In this last audio re-shares from this past year's International Builders Show Livestreams, I am honored to bring you the discussion I had with industry Titan, Scott Sedam, on how to beat the material shortage that builders everywhere are facin

Heidi Schroeder - Don't Stop Talking To Your Customers After They Buy From You!

Mar 13th, 2022 15m 5s

In this episode, Heidi Schroeder - Senior Consultant with Lasso CRM - furthers the discussion about talking to your clients. Specifically, we talk about how builders often are good at speaking with their prospects until they sell them a house.

Jen Barkan - Is It Time to Manage Your Leads?

Feb 26th, 2022 29m 7s

In this episode, I share the audio from the live podcast episode I did with Jen Barkan (Do You Convert) where we discuss how an Online Sales Counselor (and/or process) is so important for home builders off all sizes. Think you're too small? T

Ken Pinto: Why Breaking Out Material Labor/Parts is so Important PLUS Why You Should Care About Your Trades' Businesses

Feb 19th, 2022 36m 20s

In this replay of one of the Livestream events done during the 2022 International Builders Show in Orlando, FL (from high atop the ECI Software Solutions booth). Listen in and enjoy as Ken talks about the importance of improving margins by put

SEASON 2 - Introduction to a New Season/Hear My Story!

Jan 29th, 2022 24m 53s

I'm back - finally! After taking a year or so off to re-assess what I wanted this podcast to be, the time has come to get things started again. I get a little more personal in this episode - sharing my personal journey in this industry so you

#32: Matt Hobbs - Are Third Party Warranty Companies Just Sales Gimmicks?

Nov 22nd, 2020 36m 3s

Hey, folks. This week we’re going to be talking about that necessary evil that all builders face – home warranties. And, let’s face it, warranty claims are no fun. If you don’t keep a close tab on them, they can quickly spiral out of control –

#31: Scott Sedam - PART TWO: 10 Lessons From Last Downturn vs. COVID-19 Situation

May 9th, 2020 34m 54s

As I bring my first season of the Sticks and Bricks Podcast, I am so excited to continue the conversation I started last week with Scott Sedam of True North Consulting - a well-known and often-published thought leader in the Home Building Indus

#30: Scott Sedam: PART ONE - 10 Lessons From Last Downturn vs. COVID-19 Situation

May 2nd, 2020 38m 38s

As I get ready to wrap up my first season of the Sticks and Bricks Podcast, I am so excited to offer a two-part interview series with a well-known thought leader in the Home Building Industry. For as long as I can remember, I always gravitated

#29: Handling Warranty While Working Remotely

Apr 26th, 2020 56m 38s

This week, I’m offering up a recording from a Webinar-type program I hosted from my day job at ECI Solutions. In this time of working remotely, home builders everywhere are just trying to figure out how to do those things that were so simple be

#28: Melanie Deziel of StoryFuel - 10 Content Ideas You Can Use Right Now!

Apr 18th, 2020 44m 12s

I just love reading books about business and marketing. And – every once in a while, I come across a book that I just love so much, I want others to know about it. One of my latest favorite books is The Content Fuel Framework by Melanie Deziel.

#27: Tim Bailey with Avid Ratings - Key Times (and Questions) to Ask Your Home Building Customers

Apr 11th, 2020 43m 47s

This week, I invited Tim Bailey, Chief Strategy Officer for Avid Ratings, to come on and talk about how you can use information from your customers to improve your business and your marketing.Avid Ratings really is THE name in home building su

#26: Ron Williams of Hoodle.com - Is This The Next Big Thing in New Home Search?

Apr 4th, 2020 34m 1s

This week, I explore Hoodle.com – a search site (and more) for new construction that started in Central Illinois and is quickly popping up in markets all across the United States. Ron Williams, the Founder and CEO of Hoodle.com, takes a bit of

#25: Building Remotely - Keeping It All Together (Even When Your Team Isn't)!

Mar 28th, 2020 1h 8m

This week, I’m doing something a little different than my typical episode. While this podcast is my personal podcast, many know that my day job is with ECI Solutions – specifically with MarkSystems, a home building ERP software.This past week,

#24: Mike Helsel - Is Outsourcing Your Vehicles Worth It?

Mar 21st, 2020 20m 27s

Have you ever been called on by a representative from a Fleet Management Company – who wants to come in and talk to you about the possibility of outsourcing your business’s vehicles? I know how it goes – the call comes in while putting out the

#23: Bob "R.J." Fisher - Use Technology to Save Money Exploring Land Development

Mar 15th, 2020 34m 40s

If you’ve ever developed ground for a new community – OR – you’re thinking of jumping into the land development game, this is going to be an interesting episode for you. I speak with Bob “R.J.” Fisher of R.J. Fisher Engineering to explore the c

#22: Paul Cardis - Put The Customer First in These 5 Key Interactions

Mar 7th, 2020 46m 29s

We’re continuing to look at the Customer Experience that home builders want to deliver to their customers. We explored the sales process last week. This week, I wanted to talk a little more about what happens from the time a customer signs the

#21: Paul Gortzig - Looking at Your Company's Processes Through Your Customers' Eyes

Mar 1st, 2020 44m 58s

Home builders everywhere believe the processes they perform every day have been honed and perfected after years of experience. Many of those home builders think their way is the best way, and they believe that all their home buyers fully unders

#20: StoryBrand's J.J. Peterson: Stop Telling Your Customers You're a Home Builder! Tell a Story Instead.

Feb 22nd, 2020 39m 29s

I am just over-the-moon for this week’s episode. I’ve been a Super Fan of the StoryBrand company since I first found the book, Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller. It’s an extremely practical book that you can read and immediately start usin

#19: Jerry Leach: Is There Still Value in a Builders Association?

Feb 16th, 2020 34m 35s

Looking at the calendar, it’s that time of year again. All across the country, Home Shows and other events to get people excited about building a new home start to happen. And many of those events are organized and run by Builders Associations.

#18: Greg Bray: Find the Perfect Digital Marketing Agency For Your Business!

Feb 9th, 2020 42m 58s

It’s Valentine’s Day week as this episode goes live – so I thought it only fitting that I bring to you an episode on finding the perfect match with no need to swipe left or right – well, at least when it comes to your business looking for the r

#17: Flora Posteraro - When the Media Come A-Knockin'

Feb 2nd, 2020 27m 34s

Have you ever watched the local news station when you saw that group of journalists who ask customers who feel they’ve been wronged to contact them. You know the one…..the journalists have that serious look on their face……arms are crossed as th

#16: Sam Sparks - Save Money, Time and Your Reputation with This Simple Clause!

Jan 26th, 2020 48m

Have you ever had a customer who was quick to say “I’m calling my lawyer!!” I think we’ve all had at least one. Since lawyers have been able to freely advertise their litigation services, this has become even more prevalent.So, this week, I wa

#15: Jeff Rutt - Build One House. Impact Thousands! How One Home Builder Uses His Business to Fight Poverty Worldwide!

Jan 19th, 2020 26m 15s

This week, I wanted to introduce you to a home builder who has taken charitable giving to a whole new level. And he’s done it in a way that allows him to pretty much run “business as usual” while impacting thousands all across the world.Jeff R

#14: Dr. Carrie Delone - Fighting Drug Use On Your Jobs (and Across the State/Country)

Jan 12th, 2020 37m 3s

This week, I’m giving you the second part of a two-part series on an issue that builders everywhere face – and that’s drugs on the jobsite. If you don’t think it’s happening on your jobsites, think again!I had a very personal experience with t

#13: Keith Graves - Retired Cop/International Drug Trainer Talks Tips for Dealing With Drugs On Your Jobsites

Jan 6th, 2020 34m 12s

This week, I’m giving you the first of a two-part series on an issue that builders everywhere face – and that’s drugs on the jobsite. If you don’t think it’s happening on your jobsites, think again!I had a very personal experience with this wh