Message from Doug...

Yes, it’s that time of year again

It’s back to school time for the kids.  Most school districts have welcomed them back by mid-August.  While Summer officially ends on September 22nd, it always feels like Summer ends when the kids go back to school.

As the kids return to school, most of us in the residential homebuilding sector continue to think about how to get all of our work done.  At Herbert Construction Co., our workload continues to be strong with current clients and the steady addition of new clients.  I have been jokingly complaining to my friends that we spent the last seven years looking for work and now we are looking for laborers.  We experience one extreme or the other (though I’ll gladly take this problem over lack of work).

According to a recent article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, there are not enough homes in Metro Atlanta for the current demand.  While that statement would have been unfathomable just three years ago, the inventory of homes available for resale is now near all-time lows.  Foreclosures are down, prices are rising, and the number of new homes under construction is up.  Home-builders are scrambling to get product on the ground. 

A number of building companies that I’ve spoken to recently have said that they are able to steadily raise their prices as the high demand continues.  Trade labor shortages and spiking material costs are additional factors for an increase in new home prices.  And yet, the inventory continues to be consumed.  For now, things are very good.

On a personal note, in May I decided to train for my first sprint triathlon.  I competed in the triathlon in July and had a blast.  I’ve now begun training for the Savannah Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in November (as if I wasn’t busy enough with work demands).

I hope you are able to get out and enjoy the rest of your Summer.

Recent Referrals

Time for new pencils, notebooks, and backpacks! The kids going back to school is the first sad sign that summer is nearing its end.  However, the end of summer oftentimes invokes nostalgia and fond memories as well.  We want to make sure that a few people who gave us some summertime memories know that they are very much appreciated.  So, with that said, here is a great big THANK YOU to the following people that recently referred our company:

Steve Pozzobon,  ProHome Georgia – Builder Warranty Solutions  pozzobon@prohomegeorgia.com

Charlie Borg, Traton Homes – Builder  cborg@tratonhomes.com

Anthony Walker,  Thomas Concrete – Supplier  www.thomasconcrete.com

Terry McConnell, Brundage Bone – Pumping Company  www.brundagebone.com

Concrete Foundations Association Annual Convention

We recently attended the Summer Convention for the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) in beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

The CFA is comprised of concrete foundation contractors throughout North America who are industry leaders in their markets.  We’ve been a member of the CFA since 1991 and have benefited immensely from our participation.

At the convention, we attended a number of seminars on topics such as finances, risk management, and upcoming regulation such as Obamacare and crane & driver certification.

It is also a great opportunity to learn the best practices in construction and efficiency from the sharpest concrete contractors in the country.

Project of the Year Award

Barry Herbert (right) receives the Project of the 

Year Award from Ed Sauter of the CFA.

We are excited to announce that we received an award for Basement Project of the Year while at the Convention.  The award is for a basement we constructed in East Cobb County for our longtime client and exceptional custom home builder Kyle Henry of Kyle V. Henry, Inc.  We won the category for basement foundation for a 2,000 – 5,000 square foot home.

This prestigious national award included entries from across the United States and Canada.  Award criteria involve the project’s size, complexity and challenging circumstances.

This is the third year in a row that we have won a CFA Project of the Year Award.

Doug’s Presentation

Also at the Convention, Doug Herbert gave a presentation titled “Win More Bids: How To Pre-Sell, Present, and Follow Up On Your Estimates.”  Doug shared the system we use to show prospective customers the benefits of choosing our company over the competition.

Doug Herbert presents marketing strategies to fellow CFA members.

Concrete Housing Seminar
The day before the Convention, we attended a special day-long Concrete Housing seminar.  The seminar explained the latest methods, structural design, wall insulation options, and advancements in above-grade concrete construction.  Fellow contractor and engineer, Mike Hancock, gave an excellent presentation on HVAC considerations with concrete homes.
 
Beautiful New Mexico

While in New Mexico for the Convention, most of us were able to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

There are many great things to do in and around Albuquerque and Santa Fe.  The views and rock formations were stunning as we hiked in the nearby National Parks and Monuments. 

 

Doug’s daughter, Ella, and son, Hage, 

hiking the canyon trail through Kasha Katuwe 

Tent Rocks National Monument.

Josh Morris and his daughter, Amelia, 

climb the stairs to a cavate (man-made shelter) 

in Bandelier National Monument.

Hage, Ella, and Amelia pose with the 

Rio Grande and Sandia Peak in the background.

Rock formations of the Kasha Katuwe 

Tent Rocks National Monument.

Amelia and Ella loading up on free goodies at the CFA Convention

Interesting Summer Time uses for Duct Tape

While out shopping for Back-To-School supplies, we noticed that many retailers have begun selling “Designer Duct Tape”. From camouflage to hot pink, stripes and animal prints, who would have imagined that a household staple could also be considered trendy? So whether you like the fancy new patterns or the regular gray version, here are a few uses for this great product that you may not have thought of.

Always, always pack duct tape when you’re going camping.  It’s a must-have item to repair rips or holes in tents and air mattresses, and can be used to string up food so it’s out of bears’ reach.

Duct tape is so sturdy, you can use it as a rope by twisting it around itself.  Use it as a backup for clotheslines, leashes, tying twine, or anything else you would normally use rope for.

If you get a splinter, a little duct tape does the trick to get it out.  Cut off a little piece and gently press it to the affected area.
To get rid of unwanted flies and other flying pests without using any chemicals, make rings of tape with the sticky side out (just like the construction paper Christmas Tree garland we used to make).  Hang it near a light, and then just throw the tape away.

Before you start out on your hiking trip, tape your pant legs to your boots with duct tape.  This will ensure you’ll get no bites from ticks, flies, chiggers and mosquitoes.

And lastly, make sure squirrels, mice and other critters don’t chew through the rubber pipeline that connects your propane tank to your grill – reinforce the entire thing with duct tape.  This is a good idea for anything else in your yard made out of rubber, as rubber is a favorite chew toy of rodents!

Test Your Summer Vacation Brain

Yes, It’s Back to School time for the kids, but “Summer Vacation Brain” can affect anyone!


Test your Question and Answer skills with the following quiz and let us know how you did!

1. What popular website gets its name from a misspelling of the word for the number one followed by one hundred zeros? a-Yahoo, b-Tumblr, c-Google, d-eBay.
2. What sports trophy is filled with misspellings, including Dickie Moore's name spelled 5 different ways? a-Lombardi Trophy, b-Stanley Cup, c-Ryder Cup, d-Davis Cup.
3. The name of which U.S. state is misspelled on the Liberty Bell and in the U.S. Constitution? a-Delaware, b-Pennsylvania, c-Massachusetts, d-Mississippi.
4. The properties of a Monopoly board are named after real locations in Atlantic City. Which Monopoly property is spelled wrong? a-Mediterranean Avenue, b-Oriental Avenue, c-Reading Railroad, d-Marvin Gardens.
5. What word is misspelled in the title of a best-selling autobiography by entrepreneur Chris Gardner? a-Cemetery, b-Christmas, c-Cheese, d-Happiness.
6. What nation's king, Carl XVI Gustaf, misspelled his own name when signing his accession documents in 1973? a-Sweden, b-Norway, c-Denmark, d-Finland.
7. Who directed the blatantly misspelled movie Inglorious Basterds? a-Tim Burton, b-Eli Roth, c-Clint Eastwood, d-Quentin Tarantino.
8. This 3-letter term is inserted after an uncorrected quoted word or phrase that is misspelled? a-Sic, b-Cum, c-Pip, d-Yuk.

Answers:
1-c, Google, 2-d Stanley Cup, 3-b Pennsylvania, 4-d, Marvin (should be Marven) Gardens, 5-d Happiness (spelled happyness), 6-a Sweden, 7-d Quentin Tarantino, 8-a Sic

Please Welcome Our New Accountant

We would like to welcome Kathy Tiemann to Herbert Construction.  Kathy is our new Accountant, and comes to us with many years of experience in the construction industry.  We feel so fortunate to have her. 

If you have any questions for her, please feel free to call our office or email her at kathyt@herbertconstruction.com.