Built to Build: Blog

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH A VIDEO TUTORIAL OF THIS POST. Learning how to estimate a residential construction project takes years of experience both in the field and in the office. For the construction business owner gaining the experience in the fieldwork is the fun part, and the office work is…
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See why John Malecki calls Shawn an “absolute beast and a wrecking ball of knowledge” in episode 37 of the Made for Profit Podcast. Listen and learn: Shawn’s backstory and how he decided to make the leap to creative freedom as a construction business coach How you can make a…
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Consuming books has become a passion of mine. I started developing a passion for books in 2016. In that post I set a goal of consuming 52 books in 2017. I failed. I only consumed 36 books in 2017, well short of my goal. But I still feel accomplished because…
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Developing a strategy for how to grow your construction business in the New Year requires planning. In fact, the act of planning is more important than the plan itself. The plans you make today are for a world that will change tomorrow. Knowing how to plan will ensure that you…
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Managing construction schedules is as much about disseminating information to your employees as it is communicating the progress of your construction projects to your customers. Communicating the construction schedule occurs organically between the construction business owner or project manager and the customer through day-to-day correspondence on-site or through digital means.…
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Selling construction services to your ideal clients requires the salesperson (in many cases the business owner) to have confidence in three areas of the business. Developing confidence in your process, in your numbers, and in walking away can eliminate the fear involved with selling construction services. In this article on…
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In this special episode, the fourth recorded live at the 2017 Remodeling Show and Deck Expo, Fine Homebuilding editor Justin Fink and editorial director Rob Yagid talk with Shawn about customer fear and how to make your clients feel confident. Plus, estimates vs. proposals.

Designing a comprehensive construction contract is the best way to mitigate the risk to your construction business, protect yourself from legal disputes, and establish trust with your customers. There are many types of construction contracts that can achieve the goals listed above, and you should consult an attorney for the…
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Construction pricing can be a difficult thing master.  Developing a pricing strategy for your construction business is both an art and a science. The science part is knowing the numbers of your business, and the art is selling the value of your work to your customers. In this article on…
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Construction companies that specialize in the work they perform can operate at a higher level of efficiency, charge more for their work, and deliver more consistent results than those construction companies that don’t develop a niche market specialty. Just because you can do it doesn’t mean that you should. In…
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Development of construction business systems enables you to provide accurate pricing for your work, track your productivity, and allows your business to operate without the owner getting bogged down in the whirlwind of the day-to-day. THE MODERN CRAFTSMAN PODCAST with KEN ALGER Ken Alger, @RIwoodworker on Instagram and the Owner…
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Leading your construction clients through a successful project involves showing them the steps from conception to completion. Navigating this path is made easier when the client/contractor relationship is built on trust.  Establishing that trust with your clients can only occur when they understand your process, the language of your construction…
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Running a successful construction business requires more than technical proficiency with tools and the ability to do good work. Establishing clear lines of communication with your construction employees enables them to operate more efficiently, empowers them to execute their jobs without delays, and ensures quality standards are met. How a…
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I speak with many construction business owners all over the world and when I ask them about their goals for their company, they often talk about growth…but then many of them say this… “I am not really into it for the money.” And I understand why they are saying this…because…
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TECHNIQUES FOR ESTIMATING A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT There is a two-step process for estimating every construction project: Step 1. Determine Your Costs Step 2. Apply a Markup that will yield the appropriate profit after expenses It is that simple, but it is not that easy if you don’t have a systematic…
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Finding good subcontractors for your construction business involves establishing two key systems. The first system to develop is based on the relationship you will have with your subcontractors or specialty trade partners. This system is based on trust. The second system to develop within your construction business is one that…
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Communicating the construction labor budget to your crew is vital to achieving the production goals of any construction project. But many construction companies ignore calculating the specific labor budget for a given job. If you do not clearly communicate the labor budget to your employees, then your employees are left…
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Not accounting for the labor burden in a construction estimate can come at a very heavy price. The labor burden is determined by the indirect costs of employing someone. If these “hidden” costs aren’t accounted for, then each project you perform could put you further and further out of business.…
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In Episode 292 of the Dose of Leadership Podcast, Shawn discusses how to attract the right people to work for you, leadership lessons he’s learned throughout his career, and how to get freedom through boundaries.

There are lots of important aspects to running a construction business. The most important aspect, however is the “business” side of your business. In other words analyzing your construction company’s financial statements. Your numbers. On Episode PP016 of the Protractor Podcast, you’ll learn: How Shawn went from engineer to business…
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Your Business Is Only As Good As Your Numbers I am a numbers guy at heart.  I can’t help myself.  It’s just the way I was made. Many contractors struggle with understanding the numbers side of their businesses. And I love helping contractors learn the numbers side of their businesses.…
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Glengarry Glen Ross, a movie based on the play by David Mamet, debuted in 1992 with an all-star cast. The movie depicts a day in the life of four real estate salesmen and their dubious tactics to close less than optimal leads. Alec Baldwin plays Blake, a suit, sent from…
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On Episode 33 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast, Shawn joins Rob Yagid and Justin Fink at the International Builders Show to discus bringing new people into trades. Listen and learn: How to figure out the value of your time How to find new employees through social media Ways to deal…
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Setting big goals may be the problem. The beginning of a new year is a horrible time to start working on goals.  People put too much pressure on themselves to make massive changes.  These goals are often too big and too general to be of any use.  Studies show that…
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HOW TO USE PSYCHOLOGY TO TO MAKE YOUR ESTIMATES STAND OUT Construction estimating for a potential client’s project is just as much psychology as it is math. You may not be aware of the psychology that surrounds many of the buying decisions you make every day. An entire field of…
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