In the real estate world, commodity pricing is a hot conversation. There was a point this year that dimension lumber was up about 300%, with a bright spot that it’s now back down to summer 2020 prices. Plywood and OSB have been a bit more stubborn. Copper is up 43%. In steel, deck and joist …
I was at a job site not too long ago and spotted this shovel. When it was brand new, it had been painted gold and used for a groundbreaking ceremony. Several months later, the paint had chipped and worn away from frequent use. I have been to a few groundbreakings in the last 40 years. …
Someone recently asked me which city I have enjoyed of all the cities where we have built over the years. The simple answer is, “They are all good, if you have your health.” This said, I have come to appreciate, Brewton, a smaller market city in southwest Alabama where we have been managing the construction of …
A couple of weeks ago, I happened to be watching a horse race at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park. The commentator mentioned there would be no whips used on the horses during the race, a new rule that was recently adopted. All the horses were still racing their hearts out to win. Interesting. This got me to thinking of …
At the beginning of 2021, it was predicted that retail vacancies would continue to rise. We’ve heard a lot about the need to rethink functionality and interior space, etc., but what about the Main Street, the ground-level storefronts that are longing to have tenants? Maybe there is opportunity in the openings. I recently read an …
I’ve written a couple of times about changing parking needs. I read this most interesting article recently on the different ways cities are rethinking the means and methods of parking, and the why behind the movement. Did you know that in U.S. cities, parking occupies approximately a third of land area? It’s estimated that nationwide, …
While the CPI has risen about 5% over the last 12 months–the highest increase in decades–the 30-year T bills are hovering just north of 2%. One has to wonder why folks outside the construction industry are not more concerned. Someone explained it to me like this: Have you ever been to a football game and …
At a Phoenix CenterBuild Conference many years ago, I heard something that has resonated with me ever since. “Success is about finding the right customers and keeping them.” One of the things I’m most proud of is having a series of customer relationships who we work with regularly. While our company welcomes and truly enjoys …
People come first. It’s one thing to know that truth and another to put it into practice daily. Over the years, I’ve struggled with putting my head down too far into my work, and neglecting to set aside time for the people on our team, even if it’s just to visit. I think I’m getting …
This week was my first trip on a commercial flight in 15 months, and it sure did feel good. I traveled to Denver to meet up with my FMI peer group, which consists of construction leaders from around the country in non-competing markets. We meet twice a year to discuss what we are seeing and …
Last evening, I had attended a presentation given by someone I hadn’t had the chance to meet just yet. After the presentation, I found her in the crowd, tapped her on the shoulder and told her how much I enjoyed what she had to say. I make it a point to do this whenever someone’s …
“If only I knew then what I know now, I would have done things differently,” is probably something many of us have said more often than we wish to admit. In my own life, I have at times found myself so concentrated in the future, that I have had a tendency to forget about the …