Estimating job costs is becoming increasingly difficult for construction contracts. Competitive bidding practices, rising labor and material costs, delays in obtaining permits, trade agreement restrictions with other countries, changes in government regulations, and the shortage of qualified...
This Week's Second Look
Off-site production of modular of apartments, pods of bathrooms for hospitals and a number of “production line” construction techniques are once again showing up in some interesting places and being used by some traditional builders. This production technique, borrowed from the modular unit or...
Business leaders met recently at Amegy Bank in Houston for a town hall discussion on the need for immigration reform to alleviate unprecedented labor shortages as the number of open jobs in the US remains at an all-time high. Experts on immigration policy made the case for bipartisan legislation...
Across all fields of construction, the industry is seeing a severe labor shortage during a time when it should be flourishing. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, the construction field is one of the few industries having consistent growth in the number of jobs and contracts...
How do you get a job without the right skills or credentials? How do you gain the right skills or credentials to get or succeed in a job if you can’t pay for the education needed to obtain them? From an employer’s perspective, how can you attract eager workers, ensure they develop the skills they...
The mantra of the residential and renovation contractors and subs that “Residential is different from Commercial construction. We can’t afford to do all that stuff...” has been repeated in my face for my entire career. I would argue that might have been the case in the past, but, as Bob Dylan sang...
Starting a new business venture can be exciting. Whether you are forming your first company or expanding into a new area, it is important to properly account for start-up and organizational costs. The rules concerning these costs are different for income tax purposes and for financial reporting...
While the beginning of the month can signify a fresh start for some, small businesses and their accounting departments sometimes associate the first few days of the month with feelings of frustration, stress, and anxiety. The dreaded month-end close process never ceases, and a recent survey by...
Senator Ted Cruz visited Spawglass’ Village of Southhampton jobsite in Houston this week to tour the site, hear from construction executives, and promote his new bill, the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act during an event hosted by Associated Builders and...
