Tag: florida contractor license

Best Apps for a Construction Site

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Construction sites are filled with hustle and bustle – there’s always a lot going on. It can be a very demanding job managing all the moving parts of a site. Between workers and equipment, there’s a lot to keep track of. Thankfully, just like every other industry these days, the contractor world has plenty of mobile apps that can actually make life more efficient at a job site. Whether it’s a smartphone or a tablet, contractors are able to change the way they work as they begin to rely on mobile devices for help with tasks throughout the day. For this article, we wanted to focus on some apps that can help out contractors in a construction site.

 

iBlueprint –  ($.99) With this app, users can create and export custom blueprints right at their fingertips! The app will store all the blueprints in one place, safely in your phone. You won’t have to worry about misplacing them, accidently throwing them away, spilling things on them, etc.

 

Builder’s Helper ($14.99) – This is a construction calculator app, calculating simple equations to more difficult formulas dealing with square or cubic measurements. You can save these calculations and even print them out. This is a highly advanced app that is easy to use.

 

BIM 360 Field (FREE) – This app is field management software for 2D and 3D projects.

 

Procore – (FREE) This app allows people working on a job to share data including contact information, project photos, worker hours, to-do lists, and more. This app even can upload and share blueprints.

 

SmartBid – (FREE) This app allows the user to keep track of all subcontractor and vendor interactions like bid information, due dates, status updates, supply updates, measurements, and more. This info is synced to your phone or other device so you can view it even if the internet isn’t available.

 

Using apps is the way the construction world is going. These apps help make a construction site more organized, and a project flow easier. Technology changes and updates all the time, and that includes contractor technology through a mobile app. It’s better to get used to their mobile apps now, so you and your company will not behind the times (or other companies). You want to show your clients that you’re in the know.

 

Looking to get a Florida contractor’s license? As a Florida contractor licensing company, it is our job to help you get licensed, and we make the process stress-free and fast! To get started on getting your contrator’s license, click here or call 239-777-1028.

 

Holiday Gift Guide 2017

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The holiday season is here! Now is the perfect time to get your favorite contractor (family member or friend) or yourself a great gift that helps them with their train. Contractors need lots of tools, equipment and gadgets in their day to day jobs.  If the contractor you’re buying for owns his own company or is part of a tiny company or is self-employed, they could use a gift, because they most likely don’t have a company supplying tools for them to use.

 

It’s important to note what kind of contractor you’re buying for, since each specialty of contracting does and requires different things.  You need to buy them things they will actually use depending on their role, and try not to purchase items he or she already has, unless of course, it’s a special personalized item. As a contractor licensing company, we wanted to share some great products for you to get for a contractor you know this holiday season.

 

  • Bosch GLM 10 – This is a laser measure that is small, precise and simple. It is a reliable device that takes instant measurements up to 35 feet. It is portable and fits easily in one hand or a pocket. It is easy to use. All you do to measure is press one button!
  • SOG PowerAssist Multi-Tool B66N-CP — This device is a muti-tool solution in one compact form. It has 6 tools in one device. There is a blade, pliers, file, crimpers, a can opener, bottle opener, a v-cutter, screwdrivers, and a ruler.
  • Stanley 7qt Heritage Cooler – This cooler comes with a 1-quart vacuum bottle that can keep drinks hot or cold for 24 hours and iced for 120 hours. It is made from stainless steel.
  • Snap-On Rolling tool bag – This tool bag is built to last and is water resistant. It has a heavy-duty handle and oversized wheels, which makes it easy to bring everywhere.
  • Magnetic wrist bands – These wrist bands are perfect for holding screws, nails, scissors, bolts, and more when you have too much to carry and need another set of hands.

These are just a few gift ideas! There’s a lot out there a contractor friend of yours will love to receive this holiday season.

If you’re looking to get your Florida contractor’s license, let us help you. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. We have helps thousands get their contractor license. To start the license process today, click here or call 239-777-1028.

 

 

Managing Your Inventory as a Contractor

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If you own your own contractor business or manage a lot within the company you work for, you may deal with site inventory. In this position, you take charge of the purchasing and managing of the inventory for the company in order for the company to complete current jobs and land new owns.

When you’re in charge of inventory, you have to be concerned with forecasting, purchasing orders, deliveries, stock levels, fill rates, back orders, and more. You may even have to provide inventory reports on a regular basis to a superior or owner of the company. This position, as you can probably gather, is extremely important.

Being in 2017, there’s a lot of technology out there now that can really help manage job site inventory better. If a job site’s inventory isn’t managed properly, it can cost the company a lot of money, or it can potentially make the company lose clients.

It’s important to keep track of every machine, tool, piece of equipment and other items on the job site. As you move from site to site, it’s always important to double check the equipment and numbers so the chance of loss or things missing gets lowered.

As you work on each job, you can also evaluate if your current inventory is sufficient enough for the types of jobs you’re taking on. Is there not enough equipment? Do you own unnecessary tools? You don’t want to pay for materials that you ultimately have no use for at the present time. As the inventory manager, as long as you keep up with inventory, your materials/tools/machines will accurately reflect the needs and demands of your company.

There are a few different inventory scanner apps (free and not-free) that can help you manage your job better. These apps include: Inventory Tracker, and Inventory Tracking Sheet with Barcoding.

Although the apps are handy and convenient, they’re not the most realiable or efficient. Bar codes and radio frequency identification (RFID), as well as scanner equipment and software, are the best choice to help you. Trusted vendors that produce these products include: ToolWatch, Purple Oak, and GAO RFID Inc. If you are a smaller company with a smaller budget, sticking to mobile apps will be a conservative choice. Scanners and RFID products cost money, but you also get support when using these products. Sometimes, phones can be used as scanners (headed this way) but they aren’t perfect yet; however, a phone scanner is cheaper solution than purchasing a scanner.

Thinking about becoming a contractor? You’ll need your license to practice legally in the state of Florida. We can help. We are a contractor licensing company. We will help you get your Florida contractor’s license fast and painlessly. To get started, click here or call 239-777-1028.

 

 

Electrical Contractor Shortage

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When it comes to electricians, 85,900 professionals will be needed to fill electrician jobs by 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The need for electricians will continue to rise, says BLS, in the next 10 years due to wiring needs in residences and businesses, along with construction booming. However, there seems to be a shortage of electricians at the time to fill in all these needed positions. If you’re looking to become an electrical contractor, now is the time! In the next decade, the job outlook has it growing at 14%. Apparently, employers, according to BLS, are also having a hard time finding qualified employees, so this is a field where you can easily jump into, once you’ve completed the proper training and licensure.

What does an electrical contractor/electrician do exactly? Well, he or she maintains and installs electrical systems in homes, businesses, and other buildings. They look at blueprints, deal with repairs, work with other types of contractors in order to complete their part of the job. The average salary for this occupation is $51,880.

If you like problem solving, fast-paced work that allows you to work with your hands and meet a lot of new people, this is the career for you.

If you want to hire a good electrician, it’s a good idea, as a contractor, to offer individuals additional training and certification, so they see a career path for themselves. Since so many companies will be in demand of electricians, companies need to truly offer electrical contractors something that other companies will not (newest technology, better wages, flexible work hours, job advancement).  These approaches will help employees stick around longer and choose one company over the other hundreds looking to fill electrical contractor positions.

Looking to become an electrical contractor? Now is the time! Let us help you. Learn more here about getting an electrical contractor’s license.  It’s imperative that you get licensed. Unlicensed work is illegal in the state of Florida, and customers will have less trust in you. As a Florida contractor licensing company, we want to help you get your license in such a fast-growing field. We will do all the heavy-lifting of the application process for you. To get started on this process, click here or call 239-777-1028.

 

 

 

 

 

DIY Work or a Contractor?

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In today’s world, DIY ( do it yourself) projects are all the rage. From home improvements to a child’s birthday celebration, people are creating, building, and crafting things all up on their own. Why? Well for one, DIY projects can, often times, be more affordable than hiring someone or buying things. Second, many people have fun doing projects themselves and feel a lot of pride when it’s a job well done. However, not every project out there should be a DIY. There’s just some projects that need true expertise, knowledge and skill, especially when it deals with home improvement.  When deciding whether to do a job yourself or hire a contractor, you should consider your skill level, how long the job will take, how much free time you have, and compare the costs.

There’s plenty of work to do with a home: repairs, remodeling, additions, etc. But when choosing what to hire a contractor for in your home, there’s plenty to keep in mind. First off, labor is a bulk (most often) of the cost to do a project. Many times the cost of the materials is cheap but the labor is what makes the bill so high. At this point, you’ll need to decide (labor-wise) what job can you afford to do the work and what job you can’t. Jobs like fixing a cabinet door or painting a room could be projects you take on yourself to avoid hefty bills.

More complicated home jobs such as plumbing, tiling, electrical work, should be left to professionals. Unless you or a loved one has experience doing these type of jobs before, it’s better they are done by a professional. If there are dangerous jobs (roofing, electrical work), jobs that could ruin your home, or required a permit, then leave it to the professionals. You don’t want to destroy your home or get in trouble with your city due to construction you started.

Some jobs around your home are just too specialized; a person with real training and certifications can handle the job easily, but you may fall short. You can also come across problems mid-project that you may not know how to handle, but a professional contractor would.

There’s a lot of things to think about when deciding on whether a job should be DIY or contractor work. Is the job a hassle? Is It costly? It is time consuming? Is it a dangerous job? Do I need a permit? Ultimately, the decision is up to you based on your experience, needs, wants, time, and finances.

Looking to become a licensed contractor? Maybe you love DIY work so much that you want to take it to the next level? We can help you get licensed. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. We can help you create and submit a licensing application. To get started, click here or call us at 239-777-1028.

Communication is Key with the Client for a Contractor

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To be a contractor, you need good communication skills. You don’t necessarily have to be a “people person,” per se, but you do have to know how to effectively communicate with clients, or else projects can end up being disasters. Communication is key as a contractor. Not only do you need to talk with the clients, but you must communicate with your fellow contractors, vendors, managers, supervisors, etc., to be able to get a job done.

It’s essential to develop a relationship with your client. In order to have a positive relationship with the client, a contractor must be clear, honest and in consistent communication with that client. By developing quality, positive relationships with these clients, they may call you back for additional work, or refer you to other clients for more business; they can even review you positively on the internet or an advertisement, which would increase your visibility and trustworthiness leading to more jobs.

So, how does one create this “ideal” relationship with a client? Like stated before, communication Is key, and it has to be hey from start to finish of the project. Get to truly know your clients wants, needs, and expectations. Continue to contact or meet with the client during the process to update them on the work to keep them in the know while letting them have a say in the decision-making process. When talking to the client, keep it clear and simple. Don’t use contractor lingo that is unknown and confusing to the client. You want them to feel comfortable not confused.

Figure out the best way to communicate with your client. Who is the point of contact? Should they be reached by email, telephone, or text? How will the payment occur? How will invoices be dealt with? Answering these questions will help the flow of communication throughout the entire job.

Staying organized will also help with your communication. Relying details in a concise, clear, organized matter with bring great relief and trust in you from the client. Whether you write about the project, send photographs, bring the client to the work site, or contact often with status updates, let them know your process and make them feel like they are working with you.

At the end of the day, you and your client are working together to complete this job, and it benefits both parties greatly if everything works out successfully and runs smoothly.

Bad communication can even lead your client to leave you mid-project, which would be a disaster. So remember, do everything within your power to effectively communicate with them every step of the way.

Looking to become a Florida contractor? Or start your own business? Need a license? We can help! We are a Florida contractor company who helps contractors get their Florida contractor’s licenses and business licenses. For more information and to get started, click here or call 239-777-1028.

 

 

The importance of safety glasses

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What do flying debris, airborne dust, and shattering glass have in common?

 

They can all cause eye injuries.

 

It’s no surprise that the construction industry ranks second among occupations with the highest rate of eye injuries, given the number of potential hazards that workers face each day.

 

According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, three out of every five eye injuries in the workplace happen to individuals who are not wearing eye protection. More than 20,000 eye injuries occur at work each year, and reportedly cost an estimated $300 million in lost productivity, medical bills, and workers’ compensation claims.

 

The federal Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) maintains safety standards for eye and face protection; in most cases, personal protective eyewear is mandatory at job sites. Safety glasses with side shields are required for environments in which concrete, metal, and wood particles are in the air.

 

Here are a few tips for picking the right pair of safety glasses and staying safe at work:

 

–Simply put, wearing safety glasses is your best defense against injury. Be sure your eyewear is OSHA-compliant and carries the approval of the American National Standards Institute. Sealed glasses provide the best protection from airborne debris.

 

–Workers exposed to daylong sunlight should wear safety glasses that offer protection from the sun’s ultra-violet rays. Look for glasses marked “UV400,” which provide 100-percent protection. Glasses with variable lenses stay clear indoors, and transition to a dark tint outdoors. Lenses with an anti-fog coating will prevent temperature and humidity changes from obscuring your view.

 

–Take steps to create a safer work environment and make an eye safety checklist. Identify primary hazards at each job site, secure objects that could fall, make sure that safety systems on power tools are functional, and designate specific areas for activities that create dust and debris. Take time at the end of each day to clean up and re-evaluate the workspace for potential issues.

 

–Make sure you have a first-aid kit on hand that contains an ample amount eye wash, which can be used to flush out any specks of debris.  However, a person who has suffered an eye cut or puncture should not flush the eye, and instead seek immediate medical attention.

 

Having the right licenses for the job are just as important as workplace safety. A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit our Florida contractor licensing page or call 239-777-1028.

Housing sales ‘heat wave’ continues into July

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 Florida’s housing market continued to heat up in July, as it picked up steam for the second summer month.

 

Florida Realtors reported that July was a strong month for statewide housing sales, with higher median sales prices, more pending sales, and additional new listings. Single-family home sales totaled 24,546 — up 2 percent from July 2016 levels — while condo-townhouse sales totaled 9,246 – up 3.6 percent.

 

Sales and prices were also up in June of this year.

 

“Florida’s housing market gained momentum in July,” said Florida Realtors President Maria Wells in a news release. “More owners decided to put their homes up for sale. However, even with the increase in new listings, inventory remains tight and buyer demand is great. New listings for single-family existing homes rose 6.1 percent year-[to]-year, while new listings for existing condo-townhouse properties rose 5.5 percent.”

 

“Homes continue to sell quickly, resulting in increased pending sales – up 3.3 percent for single-family homes and up 3.6 percent for condo-townhouse units,” she added.

 

Statewide, the median sales price for single-family homes was $240,000 – up 7.1 percent year-to-year, while the median price for condo-townhouses was $170,950 — up 6.8 percent. July reportedly marked the 68th month in a row that statewide median prices for both sectors rose year-over-year.

 

Nationwide, the number of housing starts and completions was mixed in July compared to the same month last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

 

The number of privately owned housing starts totaled 1.15 million – down 5.6 percent – while housing completions stood at 1.17 million – up 8.2 percent. Housing starts and completions have risen consistently since July 2012.

 

New housing starts are considered to be an indicator of economic strength, and present opportunities for contractors and workers in the construction trades. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a slight uptick in new construction industry jobs in July, with most of the increases seen in the residential construction sector.

 

Housing and real estate data for August 2017 was released in mid-September.

 

A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit our Florida contractor’s license website or call 239-777-1028.

 

What Does A General Contractor Do?

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Do you know what a general contractor does exactly? What the position entails? There’s so many different types of contractors today that it can be hard to remember who does what. If you’re looking to hire a general contractor for work, you want to make sure he or she has the right skills you need for the job.

In the state of Florida, a general contractor is recognized as a “a contractor whose services are unlimited as to the type of work which he or she may do, who may contract for any activity requiring licensure under this part, and who may perform any work requiring licensure under this part, except as otherwise expressly provided in s. 489.113.”

In order to become a licensed general contractor, a person must show 48 months on jobs with at least 12 months as a foreman or a combination of college and experience totaling at least 48 months with at least 12 of those months as a foreman. This person must also show at least 1 year or more of experience with habitable structures bigger than 4 stories. He or she must also have responsibility in at least four of the following areas in construction: Foundation/slabs greater than 20,000 sq. ft, Masonry walls, Steel erection, Elevated slabs, Precast concrete structures, Column erection, and Formwork for structural reinforced concrete.

If you’re a homeowner and need work done in or outside your home, most likely, you’ll need to call up a general contractor. Looking to build a home theater? Game room? Home office? Hobby room? Outdoor deck? Raised ceilings? Want a second floor? Outdoor kitchen? A total remodeling? A general contractor and his team of subcontractor can plan and execute this project.

A general contractor can help a person or family renovate and improve the look of their home without them having to buy a new home to fulfill their new needs or desires.

If you or someone you know is looking to become a licensed general contractor, we can help. We are a Florida contractor licensing company who has helped thousands of contractors get their license. To learn more about this process, click our Florida general contractor page. We make the process fast and simple. To start working with us today, click our Florida contractor page or call 239-777-1028.

New home starts, sales data signals good news for Florida contractors

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New housing starts and home sales are considered to be indicators of economic strength. So the latest data should signal good news for Florida contractors and workers in the construction trades.

 

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently released statistics that show an uptick in new residential construction activity during the month of June 2017.

 

Nationwide, the number of privately owned, new home construction starts was 1.21 million — up 2.1 percent over the June 2016 level. The number of privately owned housing completions for the month was 1.20 million – up 8.1 percent year-to-year.

 

The news followed a June report by Reuters that noted U.S. homebuilding had fallen for the third-straight month in May. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the construction industry gained 16,000 new jobs in June and 6,000 new jobs in July, with the residential sector fueling growth.

 

Locally, FloridaRealtors reported positive movement in the sale of single-family homes, townhouses/condos and manufactured homes in June, noting that new homes listed in the Sunshine State are selling quickly.

 

Compared to the same month last year, the number of single-family home sales rose 4.3 percent, while townhouses/condo sales increased by 4.9 percent and manufactured homes sales jumped 9.1 percent.

 

Sales prices in June were also higher: The average price of a single-family home was $328,921 (up 7.3 percent); for townhouses/condos, the average price was $255,717 (up 5.9 percent), while the average price for a manufactured home was $87,288 (up 14.8 percent).

 

The data, so far, are in line with what analysts predicted the housing market would look like in 2017. Sales prices are expected to continue to rise with increased demand from homebuyers, with younger individuals born after 1980 increasingly looking to own a home rather than rent. Some experts suggest that there may also be a growing premium on high-end homes because they’re more profitable to build.

 

Housing and real estate data for July 2017 will be released later this month.

 

A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit our Florida contractor’s license site or call 239-777-1028.