Builders, Budgets, and Beers

Reece sits down with Connor Watumull from Miter to talk about the biggest labor money leak most builders miss: getting every hour, burden, and benefit tied back to the right job. They break down what “contractor built” payroll and HR actually means, plus simple ways to level up onboarding, compensation, and performance without making it feel corporate. If labor is your biggest cost, this is the playbook for making it measurable, mo...

Reece sits down with Trapper Roderick of Roderick Builders to talk about why most custom homes blow up on budget before they ever break ground. They discuss the broken “architect first, builder later” pipeline, and how to pull the builder into design early so the scope, the money, and the build reality actually match. You will hear how Trapper wins work through real estate relationships, design-forward content, and tighter processe...

Reece sits down with Mark Willie to break down why price per square foot can wreck budgets on custom homes, and what builders should lead with instead. They get into expectation setting, where costs are really climbing (hint: the envelope), and how finishes can quietly 4x a plan in one showroom visit. You will walk away with a clearer way to talk budgets, scope, and durability without getting trapped in a single number.

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Reece sits down with Hayden Croxall to unpack how he built a multi-entity construction group by leading with purpose, not just profit. They discuss why residential work is so emotional, how Hayden thinks about holding companies and cross-serving trades, and what his tech stack changed for job costing and AP. You will walk away with a clearer filter for growth, culture, and hiring. If this one hits, share it with a builder who needs...

Reece sits down with Jeremy Sloane of Sloane Construction Company to talk about job costing, cost codes, and why clean data is the difference between protecting margin and getting blindsided. They get into hiring lessons and the simple systems that keep projects on track. You’ll walk away with practical ways to tighten up billing, align your cost code “language,” and price future work with confidence. If this helps, subscribe and s...

Reece sits down with Tim Calderala of Apex Homes Florida to talk about the money impact of hiring, leadership clarity, and building a bench of talent. Tim shares what four acquisitions taught him about systems, KPIs, and why “right people in right seats” beats any process on paper. You will hear how he launched a custom home company from scratch and what builders can do today to stop letting team gaps wreck margin.

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Reece Barnes sits down with PJ Antonik of Oak Development to talk about the real difference between “having a gut feel” and actually knowing your job costs. PJ breaks down how he audits past projects, tightens his funnel, and uses budget vs actuals to catch mistakes before they wreck cash flow. If you have ever felt unsure whether you can safely spend what is in the bank, this one will help you get your confidence back. Subscribe a...

Reece Barnes sits down with Joel Route of Mark D Williams Custom Homes to talk about the real cost of messy job costing and how it wrecks trust with clients. They break down how miscoded invoices can turn into double billing, end of job surprises, and $60K to $70K hits to margin. You will hear simple process rules, how to keep draws clean, and why real time cost tracking changes everything. If this helped, subscribe and share it wi...

Reece sits down with Paul Sanneman of Contractor Staffing Source to talk about the real cost of hiring mistakes, and why marketing and recruiting are no longer optional if you want to protect profit. They break down how AI is changing the game, plus Paul’s step by step recruiting process you can run in house if you have to. You will leave with clearer standards for who to hire, how to onboard them, and why one “almost good enough” ...

Reece sits down again with Garrett Goldsberry of Salt Creek Homes for round two, now that Garrett has been using Adaptive for a few months. They break down what changed after moving from Excel and QuickBooks into real job costing, and why it matters if you are trying to protect margin. You’ll hear how Garrett builds cost plus draw packages, improves transparency with clients, and catches missed costs before they quietly erode profi...

Reece sits down with Matt Brill of Bauen Build to break down change management for builders, from new software to new build standards, without losing the team along the way. They talk about what actually drives buy in, how to keep craftspeople focused on the work they love, and why clarity is so important. You will leave with practical ways to tighten budgets, approvals, and communication while still building a great product. If th...

Reece sits down with Chris Kerr of White Oak Home to debate fixed price versus cost plus, and what each model really means for risk, profit, and client trust. They get into the real reason fixed price feels simpler for a small team, why missing receipts can quietly kill margin, and how job costing changes the whole conversation. You’ll also hear how to think about overhead, project management fees, and change orders when the client...

Reece sits down with construction bookkeeper and CFO Miller Bradford from Builder Bookkeep to talk about what WIP reports really do for builders and why they are the difference between real profit and fake profit. They dig into overbilling and underbilling, messy books, tax season chaos, and the nasty surprises that show up when you guess instead of track. You will hear simple ways to use WIP as a live management tool, what numbers...

Reece digs in with construction business coach and Profit First for Contractors author Shawn Van Dyke to show why clean job costs matter more than chasing big revenue. They walk through how Shawn helped a millwork company find its profit sweet spot, track every hour of labor, and stop guessing on bids. You will hear simple ways to set up cost codes, push data capture to the field, and pay yourself properly for the risk you take. If...

Bill Mills, experienced CPA specializing in construction accounting, discusses the critical role of embracing new technology, real-time financial data, and proactive tax and business management to improve profitability and decision-making for contractors. Reece and Bill's conversation highlights the need for contractors to regularly review and upgrade their back-office systems, leveraging outside expertise and modern software ...

Alex Molkentin shares insights from his journey in the construction industry, emphasizing the importance of pre-construction as a means to set clear expectations and effectively manage project costs. The discussion highlights the value of transparency, collaboration with clients and trade partners, and continuous learning from past experiences to ensure successful project outcomes.

https://www.builtbyfernhill.com
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Isabel Affinito and Reece discuss the critical importance of having clear job descriptions, robust systems, and disciplined financial practices to drive success and minimize risks in construction businesses. They highlight the emotional challenges of change management, the judicious role of AI, and the need to implement foundational processes before scaling operations.

https://www.isabelaffinito.com

Show Notes:

Builder and tech veteran Per Pettersson discusses how project management and financial clarity are essential for success and efficiency in the construction industry. Drawing on his experience, he shares strategies for better planning, cost tracking, and communication to deliver projects on time and improve client satisfaction.

https://www.linmakconstruction.com

Show Notes:
Background and Introduction of Per P...

Paul Atherton shares why most builders stall until they make an identity shift—from “in-the-field” carpenter to business owner—and how to use return on time vs. return on capital to scale. He breaks down hiring that first PM, simple systems, the five levels to a self-managed company, branding that actually works, the Four C’s (coaching, community, content, capital), and setting anti-goals so growth doesn’t cost your life.

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