Building Optimal

This is a reading of our recent article published in our Building Optimal Journal. You can read it HERE.

Joel Block is a long-time venture capitalist and hedge fund manager who is one of the foremost authorities on creating real estate funds and syndications. Joel joins us to talk about creating syndications and funds for home builders.

Be sure to check out Joel’s website, syndicatefast.com. He’s got some great videos on there as well as other helpful services. Also, be sure to check out Joel’s podcast, Profit from the Inside, where he discusses strategies to give your business the inside track. And as always, enjoy the episode.

Show Notes

[1:20] – How can we determine the capital available to us at any given time to know which projects to pursue?

[4:10] – Are a lot of builders going the fund route?

[6:20] – Where do we find new investors leads?

[9:45] – What exactly are investors buying when they buy shares in a fund?

[11:40] – What are the pieces of the puzzle needed if you go the fund route?

[14:00] – What’s needed for creating a syndication?

[19:20] – What’s the ideal structure for a home building deal?

[23:40] – Finding co-guarantors for your deals.

[26:00] – A conceptual way to create fair fee structures.

[29:25] – Joel’s advice on keeping in touch with current investors.

[31:00] – What Joel sees go wrong the most…

[34:30] – Where to find Joel online.

This conversation with tiny home builder, Bob Clarizio, ranges from hilarious to enlightening. Bob, of Bantam Built Homes, takes us on his journey into the tiny home business and shares some of his hardest lessons and greatest achievements. If you missed Bob’s first interview with us, check it out:

https://buildingoptimal.com/25

Show Notes:

[1:40] – Bob’s journey into tiny homes.

[7:40] – Bob’s early struggles in his transition.

[13:30] – The seasonality of tiny homes.

[15:45] – The making his three business-saving sales.

[26:00] – Bob’s wild trip out east.

[29:00] – Shipping tiny homes to Switzerland off YouTube.

[32:50] – Bob’s current business focus.

[34:30] – The constraints facing the tiny home industry.

We’re talking to Vicki Suiter, President and CEO of Suiter Business Builders about everything from interviewing and hiring best practices to managing margins in a difficult industry. Vicki is a speaker, consultant, and coach with more than 28 years helping contractors succeed in their businesses. She’s also an author. Her most recent book is The Profit Bleed: How Managing Margin Can Save Your Contracting Business.

Vicki’s special offer here.

Show Notes:

[1:25] – The biggest mistakes in hiring.

[5:35] – Red flags in an interview.

[7:15] – Position agreements vs job descriptions.

[8:35] – Better bonus structures.

[10:45] – The importance of finding people with passion.

[13:55] – How to create meaning for everyone in the company.

[17:05] – Autonomy vs abdication.

[18:35] – Vicki’s master class: How to Get Your Team to Take More Ownership.

[19:55] – A conversation on protecting margins.

[25:15] – The most important variable in protecting margins.

[27:55] – Where do builders miss the mark.

[30:05] – Construction accounting software preferences.

[31:50] – Setting up systems for for feedback and consistency.

[35:15] – Vicki’s offer to all our listeners!

Healthy homes are by no means a new concept, but as of recent they have entered more of the mainstream conversation as the “green” movement has evolved. In this episode, we are visiting with Caroline Blazovsky, a national expert on healthy homes, to learn more about what’s going on and the market opportunities for builders who want to capitalize on the trend.

Caroline is the President and Founder of My Healthy Home. She has over 17 years in the space as a public educator, media personality, and consultant. Her clients span both the U.S. and internationally.

Enjoy the episode!

Show Notes:

[3:07] – What’s missing in new home construction?

[5:42] – Where to start educating yourself on solutions.

[7:55] – Easy solutions you can implement right now.

[15:35] – The drivers behind the healthy home movement.

[22:00] – How marketable are healthy homes, really?

[31:43] – The inflection point.

Sheri Allshouse is back to share a few commonly overlooked financial accounts that could be costing you money. Sheri is a CPA with an expertise in home building and construction. Her firm is The Allshouse Group in Houston, Texas.

If you missed Episode 8: Common Tax Questons with Sheri, be sure to check it out!

And finally, if you want The Allshouse Group’s financial checklist, they have generously offered it to our listeners for free. Please email Avi at [email protected].  In the subject line, please write “Building Optimal – QB Check List.”

Show Notes:

[3:30] – Reconciling bank statements.

[10:05] – Reconciling credit cards.

[15:00] – Considerations for accounts payable and receivable.

[23:40] – Considerations with the inventory account.

[24:50] – Customer deposits.

[31:06] – Classifying contracts.

Show Notes:

[2:00] – Bob’s history with social media.

Fernando Pagés Ruiz is a builder, developer, and author of the popular book, Building an Affordable House. He has a deep knowledge of how to save money on your homes, including how to mine the code for savings and how to go beyond the plans to cut costs. Fernando has operations in Colorado, Nebraska, and internationally in Ecuador. You can see his work at hamptonlands.com and read more about his expertise with affordable homes at buildingaffordable.com

 Show Notes: 

[2:00] – Fernando’s background and evolution in his career.

You can read several of Fernando’s articles:

Tropical Timbers: From Forest To Framing

A Cottage Made Completely With Native Materials and Local Labor

Crown Molding Special Effects

Many people get this deceptively simple practice wrong, but it’s an easy fix. In this episode, Jared reads a recent article he wrote for our newly launched, Building Optimal Journal.

If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out our new articles, such as Bulletproofing Against Downturns.

Show Notes:

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Kyle Hunt shares a few pointers on how to make the “best” first impression we possibly can during that initial call with a potential client.

Kyle is the owner of Remodel Your Marketing, a business coach focused on remodelers. For 10 years he’s helped his clients improve their sales process, implement proven marketing strategies, and take control of their operations. Kyle has spoken at the International Builders Show, and also has a podcast for remodelers called Remodelers on the Rise.

Do you have particular topics you want to hear in 2019? Email us at [email protected] or direct message us on Facebook or Instagram at @buildingoptimal.

Happy 2019 to all. Thank you for your support. May everyone have a prosperous, fun, and PROFITABLE year!

Show Notes: