Read Up on the Latest Construction Trends

Donuts. Cupcakes. Open concept homes. The color gray. Trends are a thing that happen in every industry out there, including the construction industry. It’s important for a contractor to keep up-to-date on the latest trends to not only keep up with the times, but to please, impress, and attract a clientele. Some trends stick, some go away fast, but regardless of their duration it’s good for a contractor business to be in the know of such trends. Being the end of 2017, we wanted to share with you some trends that have been emerging in the industry and will go into 2018.

 

  • Energy efficient wall systems. Commercial construction is starting to used insulating concrete blocks to be integrated into wall systems, which can improve energy efficiency in a building. They make the building stronger, better insulted, have better fire resistance, and reduces noise from the outside. This types of walls aren’t just better at conserving energy (and all the other reasons above), they also are easier to put up for contractors and don’t cost much. These types of walls also can be used in every region of the country.
  • Green design. Just like above, being efficient and “greener” is the way to go these days, especially since the world has started to see the negative effects of climate change. How can a contractor be more green in the things he or she does? Examples include: using recyclable or sustainable materials, improve air quality, better controls for lightings and temperature, more natural lightings, better insulation, etc.
  • Smart Glass. Again, just like the two trends above, this is also with the “green” trend. Smart glass is tinted/glazed in a way that improves energy efficiency. How? This glass can control glare, harsh light, and block heat from the sun’s rays. Smart glass is also known to reduce costs. Soon, people will be able to control smart glass electronically and dictate how much the glass is tinted or how much heat is should absorb. Really cool!

Right now, it seems green is the way to go in terms of trends in the construction world. As a company, it would be in your best interest to implement some of these items into your blueprints. Your clients will be excited and impressed that you offered these components into the design. These above trends not only help you keep up with other contractor businesses, but they truly help improve building design and help the environment.

 

Before you think of contractor trends, it’s important that you are legally licensed to practice contracting work. You don’t want to pay fines or get arrested. If you’re looking to get your Florida contractor’s license, we can help you get through the process fast. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. To get started on the process, click here or call us at 239-777-1028.

Best Apps for a Construction Site

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.

 

How to keep Your Construction Site Safe

Did you know that construction equipment theft is a really big problem? Unfortunately, it is. Contractors truly have to concern themselves with this issue. Construction zones and project areas are known to be high-risk targets for theft. In fact, according to the National Equipment Register (NER), only about 25% max of all stolen items are ever found. The average loss of stolen equipment is $46,273. However, the national amount that is stolen each year is between $300 million and #1 billion. That’s a lot!

Is it inevitable that your construction work zone will get robbed? Not necessarily. There’s plenty you can do to protect yourself and equipment as best as possible. However, nothing is fail proof, and you cannot guarantee your equipment’s safety, but you can raise your chances of remaining theft-free.

As a Florida contractor licensing company, we understand the importance of this equipment and it can truly make/break a business if thousands of dollars worth of things go missing. We wanted to share with you a few ideas and tips of things you can do and incorporate in your construction site to protect your equipment.

  • Make sure your equipment is always secured and locked before leaving the site for the day.
  • If you have smaller tools and equipment, store them in a locker/shed/bring them back to an office, so they won’t be out in the open and easy to grab.
  • Surround the work site with a chain-link fence/barb wire to keep out unwanted intruders.
  • Opt for a video surveillance/alarm system if you’re working a big job with expensive equipment.
  • Put up signs telling people that the area is under video surveillance.
  • Manage, monitor, and be restrictive about who has access to keys, codes, and combinations to access work sites.
  • Install security lighting. It’s harder for intruders to get away with theft if they can be easily seen.
  • Always keep an up-to-date log of inventory, so you will know exactly when something is missing.
  • Look for technologies and apps that help improve your security and safety. For example, keyless ignitions and personal ID numbers to gain access to something.

You want to deter thieves from entering your work site. You want to make it look hard for them to steal anything, so that they won’t even bother. Stolen equipment is a headache. You will lose money and it could slow down your project completely. Think about incorporating some of the key tips above to help protect your construction assets.

Are you interested in a career in contracting? Let us help you get your Florida contractor’s license. We are a Florida contractor licensing company who has helped thousands of people get licensed. We do all the work for you. You’ll be licensed in no time! Click our Florida contractor’s license contact page or call us at 239-777-1028 to get started with us today.

 

Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors proposes a new rule

The Georgia State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors proposes a new rule for Chapter 553-3 qualifications for licensure. The new rule will implement a process so that military spouses and transitioning service members may qualify for licensure with the State Licensing Board.

A public hearing will be held on June 21, 2017 at 9 a.m. at the Office of the Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards Division, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia. This hearing will be an opportunity for the public to comment and provide input into the proposed rule. The proposed new rule will be considered for adoption by the State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors at this meeting on June 21.

In this new rule, military spouses and transitioning service members may qualify for an expedited processing of the license application by showing that he or she is a military spouse or transitioning service member, and that he or she (the applicant) has paid the fee and meets the requirements for licenses under the law and rules for the type of license for which the applicant has applied and in accordance with Title 43, Chapter 41.

If this new proposed rule passes, it will become effective July 1, 2017.

If you have any questions regarding this new ruling, you can visit the Georgia Board of Residential & General Contractors’ website here, or feel free to contact us! At Licenses, Etc. we have helped thousands of people get their contractor’s license. To contact us, click here or call 239-777-1028.

 

GEORGIA ANNUAL REGISTRATION SEASON IS OPEN

Georgia’s annual registration season for 2017 is from January 1 to April 1 2017. If your annual registration and payment are not postmarked by April 1, you will be fined a $25 filing penalty fee.

This website allows you to file your annual registration without a username and password on the website The Express Annual Registration section allows you to make changes to your entity. The One Click Annual Registration section allows you to pay the annual registration quickly if there are no changes to the entity.

You can file your annual registration with or without making changes after logging into eCorp.sos.ga.gov Annual registration fees are: $50 for profit corporations, LLCs, and LPs; $30 for nonprofit corporations; and $25 for foreign LLPs. If the amount listed for your entity is larger than expected, then the total reflects amounts due from previous years and any late fees.

To keep your entity in “good standing” with the Office of Secretary of State, you should file your annual registration online with a credit card.  You can also file by mail and require a printed annual registration form and payment with a check, certified bank check or money order. Feels can be mailed with your completed annual registration form to: Office of Secretary of State, Annual Registration Filings, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., 313 West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334.

A paper registration form can be printed from here https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov. All checks must be pre-printed with a complete address in order to be accepted. Cash is not accepted.

Any person authorized by the entity may sign and file an annual registration.

The Corporations Division of the Office of the Secretary of State created a how-to guide to help people through the annual registration process. The guide is here: http://sos.ga.gov/Corporations.

For more help, reach out to the Corporations Division of the Office of the Secretary of State  at corporationswebmail@sos.ga.gov, at 404-656-2817 or toll-free at 844-753-7825.

If you’re looking for help getting a Georgia Contractor’s License or a Florida Contractor’s Licenses, our team can help you with the process. Click here or call 239-777-1028 to contact us.

 

Florida and Georgia Annual Report filing time

The annual report time has come and contractor business owners need to file this report before May 1. If a person or company files late in the state of Florida, there is a $400 late penalty that will be given.

The annual report lists important information about a business including: address, registered agent information, officer information and more. When doing this filing, a person also needs to pay the annual renewal fee; this keeps the company active for another whole year. The fee for a corporation is $150 while the fee for a LLC is $138.75.

Like stated above, this filing is necessary because it lets the Secretary of State know you want to keep your company active for another year. This is also the time for any updates you have to outdated or wrong information about your company.

If by the month of September you still do not file this annual report, the corporation or LLC will become administratively dissolved. You can however reinstate and you’ll be subject to any and all annual report payments missed in previous years. A business name is only held for one year.

In Georgia, the annual report filing fee is $50 for both corporations and LLCs. If you file after April 1, the fine is $25 for being late.

Have any questions about the annual report? Need assistance with the filing of the report? Whether you live in Florida or Georgia, we can help! We are a company who helps contractors get their Florida contractor licenses and their Georgia contractor licenses. We make the process easy and it goes by fast. We will help you with any question you may have. Contact us at 239-777-1028 or at support@licensesetc.com. If you want to learn more about or services or contact us online, visit our website here.