Construction Business Owner, May 2008

The commercial and institutional building industry comprises many disciplines, from architects and contractors to product manufacturers and facility managers. Clear and accurate communication between these disciplines is absolutely essential for a project to be successful. For more than fifty years, the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) has provided the standards and formats that help the industry's professionals work together more effectively. In recent years, CSI has updated its flagship products, and this year is introducing some new tools.

Don’t you just hate it when good jobs turn bad? You get the job at a good price. You keep an eye on your weekly job costs. Everything seems to be on course for a profitable conclusion...and then it all falls apart at the end.

With the slowdown in the residential market you likely have seen more competition on projects as well as a longer list of subcontractors looking to provide bids to general contractors.  With this new infusion of subcontractors to the commercial marketplace, are you, as a general contractor, being selective with regard to which subcontractor you will use?  As a subcontractor, are you trying to position your business to be a preferred subcontractor?

Construction Business Owner, March 2008

Q:

I recently graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and went to work for my dad in the construction business.  I have grown up around the business and have a pretty good grasp of the industry.  My dad gets me involved in every aspect including: estimating, project management, meeting clients, year-end financials, etc.