The ProfitDig Blog

Insights, strategies, and news for the modern contractor.

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What Is Hard Bid Estimating?

The hard bid estimating process is a widely used method of estimating construction costs and time. The process involves listing the various items that go into the building, such as labor and materials, and calculating their total cost. A hard bid is a rough estimate of construction cost. In other words, it is a starting […]

April 18, 2022
Blog

Three Emerging Construction Technologies to Watch in 2022

The construction industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies and methods emerging. It can be difficult to keep up with the latest trends, but it’s important to be aware of them to stay ahead of the competition. Here are three construction technologies emerging in 2022 that you should keep an eye on. Construction Wearables Construction […]

April 13, 2022
Blog

How Much Does a Construction Foreman Make

A construction foreman ensures that everything runs well on a project site. They act as a bridge between the supervisors and the workers. A foreman’s primary responsibilities are scheduling projects, quality control, and monitoring the project’s progress. Becoming a construction foreman only requires a high school diploma. But most foremen have many years of experience […]

April 6, 2022
Blog

What Contractors Need to Know about AIA Contracts

AIA contracts are standard forms used in many construction projects across the United States. It outlines the responsibilities of both the contractor and the owner and can be used as a legal agreement between both parties. In this article, we will discuss the key points that contractors need to know about the AIA contracts. We […]

March 10, 2022
Blog

Danger! Danger! These Things Can Kill Your Construction Business

Here are some items that represent MAJOR dangers to your business. Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket One thing that you’ve got to be aware of is something my Dad always warned about (even though we ended up falling into the same trap), which is putting all of your eggs in one basket. That […]

November 18, 2021
Blog

Getting the Construction Job Done with Subcontractors

Excerpt from Digging for Profit: Secrets to Success in the Construction Industry, by Jeff Spencer and Jerry Work   There are going to be times when you can’t self-perform every part of a project yourself. It’s very common to be looking at a project, especially something you really want to bid on, that is above […]

October 28, 2021
Blog

Construction Contract Negotiations – Read Every Word!

Excerpted from the book \”Digging for Profit: Secrets to Success in the Construction Industry\” by Jeff Spencer and Jerry Work.   So you have just bid on a job, or part of a job as a subcontractor, and you’ve received a contract back from the general contractor, or whomever you’re going to be working for. […]

October 22, 2021
Blog

Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Contracts – Who Are They Good For?

In construction, “GMP” stands for “Guaranteed Maximum Price.” It is a contract whereby the General Contractor guarantees that the total cost of a project will not exceed a set amount. It is often a sort-of design-build kind of thing because the GC and its subs do the design work along the way (especially during the […]

October 19, 2021
Lumber
Blog

Why Are Lumber Prices So High?

Constructiondive.com recently published an article that we thought did an excellent job of explaining the surge in lumber prices. You can read the complete article here. Here is a bullet point summary of the items discussed in the article: Many sawmills closed down during the recession of 2008 – 2009, reducing supply. Tarriffs on Canadian […]

June 3, 2021
Blog

Construction Job Bidding 101

We talk a lot about job bidding because it is an absolutely critical skill if you want to start and grow a successful construction firm. This article summarizes some of our best job bidding advice and contains several videos in which we discuss various aspects of the bidding process. Research the Job Thoroughly I would […]

May 17, 2021

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