Sticks and Bricks Podcast

This week, I invited Tim Bailey, Chief Strategy Officer for Avid Ratings, to come on and talk about how you can use information from your customers to improve your business and your marketing.

Avid Ratings really is THE name in home building surveys, and I couldn’t think of a better person to share ideas on the best times – and questions – to ask customers in their home building journey.

And – even though I’m typically the one asking the questions – Tim’s a mastermind of finding information. So, I’m embarrassed to say he used his skills and got me to fess up to my own dark side. You’ll see what I mean in the interview.

So, grab a cup of coffee, listen in, and take Tim’s advice to improve your home building operations…

This week, I explore Hoodle.com – a search site (and more) for new construction that started in Central Illinois and is quickly popping up in markets all across the United States. Ron Williams, the Founder and CEO of Hoodle.com, takes a bit of time to talk about how this site came to be by solving a problem that he could solve – and – where the site is headed.

We all know and understand that online search is so important. In these days – when people are being required to stay at home for a month or so – that online search is even more important. And – with so many places online in which you can invest your time and dollars – you want to be sure that you make the right choice.

And, chances are, you may find that Hoodle.com makes sense for you. Let’s jump over to the interview so you can decide for yourself……

This week, I’m doing something a little different than my typical episode. While this podcast is my personal podcast, many know that my day job is with ECI Solutions – specifically with MarkSystems, a home building ERP software.

This past week, for that day job, I hosted a Webinar about Building Remotely – a topic that is on everyone’s mind right now with the coronavirus forcing us all to rethink our operations and making us figure out how to work with a remote workforce.

It was so well received that I thought it would be great to have an audio-only version of this Webinar. The good folks at ECI allowed me to use the audio for my podcast, so that’s what this episode is!

It lasts a little more than an hour – which is longer than my typical episode, but I know you’ll find some great advice from it.

While we mention our software in the episode, we worked hard to make sure this was not a sales episode. It truly is applicable and useful to all home builders – as I brought in home building professionals from outside of ECI to make sure our attendees got to hear from real builders who are dealing with the same things from the trenches. The feedback I received from so many who attended really appreciated the value they received from attending!

Have you ever been called on by a representative from a Fleet Management Company – who wants to come in and talk to you about the possibility of outsourcing your business’s vehicles? I know how it goes – the call comes in while putting out the normal daily fires, and – to that representative’s chagrin – you end up turning down the meeting.

That Fleet Management Rep is persistent, though. After several contacts, you finally agree to meet him or her. Quite honestly, sometimes that meeting comes in the midst of those daily fires, and you don’t really get a chance to fully think about how this could affect your business.

I actually had this experience myself – and today’s guest is that Fleet Management Rep who called on me several times until I had him sit down in my office to review their program. I have to be honest. I didn’t take the time to ask the questions I should have – but – that was partly due to the fact that I was putting out my daily fires AND I didn’t take the time to really think through the questions I should ask.

Mike Helsel is an Area Sales Manager for Enterprise Fleet Management from San Antonio Texas. In today’s episode, we have the Q&A session that I SHOULD have had with him back in that meeting in 2013/14. The nice thing for YOU is that – after we finished recording – Mike told me that these questions were the most common questions he gets from home builders and other business owners all the time.

So – by listening to this episode – I’ve just saved you the time it would have taken to think through, ask, and get answers to the questions that you should be asking. Mike gives clear answers that will allow you to assess whether outsourcing your vehicles makes sense for your company.

If you’ve ever developed ground for a new community – OR – you’re thinking of jumping into the land development game, this is going to be an interesting episode for you. I speak with Bob “R.J.” Fisher of R.J. Fisher Engineering to explore the complicated (but exciting) process of using newer technology to explore the feasibility of land development.

AND – because our discussion includes a look at how quickly the software can layout a development on top of a piece of raw ground – I thought this was the perfect podcast to include video along with audio.  

To see the video that goes along with this audio version, you can visit it on my YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtxLjWZuKr4

Bob has a lot of experience (30+ years) and is the perfect person to discuss the process. Let’s jump over to the interview….and don’t forget – if you want to SEE what we’re discussing, check out the link for the video version of this episode.

We’re continuing to look at the Customer Experience that home builders want to deliver to their customers. We explored the sales process last week. This week, I wanted to talk a little more about what happens from the time a customer signs the Agreement of Sale right through the warranty period.

And I was so excited to land a guest who has experience monitoring those customer experiences over the years. Paul Cardis was the original founder of Avid Ratings – the leader in home building surveys and data gathering. Last year, Paul started a brand new company, The Cardis Group, that is dedicated to teaching home builders about putting Customer Experience in the forefront of everything they do.

In our conversation, I bring up 5 key customer interactions that happen between a home builder and a customer after the sale – and I ask Paul for his thoughts and ideas about each. It was so interesting to hear some of the things he’s seen over the years – and where some of those processes are going as the Customer Experience evolves.

Paul mentions a free copy of his book in this episode.  Contact Paul on his website:  The Cardis Group

Home builders everywhere believe the processes they perform every day have been honed and perfected after years of experience. Many of those home builders think their way is the best way, and they believe that all their home buyers fully understand and appreciate how the whole process unfolds.

But do their home buyers really appreciate – and even like – the process?

That’s what today’s episode is all about. Paul Gortzig of the Bokka Group joins me to talk about taking a hard look at your home buying process through the eyes of the buyer. That can be a tough thing to do.  Many home builders can be too proud to look reality in the face and admit that they may have settled on a process that is convenient to their own needs (at the expense of their home buyers).

Paul shares suggestions and experiences that often come up with home builders who have worked with the Bokka Group over the years.

It’s a great episode that I am sure you’ll find valuable advice.

I am just over-the-moon for this week’s episode. I’ve been a Super Fan of the StoryBrand company since I first found the book, Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller. It’s an extremely practical book that you can read and immediately start using in your business.

After finding that book, I also found the StoryBrand Podcast that has both Donald Miller and today’s guest Dr. J.J. Peterson as co-hosts. It’s a fantastic podcast that you should also check out.

J.J. is a lot of fun – and – he truly is passionate about spreading the word about his company and the super simple framework of the StoryBrand concept to build and use a story to help market your business.

I took the opportunity to set up a real-life scenario that a home builder might have to see how – in a matter of seconds – J.J. was able to frame that scenario into a winning marketing message using story.

Looking at the calendar, it’s that time of year again. All across the country, Home Shows and other events to get people excited about building a new home start to happen. And many of those events are organized and run by Builders Associations.

Seeing the early promotion of our local show got me to thinking about our local Home Builders Association and the times I spent attending events and even serving on the Board in the past. When I was involved, the Board often spoke about retaining and growing the membership. That’s nothing new. Associations everywhere struggle with this same thing – and – all need to keep changing to adapt to each new generation of members.

So, I was happy that Jerry Leach, Executive Director of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan set aside some time for a frank discussion on how his Association has changed over time – and – how they stay relevant in our fast-changing world. We talk about how Associations need to continue to adapt to provide value to their members.

It’s Valentine’s Day week as this episode goes live – so I thought it only fitting that I bring to you an episode on finding the perfect match with no need to swipe left or right – well, at least when it comes to your business looking for the right digital marketing agency!

I talk to Greg Bray, President of Blue Tangerine, a Digital Marketing Agency who focuses on creating digital marketing solutions for home builders all over the place. We talk about what you should look for (and expect) when you’ve decided that it’s time to get serious about your marketing presence online.

Greg’s a great person with deep industry knowledge that he is happy to share.

So, listen in and learn what you need to know to find the perfect match with a Digital Marketing Agency!