Message from Doug--A Third of a Century in the Making

Double digit unemployment… Inflation… banking troubles… crappy Democratic president… partisan politics… class warfare… problems in the Middle East… high gas prices. 

You are probably thinking that I am describing our current situation.  Actually, I am describing the socioeconomic environment of 1978.  That is the year Barry and Linda Herbert (my Dad & Mom) started Herbert Construction Company. 

Linda and Barry Herbert, founders of Herbert Construction Co.

1978 was a very difficult time to start a company.  It was even more difficult to keep it going those first few years.  There are many similarities between what was going on then, and what we are currently facing. 

In preparation for this issue, I began to think about the ups and downs of the housing market over the last 33 years.  There have been several recessions throughout that time that have really affected construction in general, and our company in particular.

 

This has made us who we are today.  The tough times certainly define who you are to a greater extent than the easy times.

In spite of the difficult times during the past 33 years, Herbert Construction Company got through them all.  We’ll get through this recession…and you will too.

We’ve learned a lot of lessons since 1978.  We have been – and continue to be – on the cutting edge of commercial and residential foundation design and construction.  We’ve been pioneers in the concrete foundation industry. 

For a closer look at our ups and downs over the past 33 years, see our Timeline here.

Another company that has been around for more than a third of a century is our client, Traton Homes.  They, along with two other customers of ours, took home the prizes at the recent Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association’s OBIE Awards. 

Our clients won a total of 11 awards at that event.  We want to congratulate them on their accomplishments.  You can read about that on page 4 of this Newsletter.

Another cause for celebration is the upcoming Christmas Holiday.  It is a chance to spend time with loved ones and friends.  I am looking forward to doing that and I hope you enjoy the Holiday Season as well.

Merry Christmas,

Recent Referrals

We would like to thank these three outstanding people for their trust in our company. They are quick to refer our company time and time again.

Thank you. You are more revered than Santa Claus at our company. Your referrals help put the “Happy” in Happy Holidays.

Gregg Goldenberg, Acadia Homes & Neighborhoods – Homebuilder www.AcadiaHomes.us

Bob Rash, Shepardson Homes – Homebuilder www.ShepardsonHomes.com

Jonathan Bunn, Traton Homes – Homebuilder www.TratonHomes.com

33 Years of Innovation and Leadership

 

Funny Christmas Quotes

Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell the government what they want and their kids pay for it.
—Richard Lamm

Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.
—Dave Barry

Christmas begins about the first of December with an office party and ends when you finally realize what you spent, around April fifteenth of the next year.
—P. J. O'Rourke

I didn't know the full dimensions of forever, but I knew it was longer than waiting for Christmas to come.
—Richard Brautigan

Some businessmen are saying this could be the greatest Christmas ever. I always thought that the first one was.
—Art Fettig

The one thing women don't want to find in their stockings on Christmas morning is their husband.
—Joan Rivers

From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it.
—Katharine Whitehorn

2011 OBIE Awards

Congratulations to our clients that were recent winners of the OBIE Awards presented by the Atlanta Home Builders Association and the Atlanta SMC.  

Traton Homes, Winner of 7 awards:

• Gold OBIE for Wakefield Estates in the Single Family Builder Detached $350,000 to $424,999 category
• Gold OBIE for Estates of Fernwood Creek in the Single Family Builder Detached $425,000 to $499,999 category
• Silver OBIE for Paper Chase Farms in the Single Family Builder Detached $425,000 to $499,999 category
• Gold OBIE for Rockford Township for Best Interior Merchandising Detached model $299,999 and under
• Silver OBIE for Rockford Township for Best Building Design Detached model $299,999 and under
• Gold OBIE for the Traton Homes Blog for Best E-Marketing, Best Interactive Tool
• Gold OBIE for Kimberly Garwood being named Marketing Director of the Year

Acadia Homes & Neighborhoods, Winner of 2 Awards:

• Gold OBIE for the Brookwood Plan in the  Reserve at City Park for Best Interior Merchandising $299,000 and Under.
• Silver OBIE for the Chastain Plan in the  Reserve at City Park for Best Interior Merchandising $299,000 and Under.

Vincent Longo Custom Builder, Winner of 2 Awards:

• Gold OBIE for Residential Remodeling over $75,000.
• Silver OBIE for Residential Remodeling  under $75,000.

Turkey Giveaway Winners

In our November Newsletter we offered free turkeys as a way of expressing our Thankfulness to our Inner Circle of Newsletter subscribers.  The response to the turkey giveaway was fantastic.  It created quite a lot of interest and we received many comments from our readers.

Pictured here are three of the fast-acting free frozen turkey recipients.  We are happy that they received the turkeys.  We had a lot of fun delivering them.

Bill Eason of Eason Construction Services, Inc. receives a turkey from Doug.  On hand were his daughter Ellie, son Thomas, and the family pet.

 

Doug delivers a turkey to Freddy Teems of Freddy Teems Construction in Cartersville.

 

Dennis McConnell of McConnell Hickman, LLC receives his holiday turkey.

Message from Doug--An Upward Trend and Giving Thanks

We have seen more activity in the single-family market over the past year than the previous two years. You may ask, “Is this a trend?” or “Is this a sign that we have seen the bottom and are on our way out of the great recession?”

Frankly, I have no earthly idea. My confidence in my ability to judge the market has been drastically eroded over the last five years. I am simply appreciating it as it comes.

This year has certainly been better for us than 2009 or 2010. It isn’t saying much, though, to have a better year than 2009. Our revenue in 2009 was just slightly higher than our highest sales month in 2004!

With the increased housing activity builders are finally getting jobs to bid. However, they are finding that many of their Trades are no longer around. Or, their usual Trade is in shambles and cannot get the work done correctly or quickly. Builders are nervous about using or relying on them.

I am very thankful that our company is still here. Still able to handle a blitz of jobs - and then the inevitable slow periods that follow. We are continually picking up new clients that are building homes in this economy. And, we have established relationships with builders that are eager to tap into our expertise…as soon as they get a house to build.

I cannot overemphasize the impact that referrals from our clients have had on our business. We have a rabid client fan base that understands how we help them be better building companies. They go out of their way to recommend us to others.

We have a rabid client fan base that understands how we help them be better building companies. They go out of their way to recommend us to others.

Sometimes companies that provide exceptional products or services run the risk of becoming their customers’ “Best Kept Secret Weapon.” I am grateful that our clients have not taken this stance with our company – they spread the word. For that, we are extremely thankful.

We are also very thankful for all of our clients throughout 2011. Thank you. You’ve provided the turkey on our table and we appreciate your business tremendously.

One of those clients that have been a bright spot throughout the last five years is Cobalt Contracting – the subject of our Feature Interview on the next page. They are part of our core group of clients that have remained active by being nimble and flexible while sticking to their core building beliefs. I think you’ll enjoy reading about them.

So here we are, with Thanksgiving upon us. In spite of the uncertainty and turmoil of the last five years, we have so much to be thankful for. There are always bright spots in our lives – if we look for them. What are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving,

 

P.S. Would your spouse thank You if you won a FREE Turkey? Then look on page 3 for your chance to bring home a free turkey to feast on this Thanksgiving.

Feature Interview: Cobalt Contracting

 

Company: Cobalt Contracting Co-Owners: Kevin Nelson and Jeff O’Connell New home price range: $550s - $800s Primary building locations:  Brookhaven, Decatur, anywhere inside the Perimeter Website: www.CobaltContracting.com

Cobalt Contracting, co-owned by Kevin Nelson and Jeff O’Connell, is a home building company located in the Brookhaven area. They build custom and spec. homes and have a busy remodeling business as well. Friends since high school, Kevin and Jeff started their own company in 2004 after quitting corporate jobs.

“We took on a lot of odd jobs, additions, and remodel work to get hands-on experience before quitting our day jobs,” said Jeff. “After we went out on our own, we built three spec. houses in the Walden Park master planned community located in South Fulton.”

That was the beginning of the company’s success that includes building many new homes and additions, and most importantly, having happy clients. Their business continues to grow despite the economy. “This will be our best, or second best, year in business,” said Kevin.

Stress-Free Pricing Structure

A big part of their success can be attributed to their pricing structure. They give their clients a price for a project, and stick to that price. No hidden fees or nickel and dime charges surface during the building process.

If hand-dug concrete piers are needed in the footing due to poor soil, their clients will not be asked to pay for that extra, unforeseen work.

When asked about this, Kevin explained, “If we were to go back to our client with extra charges of $200, $500, or $1200, then tension would develop. They would become uneasy with the building process. Because we stick to a set price, we remove that obstacle and let them relax and focus on the excitement of getting a new house.”

Jeff added, “Our job is to internally manage a building budget based on the price we gave them. Sometimes our client will ask about the budget, and we always respond by telling them that we are building their home for the price we quoted, so that they never have to worry about changes to a budget.”

“Since using Herbert Construction, we’ve reduced the amount of time spent on foundations. They’ve eliminated the headaches and problems that are common with that stage of home building. We recommend them to everyone.” — Jeff O’Connell, Cobalt Contracting

The entire process is designed to give the client a stress-free building experience. The payoff is in the referrals from these happy clients. “All of our work comes from word-of-mouth referrals,” said Kevin. “Our past clients are our best sales tool.”

Cobalt is known for going back and doing minor repair work, or resolving issues on homes they completed years ago. Jeff explained, “We don’t have a ‘one-year warranty’. We guarantee our work. We will come back and fix things long after many other warranties have expired.”

Kevin and Jeff are also active locally. “Most of our clients live where we live,” said Jeff, “they’ve become friends that we see throughout the year. We’re all part of the same community.”

A Passion for Home Building

When asked if the dramatic decline in new home construction has made them question their decision to become entrepreneurs, they quickly dismiss the idea. “We just really enjoy this and want to build houses,” said Kevin. “We both have other skills and could go get a  corporate job. This is where we both choose to be.

Jeff added, “We actually look forward to coming to work every day.”

This passion is evident in how they deal with their Trades and clients. What you see is what you get. They are honest, relaxed, and friendly.

The Cabinet Business

Kevin and Jeff had a hard time finding high-quality cabinets that didn’t cost their clients an arm and a leg. They realized that there was a need for this - even in the depressed housing market. After checking into it, they decided to start their own cabinet company, Cobalt Cabinet Co.

This decision proved to be beneficial to their own home building business. And, that new business has grown as they’ve begun manufacturing cabinets for other builders as well.

Good Trades Are Crucial

One of the biggest lessons Kevin and Jeff have learned throughout their building career is the importance of having the right Trades. “They are the ones actually doing the work,” said Kevin. “You have to have a good group of subcontractors that you work with.”

“Herbert Construction is our best subcontractor,” stated Jeff. “They are a top notch company. We know their foundations will be trouble-free and last a lifetime.”

Kevin added, “They are a ‘real’ company, not some guy with a set of forms that’s only been around for a couple of years. They are super professional, extremely organized, communicate with us constantly. They always show up on time, and they do what they say they’ll do.”

When asked about the Turn-key process, Kevin said “We’ve used labor-only concrete guys in the past. Once we started using Herbert Construction’s Turn-key service, we have saved ourselves a lot of time and headaches. We make one call and it’s all done for us. Bottom line, they save us money.”

Jeff added, “We know we can’t buy concrete as cheaply as Herbert Construction Company can, so why bother? It’s cheaper for us to have them take care of everything.”

David Summey, General Superintendant at Herbert Construction Company, manages Cobalt’s business. “David is great to work with. He responds quickly and we can always count on him. He is really good at establishing wall heights. I have 100% confidence in his abilities – which frees me up to do other things.” said Kevin.

Free Time

When asked what they like to do when they are not working, both replied that they like to spend time with their family. “And watch college football,” added Kevin with a grin.

Halloween Fun

Every Halloween I dress up in a Gorilla suit for the trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood.

I built a gorilla cage out of rebar and put it in our front yard. Once the kids grab their candy, I break out of the cage and chase them down the hill. I then get back in the cage and wait for the next group of kids. It’s a huge hit for the kids and parents in our neighborhood.

Doug warming up to frighten the kids.

The caged gorilla before a scream-inducing break-out.

L to R: My daughter Ella, me, Amelia (daughter of my sister Amanda, our V.P. of Operations, and her husband Josh, our Senior CAD Operator), and my son Hage.

Message from Doug--3 Men Short, 2 Flat Tires, and 1 Wall Poured

The other day we had a typical day scheduled.  We had a basement wall that had to be set up (formed) and poured.  It was very important to our client that it was done that day to maintain a very tight building schedule. 

Under normal circumstances, it would be easy to make that happen for them.  However, our “typical” day quickly turned challenging.

“Our client never knew about the delays and setbacks – or what we had to do to overcome them.  And, that’s the way it should be.  We made it happen…”

Three men from our usual seven man wall crew didn’t show up in the morning for various reasons.  We were now working with almost half the crew we typically have to set up and pour a wall. 

One of the four men that were present was a new guy, so he wasn’t as helpful as one of our regular men.  We were at a big disadvantage before we even left the shop that morning.

On the way to the jobsite, we had not one but two flat tires on the crew truck.  There was apparently debris in the road and it got the best of two of our tires.

In order to get the men to the jobsite as quickly as possible – and still make the wall pour that day – our man at our shop drove another crew truck to meet the truck with the flat tires. 

The men transferred all of the materials and equipment onto that new truck.  They were then able to drive the replacement truck to the jobsite and get started.  Our shop man stayed with the truck, replaced the flat tires, and drove it back to the shop.

In spite of the severely reduced crew and the two hour truck delay, we still were able to pour the wall that day.  Our client never knew about the delays and setbacks – or what we had to do to overcome them.  And, that’s the way it should be.  We made it happen and our client was able to maintain their tight building schedule.

What started out to be a “typical” day turned out to be a challenging day, but we still got the wall poured – and kept a client happy.

On a different subject, it’s the Halloween season.  While the average person may be spooked by ghosts and goblins, we in the construction industry have seen many more frightening things over the past five years.

This Great Recession has sucked our cash reserves dry, made us talk with spooky bankers, put the ax to valuable employees, and at times had us walking in a confused, angry daze like Frankenstein’s monster.

However, we’re still here.  Still fighting.  Each of us still looking for opportunities in the new economy.  Because that’s what entrepreneurs do.  Even if we do find ourselves sometimes saying: Enough already of the “Tricks.”  Where are the “Treats”?

Happy Halloween,

Recent Referrals

Referrals of our company are like blood to a vampire…we couldn’t survive without them. The following exceptional people are all repeat referrers of our company. Without ya’ll, this year would have been very spooky! Thank you!

Charlie Borg, Traton Homes — Homebuilder www.TratonHomes.com

Dale Peek, Peek Design Group — Architect www.PeekDesign.com

Pierre Coiron, P.E., Stability Engineering, Inc. — Engineer www.StabilityEngineering.com

Jonathan Bunn, Traton Homes — Homebuilder www.TratonHomes.com

Make This Machine Work!

A young executive was leaving the office late one evening when he found the CEO standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand.

“Listen,” said the CEO, “this is a very sensitive and important document here, and my secretary has gone for the night. Can you make this thing work?”

“Certainly,” said the young executive.  He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button.

“Excellent, excellent!” said the CEO as his paper disappeared inside the machine.  “I just need one copy.”

Concrete Foundations Association Annual Convention

At the end of the Summer we attended the 2011 Concrete Foundations Association of North America (CFA) Summer Convention in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.

Project of the Year
While there our company accepted the Project of the Year Award for the best Above-grade Concrete Home.  This is a 12,000 sq. ft. Italian influenced above-grade concrete house that we constructed near New Orleans, LA.

Stucco will be applied to our exterior concrete walls.

It is a two story home with a Terrace Level (walkout basement).  It has two 2-car garages, with one of the 2-car garages on a structural concrete slab to allow more space in the Terrace Level.  The rear porch is an elevated structural concrete slab.

The exterior walls utilized the Thermomass® insulated concrete sandwich wall product.  The wall makeup was 4” concrete on the exterior/2” rigid insulation/4” concrete on the interior.  Stucco will be applied to the exterior wall surface while plaster will be applied to the interior.

Barry Herbert (left) and Mike Hancock of Basement Contractors, Inc. (right) accept the Project of the Year Award from Ed Sauter of the CFA.

Our project was selected among outstanding entries from across North America.  The entries were reviewed and voted on by industry experts as well as many of the 50,000 attendees at the World of Concrete show/convention in Las Vegas. 

The award is given each year by the Concrete Foundations Association  of North America for the best above-grade concrete home.

This project was a joint venture between Herbert Construction Co. and Basement  Contractors, Inc., our good friends in Edmund, Oklahoma.  Among other things, they performed the excavation and placed the flatwork.

Robert D. Sawyer Award

Barry Herbert (left) and Scott Smith of MPW Construction Services (right) present the Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award to Terry Lavy of Piqua, Ohio.

Also at the Convention, Barry Herbert, CEO of Herbert Construction Company was a co-presenter of the Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award to Terry Lavy of Piqua, Ohio. 

The award is presented to a contractor member whose contributions to the industry merit special recognition.  Barry is a past recipient of the award.

 

 

 

 

Marketing Presentation

Doug sharing marketing methods during his presentation at the convention

During the educational seminars at the Convention, Doug Herbert gave a marketing presentation to the attendees titled, "How To Reduce Your Advertising Costs And Increase Your Sales With Effective Marketing."  It included a special segment that explained how contractors can easily and cheaply outsource tasks without hiring another employee. 

If you’d like a copy of that PowerPoint presentation, including a funny audio of “Arnold Schwarzenegger” addressing the crowd, send a quick email to Chris at our office, ChristineB@HerbertConstruction.com.

Warrior Dash

A friend of mine, Michael French of Traton Homes and his wife Claudia, told my wife, Shannon, and me about a “leisurely fun run on some trails through the North Georgia Mountains.” He said it was called the Warrior Dash. We agreed to do it with them.

It turned out to be a wild and crazy three mile race through deep ditches, slippery mud, and 7 ft. deep water.  Oh, and also over 12’-0” tall walls, across rope netting, under barbed wire, around junkyard cars and through fire!

We had a great time - it was a blast!  Learn more at www.WarriorDash.com.

Doug, Shannon and our neighbor Mike Teed before the race.

 

Michael, Shannon, Doug, and Claudia after the race.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael and the fire obstacle.

 

A slippery, muddy approach to the tire and junkyard car obstacles.

Message from Doug...

What standards have you lowered in your business and life since 2006? How have you had to change your services or offerings from what they used to be? What are you doing now that you wouldn’t have done five years ago?

At Herbert Construction Company, we are constructing foundations for additions –something we worked hard to get away from between 2001 and 2006. Now, we gladly accept those projects and thank our clients for the work.

“…when it comes to right and wrong, there is still a set of standards that must endure – regardless of the economy.”

A builder friend of mine told me he installed a few mailboxes recently. In year’s past, he wouldn’t have taken on this kind of work – let alone do the work himself. Many of my Trade contractor friends have gone from doing strictly new home construction to performing in-home services for homeowners.

While we’ve modified our project standards for the types of work we’ll take on, we will not compromise our ethical standards - no matter how bad the economy gets. I believe a person can modify what they will do, as long as it is in line with their ethical and moral standards.

We recently turned down a job that was not in line with our ethical standards. It was a large house foundation along with a free-standing retaining wall. A nice, big job. We had a gap in our schedule so the timing of the job was perfect. We’d completed our CAD plan for the project and were all set to begin.

However, when we went to lay out the footings, the client insisted that we put the concrete retaining wall near the property line and dangerously close to a dirt bank. The dirt bank had already caved in at multiple places along the excavated area. More cave-ins were guaranteed. To make matters worse, boulders had been placed above the dirt bank, adding unstable overburden weight to the bank.

To put our men that close to that dirt bank would have been very, very dangerous.
So, I met him on the site and explained how dangerous the situation was. I suggested four different solutions to the problem.

He insisted that the wall be placed in the same location and I told him we’d like to help him out, but we couldn’t put it there. I explained that it would be very dangerous to our employees. I felt certain there would be more cave-ins.

In a scenario like this, the biggest danger is while we are stripping the forms after the wall has been poured. A person can get pinned between our new, immovable wall and the falling dirt bank. Our men have families they need to go home to every night. I won’t ask them to put their lives in danger.

Our client was unmoved (unlike the dirt falling from the bank). We parted ways. I imagine he was able to get a desperate concrete contractor to do the job. Overdue mortgage payments will make some men do bad things. For others, it won’t.

During these tough times, it may be tempting to cut corners or accept jobs and situations that none of us would have accepted five years ago. However, when it comes to right and wrong, there is still a set of standards that must endure – regardless of the economy.

I’d like to hear what you have to say. What projects have you taken on that you wouldn’t have done in the past? Have you had to turn down projects that weren’t in your best interest, or were out of line with your standards? Let me know what you think by dropping me an email at Doug@HerbertConstruction.com.

Note: For a  few over-the-top examples of things you just shouldn’t do, check out our International Redneck Engineering Awards on the back page.

Take care,

Recent Referrals—Thank You!

Most of our new clients come from referrals by existing clients and friends. Almost all of our clients have referred at least one person to our company. Some have referred many. We greatly appreciate the confidence placed in us through these referrals. Here are a few outstanding people that have recently referred our company:

Brad Tasker at Concrete Management Services – Flatwork Contractor, 678-910-7912

Chris Castillo at Piedmont Grading Company, Inc. – Grading Contractor, 770-560-2726

Tony Reaves at Intown Builders Group., Inc – Homebuilder, www.IntownBuildersGroup.com

All of us at Herbert Construction Company thank you for referring our company.

Featured Basement Option – Safe Rooms

A popular option that our clients choose with their foundation is a concrete safe room.

 

“A safe room is the place to go during a tornado warning or severe thunderstorm warning with high winds.  It is a fire proof and disaster proof room used to store many items.”

Safe rooms are an inexpensive way to add a special feature to your house. At times, this is one option that can convince home buyers to choose one house over another.

Safe Room Location
A safe room   is a four-sided concrete room with a concrete top (ceiling). It is most often placed in the space below the front porch. The front porch foundation walls already create an enclosed area. Instead of filling that area with backfill material, you can add this valuable space.

To create a safe room in this area, you add a door opening in the concrete wall, pour the floor with the basement slab, place a corrugated metal pan on top of the concrete walls, and pour the front porch slab on top of the metal pan.

Another great location for the safe room is below the garage slab. You may need to add one or two walls to create this room. Here, you are not bound by the size and shape of the front porch. It can even be as big as the garage itself.

Super Storage
A safe room is the place to go during a tornado warning or a severe thunderstorm warning with high winds. It is a fire proof and disaster proof room used to store many items. Some of the items that can be safely stored and secured are:

• Important paper documents
• Antiques
• Guns and ammunition
• Jewelry
• Photographs
• Electronic storage devices (computer backups)

In addition to a room for storing valuable items, here are some other uses we have seen for safe rooms:

• Wine cellar and wine tasting room
• Food storage room
• Panic room (a place to retreat during a home invasion)
• Gun display room
• Cigar room (humidor)
• Flooding Prevention

An important thing to keep in mind when storing valuables in a safe room is this: keep them off the floor.

You actually run a greater risk of a water pipe in your home leaking or bursting – causing flooding in your home – than you do of getting a direct hit from a tornado. You should always store valuables at least 8” above the floor.

Depending on your use of the space, you can store items in large plastic containers (purchased at Walmart for $5.00). These work well and don’t have to be elevated from the floor.

Larger items can be raised off the floor with wood blocks, pedestals, or even cmu blocks. If you raise a gun safe or document safe, bolt it to the vertical concrete wall behind it for added security.

Door Options
Choose a door that matches your use of the room. Here are some door options, along with their pros & cons:

Wood, hollow interior door – Poor resistance to tornados or burglars. A good framework for creating a concealed door.

Wood, solid exterior door – Decent resistance to tornados or burglars. Can be dressed up for a finer room such as a wine cellar.

Metal, hollow exterior door – Excellent resistance to tornados or burglars. This is the type you see in schools and commercial buildings. UL fire rated doors are also available. We can pour the frame right into our concrete wall. Additional dead bolts can be added. Not well suited for a wine cellar.

Metal, safe door – Superior resistance to tornados, burglars, or rampaging rhinos. This is an actual safe door similar to those used on gun safes or bank vaults.

Iron, custom entrance door – Typically very poor resistance to tornados or burglars. Mostly for decoration only. This is a custom door designed to enhance the entrance of the wine cellar. Some can be locked, which would be a good first step against burglars (or teenage sons trying to get to the wine).

Secret Door

Safe room door concealed by bookcase door.

Bookcase door opens to reveal safe room.

Bookcase door swings inside the safe room.

You may want the safe room to be hidden. You can do this by building the door into a bookshelf. We gave a builder friend an article from a carpentry magazine. From that article he made an excellent door concealed by bookshelves (see photos).

Another option is to hide the door behind a large object. It can also be accessed through a bedroom closet or seasonal coat closet…hidden by hanging clothes.

Two Critical Tips
Over the past 30 years, we’ve learned two important things about safe room design. One can save your life; the other can save you money. However, we’ve run out of space in this issue. If you’d like us to give you the two critical tips, then send us an email to Tips@HerbertConstruciton.com. We’ll email the two critical tips right back to you.

Giving Back

Our boom truck was a big hit at the charity fundraiser.

My daughter, Ella, and me with our truck at the Touch-A-Truck event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last month I brought my daughter, Ella, and one of our boom trucks to a charity Touch-A-Truck event. It was for the Sandy Springs United Methodist Preschool program. The fundraiser successfully raised money for their scholarship fund – for families that cannot afford preschool.

It was a beautiful day and there was a fabulous turnout of families from the community. The kids had a great time climbing in the various trucks, turning on the lights and honking the horns. This is the second time we have participated in this fun event.

International Redneck Engineering Awards

Aerial Platforms/Lifting Category

It’s time for our International Redneck Awards! The category is: Aerial Platforms/Lifting.

These are the International Redneck Awards because redneck ingenuity is universal.

The four nominees are shown here. Determine which photo displays the finest example of redneck engineering. Then, place your vote by emailing the contestant number that you think should win, to: Sales@HerbertConstruction.com

To determine the winner, the votes will be carefully and scientifically tallied using our super high tech desktop calculator.

Disclaimer: None of these photos were taken from a Herbert jobsite – though we can’t vouch for our competitors.

1
Two forklifts are better than one (reallly?).

2
Poorman’s bucket truck.

3
Don’t mind the water

4
Tractor-powered forklift.

Message from Doug...

It’s the end of March.  The end of the first quarter.  25% of the year is almost over already.  Have you accomplished 25% of what you set out to do this year?  I have not.  I’m close, but not there yet.

At the beginning of each new year much is written about New Year’s resolutions and establishing goals for the year.  Then, little thought or attention is given to them after only a few months.  By March, the 24hr fitness places have lost almost all of the people with weight loss resolutions that stormed the treadmills during the first few weeks of the new year.

 

“…it has been proven that people who establish and then write down their goals will be more successful than those that don’t establish goals.”

How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions?  Did you have any this year?  If you have things that you really, truly want accomplish this year, then they deserve to be at the forefront of your thoughts and daily actions.  Instead of resolutions, think of them as goals.  You will look at them as more applicable, important and permanent.

Once you’ve established the goals you want to accomplish this year, write them down and put them where you see them often (many recommend posting them on your bathroom mirror).  Break each goal down into manageable pieces.  Then, take action on the first step of the first piece.  Action on your goals creates more action, propelling you towards accomplishing each goal.

I recently heard the suggestion to call them Promises instead of Goals, which may be even more powerful.  You are making a Promise to yourself that you will accomplish those important tasks or meet those specific milestones.
It has been proven that people who establish and then write down their goals will be more successful than those that don’t establish goals.  Studies have shown that just the act of writing them down, then putting them in a drawer and not looking at them again, will still improve your chances of accomplishing your goals.  That is powerful.

Whatever goals you decide on, you still have three-quarters of the year left to accomplish them.  Get going!

In this issue we highlight “yankee basements,” or full basements without a walkout area.  We interview one our clients, Bob Rash of Shepardson Homes, who has become an expert at building homes with full basements.  We also review our egress window system that allows full basements to have bedrooms and other comfortable living areas.

Take care,

One Big Donut

Over the Holidays I spent time with my siblings and parents in San Antonio, TX.  Barry and Mike Herbert run our division there for our San Antonio and Austin work. 

On a trip up to Austin we went to Round Rock Donuts – the home of the massive donut (you may have seen it featured on the Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food”).  Each donut comes in its own box – about the size that new shirts used to come in.  Even at that mammoth size, the donut was moist and quite delicious.

 

Feature Client Interview with Bob Rash, Shepardson Homes

Name: Bob Rash Company name: Shepardson Homes New home price range: $600s - $1.5 million Primary building locations: Smyrna, Vinings, Marietta, Chastain Park, Brookhaven, Dekalb Co. Website: www.ShepardsonHomes.com

Herbert Construction Co.: Hello Bob, it is great to sit down and chat with you.  Can you tell us a little about your background and how long you’ve been building homes?
Bob Rash: I’ve been building homes since 2003.  Prior to incorporating in 2005, I enjoyed a 15 year career as a project engineer / project manager and was working at GE Power Systems in Atlanta.  I also earned an MBA from the Terry College of Business (UGA) in 1999.    
  The experience and education really helps me manage my clients’ projects - the costs, budget tracking, schedule constraints, and a true understanding of proper assembly methods for a solid, well-built home.  But more than just the “project mechanics”, I’ve learned that I have an eye for, and enjoy, the design and aesthetic side of building homes.  And, I really like the friendly communication and interaction with my clients…I’m a people person.

HCC: How have you been affected by this recession?
Bob: Like many home builders, I had a few spec. homes at the peak of the market.  Fortunately, I didn’t lose any to the bank and I have been blessed to make it through these tough times.  I am thankful to have had clients and projects throughout the past five years.    
  I am finding that banks are referring work to me because of my financial strength and stability.  While custom homes have been my primary focus, I have taken on some large additions and renovations for a few projects inside the perimeter.

HCC: How do you typically get new clients?
Bob: Wow, a lot of ways, really.  Leads have come from past clients’ referrals, architects, business associates, my banker.  Hmmm…I have formed friendships with my clients that last long after I am finished with their home. 
   They have invited my wife and me to social events and we continue to stay in touch.  Lately I’ve had a past client open their home to a prospective customer to showcase my work, which was really great.  (I will often look at and fix minor issues in my clients’ homes well past the standard one year house warranty because it is the right thing to do…but I do this before they invite us out to social events!)  All of this creates an atmosphere of referrals.

Homeowners More Particular With Their Options

HCC: What products are your clients asking for in their homes?
Bob: Well, since I am building them a custom home, they have asked for almost anything.  There are some typical custom features like steam showers, whole house (central) vacuum systems, tank-less water heaters, and exposed beams on the interior.  But I have also installed a one third mile go-kart track with banked corners as well as a half acre of NFL quality Astroturf! 
   Many clients are interested in green upgrades such as better insulation, high efficiency HVAC systems, etc. and I am able to speak to them in layman’s terms explaining the pros and cons, return on investment, and offer them informed, intelligent choices.  I’m always being challenged with a new request, but I’m able to get them what they want – it can always be done.

HCC: What architects and design people do you often work with?
Bob: Dale Peek of Peek Design Group has been very good to work with.  I’ve also enjoyed working with Chip Murrah, Architect, and designer Jannis Vann of Jannis Vann and Associates.  Of course I would be honored to work with any excellent architect in Atlanta even if they just need an alternative quote for their clients. 

Changes in Atlanta Homebuilding

HCC: What have you seen in Atlanta homebuilding throughout the past year?
Bob: For the price range of homes that I build, there seems to be a trend.  That is, for the most part, people who have planned well and are financially strong have continued to pursue their dream home.  They have a long-term outlook and realize that this is a great time to build, so they do build.

HCC: What activity do you see in the Atlanta homebuilding sector?
Bob: Over the past three months my builder and subcontractor friends have seen an increase in bidding and building activity.  As I drive through the Paces Ferry Rd. and Chastain Park areas I see more building permits posted than I have seen in quite a while.  Sandy Springs was recently listed in Forbes as one of the 20 most stable housing markets in the US, with average home appreciation of 2.5% in 2010.  These seem to be positive indicators for us here in Atlanta.

A Pro at Building “Yankee Basements”

HCC: You have become an expert at building homes with “Yankee basements”, or full basements without a walkout area.  They are a specialty of yours and architects are turning to you when they have a client that wants a full basement.  What are some of the reasons your clients have given for wanting full basements under their homes?
Bob: Yeah, two out of the last three homes that I have built have had full basements.  The homeowners were familiar with full basements – from growing up with one or living in other parts of the country where they are common. 
   Homeowners want the storage space, additional conditioned living space at a reduced square footage price, security from storms and tornadoes, and the privacy that a full basement provides. 

HCC: Tell us about your tall basement project.
Bob: The homeowners wanted a year-round sports area and play place.  They designed a 16’-0” tall, 30’-0” X 50’-0” open space – no bearing walls or posts.  This is a big house and the entire first floor is supported by three large steel I-beams.  We put a putting green turf on the epoxy sealed concrete floor.  They use it for riding bikes, practicing their golf swing, playing volleyball and Frisbee.  They love the big, tall, open space that we created.  Best of all, no leaks in 4 years even though the basement goes straight into the ground!

HCC: What do you think are the critical pieces of a building a full basement?
Bob: I believe a high quality waterproofing and drainage system is very important.  For very large full basements, special consideration should be given to proper lighting as well as moisture control and air circulation.  We have created effective solutions to all of those areas. Full basements do not have to be expensive to build.  They can be a very good way to add comfortable, livable square footage to the house.  Lastly, it is important to make sure the foundation contractor is capable and experienced in full basement construction.

A Good Foundation Contractor Is Critical

HCC: Since you mentioned using a capable, experienced foundation contractor, how would you describe Herbert Construction Company?
Bob: Professional and scientific.  That’s how I would describe them.  They think about what they are doing.  And, they know why they do what they do.  They are the experts at foundations, and they are continually improving and learning their craft.  That’s why I use them for all of my foundations.  I recommend them to everyone.

HCC: How do you benefit from utilizing Herbert Construction Company?
Bob: The foundation is the most important part of building the house.  I don’t have to worry about it when Herbert Construction does the work.  They make the foundations one of the easiest parts of my house construction.  I like to get very involved in every aspect of my homes to make sure everything goes like I want.  I don’t have to babysit or worry about Herbert Construction Company.  I trust them.  They save me a lot of time, which allows me to take care of other things.  The project runs smoother and faster.  I get the peace of mind that they will take care of any problems and will still be around if there are ever any call-backs in the future.  The great news is, we have not had any call backs with Herbert!

HCC: What do you like to do when you are not working?
Bob: My wife and I try to go on one big trip each year.  We went to China during the Summer Olympics and had a great time.  I enjoy hiking and camping – though I don’t do it nearly as often as I’d like.  Most of all, I really enjoy getting together with friends or family and spending time with them.

HCC: Thanks for chatting with us, Bob:  Thank you for your business.  We appreciate working with you and hope you see continued success in 2011 and beyond.

Doug’s Note: For a great video on how Bob encountered thieves at one of his jobsites (including a high-speed car chase), go to his website at http://www.shepardsonhomes.com/index.php?page=48.