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Cost Management

Bustling spring construction sites are attractive targets for thieves.

Get Ready for Rising Prices

Trade contractor pricing will rise in the next two quarters. Here’s why and what you can do about it.

The business of construction trade contracting is unique. While it is one of the most closely aligned businesses to macroeconomic conditions, it also features some characteristics that are not just unique, but downright counterintuitive … unless you understand the industry structure in which they operate. Take trade contractor margins, for example. Does it make sense that they improve prior to market recovery?

A Return to Profitability

Takeoff and cost management is key to higher margins.

Virtually all large U.S. builders are losing an average of $2,000 to $4,000 per home due to inaccurate takeoff procedures, inflated waste factors, and careless use of materials on site, according to research conducted by Continuum Advisory Group, which has analyzed building materials packages for more than 1,000 different house plans in multiple divisions of the nation’s top home builders between 2006 and today.