Building Optimal

We are talking with fellow custom home builder, Byron Brooks, of Brookwright Developments on today’s episode. Byron does an excellent job creating a unique brand for his company, and he graciously shares that with us, along with his strategy for developing architect relationships.

Byron and his company operate in Calgary, Canada where they build beautiful custom homes. In their own words:

We are design conscious carpenters who are energized by the idea of helping homeowners and architects realize their vision. We’re individuals who have been drawn together by a quest to fashion tangible things with our hands and the desire to create quality results every day.

This is one of those episodes where we get to learn from a fellow builder who is in the trenches, and who has invested heavily in developing his business.

And last but not least, a special thanks to Treacy Duerfeldt of NWC Alliance and Doug Lynch, my insurance pros and today’s sponsors!

Enjoy the episode!

Byron’s Builders and Brews Group

Brookwright on Instagram

Show Notes:

2:39 - An overview of Brookwright.

5:37 - What is Brookwright’s “why?”

9:21 - Brookwright’s unique branding and value proposition.

14:06 - Brookwright’s strategy of working through architects as the client.

20:16 - Taking care of the architect relationship.

21:42 - What is going on up in Canada?! Dedication to the building craft seems exceptionally high.

24:33 - How to connect with Byron.

25:14 - Byron’s Builder’s and Brews group.

While we love this business, it has its ugly sides. There’s no “disputing" the legal dangers of home building (dad joke). Large sums of money are in play, the largest investments of people’s lives are unfolding, you get the idea...

So, if this were school, this subject would be pretty damned important to ace. That’s why today we are talking to Don Shelton about the major risks he regularly sees and how to improve the grades on your legal report card. Don, in addition to being one of the top home building attorneys in Texas, is a partner at one of the top home building firms in the state...Bush Rudnicki Shelton. They have multiple offices across the state. Don is out of Dallas-Fort Worth.

We interviewed James Rudnicki, one of his partners, a while back here. Their firm consults for industry giants you all know. They literally wrote the contract the Texas Association of Builders uses as its standard form.

So, Don’s the professor for the day, and on a subject you don’t want to sleep through.

And last but not least, a special thanks to Treacy Duerfeldt of NWC Alliance and Doug Lynch, my insurance pros and today’s sponsors!

Show Notes:

3:06 - What is the biggest source of lawsuits for builders?

15:47 - What can builders do to protect themselves?

18:30 - The best strategies to deal with contentious situations.

28:56 - Is it common for plaintiffs to pierce the corporate veil?

35:25- What are the best legal strategies should a builder employee?

We are covering our listener accounting and tax questions in today’s AMA (Ask Me Anything) episode with Sheri Allshouse. Sheri, a repeat guest, is a CPA with an expertise in home building and construction.

Her firm is The Allshouse Group in Houston, Texas. In this discussion, we cover a wide variety of accounting and tax topics, from accounting software and tracking change orders to new tax updates.

To stay up to date on our latest interviews, be sure to sign up for our emails at www.buildingoptimal.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Enjoy the interview!

Show Notes:

03:15 - What software do you recommend?

12:50 - What’s the best way to process changes orders through your accounting system?

16:30 - What is the best way to track expenses that don’t have PO’s like runs to Home Depot?

21:40 - Tax updates affecting us for 2019 filings.

25:50 - What are the energy tax credits available to builders?

30:20 - Any last advice Sheri has for us.

Is it better to work with Realtors or internal sales staff? How much should you pay? How can you build a high performing sales team? We have your answer.

Today’s guest is Sean McDonald, a seasoned building executive with more than 30 years experience. He has built countless sales teams and most recently ran the San Antonio division of Gehan Homes. Sean is currently working on several startup ventures in the home building space, including Land on Earth.

Enjoy the episode!

Show Notes:

[2:43] - The pros and cons of Realtors vs. internal sales team.

[9:25] - Sean’s preferred comp structures.

[15:02] - The specific role of the sales person in the life cycle of the customer.

[18:15] - Comp differences between a spec home vs true custom.

[22:30] - The biggest traps to fall into when building a sales team.

[25:20] - The common qualities of high-performing sales teams.

Bryan Kaplan is an international consultant for builders and the construction industry. Over his 21-year career in the industry, he has been an owner, general manager, and home inspector.

With his breadth of experience, Bryan brings a systems-oriented approach to his clients. In this interview, we visit with Bryan on punch list systems that help you end projects on great terms with your clients.

Connect with Bryan and learn more about his company here.

And last but not least, a special thanks to Treacy Duerfeldt of NWC Alliance and Doug Lynch, my insurance pros and today’s sponsors!