Thursday, January 31, 2013
In 2012, a Start to Recovery for New-Home Sales
Women driving demand for rental apartments
Even as housing and the greater economy improve, a shift in demographic trends will likely favor the rental apartment market for the foreseeable future. It is all about women.
Hoar Construction: Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children
News Summary: December US pending home sales fall
FEWER CONTRACTS SIGNED: The National Association of Realtors' index of signed contracts to buy homes dropped 4.3 percent in December to 101.7. That's down from a 2 1/2 -year high in November.
Stock market live Jan 30: Top gainers - WPP, Prudential, RSA Insurance
The UK stock market rose marginally today after yesterday's decline , by 0.05% at 6,342.64 as strong gains in the financial sectors was outweighed by heavy losses in the resources sector, resulting in a mixed trading atmosphere this morning.
Stephanie Camay is Inaugural Recipient of TRB Outstanding...
The inaugural TRB Outstanding Young Member Award was presented to Stephanie Camay, transportation planner, URS Corp., on January 14, 2013.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tight inventory slows US pending home sales
Sales were held back by a limited supply of available homes. The National Association of Realtors said Monday that its seasonally adjusted index for pending home sales dropped 4.3 percent in December from November to 101.7. That's still 6.9 percent higher than a year ago.
CPV Sentinel Natural Gas Power Plant
Next big thing in real estate: tiny apartments
New Yorkers are famous for their teeny apartments, but a new trend in dwelling seeks to transform those tiny spaces into big assets. They're called "micro apartments," and they make a few hundred square feet feel like over a thousand
Why you might consider an adjustable-rate mortgage
You don't hear much about adjustable-rate mortgages these days, but for the right kind of borrower, they're still an attractive option.
Manufacturing Declines to Weakest Level Since July 2009
EPA Study: Infill Represents 21% of New-Home Construction
Subcontractor fined for unlicensed workers at new Southbridge solar array
The Board of State Examiners of Electricians recently found that Patriot Solar Group LLC of Michigan, a subcontractor for the nearly finished large solar farm at 236 Blackmer Road, was not licensed for the work.
Spain Woos Foreigners to Thin Its Inventory of Unsold Homes
Spain plans to offer residency permits to foreign buyers to revive a collapsed real estate market, a measure aimed at non-European Union citizens like Russians and Chinese.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Ark. gov. announces $1.1 billion steel mill plan
US economy gets lift from housing, other tailwinds
The housing, banking and auto industries are surging back to health and that has helped push the stock market to a five-year peak.
KimYe's crib: Kardashian, West buy in Bel-Air
This week in celebrity real estate, Kanye West and his girlfriend Kim Kardashian entered a contract to buy a home in Bel-Air. Madonna moved her enormous Beverly Hills estate from a pocket listing to an official listing on the MLS.
Goldman, Morgan Stanley cut $557 million deal
Sundt Construction: Sellwood Bridge
Bond Architects: Ladue Education Center
SHoP Construction
Monday, January 28, 2013
US stocks edge up after stronga
U.S. stocks fell Monday morning, backing off a rally that had pushed the Standard & Poor's 500 index above 1,500 for the first time since December 2007.
Not paid enough? You should trade up
When it comes to wages growth, you'd be better off holding a power drill than a dentist's drill.
Oil rises above $96 ahead of US data
The price of oil rose slightly Monday, a sign of investor confidence in the U.S. economy's recovery ahead of the release of data on jobs, home sales and the country's overall growth.
Sundt Construction: Sellwood Bridge
Carrie Underwood sells Tennessee home
This week in celebrity real estate, country star Carrie Underwood unloaded a relatively modest home in Tennessee and teen star Miranda Cosgrove bought a home in L.A.
MENIFEE: Preservation of historical site thwarts trail plan
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Menifee are the remnants of the people who called the area home hundreds of years ago.
BCIN Designer Requirements and Qualifications to Meet Code
A design firm or individual who is engaged in providing the public with design activities must be licensed. Whoever the registrant is of a partnership or corporation will be required to be licensed. This could be an officer, partner, and/or an employee of a firm. Anyone who will be reviewing and taking responsibility on any design activities will have to be licensed and have a identification number from the Ministry. Every five years the code is updated, therefore, licensees will have to update their qualifications at that time.
Responsibility for qualification and registration lies with the firm or individual. The municipality holds the responsibility of validating information listed on the application, making sure that proper insurance is in force, and that registration with the province has been filed. It also accepts, approves, renews, suspends, and revokes licenses. In addition, it is under the municipality's jurisdiction to enforce the building codes.
Any documents that are filed with the chief building official must have the identification number of the firm and the qualified person listed. This qualified person must also submit a statement of responsibility for any design activities. This person will also be required to have his or her name and signature on the document.
Builders, officials, and designers can easily be verified for registration and qualification requirements. By searching online for the Qualification and Registration Tracking System, or QuARTS, the public is allowed the information needed to make sure they are dealing with professionals who are compliant with the codes. To access the information you will need one of three pieces of information, the last name of the individual (first too if possible), or the name of the company, or the BCIN. The site is in both English and French.
By searching QuARTS you will be presented with the following information, the name and BCIN, what area of qualification has been met, what the categories of qualification has been met, the status, a link to the organization's information. The organization information includes the address, telephone, fax and E-mail address, and the name of the company. The identification number, status, and registration are again shown.
Bill 124, in addition to requiring qualifications, registration, and insurance, also instituted time frame for processing, issuance, or for the provision of a permit rejection. The required application forms for permits were standardized for use across the province. Fee structure rules were instituted, and inspections became mandatory at benchmark stages of construction.
With the intent on providing qualified plans for permits, the Ministry works with professionals to make the process easier. A BCIN designer, other builders, the community, as well as the owner of the building project will spend less time in the permit process and more time getting the job completed. Search online for education locations and requirements.
SHoP Construction
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Best housing markets for 2013
In the past 12 months, home prices have skyrocketed in some major U.S. cities.
Tenth Hostage Victim Arrives in Japan
The remains of the former JGC Corp vice president who was killed in a siege by militants in Algeria was returned to Japan on Saturday .
The Construction Contractor's Digest | Construction Executive Advisory
Sam,
Thank you for your gift of a book and kind note. These are both treasures.
I have thought about your question concerning what to do with the book that demanded a large investment on your part.
Here is a partial answer, I will think about this over the next month and drop you a note or two.
Books, as you know, are slow movers unless you are Oprah. This is good and bad. Good ? a steady flow of interests over years as people discover yours. Bad ? not the immediate recognition it deserves.
So, the fun part of this is the creation of marketing support and selling it. You have time to do both. Here are some things we do:
? Weblog ? I continue to write sparingly on it but, it keeps the rankings up and does generate some engagement with people in the industry
? Newsletter ? some of this is work but, it is not if you like to write. Each time it publishes, there is some feedback from your readers.
? Commercial website with a shopping cart ? this helps establish presence and sell books.
? IPhone ? have the Square credit card commerce service ? if I meet someone and happen to mention construction. We find our way to talking about my books. I might sell one and take their credit card right then and there ? $2.75 per swipe charge. I can be a sales person at times and it is fun.
? Electronically convert it ? it is a lower margin but, higher / more widespread (worldwide) distribution. Both of mine are. The third which will be based on PhD research is my ?opus?. It is a construction business system that is along the lines of ?Good to Great?. It will be real charge to perfect it and publish it. I am ?amped? (Late 2013)
Your publisher can help in several ways to market ? most don?t since the ROI in book publishing is single digits ? so many are just printers with a rolodex of contacts to send samples to ? then they play catch with any orders that may result ? (they don?t sell or market). That leaves you to the be the chief believer ? salesperson and marketer ? of the book.
What comes to mind for you ? this is my sense ? that you could have a lot of fun visiting book clubs, libraries, associations and bookstores across the U.S. (maybe elsewhere). As long as somebody buys a required number, you tell them you will show up. Jet Blue / SW Airlines / Hotwire / a hybrid car etc. make travel cheap and string a few close cities together and you may make a profit. Throw in a 2 hour breakfast meeting at Association Y and then a strategic planning session / future trends speech and you have made a couple of dollars.
University students need to hear about managing labor, field experience, negotiation skills among other expertise you have. Many of them will thank you at the end of the course. They will realize the wisdom and that you cared to tell them about ?reality?.
Not glamorous but, this is the life we choose as authors, writers, advisors and educators.
As far as your statement about your last book, I don?t know if you are accurate. Never ask a NFL player his future plans after the Super Bowl or an author after his / her last book. A person?s perspective is sensitive to time and in the football player?s case, one that reflects his tired / hurt body after an 8 month season.
I know of no one who ever stopped writing. They write something until their ?cold, dead fingers? are removed from pen / laptop.
To me, being significant is most important in this professional life. It is not shared by everyone but, then again I am a believer in what I believe.
More later.
Matt
Tignish, Tyne Valley game postponed
The Walsh Group: Military Barracks Renovation
Ex-Rangers owner expects $135M for estate on sale
Former Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks is offering the chance to live in one of Dallas' biggest estates and become a neighbor of former President George W. Bush.
Markup and Profit Blog | We like to see the Good Guys Win!
A national construction-industry magazine posted a note that said about half of their subscribers were in the path of Hurricane Sandy these past few days. Which leads me to a question: How many of those contractors are taking advantage of the potential new business?
Let me share some thoughts. Storm damage may or may not be the kind of work you like to do, but it is work. I?ve said many times that the smart contractors, the ones who make good money, focus on their most profitable work, whether or not it?s the work they like to do. Doing what you like is a hobby. Doing what makes money is a business.
If you were in the path of Sandy, this is a great opportunity to reconnect with all your previous clients, as well as potential new clients, friends, neighbors and just about anyone else you have the ability to reach. Let them know you?re there to help them recover. We received some email newsletters from contractors just before the storm hit that listed all the emergency information their clients might need during and after the storm. What a great idea! Those companies got after it.
Warn clients about the hazards they might face if they get involved with a storm chaser company. Those are the companies that move into an area right after a storm to pick up insurance work, and move out when the work is done. Some are legitimate and do good work, but your clients need to be warned that there are bad ones as well. The focus should be on dealing with people you know. Warn them about high-pressure tactics, requests for large down payments, one or two page contracts, etc. My suggestion is to give your potential clients the same information and warnings that you?d give your mom if she was dealing with damage to her home. Tell them what they need to know about the repair process and how to make sure they?ll be treated right.
In repair work like this, you?ll probably be involved with insurance claims. That means you?re going to run into issues you don?t normally bump into with remodeling or new home construction. Points to consider:
Be nice to the adjusters. They have a tough job getting all these claims settled. But remember, nobody and I mean nobody, can do work for 10% overhead and 10% profit as they want you to believe. Price your jobs the same or as needed to cover the higher cost of doing this type of work, and stick to it.
Get all depreciated and deductible amounts paid upfront by the client or don?t start the job. If you don?t collect upfront, you stand a big chance of not getting paid on either or both of these at all. And watch out here, because the adjusters often don?t want contractors talking about these two items because it ?upsets? the customers. The problem is that you?re the one who has to collect them, and you?ll be even more upset if you can?t collect them when the job is complete.
Last but not least, be sure you know who the payment will come from. If payment will come from your client, schedule your down payment and progress payments like normal on your contract. If you?re going to be paid by the insurance company, make sure that the check goes directly to you and is made out directly to you. If the check is made out to you, your client and the mortgage holder, it can take a long time to get that check signed. Guess who waits for their money while the wheels grind?
There are other issues to consider ? I could write a book on the subject. Instead, pages 250-256 in the book ?Markup & Profit Revisited? discuss insurance work. And Craftsman Book Company wrote a book on the subject ? ?Insurance Restoration Contracting?. I recommend them both.
Get after it my friends; help your clients get their homes and buildings put back together. And make a reasonable profit on that work. That?s why you?re in business.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Sharga: Several More Years with Nearly 1M Foreclosures Per Year
City anchor: Despite December cheer, real estate market sluggish
After a slump in the real estate market during most part of last year, December 2012 seems to have seen a substantial recovery in home sales registrations.
Bill Would Give U.S. Visas to Foreign Home Buyers
RLF: Irwin Army Community Hospital
Ten workers die in Russia building fire
2013 NFL Draft: Scariest D-Line Prospects in This Year's Class
The word "prospect" conjures up different images, but it mostly speaks of potential.
EPA Study: Infill Represents 21% of New-Home Construction
Shanghai Tower Construction & Development Co. Ltd.: Building Design, Construction and Management
Friday, January 25, 2013
Why It's Time to Buy
Quarterly Dividend of $0.27 Announced by Carbo Ceramics
Carbo Ceramics announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, January 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.27 per share on Friday, February 15th.
Cloud-based solution Profit Strategies mobile app
Profit Strategies has launched the Coolfront mobile, flat-rate application that enables electrical contractors to ditch paperwork for a user-friendly, cloud-based system that works anywhere, any time.
SC City Council: Oppose Desal Marketing
Post Measure P Passage Greetings! On Tuesday night, the Santa Cruz City Council will vote to extend for the sixth time the controversial Kennedy-Jenks . In essence, K/J is the lead consultant for coordinating and advancing all aspects of the regional desal project, including together with URS Corp.
21 Big Ideas for Home Design Today
SC City Council: Oppose Desal Marketing
Post Measure P Passage Greetings! On Tuesday night, the Santa Cruz City Council will vote to extend for the sixth time the controversial Kennedy-Jenks . In essence, K/J is the lead consultant for coordinating and advancing all aspects of the regional desal project, including together with URS Corp.
Unfinished Luxury Tower Is Stark Reminder of Las Vegas?s Economic Reversal
The Harmon Tower, part of the $8.5 billion complex known as CityCenter, remains in build-it-or-tear-it-down legal limbo after inspectors found construction defects in 2008.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
U.S. Home Sales Rose To Five-Year High In 2012
U.S. sales of previously occupied homes rose in 2012 to their highest level in five years, spurred higher by record-low mortgage rates and steady hiring.
Strains Visible in Homes Data
Boise Cascade files for IPO worth up to $243 million
Boise Cascade LLC, which makes wood products and building materials, said Wednesday that it plans to sell 11.8 million shares of its common stock in an initial public offering that could generate up to $243.5 million in proceeds.