brought to you by our own personal insurance agent and broker, Treacy Duerfeldt of NWC Alliance and Doug Lynch of Brookstone Insurance. Liability insurance is a dangerous place where you can easily fall victim to bad coverage or bad agents. That’s why we switched to Doug and Treacy. Check them out and make an informed decision on your liability coverage. Enjoy the episode!

Show Notes:

[4:00] - An intro to the concept of selling your why.

[7:50] - What is the process to determine your “why?"

[16:50] - How can a builder use this to truly stand out?

[24:28] - The need for giving clients a “leave-behind.”

[27:30] - The best place to go to learn more about David’s programs. 

David Lupberger of remodelforce.com returns for an eye-opening episode on how to grow your business, diversify your income, AND create clients for life at the same time!

David is a speaker, author, and consultant on the national stage. He’s also a brilliant mind for developing this deceptively simple strategy. Enjoy the episode!

Show Notes:

[1:55] - The overview of David’s Clients for Life program.

[9:50] - Some mechanics of how it works.

Speaker, author, and owner of remodelforce.com, David Lupberger, joins us to discuss the different margins in new homes vs remodels as well as the benefits of developing architects as a primary referral source.

This is the first of a three part series with David. We will also be featuring interviews with him over creating clients for life and selling your why. Be sure to check out David’s site, remodelforce.com to learn more about his suite of products to help you in your business.

And if you aren’t tired of me saying it by now, make sure you’ve signed up for our free newsletter on the home page of our website, buildingoptimal.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Show Notes:

[1:50] What are the differences in skill sets needed between a new home builder and a remodeler.

[5:10] The difference in profit margins between the two.

[8:45] Dis-economies of scale on small jobs.

[12:15] Growing your business with architects.

Curious what's new in the smart home space? Dave LaMere indulges us. Dave is the owner of Smart Homz, with locations in both Ramsey and Beach Haven, New Jersey. Dave's company offers the whole suite of home automation and technology services, so he's just the guy for today's episode.

Show notes:

[1:45] - What's new in the smart home space.

[5:55] - What can you accomplish without a huge budget.

[8:30] - The most popular things Dave is asked to install. 

[17:06] - David's recommendation to builders.

[21:41] - Where to find Dave online.

Kirsten Danielle is the owner of award-winning Alma Homes in Minnesota. In addition to being a talented builder, Kirsten has a strong brand in the industry for her designs. We talk to her about her selections program, working better with designers, and the design trends she is seeing in the market. This is the third and final episode featuring women leaders in the industry. However, I want to have a better balance of guests in the future between men and women, so if you have anyone you think would be a good guest for the show, holler!

Show Notes:

[1:50] – Kirsten’s story that led her to found Alma Homes.

[4:40] – How can builders and designers work better together?

[9:50] – What’s the best way to handle selections?

[12:45] – What Kirsten keeps in her showroom.

[14:50] – What are those small design things that add big value?

[24:20] – Kirsten’s take on the latest design trends.

Christine Williamson is one of the top minds in the field of building science. She travels the continent consulting for architects and developers and also forensically investigating building failures.

A few of her projects include the restoration of Belvedere Castle in New York City’s Central Park, forensic investigations of building failures at the air traffic control tower of LAX and the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado. Not a bad place to get called out to.

And of course, her other project you may know her for is her Instagram account, @buildingsciencefightclub, where she takes her wealth of knowledge and distills it into actionable, insightful lessons that just about anyone can understand.

This is also the second part of our series featuring women leaders in the industry. I’m excited to have Christine on the show. I’ve wanted to visit with her for a while. I hope you all enjoy the episode.

By the way, let us know by the way what you’re enjoying, what you want to hear more of. Drop us a line at [email protected], or send us a message on Instagram.

Show Notes

[2:20] – Christine’s story and rise in the business of building science.

[8:40] – Story behind @buildingsciencefightclub

[9:50] – Is the building industry broken? What’s the fix?

[18:30] – Have we outpaced ourselves with some of our new building innovations?

[22:25] – How does a builder up their building science game?

[27:30] – The nuances of following manufacturer instructions.

[30:30] – Christine’s advice on low hanging fruit to improve the performance of your builds.

[34:00] – Where to find Christine online.

Ultra-luxury home developer, Joanna Lily Wong, discusses her journey, her $15 million spec home, and her ideas for better design and marketing. Joanna brings a deep insight of home buyers into all elements of her projects, and she shares some of these with our listeners on this special episode, the first in a series of women in the industry.

Joanna is a rising star. This was a lot of fun to record, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did! You can find Joanna on Instagram or at Ennate, her design and development company based in San Francisco.

P.S. Follow us on Instagram (@buildingoptimal), and also sign up for our newsletter on our home page to get continuously new tips that will help you in your business!

Show Notes:

[1:15] – Joanna shares her background.

[5:10] – Joanna’s perspective on being a female in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

[7:30] – How buyers identify the fine touches.

[9:28] – The story of the $15 million Jones St. project.

[12:26] – Assessing the risk when building an ultra luxury home.

[13:15] – Features people want in a luxury home.

[18:05] Tricks to better market your properties.

[25:20] – How feng shui can help in building design even if you don’t practice it.

[28:40] – Where to find Joanna online.

Liability insurance is one of the most complicated aspects of your business. Unfortunately, poor or deficient coverage is much more common than we know, and the consequences for your business can be severe.

Treacy Duerfeldt, an insurance expert who runs The NationWide Contractors’ Alliance and also WISE Insure, covers some of the top issues in today’s interview. Learn what can go wrong and how to protect against these things, so you can focus on building your business with confidence.

If you aren’t following us yet on Instagram, check us out for some good tips and updates (@buildingoptimal). And be sure you are signed up for our emails on the home page of our website, www.buildingoptimal.com.

Show Notes

[2:55] – Where do you find a good insurance agent and how do you know when you’ve found one?

[6:20] – The insurance carrier you choose matters. There are huge differences. How can you compare the good vs. bad insurance carriers?

[10:20] – What is the difference between non-admitted carriers and admitted-preferred carriers? And why does it matter?

[17:00] – What is the difference between “audit ready” and “claims ready?”

[23:55] – How do you get a copy of the policy from all your trade partners?

[26:55] – How does it work with your architect agreements?

[28:30] – The difference between claims-made and occurrence policies.

[30:40] – On prior work exclusions.

[35:20] – Other typical exclusions to know.

[43:30] – The need for builders to understand these issues themselves.

[48:05] – What is the biggest mistake Treacy sees builders make?

[50:30] – Where to find Treacy online.