Sticks and Bricks Podcast

Have you ever had a customer who was quick to say “I’m calling my lawyer!!” I think we’ve all had at least one. Since lawyers have been able to freely advertise their litigation services, this has become even more prevalent.

So, this week, I wanted to explore avenues that you can follow so you’ll have the best way to respond if/when you get the next customer who wants to drag you into the legal arena over a dispute in your home building project.

Sam Sparks, a home building veteran who has served as in-house counsel for several home builders (large and small), joins me to talk about Alternate Dispute Resolution. Essentially – we’re talking about using mediation and/or arbitration (instead of litigation) to solve a dispute without spending too much time and/or money in a long drawn out process.

Sam has used his experience to start an Arbitration and Mediation company in Atlanta to help bring quick and cost-effective resolutions to the home building industry. His history working for home builders AND his active involvement with renowned arbitration associations makes this an episode that you won’t want to miss.

I had initiated this interview solely to talk about how this process helps between home builder and customer. During the course of the interview, Sam blew my mind with some other places where mediation and arbitration could help, too!

Listen in and learn – and – take the time to look back at your Agreements to see if your Company is poised to make the best of those bad situations that arise.

This week, I wanted to introduce you to a home builder who has taken charitable giving to a whole new level. And he’s done it in a way that allows him to pretty much run “business as usual” while impacting thousands all across the world.

Jeff Rutt is the Owner and CEO of Keystone Custom Homes in Lancaster, Pennsylvania who builds several hundred homes each year. Back in the late 90’s – after connecting with a sister church across the ocean – Jeff was called to find a way to help individuals in underdeveloped countries who were struggling with poverty.

He quickly realized that a straight-up “hand out” was not the best approach. So, he turned to the concept of Christ-centered micro-finance loans to provide seed money to folks who wanted to start a business and grow that money into a self-sustaining (and thriving) existence. These loans are around $20 – which doesn’t seem like much at all; however, in those countries in which Jeff found himself helping, twenty bucks goes a long way!

Jeff founded Hope International – a 501c.3. non-profit organization to provide permanent solutions to poverty while restoring dignity in families – to formalize his vision. And he’s grown that organization to the point that it’s loaned out over a BILLION dollars.

When he started out, Jeff figured out a way to fund his organization using the skills and tasks he did every day – building homes. He reached into the hearts of the Trade Partners and Vendors with the mission in front of him and found that most shared his desire to do good in the world. Since they could use their daily skills and time in the same way as normal, Jeff quickly found partners who could help.

And that’s where Homes for Hope started. He built a house with partners who discounted (or donated) time and materials to build a new home that sold at market rate. The proceeds from that home funded the micro-finance loan program.

So, Jeff started talking to other home builders about doing the same thing. Now, home builders across the United States have signed up to do their own Home for Hope.

Listen in on my interview with Jeff Rutt. Perhaps you’ll find it in your heart to participate in this program, too – OR – maybe you’ll be inspired to take your passion or calling and do good in your own way!

This week, I’m giving you the second part of a two-part series on an issue that builders everywhere face – and that’s drugs on the jobsite. If you don’t think it’s happening on your jobsites, think again!

I had a very personal experience with this when I had a Trade Partner who was working in my house when I received a call from the girlfriend of one the employees – telling me that her boyfriend was addicted to heroin. With two young children in my house at the time, I was faced with a dilemma on what exactly to do.

Although this was specific to my personal house at the time, the trade partner was one of my trade partners who I sent onto my jobsites – meaning this employee was also going to the jobsites.

So, I wanted to explore some different viewpoints on how to best deal with this very real problem – from legal implications to the moral and human dignity side of the situation.

Last week, I spoke with an individual who had a career in law enforcement and continues to train people all over the world on how to deal with drugs in the workplace.

This week, I thought it would be interesting to speak with someone on the “care” side of the equation – so I was delighted when Dr. Carrie Delone agreed to be my guest.

Dr. Delone is the Medical Director of one of the premiere central Pennsylvania health organizations, Geisinger Medical Group -  AND - a champion for the statewide effort to combat the drug epidemic.

I wanted to see what she thought of the epidemic – and – how business owners should face this very real problem.

Is her approach different than the approach that the law enforcement professional suggested last week?  Listen in and learn during today’s interview….

To end out the year, I wanted to share an interview I did with award-winning sales educator, mentor, motivator and speaker - Kerry Mulcrone- during a Webinar for ECI Software Solutions' homebuilding management ERP, MarkSystems (my day job).

If you'd like to see the video version of this, CLICK HERE.

To find out more about Kerry Mulcrone and her services, her website is:  KerryandCo.com

And - if you'd like to learn more about MarkSystems - here is the link that will get you more information:  https://www.ecisolutions.com/home-builders-land-developers

Happy New Year!

This week, I wanted to dive into the topic of Lean Home Design, and I was able to snag Todd Hallett – the Muddy Shoe Architect himself from TK Home Design – as my guest. I’m a huge fan of Todd and the plans his company puts out to the industry.

You may have seen his work in Builder magazine. He’s often one of the architects who shows how simple re-designs of existing plans can result in a more-efficient and better-looking house.

To some, Lean Design can be misconstrued to mean “cheapening up your product” – or – “building to absolute minimum building codes.” I ask Todd about these preconceptions – and – ask him to explain what Lean Design is (and how to get started, if you’re not already doing this).

I’m excited – and, admittedly nervous – about this week’s episode, because it really dredges up some old memories of mine that weren’t so pleasant.

In early 2017, I found myself at a critical and unpleasant time in my home building career. Never fully recovering from the great housing recession, we decided to close the doors to our home building businesses.

It was a dark time for me, personally. And I found myself trying to figure out what I was going to do next in my life. One of my wife’s friends gave me the name of today’s guest – John Sattler – as a person who could help me figure out my next career move. It had been over 20 years since I had considered looking for a new job – and – at the time, I wasn’t even sure if I should stay in the home building industry.

Fortunately, I worked with John and he was able to get me unstuck and get out of my own head to see the strengths and skills I had – and – how they should be marketed to my next employer. He helped me develop a plan – and – I was fortunate enough to land a really great job with a home building software company – using my vast knowledge and experience to help home builders all across North America.

I figured that I may not be the only one who has ultimately found themselves looking for a new job after a long period of time. And others may want to hear of ways professional job strategists could help them through a similar process.

And that’s exactly what this week’s episode is all about.

This week’s episode hits close to home for me. My home building career existed inside a family business – of which I was one of the family. So, I wanted to explore what it’s like to be a NON-Family member in a family-owned home building business.

Fortunately, I was able to snag Alan Sladek of Sandlin Homes in the Dallas, Texas area. They say everything is bigger in Texas, and Alan has a big job. He’s the Chief Operating Officer for not just one family home building business – but – a collection of entities owned by different family members that all trade as Sandlin Homes.

Alan explains how he juggles the responsibilities of his unique position – and - how you can successfully be a part of the family business without being family.

I’m excited to have Paul Hanson, President of Epcon Franchising, as my guest to discuss how buying into a home building franchise can benefit your home building company. I had often seen the advertisements for Epcon in the major trade magazines, but I never reached out to explore if this could have worked for our business. After our discussion, I really wish I had – at the very least – took a peek at what they had to offer.

Paul explains the advantages of franchising for home builders in all markets – and – how using their plans and their repeatable processes can help you win in your market.

Want more info on Epcon?  Here's the link:  epconfranchising.com