Construction & Real Estate
Showing 1009–1024 of 1263 results
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Technology upgrades – Could automated purchase orders speed your processes?
September / October 2010
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 647
Abstract: Constant materials purchases on construction projects can not only cause a lot of confusion, but also cost valuable hours tracking down invoices, double-checking figures, and making phone calls to managers and subcontractors. But automated purchase order software can speed buying processes and take much of the guesswork out of who’s buying what, when. This article examines how purchase order applications can use purchase orders to set up work orders, create schedules, and update and e-mail or fax weekly schedules, and use the original work orders to create invoices and send payment to subcontractors and suppliers.
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Cash: A contractor’s best friend – Cash flow forecasting can keep the relationship going strong
September / October 2010
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 952
Abstract: Many construction business owners may see cash flow forecasting as either a distraction from day-to-day activities or as a daunting, implausible undertaking. But getting a clearer picture of where a company’s dollars are going isn’t as difficult as one might think. This article shows how to estimate earnings with front-loaded billing schedules, and then, with data from estimated billing schedules and projected general operating expenses, to forecast cash flow in the near future. A sidebar lists five cash flow killers that can be prevented.
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Ask the Advisor – Will conserving water really help me save money?
July / August 2010
Newsletter: Real Estate Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 447
Abstract: Some green measures can not only help the environment, but can also help one’s bottom line by reducing utility bills. Water conservation is a good example. The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) offers a number of simple and inexpensive steps that owners can take to achieve big savings on their water usage.
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7 leasing strategies you need to know about
July / August 2010
Newsletter: Real Estate Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 605
Abstract: Commercial and residential property owners occasionally need to get back to the basics of leasing to ensure that new leases are airtight, as well as to determine whether leases that are already in place are still producing the maximum revenue allowed. This article provides seven strategies to help owners accomplish both.
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Loan assumptions – Think of them as an alternative source of financing
July / August 2010
Newsletter: Real Estate Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 721
Abstract: Even as the economy shows signs of crawling back from the brink, the credit market for commercial real estate (CRE) has remained tight. Some buyers that wish to close CRE deals are taking a nontraditional approach to financing: They’re assuming the sellers’ loans. The loan assumption process is somewhat complicated, and there can be disadvantages, but it can provide an advantageous option in a formidable credit market.
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A new safe harbor – IRS floats a solution for dealing with bankrupt QIs
July / August 2010
Newsletter: Real Estate Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 779
Abstract: Recently, the IRS released a revenue procedure that provides a “safe harbor” for certain taxpayers who initiated deferred like-kind exchanges under Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 but failed to complete the exchanges. Revenue Procedure 2010-14 applies when the qualified intermediaries (QIs) have filed for bankruptcy and defaulted on their obligations to acquire and transfer replacement property. Under the procedure, covered taxpayers aren’t required to recognize taxable gain on such exchanges until they receive payment attributable to the relinquished property. This article examines the details, while a sidebar looks at one case in which a taxpayer hoped to avoid Sec. 1031’s related-party rule by using a QI.
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Managing the risks of green building
Summer 2010
Newsletter: On-Site
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 393
Abstract: What exactly are the risks of green building? There are uncertainties about costs; confusion when sustainable building elements are added to a project during construction; and the time and expense of obtaining Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and putting LEED principles into practice. But sustainable building is one approach to construction that’s probably not going away; and, as its popularity increases, the first cost of a sustainable building is often the same as or lower than that of a traditional structure.
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4 steps to stopping and restarting a project effectively
Summer 2010
Newsletter: On-Site
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 408
Abstract: In these uncertain economic times, many construction projects have been put on hold. For those who find themselves in such a predicament, there are four steps to stopping and restarting a project effectively. These involve demobilizing in an organized manner; physically securing the project; making sure that insurance is both in effect and effective; and reassessing safety and deadlines upon restart.
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Health care reform – What the new law could mean for contractors
Summer 2010
Newsletter: On-Site
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 605
Abstract: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), signed into law in March, has a number of major business-related provisions that may affect the construction industry. This article offers an overview of some of the major health insurance and tax considerations for both larger and smaller contractors, along with wider effects on the industry itself. A sidebar discusses two valuable incentives in the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act for hiring and retaining workers.
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From the ground up – Rebuilding a basic budget for your construction company
Summer 2010
Newsletter: On-Site
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 848
Abstract: In the hustle and bustle of moving from one project to the next, some contractors may let their budget slip onto the back burner or out of sight completely. If so, it’s important that they start rebuilding it so as to properly manage revenue and cash flow. In particular, three elements— income statement, cash flow statement and balance sheet — should serve as the foundation of a sound budget. A sidebar to this article takes a look at the pay-for-performance model to help keep labor costs in line.
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Construction Success Story – Beware the downside to downsizing
July / August 2010
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 453
Abstract: In this issue’s “Construction Success Story,” we look at a struggling general contractor who asked his financial advisor about the potential downside to layoffs. She pointed out reasons that layoffs might hurt him in the long term, and discussed ways the contractor could retain his best employees.
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How do you look to your surety? – A key question in today’s economy
July / August 2010
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 644
Abstract: Recently, bonding firms have been extra cautious because of the difficulties that so many construction companies have had in staying solvent. That’s why, now more than ever, it’s important for contractors to determine just how their business looks to their surety. Working capital and tangible net worth will likely sit near the top of any surety’s list of critical attributes, as will receivables and debt, performance consistency, and work in progress.
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No shortcuts: Quick fixes won’t solve money problems
July / August 2010
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 436
Abstract: In response to dire times, many construction company owners may look for quick fixes to tide them over until the economy recovers or at least until the next big project comes along. Yet this thought process can be extremely dangerous; amending and extending loan terms, for example, can become a vicious cycle in which interest rates increase and debts become insurmountable. Long-term thinking will include asking specific questions about the business to reassess overall strategy and implement system fixes.
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The hard road ahead – Managing the costs and risks of long-term contracts
July / August 2010
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 904
Abstract: Long-term contracts (those exceeding a 12-month period) can be tempting for contractors, as they’re typically associated with lower levels of competition and higher revenue. But because these arrangements transfer the risks from owners to contractors, many sureties hesitate to bond them. Even if bonding is obtainable, escalating costs and unforeseen glitches are a special concern in these types of jobs. But there are steps that contractors can take to become more bondable. A sidebar discusses tax and accounting considerations of long-term projects.
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Contractor’s Toolbox – Go paperless. Save money. Save time.
Summer 2010
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 431
Abstract: Paperless construction management offers a variety of significant benefits — and using less paper is just the beginning. Paperless systems can not only reduce costs and help save trees, but also help increase productivity, reduce errors, and improve cash flow and profitability. This article looks at some of the specific benefits.
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Think twice before walking away from stalled projects
Summer 2010
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 528
Abstract: Stalled and abandoned projects are an unfortunate reality in the construction business today. Financing may dry up, or owners faced with dwindling prospective tenants may conclude that they’re better off walking away. But that doesn’t mean contractors should do the same. Depending on their potential liability exposure, it may make sense for contractors to do some extra work to secure or stabilize the job site, or to protect their work against the elements — even if they won’t be compensated for it. This article describes the steps to take.