Tag Archives: Construction Scheduling Software

Trend Alert: Let’s Talk Tiny Houses

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What’s a Tiny House?

There’s a new trend that’s slowly taking the nation by storm and it’s all about tiny houses. And when we say tiny, we do mean really small and compact houses. All around the country, more and more people are trading in space for simplicity.

But first, let’s define what a tiny house is. Simply put, tiny houses or tiny homes refer to a small house that typically measures around 100 to 400 square feet. This is a stark contrast to the typical American home which is around 2600 square feet.

Tiny houses are also known as: micro houses, compact houses, mini houses, or little houses. Most of these structures feature an open floor plan for the first floor (living room, kitchen and bathroom), and usually, a bedroom or sleeping area up on a loft.

Small homes come in two kinds, the permanent standalone ones and the portable or movable ones on wheels. Obviously, the second type is inspired by RV living.

The typical demographic of tiny house owners are 1) young couples, 2) retirees-people over 50 years old, 3) college grads.

Buyer Motivations

While many people make tiny houses as their main residence, others purchase or build them in order to have: 1) a home office, 2) a guest suite, 3) a home for returning adult children, 4) a mobile home that will facilitate interstate travel.

Here are other reasons why buyers are going small:

  • Little to no debt (affordable)
  • Reduced carbon footprint, environmental reasons
  • Self sufficiency
  • Lower taxes
  • Fast build-time (2 months on average)
  • Lower cost for maintenance
  • Simpler lifestyle

The tiny house phenomenon is quickly catching on. According to studies, 68% of tiny house owners have no mortgage, compared to 29.3% of all U.S. homeowners. In addition, 78% of tiny house buyers completely own their home, compared to 65% of the owners of traditional houses.

People have even coined a term for the rising trend in smaller homes- they call it the Tiny House Movement.

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Would you consider building tiny homes?

What about you, fellow builders? Would you consider adding tiny homes to your portfolio? They’re very easy to build and are attractive to various customer demographics.

It’s also a fun challenge in terms of design- managing good aesthetics with limited space and functionality. Is this feasible to your company as add-on side projects? If so, will you be able to juggle it efficiently with your major home projects?

Construction Project Management Scheduling Software

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Construction Management Scheduling Software

Construction Management Scheduling Software such as SAM (The Superintendent’s Automated Manager) is a project management tool that allows easy collaboration and maximized efficiency. It streamlines the communication process between the construction manager, his team, and all contractors involved in order to sync their schedules and keep everyone updated.

Ideally, a project management scheduling software should also have quick reporting features that will allow easy tracking of project schedules, accomplishments, budget, estimates, etc.

It should also be easy to use , so that all involved key personnel will be able to easily understand and utilize it. In addition to this, the best construction management scheduling software should also allow for mobile use while also being compatible with your existing programs and software (such as accounting programs).

The Need

Anyone and everyone who has ever worked in construction knows that a single project alone involves a strict timeline, tight schedules, and tasks that need to be as detailed as possible. In addition to this, people have to be managed, contractors scheduled, deliveries and installations carefully executed, and paperwork settled– all within the contsraints of a limited budget. Multiply these by the number of projects you have going on at a single time and you get one very high-strung construction manager.

Who should use project management scheduling software?

Best construction project management scheduling software such as SAM is ideal for custom home builders, developers, construction management firms, engineering firms, and specialty contractors.

Enter SAM

SAM is a construction management scheduling software program designed specifically to make multiple project handling much simpler. It enables home construction managers to automatically work through a customized set of steps, while documenting the specifics of each project at each stage of construction. The end result is a home built on time, under budget, and up to your standards of excellence.

The History of SAM

SAM was designed and refined over a ten and a half year period on Excel by Danny LeBlanc, the current owner and CEO of Automated Trackers, whose building history covers a wide range of experience including residential track and custom homes, condos/apartments, and commercial construction. Danny wanted a reliable scheduling program that allowed him to build and manage the construction of projects, the way builders build. Prior to launch, Danny used the SAM prototype program to manage over 40 construction projects at one time.

Know more about SAM

To know more about what SAM does, check out this page OR you can also schedule your own free 30-day trial in order to see for yourself exactly how SAM can improve your business and increase your profits.

How to Realign Yourself in Order to Get Things Done

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How big a procrastinator are you? Are you doing it right now? Is there too much on your plate lately? Are you finding it difficult to juggle the millions of tasks in your to-do list?

In this post, we’re going to talk about how to realign yourself (and your mind) in order to get things done. This week, to help you sort through your mental mess of never-ending tasks, we’re giving you a few simple questions that you need to ask yourself.

Who am I going to be today? 

Start every day with a simple meditation. This only needs a minute or two. Decide on who you want to become for the day. Do you want to be a driven drill sergeant, a compassionate counselor, an inspiring free-thinker, or an enterprising innovator? Whatever you decide will serve as your anchor for the day’s activities. This will influence your priorities and decision-making.

When the pressures of work deadlines are too much, a little bit of mental and emotional conditioning can go a a long way.

What am I committed to? 

Sometimes, the most effective way to get things done is to focus on the bigger picture. What is the outcome that you want to achieve? However, oftentimes we find ourselves saying, “Oh, I don’t have time for that.” The truth is, what you’re actually saying is that you are not committed to it. If there’s a will there’s a way right? We will always find time for the things that we are committed to.

A simple way to find out what you’re committed to is to look at the things that you spend the most time on. For example, how many hours a day do you spend on social media? If your answer is about 3 hours or more, then stop and reassess. Is it absolutely essential for you to be allocating 3 hours of your day for that?

What are the things that need to be done? 

It’s a simple enough question but it helps a lot in sorting out your head. As a tip, remember that you should always put the bigger picture within view. All of the smaller tasks should bring you toward the bigger goal. If all of the little things are bringing you down, try focusing on a big, rewarding goal that will inspire you to push forward.

What are the tools that I have at my disposal? 

Stop for aminute to think about your resources. Do you have an awesome team of hardworking people? Do you have valuable connections? Do you have the latest tech tools to speed up efficiency? Do you have the support of loving friends and/or family? Most of the time, our minds get so clogged up by things we need to do, that we tend to completely forget about the helpful things that we already have at our disposal. Find out what your weapons are and use them wisely. Maximize what’s already within reach. Remembering your strengths will not only motivate you, it will also help you to come up with brilliant solutions to your problems.

Speaking of tools that you can use to get things done, have you checked out SAM yet? It’s the Superintendent’s Automated Manager. Click this link to learn more about how it can help you to juggle up to 10 construction projects at once.

Sometimes, You Have to Say a Nice “No”

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Yes ma’am! Yes sir!

Most entrepreneurs can’t find enough hours in a day to do all of the things they want. Despite this however, we often find ourselves saying yes to even more requests. Maybe it’s because as entrepreneurs we’re optimists by nature. We believe that even the most mundane tasks can still be squeezed into a day. It could also be due to our instinct to always impress other people and avoid causing disappointment. Builders know this all too often. Clients often make unlimited requests and countless inquiries.

What’s at stake?

When you take on too much, you are putting your health, credibility and efficiency at risk. When you over reach and are not able to deliver on all of your promises, not only will it give you stress, it can also cast a negative light on you and your entire company.

Saying NO without hurting business relationships

A successful entrepreneur should be accountable for all commitments. It’s also important to manage the expectations of both your team and your clients. Here are a few things to remember so that you can say “no” without burning bridges or hurting a client’s feelings.

1. Establish boundaries – When you’re dealing with clients, give them a gentle reminder of the scope and limits of your contract and agreement.  Be professional about it. When you’re dealing with your constituents, know your priorities and limits. Don’t say yes when you actually mean no. Don’t break your own rules. Be calm and firm, but never rude nor disrespectful.

2. Ask for some time to check your calendar – It’s an acceptable business practice to review your schedule first or converse with other principals before committing to an answer. It’s not a good idea to quickly say yes when you’re not yet sure that you can deliver. A quick no on the other hand can immediately ruin good ties. Again, be professional. Check your schedule first and see if you can confidently say yes to a request before doing so.

3. Pause – Before saying yes, take a deep breath and think. What do you r instincts say? Should you say yes? Or is your mind screaming, “No you cannot possibly accommodate this!” You can also take a longer pause and give yourself some time to make a pros and cons list. Talk to the client and lay out your situation first. This can lead you both to a nice compromise. The key here is to stop briefly and assess the situation. It also buys you some time!

4. Explain your constraints – Don’t be so quick to dole out the rejection. Make sure to provide the requestor with a clear context. The task they’re asking may be too hard on your current workload, manpower, budget, or strategies. Make sure to keep things encouraging first.

5. Say YES to the person, NO to the task – Sometimes, it’s all about the manner on how you talk to someone. Make sure that the other person understands how positively you feel about them. Even if you may not be able to accommodate the request now, reassure them that it’s not a personal affront. Keep the relationship on a positive note.

6.  Sandwich the NO between a double YES – If you’re sure that you won’t be able to commit to a specific request, you can keep things positive by sandwiching the NO between two yeses. For example, if your client demands that you yourself visit the build site, and you absolutely cannot do it, give them a positive project update first, and then end the statement by saying that you will send your best man to personally inspect their concern. Give them two things to smile about so they can forego the minor disappointment.

Before anything else…

But wait, before you do anything drastic, make sure to have a good scheduling system in place. Something like SAM- The Superintendent’s Automated Manager. Use SAM to coordinate your things-to-do and your project timelines. With its instant reporting tools, you’ll find out immediately just where each project stands. It will allow you to check your schedule in an instant, as well as pass along vital information to your key personnel.

So to conclude, remember that it’s okay to say no sometimes. Delegating the request to a team member could be the better solution. Sometimes you also just need to prioritize. As a leader you have to make the tough decisions, but at the end of the day, you still need to keep your stakeholders happy.

Wealthy and Successful People Have These 6 Powerful Habits

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Success doesn’t happen by chance, and achieving wealth is never an accident. Those who have gained both of these have done so through deliberate habits that make them both effective and productive. Today we’re looking at 6 powerful habits that you can try to incorporate in your own life (and businesses).

1. Be an early riser

Research shows that 44% of wealthy people wake up at least 3 hours before heading to work. Simply getting up early adds and extra hour a day to their lives. Just imagine how much productive work you can get done in the morning! There are less interruptions and you feel more refreshed.

2. Take every opportunity to network

According to research, 79% of wealthy people spend at least 5 hours a month networking. This means attending conferences, signing up for webinars, meeting new clients, meeting friends for coffee and so on. It’s important to spend time with like-minded people so you can align yourself with others and learn from them. The people you hang out with will determine what you talk about and what you do about it. Surround yourself with successful people and allow them to lift you up.

3. If you feel an itch, scratch it!

The wealthiest and most successful people are those who felt an itch and did something about it. Do you see a need in the market that hasn’t been addressed yet? Do you want to revolutionize one of your outdated work processes? If you have a goal, get laser-focused and make it a reality ASAP.

4. Read as much as you can

Studies show that 86% of wealthy people love to read. Individuals who achieve wealth and success are constantly in a state of self-improvement. They constantly read in order to learn and grow. So grab a book and start absorbing new knowledge!

5. Treat time as a precious resource

Wealthy and successful people are allergic to wasting time on unimportant matters and distractions. They don’t spend hours of their day browsing through social media (unless those whose businesses rely on it). You can’t get back wasted time so starting today, be sure to make every second count.

6. Make intentional risks

You have to understand that risks lead to rewards. Successful people are open to taking calculated risks. Take note, calculated risks and not reckless ones! That means doing sufficient research and planning the possible outcomes. Make change if you want change.

There’s a lot more where that came from but today’s let’s keep it at a short and sweet 6 habits. Jump on them today and find out how you can be a better builder, contractor, and person in general, by doing what the greats do.

Remember tip # 5 about treating time as a precious resource, that’s what we’ve built SAM for! Click here to find out how you can utilize SAM to save up on precious project time.