Tools
Carpenter
Evaluation Tools
Use these Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to evaluate carpenters, tools
needed, and projects!
(To save these documents to your desktop, open it, then go to File -->
Save As)
Carpenter
evaluation (difference in tools, skills, etc. for Apprentice I through
Journeyman III)
Carpenter level evaluation
(carpenter ranking based on skills in different areas)
Carpenter plan
(a checklist of what carpenters information carpenters should gather
from plans)
Production
Schedule Checklist
This list is a valuable tool just like your hammer, circular saw or
tape measure. Just like your hammer, circular saw or tape measure, if
you don't use it, it will not help you. At a minimum it should be reviewed
once a week by the Lead Carpenter with another Carpenter or the Production
Manager. Preferably it should be reviewed daily. The more you use this
Tool the smoother your jobs will run and the fewer problems & call
backs you will have. Click the box below to open the checklist. If you
need Adobe PDF Reader, you can download it free; click
here.
Builder's
Resources
ICRS
(Insurance Cost Reduction Service)
http://icrs.biz
Splinter
Group
splintergroup.info
Builders
Book, Inc.
buildersbook.com
Engineer Supply
engineersupply.com
Contractors State License Board
cslb.ca.gov
Better Business Bureau
oakland.bbb.org
NARI® National
nari.org
San Francisco NARI® Chapter
sfbanari.com
Green Builder Certification
stopwaste.org
State Compensation
Insurance Fund
scif.com
Associations
Splinter
Group
http://www.splintergroup.info
American Institute of Architects
http://www.aia.org
American Society of Home Inspectors
http://www.ashi.com
Associated Builders and Contractors
http://www.abc.org
The National Association of Minority Contractors
http://www.namconline.org
National Association of Home Builders
http://www.nahb.com
National Association of Women in Construction
http://www.nawic.org
National Roofing Contractors Association
http://www.nrca.net
Region 7
NARI® Chapters
Central
California
www.naricencal.org
Members at Large (California)
http://www.nari.org/level2/chaptersearch/chapters/states.cfm?region=region7
Monterey
County
http://www.nari.org/level2/chaptersearch/chapters/chapter.cfm?chapter=CA5&state=California
Sacramento
http://www.narisacto.org
San Diego
http://narisd.org
San Francisco
http://www.sfbanari.com/
San Jose
http://www.narisj.org
Trade Publications
eBuild
http://www.ebuild.com
Hanley Wood Publishers
http://www.hanley-wood.com
Qualified Remodeler Magazine
http://www.qualifiedremodeler.com
Professional Remodeler Magazine
http://www.housingzone.com
Governmental
Affairs
U.S.
Congress on the Internet
http://thomas.loc.gov
Contact Congress
http://www.house.gov/writerep
The Code of Federal Regulations
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr
The Hill News Online
http://www.hillnews.com/
Congressional Quarterly Inc.
http://www.cq.com/home/home.jsp
Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST, sponsored by HUD
http://www.fairhousingfirst.org/
Important
Information
The
following discussion is between Don Bury, President of Insurance Cost
Reduction Service (ICRS) and Bob Smith of Whitecap Insurance Services
about using ICRS services vs. broker services.
Hi Greg,
Below is the email from Bob Smith, and the comments I wrote to myself
in response. Just thought you'd like to get an idea of how I react to
challenges posed by brokers.
Best,
Don Bury, President, Insurance Cost Reduction Services
3663 Camino Bella Rosa Sierra Vista , AZ 85650
Phone: 707-665-9414 Fax: 707-665-9033
email: donbury@icrs.biz
web: www.icrs.biz
blog: www.icrs.biz/blog/
Bob Smith, Insurance Broker, writes to Greg Neil:
It has been awhile since I have been to one of your meetings. I hope
things are going well with your business, as well as with the Roundtable.
I found your recent email about the January meeting to be of some interest,
for obvious reasons. This guy Don has some interesting ideas, and there
are others who also work as consultants. Personally, I find the services
of limited use, but that is with the assumption that you have an engaged,
experienced, broker working for the client. Here some troubles with
that business model:
He talks of commission salespeople as a bad thing. I work with a bunch
of contractors, from small, one man operations to a firm pulling in
over $40 mill, and everything in between. The most important thing to
contractors of all sizes is being sure that certificates of insurance,
along with additional insured endorsements, are issued correctly and
on a timely basis. You probably are aware that there are are many variables
involved in additional insured endorsements, and I am often find myself
negotiating and educating on behalf of the sub or general to clarify
requirements and resolve potential problems. This is even more important
with the overuse of OCIPs by Turner and some other generals, that in
turn cause scary gaps in coverage for the subs, for which they are usually
unaware, and wide open for uncovered litigation due to indemnity agreements.
My point is that someone needs to perform this service in addition to
claims, endorsements, etc. ICRS seems to think that you can get quality
service from Costco. Simply put, good people that solve real problems
cost some money, and without commission, no broker can hire good help.
ICRS will not solve one problem, or issue one certificate, as they are
only engaged on the renewal.
Good timing for this sort of approach, as all work comp premiums will
be down by over 20% due to the recent changes in the law. Does that
lock in a fee for such 'good work' from IRCS? Heck, even the State Fund
is coming down over 20%......yes, some other insurers are in a position
to do better than the Fund this year, and it has been awhile that the
market has seem some competition.
Heck – I am too longwinded, and I have to get back to my desk.
I will leave you with this – there are also owner's representatives
for construction that negotiate with contractors on behalf of the owners.
How do your contractors like working with a guy like me who needs to
do a remodel, but hires an owners rep? Does the rep ever pound a nail?
I know the answer – but hey, a remodel is every bit as complicated
as an insurance renewal. Most homeowners only build once, and we could
use the help. Explore why your builders would rather work directly with
the owner, and build a quality project, and are mostly honest guys,
and you will find my reasons for the failure of firms like ICRS to gain
much traction over the long haul.
The bottom line is this – there is no excuse for ignorance, by
either the homeowner, or the insurance buyer. It is the job of brokers
and contractors to educate their clients. I succeed based on my ability
to educate at least as much as my ability to negotiate. At any rate,
some food for thought!
Best,
Bob Smith
Whitecap Insurance Services
1623A Fifth Ave. San Rafael , CA 94901
ph. 415-499-7722 fx. 415-479-3962
Don Bury replies…
I applaud Bob for his thoughtful comments, observations and questions.
I feel a major reason the USA outlived the USSR is because our freedom
of speech, and free press allowed open dialogue to expose truths, and
lead towards clearer mutual understanding, and rapid and sensible progress.
It is open commentary like this that leads to real improvements.
It is the obstructive, occlusive, and territorial behaviors that cripple
systems. I've found no perfect system for dealing with the process of
buying insurance. We contribute by breaking down barriers and walls
to increase the flow of knowledge and information, in the belief that
can only help buyers.
In my experience, commission based brokers are financially compelled
to try and insulate their accounts from competition. If this means not
handing over loss runs and other helpful information, and otherwise
trying to resist exposure to the free market, then they are practicing
occlusive, obstructive, and territorial behavior. It is not their fault.
The system creates an environment where it is necessary for survival.
ICRS works to position buyers to access knowledge and information,
and naturally find the best the market has to offer. It is a mistake
to think that leads to poor service. Poor service cannot survive in
the context of an open and free marketplace. There are a lot of excellent
insurance brokers out there, delivering a lot of excellent service.
I am often amazed at how isolated insurance brokers like to think they
are the only ones performing at high levels. While we all see many examples
of poor service, it has been my experience that enlightened clients
get what they need from brokers, or they move on.
Bob concludes it is the job of brokers to educate their clients, and
I couldn't agree with him more. As brokers come to understand we contribute
substantially to that cause, they come to appreciate what we are doing
as extremely valuable. I start off every new relationship with a client's
broker by emphasizing we both want the same thing: for the client to
win. I've had many brokers thank me for supporting their positions,
and helping their clients appreciate and understand what the broker
is doing for them. On the other hand, we've found that when brokers
become emotional and defensive, it is usually rooted in a feeling of
insecurity caused by some weakness hidden behind an iron curtain that
will not survive illumination and examination.
Don Bury, President, Insurance Cost Reduction Services
3663 Camino Bella Rosa Sierra Vista , AZ 85650
Phone: 707-665-9414 Fax: 707-665-9033
email: donbury@icrs.biz
web: www.icrs.biz
blog: www.icrs.biz/blog/
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