In this episode of ProfitDig, Jeff Givens (Engineer), Jeff Spencer (Project Manager in Underground Utilities), and Scott Miller (CEO of Dickson Water Authority) discuss the technology, security, and challenges of managing a modern water system. 💧 Key Topics Covered: 🔹 Water System Cybersecurity – Why treatment facilities use air-gapped networks to …

In this episode of ProfitDig Live, we sit down with Scott Miller, the newly appointed CEO of Dickson Water Authority, to discuss how the organization operates, the challenges of managing a water system, and the innovative technology improving efficiency. Key Topics Covered: 💧 Building a Strong Team – All leadership hires were made in-house, ensurin…

One small error can cost you big, which is why you must read every page of any drawings given to you during the job bidding process. You may bid a job 3 or 4 times before you get drawings complete enough to offer a hard bid. There may be architectural, civil, electrical, plumbing and various other drawings. You need to look through every single pag…

Change orders are a crucial part of construction contracts, but do you know how they work? In this episode of ProfitDig Live, professional construction Project Manager, Jeff Spencer, breaks down what a change order is, when you need one, and how to handle them the right way. Whether you're adding work, removing scope, or dealing with unexpected sit…

What happens when bad weather slows down your job site? 🏗️❄️ In this ProfitDig Power Tip, Chris Work and Jeff Spencer break down what new contractors need to know when weather delays hit. From checking your contract for allocated weather days to handling change orders before you get hit with liquidated damages, we've got you covered. Key Takeaways:…

In this discussion, based on Chapter15 of our book, Digging for Profit: Secrets to Success in the Construction Industry, the guys talk about what size projects you should pursue for your business, which is based on many factors. Another helpful video from ProfitDig - easy job bidding and costing for construction contractors. #construction #contract…

The guys talk about what they expect for the economy and the construction industry now that Trump has won the presidency. ProfitDig - bid jobs, track costs, make money. Version 3 coming soon!!! https://www.ProfitDig.coBy ProfitDig LLC

The ProfitDig guys talk about how to have a successful career in construction. Construction can provide a great life for you and your family, but it can also bury you if you make the wrong mistakes. You career will begin by working for another contractor, where you will get paid to learn. If you are a hard worker, you will have an advantage right f…

Our viewer, @Anouyz asked: "I'm looking to get into some equipment. I do smaller scale rough stonework patios drystacked walls, etc. Do you think I should go for a skid steer to get the ability to move and load material, while also having a set of forks to move pallets? Or do you think a tractor is better investment to allow me to get a backhoe as …

Jeff Spencer discusses how RPOs ("rental purchase options") are a great way for contractors to acquire the equipment they need while still maintaing flexibility. These agreements allow you to apply rental payments to the purchase of equipment - thus, you still have the ability to turn the equipment in if it is not needed, but still purchase it if s…

ProfitDig's Jeff Spencer, a highly experienced construction project manager and company owner, discusses renting versus buying equipment, especially for new contractors. Jeff advises that you own your smaller tools and equipment, But heavy equipment is extremely expensive. Renting equipment gives you the flexibility to turn a piece of equipment in …

A peak into a conversation between Josh Young. Jeffrey Washington and the ProfitDig guys about making it an independent contractor. It's not easy getting started, and they talk about things they have had to do along the way to generate income to get their businesses off the ground. A fascinating look into the lives of men who are dedicated to growi…

Josh Young, with Young's Construction, and Jeffrey Washington from NK2 Home Solutions, home improvement contractors in Middle Tennessee, discuss customer relation strategies to make sure their customers are happy and come back for repeat business. If you are an independent contractor, you will get some ideas from this video! From ProfitDig - bid jo…

Continuing our conversations with Josh Young (Young's Construction) and Jeffrey Washington (NK2 Home Solutions), we discuss the need in certain counties for having a home improvement license that allows you to do much bigger jobs. Licensing exists for a reason. Bonding allows you to get your home improvement license. Bonding covers the client in ca…

Josh Young, with Young's Construction, and Geoffrey Washington from NK2 Home Solutions, who are good friends while also competing in the same market, talk about their history together and how they are able to help each other build more successful businesses - sharing contacts, tools, collaboration and more. Washington describes it as "collaboration…

Successful entrepreneur, Jeremy Perkins, author of the Amazon best-seller "The Entrepreneurs Intervention: The 12 Steps to Business Recovery", has experienced wild swings in his business career - from being broke millions in debt to now owning multiple companies generating millions in annual revenue. How did he do it? How does he run so many busine…

Entrepreneur Jeremy Perkins explains the idea of "spec homes" and "custom homes." He describes his business structure, which includes rental houses, home building and storage. He explains the difference between "slow money" and "fast money" - he gets paid every week on some projects, which helps him maintain cashflow for slower paying, larger proje…

Successful entrepreneur, home builder and author Jeremy Perkins, talks about the mistakes he made and bad life decisions that led to losing his business before turning it around. As Jeremy explains, he was addicted to business the same way some people are hooked on drugs, which led to a wreckless lifestyle. He talks about how he turned his life aro…

Entrepreneur and author, Jeremy Perkins, is a successfull Middle Tennessee home builder specializing in high end custom homes. He is also in the storage unit business and is a best-selling author on Amazon.com. In this video, he sits down with the ProfitDig guys to discuss the highs and lows in his career. Like many successful entrepreneurs, Jeremy…

Scott Miller is the General Manager of Operations for the Water Authority of Dickson County, which is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area, one of the fastest growing regions in the country. Scott talks about the challenges in getting water taps installed and keeping up with customer demand in light of that rapid growth. As Scott exp…

Scott Miller is the General Manager of Operations for the Water Authority of Dickson County, so the man knows ALL about how municipal and county water systems work. Scott started out as a manual laborer and worked his was up to running an entire multi-county water system. Listen in as he explains everything from how government lobbying for his indu…

Josh Young, with Young's Construction, talks about the things he is doing to build his home remodeling business. ProfitDig's Jerry Work, a marketing professional, also gives some tips. If you are seeking to build a local business providing construction-type services, you will definitely learn something here! It's not hard, but many of your competit…

Handyman / home remodeler, Josh Young, talks about the difference between new construction and remodeling and the work he is doing to build his own business. He talks about the problem with modern pressure-treated wood, which does not provide as much longevity as it used to, and how different construction techniques should be used to minimize moist…

The ProfitDig guys have a conversation with home renovator, Josh Young, who explains that just having a strong work ethic, and being willing to roll up your sleeves and learn, goes a long ways toward building a successful career and business. Another factor in Josh's success is having a solid understanding of tasks that he is good at and those he i…

Smart thermostats can be an excellent way to control temperatures in a cost effective way, but Internet-connected thermostats have a very real potential danger - losing control of the ability to set the temperature in your own home or business. This is already happening in other countries - could it also happen in the U.S.? Is it already happening?…

As HVAC professional, David Collins, explains, the HVAC industry has completely changed in the last 5 years. One major change is the refrigerants that are used. New refrigerants are being used that have zero ozone depletion and low global warming potential. In 1987, the Montreal Protocol was signed, which was the beginning of the movement to save t…

Professional HVAC instructor, David Collins, joins the ProfitDig guys for a conversation about how one goes about becoming an HVAC professional. They discuss what is involved in the one-year HVAC training program that David teaches, and how a coopreative program with local HVAC companies is so critical in getting his students the hands-on experienc…

In our final video with HVAC expert, Jonathan Booker, he tells the guys some HVAC horror stories, such as encountering rats, opposoms, skunks and various other creatures in attics and crawlspaces (skunks love ductwork); getting eat up by dogs while under a house; witnessing weird (and sometimes disturbing) things at peoples' homes; horny customers …

Continuing our conversation with HVAC expert, Jonathan Booker, we talk about various HVAC-related topics, including the value of having backup generators, green energy options, changes in refrigerants, electrical versus gas systems, and many more interesting topics. If you have any involvement with HVAC in your work or life, you will definitely lea…

HVAC expert Jonathan Booker discusses the differences between HVAC systems for homes versus commercial locations. If you are involved in home or building construction, take the time to increase your knowledge of HVAC systems by learning from a professional with many years of experience. From ProfitDig - bid jobs, track costs, make more money. Easy!…

HVAC expert Jonathan Booker joins the ProfitDig crew to talk all about heating, venting and air conditioning. HVAC is becoming increasingly complex, but it is a critical component of building and home construction. Learn what HVAC is, how HVAC systems work and what your options are for HVAC systems. He also spends time explaining how important it i…

Certified bridge inspector, Corey Work, finishes his visit with the ProfitDig guys by explaining the exact steps he follows when inspecting a bridge. He also talks about weird things he or his co-workers have seen under or around bridges. As Corey explains, step one: turn the truck off and get out of the track. The guys have quite a few laughs in t…

Our buddy, Seth Williams, collects rare concert posters, most of which he personally purchased at the actual concerts. Many of those posters are not very valuable. ProfitDig's Jerry Work is a collector of vintage toys and comic books. If you are a collector, you will enjoy this conversation between two guys who are passionate about their collection…

Continuing our conversation with certificed bridge inspector, Corey Work, the ProfitDig guys talk about if there is anything that could have prevented the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore from collapsing (other than not running into it with a cargo ship), how bridges over water are constructed, underwater bridge inspection, the reason a major …

Bridges are on everybody's minds, so this week professional certified bridge inspector, Corey Work, joins the ProfitDig guys to discuss what a bridge inspector does and what they look for when inspecting bridges. Corey discusses the three main components of a bridge and what inspectors look at in each component. He also discusses environmental fact…

Seth Williams, an engineer who currently makes his living managing lighting crews for major entertainment acts, talks about his experience working on wind turbines, which often required him to climb up an ever-narrowing tower that stretched hundreds of feet into the air. This is some wild stuff! Just another entertaining and educational video from …

The ProfitDig guys welcome Seth Williams, a skilled electrical engineer who has spent years managing lighting for major artists since 2007. Seth talks about the technical challenges and difficulties setting up lighting trusses, managing his crews, and just life on the road. He also talks about some of the wild things he has experienced in his caree…

Professional construction Project Manager, Jeff Spencer, has spent the last 22 years bidding construction jobs, and as he explains, the key to increasing your company's profits is by increasing production. Materials will cost everyone the same, and profit margins tend to be fairly standard across firms. Bidding with higher margins baked in will lik…

The ProfitDig guys talk about safety precautions when performing elevated work, such as on lifts and ladders. Safety is no joke! Workers on a lift must be tied off and they must have safety harnesses. OSHA and PPE costs are discussed. Nowadays, safety requirements are industry standard, which makes it easier to stay compliant. Most general contract…

Construction project manager, Jeff Spencer's firm has a division that specializes in sprinkler systems. Jerry mentions that he knows people who live in a town where a huge EV battery factory is being built, and wonders aloud what kind of sprinkler system you have to have for something that potentially dangerous and difficult to control. Jeff discus…

In this episode of the ProfitDig Construction Show, the guys talk about mobilization. Planning ahead is the key to effective mobilization. Does the job have multiple phases? Look at the phasing plan so you know how many times you will have to move your equipment in and out of the jobsite. There could be weeks between phases of mobilization. Look at…

There are very important differences between a construction bid and an estimate, and it is critical that you use the correct language with customers or potential customers. Jeff Spencer has been bidding work for 30 years so is highly knowledgeable on the subject. Our special guest, contractor Luke Fielder, joined us for this conversation and descri…

The guys talk about hot water heaters. Recent extreme cold weather in Tennessee had water pipes busting all over the place. What can cause a hot water heater to go bad? A hot water heat is just a tank with a heating element and supply lines. Your local codes will dictate how water lines should be run. Should you go tankless? Jeff Spencer is an expe…

In today's ProfitDig video, the guys talk about when you should get your General Contractor's license. The discussion centers around the state of Tennessee, but the ideas apply anywhere. They also discuss the risk to General Contractors that allow you to operate under their license. Jeff Spencer is a highly experienced construction project manager …

Chris and Jeff talk about construction bonding. Bonding can cost you a potential job if you are unable to perform the required bond. You have to work with your insurance company, and you likely have some kind of monetary limit on your bonding capacity. Make sure you know your limit. Watch and learn much more about this critical aspect of constructi…

The ProfitDig guys talk about emerging technology trends for the construction industry for 2024, with Jeff Spencer, our resident construction project management expert, Jeff Givens, our resident engineering expert, and Jerry Work, who doesn't know much but he reads a lot of articles. Topics include: AI and robotics on the construction site The prob…

ProfitDig's Jeff Spencer talks about his preferred brands of heavy construction equipment (based on his extensive experience) and discusses the concept of "or equal to" materials. From ProfitDig - bid jobs, track costs, make more money. Easy!By ProfitDig LLC

Construction contractor, Luke Fielder, gives his advice for how to repair a damaged driveway. Any gravel driveway without a finished surface like asphalt will require period maintenance. Making sure your sub-grade is correct is the first step. Make sure your base stone is dropped on an even surface. Ditches need to carry your water away from the dr…

The ProfitDig guys talk about tilt-up construction, a form of construction in which concrete walls are poured in forms on the construction site and then lifted to form walls of a building. How does it work? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Watch now and find out. Another useful video from ProfitDig - bid jobs, track costs, make more money…

The guys talk about weird things they have seen on a jobsite - such as a guy who left to get a tool from his truck and then showed back up with it months later. Have a laugh with the guys as they talk about jobsite ridiculousness. From ProfitDig - bid jobs, track costs, make more money. Easy. Visit https://www.profitdig.com.…