The Real Build

In this episode of The Real Build, Jenna and I break down one of the core values that drives everything we do at RK Reiman Construction: We are a team.This is not just something we say. It is how we operate every day. From our internal team to our subcontractors, vendors, and clients, everything works better when everyone is aligned and working toward the same goal.We talk about what this really looks like in construction, where teams tend to break down, and how communication, accountability, and leadership play a role in building a strong team culture.We also get into:What it means to truly operate as a teamCommon mistakes that cause misalignment on projectsHow we set expectations and hold people accountableWhy ego has no place in a high-performing teamHow a strong team directly impacts the client experienceIf you are building a business, leading a team, or want to improve how your projects run, this episode gives you a real look at what it takes to operate at a high level.

In this episode of The Real Build, I sit down with Megan Devane and Henry Jeannin from Ferguson Naples, one of the leading suppliers for plumbing fixtures, appliances, and lighting for luxury homes.Ferguson has been a trusted partner for us for years, helping guide homeowners through one of the most important parts of building a custom home, selecting the right fixtures, appliances, and lighting.We dive into what homeowners should know before making selections, how to avoid common mistakes, and how the right products can elevate the entire home.If you are building a custom home, remodeling, or just want to understand the details that make luxury homes stand out, this conversation will give you valuable insight.In this episode we discuss:• The role Ferguson plays in the custom home building process• How homeowners should approach selecting plumbing fixtures• What appliances are trending in luxury homes today• Lighting selections that elevate a home's design• Common mistakes people make when choosing fixtures• How builders and suppliers work together to create a better client experienceFerguson Naples has become a key resource for builders and homeowners throughout Southwest Florida, helping clients navigate the selection process with expertise and guidance.

Guest Info: Ferguson Naples

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fergusonhome.com/showroom/branch/naples-fl-showroom-0234?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shw_lis_listingtraffic&utm_content=listing

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Email: [email protected]

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▶︎ YOUTUBE | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxAdSxHN0dIXZPhA-6p1HYA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of The Real Build, I sat down with Ed Carbary and Austin Edwards of Elxai Intelligent Homes to talk about smart home technology and how it’s changing the way people live.

We discussed the latest technology being integrated into modern homes, what it looks like when a builder and automation partner work together the right way, and how important it is to properly educate clients on smart home systems.

A lot of people think more technology automatically means a better home, but that’s not always the case. Ed and Austin explain why the best smart homes are often built around simpler, well-designed systems that are reliable, easy to use, and actually improve everyday living.

If you’re building a home and want to understand what smart home technology truly adds value and what’s just unnecessary complexity, this is a conversation worth listening to!

Guest Info: Ed Carbary and Austin Edwards

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://elxai.com/

Host Info:

Email: [email protected]

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▶︎ YOUTUBE | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxAdSxHN0dIXZPhA-6p1HYA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of The Real Build, I sat down with Sam Forline, founder and CEO of Blue Collar Scholars, one of the most trusted renovation and outdoor living companies serving Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia.

Blue Collar Scholars was built on a simple but powerful promise: do it right or don’t do it at all.

What started with one truck and a few tools has grown into a full design-build company known for decks, screened-in porches, patios, drainage systems, retaining walls, and full interior renovations. But what really sets them apart isn’t just the projects. It’s the discipline, communication, and standards behind every build.

We talked about:

• Why craftsmanship still matters in a world chasing speed

• The importance of showing up, telling the truth, and standing behind your work

• Building systems that keep jobs on time and clients informed

• Leading a team that takes pride in every screw, joint, and finish

• Why integrity is the ultimate differentiator in home improvement

Sam breaks down what homeowners should look for in a renovation company, where most contractors fall short, and how strong leadership in the field translates into long-term trust.

If you care about quality, execution, and building something that lasts, this episode delivers.

Guest Info: Sam Forline

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bluecollarscholars.net/

Host Info:

Email: [email protected]

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▶︎ YOUTUBE | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxAdSxHN0dIXZPhA-6p1HYA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of The Real Build, my sister Jenna Popoff stepped in as host and sat down with two of our team members, Michael Belcher and Kathy Ward, to talk about their decision to leave large corporate construction companies and join R.K. Reiman Construction.

They shared what it was like working for major corporate builders, where they felt overlooked, and why they ultimately chose a company where they feel recognized, valued, and empowered to grow.

We talked about:

• The culture differences between corporate giants and a family-owned builder

• Why recognition and accountability matter

• The importance of stronger relationships with homeowners

• How their past experience at larger companies is helping us improve and scale

• What real leadership looks like in construction

  
  

This episode pulls back the curtain on what culture actually means inside a building company and why the right environment changes everything.

If you’re a builder, a leader, or someone thinking about making a career move, this conversation will resonate.

In this episode of The Real Build, I sat down with our superintendent Michael, to talk about one of our core values at R.K. Reiman Construction: meticulous details.

For us, it really is all in the details. We never cut corners. If something isn’t right, we fix it. Period. That mindset is what separates a good home from a great one.

We talked about why small details matter just as much as the big ones, how discipline on the jobsite protects our clients, and why striving for perfection is not optional in the luxury market. Our clients trust us with their dreams, and it’s our responsibility to bring those dreams to life the right way.

This core value isn’t just something we say. It’s something we live out on every project.

In this episode of The Real Build, I’m joined by Daniel McCaulley, owner of Ultimus Engineering.

Daniel is a licensed professional engineer who works closely with builders, architects, and homeowners on residential and commercial projects, especially in high-risk environments like coastal Florida. His firm is involved in everything from new construction to complex structural evaluations, and a big part of his work is fixing problems that could have been avoided with better planning and clearer communication upfront.

A lot of people think engineering is just drawings and calculations. In reality, it’s about managing risk, protecting major investments, and making sure a structure performs the way it’s supposed to for decades. When engineering is done right, nobody notices. When it’s done wrong, it can cost serious money.

We talk about what engineers really do behind the scenes, the most common mistakes Daniel sees on jobsites, how engineering decisions directly affect cost and construction timelines, and what builders and homeowners need to understand before the first shovel ever hits the ground.

This is a conversation every builder and homeowner should hear before starting a project.

Guest Info: Daniel McCaulley

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://ultimus.engineering/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielmccaulley/

Host Info:

Email: [email protected]

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▶︎ YOUTUBE | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxAdSxHN0dIXZPhA-6p1HYA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of The Real Build, I sat down with Tim Street, the owner of Foolproof FSBO, to talk about how he’s challenging and redefining the real estate industry.

Tim is on a mission to educate homeowners and give them the tools to protect themselves when buying or selling a home. We talked about why so many people lose money in real estate without realizing it, the misconceptions around selling without an agent, and what homeowners need to understand before they ever put a sign in the yard.

This conversation digs into transparency, education, and why questioning the status quo makes a lot of people uncomfortable. Whether you’re a homeowner, investor, or just someone who wants to better understand how real estate actually works, this is an episode that will make you think.

Guest Info: Tim Street

Website: ⁠⁠https://foolprooffsbo.com/

Linkedin: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyjstreet/

Host Info:

Email: [email protected]

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▶︎ YOUTUBE | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxAdSxHN0dIXZPhA-6p1HYA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode of The Real Build, I sat down again with my superintendent Mason Blosser to talk about what actually makes or breaks a custom home jobsite and why so many projects go sideways.

We got into execution and the mindset of not letting the jobsite control you, but instead controlling the jobsite. We talked about the importance of strong interaction between the client and the field, holding the Reiman standard on every project, and why consistent meetings with contractors are critical to keeping everyone aligned.

A lot of builders fail at good management, not because they don’t care, but because they don’t have the proper systems in place. When there’s no structure, small issues turn into big problems fast.

This episode pulls back the curtain on what really happens in the field and why discipline, communication, and leadership matter more than excuses.

In this episode of The Real Build, I sat down with Bryan Clayton, co-founder of GreenPal, a platform often compared to the Uber for lawn care. But before GreenPal, Bryan spent years running a traditional landscaping business. He was in the field every day dealing with crews, customers, weather, margins, and all the chaos that comes with service work.

What really pushed Bryan to start GreenPal was being fed up with bad landscapers dragging the industry down. No-shows, poor communication, and unreliable service were hurting good operators and frustrating homeowners. Instead of walking away from the problem, he decided to solve it.

Today, GreenPal has helped generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for lawn care professionals across the country. But the most interesting part of Bryan’s story isn’t just the company, it’s how he built it. Bootstrapped. No shortcuts. A lot of hard lessons learned along the way.

We talked about building from the ground up, mistakes that almost killed the business, and what service-based entrepreneurs can learn from solving real problems in their industry.

If you run a service business, hiring a lawn care company, or are thinking about building something that actually makes an industry better, this is an episode worth listening to.

Guest Info: Bryan Clayton

Website: ⁠https://www.yourgreenpal.com/

Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-clayton-a96b33214/

Host Info:

Email: [email protected]

CONNECT WITH ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

▶︎ YOUTUBE | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxAdSxHN0dIXZPhA-6p1HYA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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