Reece sits down with Matt Brill of Bauen Build to break down change management for builders, from new software to new build standards, without losing the team along the way. They talk about what actually drives buy in, how to keep craftspeople focused on the work they love, and why clarity is so important. You will leave with practical ways to tighten budgets, approvals, and communication while still building a great product. If this hit home, share it with a builder friend and check out the links for more.

https://bauenbuild.com

Show Notes:
00:00 The 80% Rule
00:42 Matt Brill Intro
02:58 Continuous Improvement
07:52 Culture and Cadence
13:59 Products vs Systems
19:29 Make Systems Stick
25:12 Right Roles
29:38 Commercial Process
37:01 Clarity Wins
46:35 Teach The Why

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Reece sits down with Chris Kerr of White Oak Home to debate fixed price versus cost plus, and what each model really means for risk, profit, and client trust. They get into the real reason fixed price feels simpler for a small team, why missing receipts can quietly kill margin, and how job costing changes the whole conversation. You’ll also hear how to think about overhead, project management fees, and change orders when the client is still deciding mid build. If this helped, share it with a builder buddy and check out Adaptive for tighter job cost tracking.

https://www.whiteoakhomenewengland.com

Show Notes:
00:33 Fixed vs cost plus
05:13 Meet Chris Kerr
08:17 Admin burden is real
14:38 Risk and upside
19:28 Budget vs actuals
22:03 Overhead and profit
26:17 Fixed fee PM
30:59 Trust and ethics
46:13 First draw next

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Reece sits down with construction bookkeeper and CFO Miller Bradford from Builder Bookkeep to talk about what WIP reports really do for builders and why they are the difference between real profit and fake profit. They dig into overbilling and underbilling, messy books, tax season chaos, and the nasty surprises that show up when you guess instead of track. You will hear simple ways to use WIP as a live management tool, what numbers have to be right, and how often you should be running it so you are not flying blind. If this episode hits home, share it with a builder who still only closes their books once a year.

https://builderbookkeep.com

Show Notes:
00:01:08 Meet Miller Bradford
00:02:28 Builder Bookkeep Story
00:06:55 Why Numbers Matter
00:09:21 Common Bookkeeping Messes
00:12:11 What WIP Really Is
00:17:33 WIP As Management Tool
00:25:32 Tax Season Train Wrecks
00:32:07 Cleaning Up Books
00:42:19 How No WIP Skews Profit
00:51:57 Monthly Close That Works
00:58:07 Simple WIP Checklist
01:00:11 Where To Find Miller

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Reece digs in with construction business coach and Profit First for Contractors author Shawn Van Dyke to show why clean job costs matter more than chasing big revenue. They walk through how Shawn helped a millwork company find its profit sweet spot, track every hour of labor, and stop guessing on bids. You will hear simple ways to set up cost codes, push data capture to the field, and pay yourself properly for the risk you take. If this helps, share it with a builder friend who is tired of feeling in the dark about their numbers.

https://shawnvandyke.com
https://info.datamule.agency

Show Notes:
00:50 Introduction to Shawn
05:17 From DMs To Book Deal
08:09 Finding The Sweet Spot
17:28 Finally Knowing Your Numbers
21:45 Cost Codes Everywhere Everyday
28:37 Scale Versus Sweet Spot
35:25 Build A Simple Menu
40:22 Are You Paid Enough
47:08 Professionals Own The Paperwork
52:01 Where To Find Shawn

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Bill Mills, experienced CPA specializing in construction accounting, discusses the critical role of embracing new technology, real-time financial data, and proactive tax and business management to improve profitability and decision-making for contractors. Reece and Bill's conversation highlights the need for contractors to regularly review and upgrade their back-office systems, leveraging outside expertise and modern software to remain competitive and successful.

https://www.pinionglobal.com

Show Notes:
Bill Mills' Background and Introduction (0:00)
Bill's Professional Journey and Role at Pinion (5:01)
The Role of AI in Everyday Life (9:00)
Challenges and Opportunities in Construction Accounting (15:03)
Profit Fade and the Importance of Timely Financial Information (25:21)
Tax Planning and Long-Term Profitability (33:54)
Actionable Advice for Construction Companies (45:31)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Alex Molkentin shares insights from his journey in the construction industry, emphasizing the importance of pre-construction as a means to set clear expectations and effectively manage project costs. The discussion highlights the value of transparency, collaboration with clients and trade partners, and continuous learning from past experiences to ensure successful project outcomes.

https://www.builtbyfernhill.com
https://www.instagram.com/builtbyfernhill

Show Notes:
Alex Molkentin's Background and Early Career (0:00)
Lessons from Past Generations (6:10)
Pre-Construction and Marketing (10:59)
Setting Client Expectations (11:52)
Pre-Construction and Cost Management (14:36)
Trade Partner Involvement in Pre-Construction (36:13)
Educating Design Professionals (43:29)
Final Thoughts and Contact Information (45:06)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Isabel Affinito and Reece discuss the critical importance of having clear job descriptions, robust systems, and disciplined financial practices to drive success and minimize risks in construction businesses. They highlight the emotional challenges of change management, the judicious role of AI, and the need to implement foundational processes before scaling operations.

https://www.isabelaffinito.com

Show Notes:
Introduction and Background of Isabel Affinito (0:00)
Implementing Job Descriptions and Organizational Change (6:51)
Emotional Aspects of Business Ownership (15:12)
Opportunities of Focus for Builders (22:35)
Implementing AI and Technology in Construction (40:29)
Conclusion and Final Thoughts (52:56)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Builder and tech veteran Per Pettersson discusses how project management and financial clarity are essential for success and efficiency in the construction industry. Drawing on his experience, he shares strategies for better planning, cost tracking, and communication to deliver projects on time and improve client satisfaction.

https://www.linmakconstruction.com

Show Notes:
Background and Introduction of Per Pettersson (0:00)
Transition from Tech to Construction (6:46)
Challenges and Opportunities in Construction (11:33)
Financial Management in Construction (22:01)
Lessons Learned and Industry Insights (39:13)
Final Thoughts and Advice for Builders (45:01)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Paul Atherton shares why most builders stall until they make an identity shift—from “in-the-field” carpenter to business owner—and how to use return on time vs. return on capital to scale. He breaks down hiring that first PM, simple systems, the five levels to a self-managed company, branding that actually works, the Four C’s (coaching, community, content, capital), and setting anti-goals so growth doesn’t cost your life.

https://www.highspire.com

Show Notes:
Introduction and Background of Paul Atherton (0:00)
The Importance of Self-Managed Companies (1:44)
Challenges in Transitioning to Business Leadership (6:20)
Building a Strong Brand and Marketing Strategy (11:25)
The Role of Coaching, Community, Content, and Capital (26:44)
The Importance of Anti-Goals (33:32)
The Journey to Building High Spire (36:23)
The Role of Identity in Business Success (37:57)
The High Spire Event in Mexico (42:57)
Final Thoughts and Contact Information (44:32)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Andrea Gallion shares how builders can use Work-in-Progress reporting, real-time job costing, and clean month-end processes to actually see where their projects stand and protect profit. She and Reece dig into invoices and pay apps, QuickBooks realities, retainage, and percent-complete so you can spot over- and under-billing early and keep cash moving.

https://melton-melton.com

Video Notes: 
00:00 Processing invoices and pay apps
00:54 Meet Andrea Gallion
06:13 Month end and reconciling cleanly
07:11 Job costing that actually helps decisions
10:29 QuickBooks realities for builders
18:02 Backlog and pipeline basics
33:29 WIP reporting and percent complete
36:11 Retainage and getting paid on time
48:46 Wrap up and where to find Andrea

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Suman Cherry shares a no-BS playbook for hiring in construction. We get into the real cost of losing A-players, the first hires that buy back your time, and how SOPs, EOS-style accountability, and regulated leadership create capacity - not chaos. 

https://cherrytalentgroup.com

Show Notes: 

00:00 Intro and who Suman is
 02:02 Headhunter fees versus hourly recruiting
 04:45 Values and EQ over resumes
 07:52 SOPs and onboarding to reduce chaos
 12:29 Why A players quit
 16:49 From many hats to clear roles
 20:46 First three hires: Office Manager, Estimator, Supers or PMs
 24:38 The real cost when your best person leaves
 32:49 Lead with accountability, track activity and results
 45:27 Process over heroics with HR systems and one north star metric
 51:14 Wrap up and where to find Suman

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Allison O’Baker and Priscilla Thomasevich share how a CFO–CPA duo helps builders organize their books, budget with intent, and protect margins. We dig into chart of accounts vs. cost codes, fixed vs. variable spend, tax levers and accounting methods (cash, accrual, completed-contract), and when to lean on a bookkeeper, controller, or CFO.

Connect with: 

Allison O'Baker: https://aodataflow.com
Priscilla Thomasevich: https://sawgrasscpa.com

Show Notes: 

0:00 Cold open: why money talk matters
0:35 Mics up & episode setup
1:01 Allison’s lane: outsourced CFO
2:25 Priscilla’s path: CPA to builder
15:50 How the CFO+CPA duo works
20:04 Chart of accounts vs cost codes
28:42 Method matters: completed contract vs accrual
33:46 Benchmarks: spend on marketing & growth
40:16 Team roles: bookkeeper, controller, CFO
50:00 Takeaways & wrap

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Cody & Kristen Dawson share how Patriot Custom Homes grew from a COVID-era handyman hustle into a legit remodel-to-custom operation—with corporate skills, clear lanes, and real systems doing the heavy lifting. They get into the spouse-run dynamics, hiring and delegation, and the call between doing a spec to show your chops or waiting on the right custom client.

PatriotHomesTx.com

Show Notes: 

00:00 Cold open & intros
01:09 Meet Cody & Kristen Dawson (Patriot Custom Homes)
05:31 The fork in the road: offshore job vs first remodel
08:32 First time managing subs & the income math
10:00 2023 workload surge & why Kristen jumped in full-time
15:50 Running a company as a couple—communication, lanes, boundaries
20:40 Systems that set you free: client portal/CRM, hiring admin & PM
25:28 Marketing & pipeline: social, site, and partner referrals
38:33 Getting out of the day-to-day: accountability over “I’ll just do it myself”
46:32 Why they left corporate: family time and schedule control

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Operations pro Angie Aki joins Reece to demystify payroll tax savings, W-2 vs 1099 trade-offs, benefits that actually help retention, and the liability/insurance pieces builders overlook. We finish with a simple action plan—clean AR, right retirement setup, and a smarter way to pay yourself.

https://angieaki.com

Show Notes:
0:00 Welcome and who’s Angie
 4:25 From “Go Ask Angie” to operations pro
 5:54 Payroll taxes and benefits most builders miss
 6:49 W-2 vs 1099: true costs and risks
 19:02 Liability, audits, and paper trails
 21:13 Culture beats chaos when you grow
 23:41 Retirement options for small builders
 28:10 Insurance you can’t skip
 29:40 Owner pay, draws, and clean books
 30:06 Quick wins to implement this month
 31:36 How to reach Angie + wrap

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Brady Fenn shares how Fenn Rogers went from “tearing up floors” to a trusted luxury custom home builder in the Phoenix area by partnering with the right designers/architects and bidding to the actual spec, not the plan assumptions. He shares hard-won lessons on fixing budget misses, building a dependable subs bench, and using clear expectations and communication to keep clients confident through an imperfect, first-time build.

https://www.fennrogers.com

Show Notes: 
00:00 Welcome + what Fenn Rogers builds
02:26 Brady’s path: from tearing up floors to partner
11:18 Designers & architects: moving upmarket the right way
17:08 Budget misses → pivot to spec-driven estimating
30:18 “Chuck in a truck” vs. building a pro subs bench
37:18 Why process feels hard in custom — the imperfect reality
43:13 Set expectations, over-communicate, earn trust
46:30 Closing thoughts & thanks

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Victor Rybak shares how he moved from “bags-on” to building systems that protect profit—covering fixed price vs cost-plus, change orders, retainers, and allowances that don’t burn you. He also breaks down the House Pro workflow for bids, selections, invoicing, and job-cost clarity so builders stop giving away work and start pricing like a real business.

https://simplyhomebuilders.com

Show Notes:
0:00 Welcome & why this show exists
4:46 From bags-on to the office—why Victor changed lanes
7:29 When the market shifts, profit needs a plan
9:41 Stop the freebies—write the change order
14:56 Retainers & contracts that keep you covered
18:35 Job costing clarity: “I paid $32k… but for what?”
22:06 When cost-plus beats fixed price
26:55 House Pro workflow—bids, selections, tracking
32:17 Centralizing invoices & communication
51:04 Standardizing process so chaos settles
55:14 Closing thoughts & what’s next

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Gabe Joseph shares how getting past ego made him a better builder—leaning into curiosity, standardizing specs, and scaling without bloat. We dig into procurement, margins, architect fit, permitting, and the upstream moves that erase change orders.

https://www.jdbatx.com

Show Notes:
0:00 Cold open — curiosity as the builder's edge
1:01 Gabe's background and Austin roots
6:08 Specs over one-offs: standardization that scales
10:36 Procurement: high-design without high cost
14:27 Margins, materials, and making the numbers work
31:27 Subcontractors: building a reliable roster
40:10 Change orders: how to avoid them upstream
44:43 Permitting & city dynamics (late-stage hurdles)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Tyler Grace shares how he shifted from over-delivering to running a lean, profitable small-shop—tracking every hour, pricing for reality, and choosing lifestyle over headcount. He breaks down T&M vs cost-plus in plain English, why “good enough” (when scoped) beats burnout, and how to design a business that actually pays you back.

http://trghomeconcepts.com

Find more of Tyler at "The Modern Craftsman" podcast: https://www.moderncraftsman.co

Show Notes: 

0:00 Good enough finally clicked
 5:00 How Tyler actually got into the trades
 22:30 The over-delivering trap (and not tracking time)
 26:00 Burnout and a hospital wake-up call
 31:50 Pivot to T&M so the hours finally pay
 37:10 T&M vs cost-plus—how he prices it
 40:10 Old houses: surprises, budgets, and change orders
 44:30 Staying small on purpose—simple tracking & cash flow
 58:30 Know your lane—match the work to the budget (don’t scale blind)
 1:03:20 Volume ≠ profit (the COVID boom lesson)
 1:05:00 The motto: work hard, get paid for your time
 1:14:00 Who he is and why—story & perspective

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Adam Copenhaver shares how Cope Grand scaled from small cottages to ultra-luxury builds in Charleston by systematizing pre-construction, translating “ankle-grabber” chaos into clear scopes, and making budgets readable to clients. He dives into cost code organization, lessons from the COVID lumber spike, working with owner’s reps, and how he uses Buildertrend to keep accountability visible.

https://www.copegrandhomes.com

Show Notes:

0:00 What we’re tackling today
4:15 How high-end builds work in Charleston
13:26 Making budgets clients can actually read
18:12 Cost-plus explained and where it wins
32:06 Fixed fee vs cost plus, what you really pay
37:55 When an owner’s rep actually helps
40:29 How we show receipts and progress
54:12 Markup vs margin in plain English
58:00 Change orders without the drama
1:01:04 Choosing work that actually fits us
1:07:19 Wrap up and next steps

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Trent Waldrop shares how confusing cash flow with profit can quietly sink a small builder—and why ruthless job costing is the only way to know if you’re actually making money. He breaks down moving from 75–80% cost capture to billing every line item (even the $25 ones), hitting budgets within ~5%, and choosing the right pricing model so you can net 10–12% (or better) on $200–$400K homes.

https://waldropcompany.com

Show Notes:

0:00 Hitting Budget Within 5% on Every Build
9:17 Building Homes for the Community You Know
13:36 Tracking Costs Like a Hawk on Lower-Margin Projects
18:26 Why We’re Moving Back to Fixed Price
22:33 Competing in a Small Market
26:25 Avoiding “Building for Free” Jobs
31:00 Deposits and Getting Paid Before Dirt Moves
35:17 Customer Satisfaction with Younger Buyers
40:16 Building for the Long Haul: 60+ Year Homes
49:17 Value Engineering That Protects Your Margin

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Would you jump on a plane if the pilot didn’t understand their cockpit dials? Randy Stanbury of 4 Level Coach shares how builders and remodelers can stop “flying blind” by mastering financial literacy, building systems, and creating a clear vision. Learn the steps to free yourself from day-to-day operations while scaling profitably.

https://4levelcoach.com

Show Notes:

Opening Analogy & Randy’s Background (0:00)
Breaking Down the Four Level Success System (2:53)
Why Builders Struggle to Trust and Let Go (6:48)
Profit Before Growth, Systems Before People (9:38)
Using Metrics to Drive Profitability (16:39)
Incremental Goals and Building Momentum (24:13)
Software Adoption Challenges and Team Buy-In (30:13)
Integration Support and Maximizing ROI (36:16)
AI, Technology, and the Future of Building (43:37)
Closing Advice and How to Connect with Randy (48:09)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

In this episode of Builders, Budgets & Beers, Reece sits down with Owen Drury of Bricks & Bytes to tackle the pressure from big-tech clients demanding lightning-fast delivery. They dig into UK vs. US timelines, the surge in HVAC/heat-pump installs, the chaos of forecasting & retainage, and how offsite prefab + AI-powered tools are turning 24-month schedules into predictable, profitable builds.

https://bricks-bytes.com

Show Notes: 

Welcome & Quick Intros (00:00)
HVAC Boom & Heat Pump Surge (04:00)
From Trades to Quantity Surveying (06:28)
Forecasting Pitfalls & Retainage (09:46)
Design Deficits & Scope Creep (13:10)
Renovation Roulette & Hidden Hazards (18:06)
Why Lowest Bid Always Wins (25:05)
Tech Trends: Prefab, AI & Fast Builds (37:37)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Chloe Brown, founder of Wildest Dreams, discusses the importance of accurate job costing and financial tracking in construction. She highlights that many builders fail to recoup thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars per job due to inadequate financial management. Brown emphasizes the value of using tools like Adaptive for better integration and efficiency, noting that Adaptive's user interface significantly outperforms QuickBooks. She also stresses the significance of optimizing the Accounts Receivable (AR) cycle to improve cash flow and financial health. Brown offers free consultations to help builders improve their financial operations.

https://www.thinkwildest.com

Show Notes:
Chloe Brown's Introduction and Background (0:00)
Chloe's Sales Consulting and Custom Solutions (1:45)
Transition from Custom Solutions to Adaptive (12:30)
Case Study: Uncovering Unbilled Costs (12:45)
Impact of Cost Codes and Financial Tracking (16:27)
Forensic Audits and Adaptive's Role (26:00)
Improving Cash Flow and AR Cycle (31:44)
Technology's Role in Construction (47:01)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Jake Bruton, from Aarow Building, talks about the painful $180,000 lesson that forced him to completely rethink his construction business pricing model. Learn how moving from fixed fee to cost plus saved his company, improved client relationships, and created a more transparent, financially sound business approach. This episode is a must-listen for builders looking to protect their profits and build trust with clients.

https://www.aarowbuilding.com

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media

Rudy Marroquin, founder of Atlas Homes in Austin, joins Reece to break down how he went from a $500 startup budget to building luxury homes in Montecito and Malibu. Rudy shares how vertical integration, strategic hiring, and cultural fluency helped him cut costs, maintain quality, and scale fast — including flying his Texas crews out to California to keep margins tight. Whether you're just starting or looking to systematize and scale, Rudy's no-BS insight is packed with practical lessons and unapologetic ambition.

https://www.atlashomesatx.com

Show Notes:

Introduction to Rudy Marroquin and Atlas Homes (0:00)
Vertical Integration (2:43)
Expansion into California (3:51)
Financial Management and Team Dynamics (9:34)
Final Thoughts and Shoutout to Adaptive (30:46)

Find Our Hosts:
Reece Barnes
Matt Calvano

Podcast Produced By:
Motif Media