Be a successful building contractor
Book - 2005
Saved in:
- Subjects
- Published
-
New York :
McGraw Hill
c2005.
- Language
- English
- Main Author
- Edition
- 3rd ed
- Item Description
- "Quick calculations ; land development tips and techniques for builders ; "getting computerized" chapter updated ; tip boxes added throughout"--Cover.
- Physical Description
- xx, 396 p. ; 24 cm
- Bibliography
- Includes index.
- ISBN
- 9780071441742
- Introduction
- Chapter 1. Welcome to the Construction Industry
- Basic Needs
- First Hurdles
- Knowledge
- The Dangers
- How Many Houses Can You Build?
- How Much Money Can You Make?
- Chapter 2. Getting Your Feet Wet
- Which Type of House Should You Build First?
- Picking the Right House Plan
- Your Edge
- Bringing It All Together
- Test the Waters
- Chapter 3. What Do You Want to Accomplish in Your Business Career?
- When Your Job Becomes Your Business
- Construction Offers You Many Business Opportunities
- What Do You Want from Your Business?
- Where Do You Want Your Business to Be in Five Years?
- What Type of Customer Do You Want to Serve?
- What Role Will You Play in The Business?
- Have You Evaluated Your Cash Reserves?
- Chapter 4. Taking the Plunge
- Keeping Your Expenses in Check
- Beating Heavy Overhead Expenses
- Learn What Expenses to Cut
- Know Which Expenses Are Justified
- Cutting the Wrong Expenses Can Be Expensive
- Looking Into the Future
- Long-Range Planning Pays Off in the End
- Focusing on Change
- Chapter 5. Getting Organized and Ready to Work
- Choosing Your Business Structure
- What Type of Business Structure Is Best for You?
- Learn the Pros and Cons of Each Form of Business
- Chapter 6. 15 Mistakes Builders Make That You Can Avoid
- It Takes More Money Than You Think
- Avoiding Heavy Overhead Expenses
- Too Cautious
- Select Your Subcontractors Carefully
- Set Up a Line of Credit
- Get It in Writing
- Stay Away from Time-and-Material Prices
- Check Zoning Regulations
- Covenants and Restrictions
- Insurance
- Inaccurate Quotes
- Inspect Your Jobs Frequently
- Customer Relations
- Change Orders
- Never Get Too Comfortable
- Chapter 7. The Pros and Cons of Building Model Homes
- It's Easier to Sell
- Credibility
- Extra Attention
- The Disadvantages
- Subdivisions
- Building Here and There
- My Personal Opinion
- Chapter 8. Courting Bankers
- Good Credit Is Crucial to a Growing Business
- Trade Accounts
- Selecting Your Lending Institutions
- How to Establish Credit When You Have None
- How to Overcome a Poor Credit Rating
- Seven Techniques to Assure Your Credit Success
- Credit for Your Customers
- An Edge
- Bonds
- Chapter 9. Selling Without Having a House to Show
- The Basics
- Talk Less and Listen More
- People Like to Talk
- Getting Down to Business
- The Key Elements
- Chapter 10. Opening Your Own Office
- Should You Work from Home or from a Rented Space?
- Self-Discipline
- Storefront Requirements
- Commercial Image
- Assess Your Office Needs
- Location Can Make a Difference
- How Much Office Can You Afford?
- Answering Services Compared to Answering Machines
- Chapter 11. Finding the Best Building Lots
- Not All Lots Are Created Equally
- Utility Hookups
- Lay of the Land
- Flood Zones
- Trees
- Access
- Restrictions
- Finding the Cream of the Crop
- Chapter 12. Controlling Desirable Lots in Subdivisions Without Buying Them
- Takedown Schedules
- Options
- Stretch Your Money
- Chapter 13. Developing Your Own Building Lots
- Little Deals
- When Things Go Right
- Mid-Size Deals
- Big Deals
- It's Tempting
- Chapter 14. Building on Speculation
- Picking Lots and Plans
- Target Your Market
- Hitting Your Mark
- A Safety Net
- Colors and Products
- Selling Your Spec Houses
- Chapter 15. Selling with Real-Estate Broker
- Sell It Yourself?
- In-House Sales
- Buyer's Agents
- Seller's Agents
- Big Real-Estate Companies
- Ask Questions
- The Commission
- Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
- Doing the Grunt Work
- Chapter 16. Managing Your Time and Your Money
- Time Is Money
- Budget Your Time
- Know When You Are Wasting Your Time
- Controlling Long-Winded Gab Sessions
- Set Your Appointments for Maximum Efficiency
- Reduce Lost Time in the Office
- The A List and the B List
- Reduce Lost Time in the Field
- Using a Tape Recorder to Improve Efficiency
- Should You Have a Cell Phone?
- Chapter 17. Adding a Computer to Your Toolbox
- Desktop Alternatives
- Getting Started
- How Will a Computer Help Your Business?
- Building Customer Credibility with Computers
- Spreadsheets, Databases, and Word Processing
- The Power of Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
- Selecting Your Hardware
- Chapter 18. Keeping Track of Your Cash
- Keeping Your Accounts Receivable and Payable Under Control
- Cash Flow
- Looking Ahead to Financial Challenges
- Money Management
- Contract Deposits
- Eliminating Subcontractor Deposits
- Stretch Your Money
- Credit
- Collecting Past-Due Accounts
- Construction Loans
- Taxes
- Surviving an IRS Audit
- The Legal Side
- Choosing Attorneys and Accountants
- Documenting Your Business Activity
- Contracts, Change Orders, and Related Paperwork
- Good Contracts Make Satisfied Customer
- Chapter 19. Trucks, Tools, Equipment, and Inventory
- Leasing vs. Purchasing
- Separate Needs from Desires
- Financial Justification
- How Much Inventory Should You Stock?
- Controlling Inventory Theft and Waste
- Stocking Your Trucks Efficiently
- Chapter 20. Subcontractors, Suppliers, and Building Officials
- Subcontractors
- Suppliers and Vendors
- Materials
- Choosing Subcontractors
- Dealing with Suppliers
- Making Your Best Deal
- Expediting Materials
- Avoiding Common Problems
- Building Good Relations with Building Code Officials
- Chapter 21. Bidding Methods That Really Work
- Word-of-Mouth Referrals
- Customer Satisfaction
- Reaching Out for a New Customer Base
- Payment, Performance, and Bid Bonds
- Big Jobs-Big Risks?
- The Bid Process
- Preparing Accurate Take-Offs
- Pricing
- What Is a Profitable Markup?
- How Can Your Competitors Offer Such Low Prices?
- Pricing Services for Success and Longevity
- Proper Presentation
- Know Your Competition
- Effective Estimating Techniques
- Chapter 22. Jobsite Safety Makes Good Sense and Cents
- Let's Talk About OSHA
- Trenching
- Personal Protection
- Developing a Good Safety Program
- Chapter 23. Keeping Your Customers Happy
- Meeting Your Customers on Their Level
- Qualifying Your Customers
- How to Satisfy Your Customers
- Public Relations Skills
- Establishing Clear Communication Channels with Customers
- Chapter 24. Creating and Promoting an Attractive Business Image
- Public Perception Is Half the Battle
- Picking a Company Name and Logo
- How Your Image Affects Your Clientele and Fee Schedule
- Your Image Is Difficult to Change
- Set Yourself Apart from the Crowd
- Build Demand for Your Services Through a Strong Image
- Joining Clubs and Organizations to Generate Sales Leads
- There Is No Business Without Sales
- Marketing Is Pivotal to Any Business
- Should You Enlist Commissioned Salespeople?
- Where Should You Advertise?
- What Rate of Return Will You Receive on Advertising Costs?
- Use Advertising for Multiple Purposes
- Building Name Recognition Through Advertising
- Generating Direct Sale Activity with Advertising
- Without Advertising the Public Will Not Know You Exist
- Promotional Activities
- How to Stay Busy in Slow Times
- Chapter 25. Hiring Employees
- Do You Need Employees?
- How to Find Good Employees
- Employee Paperwork
- How to Keep Good Employees
- Controlling Employee Theft
- Exercising Quality Control Over Employees
- Training Employees to Do the Job
- Training Employees to Deal with Customers
- Establishing Employee Cost to Your Company
- Dealing with Production Downtime
- Reducing Employee Callbacks and Warranty Work
- Office Employees
- Field Employees
- Employee Motivation Tactics
- Chapter 26. Planning Your Future
- Company-Provided Insurance for Yourself
- Employee Benefits
- Making Plans for Your Later Years
- Liability Insurance
- Worker's Compensation Insurance
- Retirement Plan Options
- In Closing
- Appendix. Manufacturer Directory
- Index