Construction & Real Estate
Showing 1185–1200 of 1263 results
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Are you ready for 5D modeling? High-tech estimating software looks promising
January / February 2009
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 634
Abstract: Margins are typically razor thin in the construction industry, and it’s important that estimators and project managers have every possible advantage. The newest generation of design technology, 5D, may be the advantage they need to keep jobs in the black. This article takes a closer look at this promising new kind of software.
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LEED changes increase complexity of going green
January / February 2009
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 504
Abstract: In an effort to eliminate backlogs and comply with ISO standards, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has revised its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program. As a result, contractors looking to “go green” with their projects will face a substantially larger number of reviewing organizations and a more complex point system to qualify for certification. This article covers some of the many specifics.
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EVM: Taking the mystery out of job costing
January / February 2009
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 507
Abstract: Most contractors likely have a spending plan going into every job, and they probably track every dollar spent once work is underway. Yet, despite these efforts, measuring the true progress of the job may remain a mystery. This article looks at a solution to this particular whodunit: earned value management (EVM).
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Add muscle to your bottom line with benchmarking
January / February 2009
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 931
Abstract: To maintain a competitive edge, it’s critical for a contractor to know where he or she stands financially. One way to do so is by benchmarking. Under this process, a construction company owner selects metrics, or “benchmarks,” to measure his or her construction company’s performance against its own past performance or against other, similar construction businesses. This article explores the details and benefits of this helpful activity.
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Contractor’s Toolbox – New law gets to the HEART of military service
Winter 2009
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 471
Abstract: Last summer, in an effort to give military veterans some financial relief, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax (HEART) Act of 2008 was signed into law. If your construction company employs workers active in the military, this is an article you shouldn’t ignore. That’s because you may need to make some changes to your accounting procedures as well as your benefits programs for employees who perform qualified military service.
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Protecting data on mobile communication devices
Winter 2009
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 348
Abstract: Your employees probably rely on mobile communication devices to keep them in touch and in control. And whether they’re going across town or across the country, they’re taking critical information with them. If a worker leaves a laptop in a cab or a BlackBerry® at a restaurant, you may be losing more than a piece of equipment. In the wrong hands, such communication devices could be the equivalent to the keys to your company vault. This brief article discusses how to protect that valuable information.
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6 things you should know about before you do work in another state
Winter 2009
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 728
Abstract: If this tight economy is pinching your wallet, you may be thinking that now is a good time to explore business opportunities in other states. Before you venture too far from home, however, know what you’re getting into. State requirements surrounding construction projects vary widely. These requirements may not be burdensome, but you’ll need to satisfy them before you can lay the foundation. This article discusses the top six you should know about.
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Improve collections to boost your cash flow
Winter 2009
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 890
Abstract: Collections may be a nasty part of doing business but, in a down economy, it’s critical. Sure, you can file a mechanics’ lien to demand payment, but the reality is that, if the bank takes over the property, a lien means you have to get in line to get paid. A far better approach is to develop a good collection process that will keep the cash flowing in when you need it most. A sidebar explains why lien laws can be tricky to understand.
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Mirror, mirror on the wall, do I look good to my surety at all?
Winter 2009
Newsletter: Construction Industry Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 594
Abstract: When the economy’s robust, chances are you don’t have much trouble getting a surety bond. When the economic forecast is bleak, however, sureties may not be as trusting and you may need to do more to improve your bonding capacity. This article offers some tips on how to do just that. Here’s one: If you’ve had significant swings in monthly performance, try to eliminate them and be prepared to explain them to your surety.
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CLB Quickcase – LeClear v. Fulton Court decision turns on disregarded deed restrictions
November / December 2008
Newsletter: Construction Law Briefing
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 309
Abstract: This issue’s “CLB Quickcase” gives readers a pithy snapshot of a case in which deed restrictions played a key role in a dispute between property owners and a resident on that property who wanted a new driveway — at the cost of a couple of spruce trees.
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Act as if you have a contract, and you shall have one
November / December 2008
Newsletter: Construction Law Briefing
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 489
Abstract: In construction disputes, courts tend to disfavor litigants who have proceeded with a project, providing labor and materials and receiving payment as though a contract had been signed, and then come into court and argue that some technicality in the paperwork means there was no contract covering their participation. This article discusses a case involving just such a situation that arose recently in Washington, D.C.
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Renovations gone wrong can lead to costly litigation
November / December 2008
Newsletter: Construction Law Briefing
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 546
Abstract: No construction project is a sure thing. But renovation jobs bring distinctive challenges in that existing components or conditions of the structure may prevent the project from proceeding exactly as planned. And when those challenges turn to legal disputes, the ramifications can be unexpected — and costly. This article examines a case that shows just how costly.
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Economic loss doctrine often provides imperfect protection
November / December 2008
Newsletter: Construction Law Briefing
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 719
Abstract: Initially heralded as a way to simplify and clarify construction dispute resolution, the economic loss doctrine now has courts struggling to find ways to keep parties in lawsuits despite the doctrine’s apparent applicability to release them from the proceedings. This article explores a recent example of this trend.
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Do-it-yourself legal troubles – Homeowners’ project involvement affects outcome of case
November / December 2008
Newsletter: Construction Law Briefing
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 945
Abstract: When homeowners stake out a role in a remodeling project, much legal confusion can ensue if the job goes awry. This article looks at a case in which just such a circumstance occurred.
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Construction Success Story – Cross-training saves contractor money, worry
November / December 2008
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 387
Abstract: In this issue’s “Construction Success Story,” we meet a contractor with a commercial construction business in a sizable metropolitan area who was concerned about the fact that many of his seasoned employees were baby boomers who would be ready to retire in a few years, and there weren’t enough younger workers entering the field to take their places. After discussing the situation with his financial advisor, the two recognized that perhaps the most cost-effective option was to cross-train existing “craft” employees (such as electrical or carpentry staff).
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General contractor focus – Separate the good from the bad with subcontractor prequalification
November / December 2008
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 661
Abstract: With the economy stuck in slow-mo, general contractors may find the list of subcontractors who want to bid on their projects is growing. The challenge is to separate the good subs from the bad before you put them on a job. This article discusses how a solid prequalification process can help general contractors ensure that they work only with financially sound, qualified subs who will perform as promised. (Updated 4/20/12)