Category Archives: Construction

Clearing debris using heavy equipment

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The entire construction industry is largely dependent on the use of different kinds of heavy equipment. It can be used for many purposes like road construction, digging deep inside the ground, rolling down an existing structure or simply removing debris out of the site. Well, removing the debris can be a painful task for the workers if they exclude the involvement of heavy machineries. It may take weeks if not months for the workers to just remove the debris out of the site if they had to do this manually and without the participation of heavy equipment. In a nutshell, it is just not possible. You can’t take a hit on your finance and delay your project just because your employees are busy clearing the debris. That sounds completely insane from the perspective of a construction business owner.

So in a situation where you got to take care of the debris, it is advisable that you have your heavy equipment in place that are especially used for such work and get the work done in few days. The entire purpose of using heavy equipment to get the work done is to save your time as well as the time and energy of your workers and also to speed up the work a bit. The heavy equipment that are ideally used to clear debris are excavators, backhoe loaders, front loaders and any machine that can have an attachment either in the front or at the rear and can attach a bucket out there are fit to do this work.

Many construction companies or for that matter demolition companies use a dozer to demolish structures and then use the same machine with a different attachment and clear the debris. All they do is fit in a bucket in the front and the operator makes sure he gets the job done in a day’s time. So a bulldozer is a favorite for many demolition companies. Though there are some who prefer a backhoe loader for the same job but many find dozers to be more compatible than any other form of heavy equipment.

Excavators can also be used to remove debris. The claws of the excavator can be used to draw the debris in it and then it moves at the back of the machine and dumps the stuff inside the bucket which is then moved and eventually dumped in the truck. Excavators are the ideal heavy machines for the ones who got to dig deep inside the ground and then carry the dirt and dump it in the truck. So the construction and mining companies who are into building huge apartments or who goes deep inside the ground in search of minerals find an excavator as a perfect machine for their job.

Backhoe loader is such heavy equipment which is primarily used to remove debris. It has a bucket at the rear of the machine and the dirt is filled inside the bucket with the help of the boom that’s attached on its front. It is also used for excavating work; therefore has similar features of an excavator.

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Invest your money in construction projects globally

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When we think about investments, we come across all sorts of investment avenues that are liquid as well as non-liquid. However, not many consider investing in construction projects globally as a good investment option. There are strong reasons attached to it which is why people are usually deterred to invest in investment projects in a foreign land. One of the strongest reasons is that you do not have a direct control on the project and it may become difficult to monitor the progress of the work by being away from the jobsite.

Other than having a direct control, other reasons also include political turbulence, company getting dissolved. However, these reasons can’t be considered to be too big for one to deter investing globally and can always be worked out before you end up investing in one such project. There are of course few Do’s and Don’ts that needs to checked first before taking a decision of any major investment in foreign land.

Check the viability of the project:-

You can definitely invest in projects that sound to be viable. Alternatively, if the project has all proper sanctions from the different authorities of that country, there is probably no other reason why it may get blocked. Investing in such projects being in a distant place can still be a good option. However, you also have to check your benefit in it. You need to first measure your risk and the returns that you can expect from the work at its completion. It will be worthy to take such risks where you know that it will fetch good returns. There are many American investors that have invested chunks of money into various foreign projects. In this case they do not have to deploy their men for the work and if there is any hurdle that shows up during the tenure of the project that will be managed by the construction company who has undertaken the work.

Reputation of the builder matters a lot:-

When an investor has to invest his money in construction projects, he definitely checks the credentials of the construction company who has taken up the work. In the same way, while investing in a construction project outside US, you have to check the credentials first. Meet the representatives of their company, do some research on their previous projects. By that you will get to know how big the construction company is and if it is prudent to invest in projects constructed by them. The reputation of the construction company should speak louder than anything else and that should be the signal for you to go ahead with them.

Stay away from countries that are politically unstable:-

You investments in a foreign land will bear fruit only if you put your money in a country that is politically stable and there is no fear of the government getting overthrown by rival political powers or the army of that land. Investment of any kind in a politically unstable country is too risky and not even worthy to take the risk.

Reasons you should wear construction safety long sleeve shirts

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Constructions works are very strenuous and one has to work for long hours at a construction job site. Sometimes the works go day and night. In case of road constructions, the night works are quite common and obvious as the traffic is less during the night. Hence, when roads are being repaired, new roads are being constructed or roads are being expanded, or even during the construction of other public constructions such as flyovers and bridges, the workers are often found to be working day and night on the roads.

Since working at night and that too on the roads can be quite dangerous as the workers can be hit by the drivers, if they are not clearly visible, it is a must that proper safety measures are followed. Though road safety signs and directions are always given and safety cones are also used to protect an area that is under construction, it is a must that the individuals also follow proper safety measures. This is why, the construction safety long sleeve shirts are worn by them.

Why should the workers wear these?

The construction safety long sleeve shirts are, as the name suggests, full sleeve T-shirts or shirts. Like the construction safety vests, these shirts are also made up of the bright, fluorescent orange, green or yellow colour. Hence, one can identify the workers from a distance and understand that work is under progress. However, there are many other benefits of these shirts, apart from the factor of visibility. These include –

  • Protection from sun:

 

As they have long sleeves, the workers do not have to encounter problem due to the exposure in sun. During long working hours in the hot summers, one can stay protected from the sun.

  • Protection from wind:

 

Chilly winds can also prohibit the smooth performance or operation of the workers. These construction safety long sleeve shirts can prevent the strong and chilly winds. Workers can work for long even in winters. These shirts are very comfortable to wear.

  • Reflective stripes:

 

As these shirts and t-shirts also come with the reflective tapes striped on them, it is very likely that even during the night, when darkness prevails, the shirts will glow as lights from the vehicles fall and reflect on these shirts. Thus, one can easily be identified from a distance and the drivers will be able to avoid the zone, understanding that work is in progress.

Buying these construction safety long sleeve shirts:

The construction safety long sleeve shirts are quite affordable and you can easily find the size that suits you. These are complete in themselves and you do not have to wear the safety vests for extra protection. They can easily be found online and you will be able to choose the colour that you need. Whether you need a shirt or a t-shirt, is entirely your choice or pick the one that your employer demands you to wear. No doubt, this will keep you safe from accidents, hazards and also the environmental conditions.

Make customized heavy equipment straight from the workshop

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We all have some specific requirements and in order to fulfill those requirements we need special tools. Similarly, when we talk about the construction segment we would like to have heavy equipment that suit our needs. Heavy equipment makers take lot of care to produce machines that matches our needs but that may sound pretty expensive and the heavy equipment produced by them are bought by big construction and mining companies. Small contractors and sub-contractors form a major part of the construction business and frankly they can’t afford to buy machines that are tailor made. They ideally made some amendments to the heavy equipment they are using like adding some attachments and try to do their job. However it is not an impossible task to use customized heavy equipment. All they have to do is give the existing equipment to the mechanic who has a workshop and who not only fixes construction machines but also modifies them. They only have to be a bit specific about their requirements and consider the job as done.

Not all mechanics modify heavy equipment:-

You got to do a fair deal of research before you land up to one such workshop and also remember that not all mechanics modify heavy equipment. They may have a workshop where they repair your machines but they do not participate in modification works. Either they do not have the expertise or they want to keep their business simple. Some mechanics know to modify machines but still stick to the repairing business. It is definitely not an easy job. When you modify a machine you got to take care of many other things that are connected with it. If you want something to be changed, you may have to forcibly change some other component as it may not be compatible with the changed item. This is why there are special workshops which have trained men/women for the job and you need to take the equipment to them for any kind of modification.

Can also buy customized heavy equipment:-

If you are looking to buy heavy equipment that will serve some special needs for your business you can again look up to mechanics that makes heavy equipment considering your needs. These heavy equipment will be way too inexpensive as compared to the one manufactured by heavy equipment companies. It will not hurt your budget and you have a machine that serves your purpose. However, it is important that you prepare the specifications of the heavy equipment along with the operator. He will be the guy who will eventually work on it and therefore he can mention well about what all he needs in it.

Compare the price before you give an order:-

Before you go with ordering customized heavy equipment, it is imperative that you check the quotation from different mechanics. You got to be wise enough to choose the best. Try to get reviews from people who have got similar work done from them. If at all you get recommendations from someone in your business circle, you can give that special consideration but try to analyze the situation well and then place yo

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Selling attachments to construction companies will give huge profits

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The construction and mining industry is perhaps one of the most booming industries till now. Though both the industries have seen few ups and downs and do take that as part and parcel of this game, they have still managed to be the most successful industries of all. Someone who is unable to make it big in the construction domain but still want to stick to the same domain can try their luck by selling heavy equipment or parts and attachments of heavy equipment to different construction companies. This is a highly profitable business and many who were not able to make it big in the construction domain were able to do well in the ancillary domain. Though it is connected to the same industry people who know nothing but heavy equipment can make a career out of it. It is just not a business but a big time career for many who like to remain associated with this domain.

Construction companies are quite reluctant to buy heavy equipment or their parts from a non-branded company which is why if you try to manufacture a machine in your workshop and try to market it, you will find it extremely difficult to sell it across to buyers. So the most viable solution for you is to sell branded stuffs to companies. The modus operandi would be to buy old machines, refurbish it and then sell it back to the construction companies. You should just not play around with the brand logo. Not all construction company will buy that from you but there are many small companies who can’t afford to buy branded ones will go for your product.

Same goes with attachments of heavy equipment. Attachments are equally expensive and any newbie will not want to spend his money into buying a brand new attachment when he has the option to buy it from a company that deals with seconds. This is a big business and is spread across many countries and not just in US alone. You got to deal with attachments of every branded company and need to have a thorough knowledge about which attachment is used for what purpose. This job is said to be more appropriate for operators who after retiring from their job opens up a business of their own. This business can’t be limited to guys who have worked on heavy equipment and can be taken up by anybody who has sound knowledge about machines.

Other than knowing about heavy equipment and their parts, you also should have a reasonable idea about their cost in the market. Just to earn profits you can’t quote an amount that sounds equal to a new attachment. You have to quote a price that is lower to the value of new items. Therefore a thorough study of the market is also important. A person who has lived all his life working on heavy equipment will rather find it simple to figure out which one costs what and thereby will do well in this form of a business.

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Loan to buy heavy equipment

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Loans have become a part of life for almost every citizen of this country. The day you begin to earn, you also apply for credit cards and start buying things on credit. This is also one form of loan where you intend to pay the creditor on or before the due date. Catering to our needs, there are different segments of loans that financial institutions have come up with. You can go for home loan, personal loan, auto loan etc. People who need money to start their business can also apply for business loan and they shall get it at affordable interest rates. Though not all banks offer loans at affordable interest rates, one needs to check which bank they should go with for easy payments of installments. So for people who have just stepped in the construction business and require loan to buy heavy equipment can shop for banks who can offer money at reasonable interest rates.

Before you start shopping for banks to apply for loans, it is imperative that you check the need to buy heavy equipment for your business. You can fulfill your requirement by taking it on rent where you do not own the equipment but can use it for a year or so and then give it back to the owner. You only have to pay an amount that has been agreed upon by both the parties at the beginning or at the end of every month.

However, if you feel that renting heavy equipment is not the solution to the problem and buying one is the need of the hour then you should begin to hunt for a bank. We all want to borrow money at affordable interest rates but an application has to go through a lot of screening in order to qualify for that. It has been seen that not many people qualify for loans at lower interest rates.

Pay a fee to get loans at lower interest rates:-

At times you may not qualify to get loan at a lower interest rate. Either you credit rating is not up to the mark or there may be some reason or the other that fails you to qualify for a lower interest rate. Some banks may still qualify you provided you have to pay them a fee to get that done. However, not all banks follow this as their guideline to bring down the interest rates and it completely depends upon what the banks need to lower your interest rate. To buy heavy equipment you need to have lot of money. The ideal situation would be to use an amount that is part of your savings and the balance should be taken as loan. In this way, even if the interest rate is high you would be able to manage it well.

Improve your credit rating:-

Your credit rating plays an important role in qualifying for the bank loan. So you should ensure that you keep it clean by paying your dues in time. Likewise once you buy the machine ensure that you pay the monthly installments on time without defaulting for even a month. This will keep help you to keep a healthy credit rating.

How to become a successful construction business owner

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Many people who own a construction business wonder how someone can establish such a huge construction empire in this lifetime. For them it took years to get stabilized and there are few men who simply got success in every decision they took, in every sphere they moved. It looked all so easy for them as if they did not have to go through any hardships, any trouble or any challenge in setting up their business empire.

From the outset, we may see that they have got everything so easily but if we look into the depth of the matter, we will find lot many sacrifices that were made to reach the place that they are in. Life is never a bed of roses for anybody and all have to go through some amount of hardships to gain a place in their life. It is just that how they take things. If they are positive in life things are bound to go well but if they are pessimist and crib on every little thing, they will have a hard time in dealing with realities.

There are few very basic yet important things that you need to follow to taste success in this form of business.

Believe in yourself:-

You will get a lot of people who may not find your decision making ability to be appropriate and may feel that this will not work under the current situation. But if you feel it is worth taking the risk, go ahead and take it. You know yourself better than anybody else does. However, before you take a decision, take your stakeholder into confidence. There will be always 2 outcome of your decision. Either you will hit the bull’s eye or it will backfire. You got to be ready for both accolades as well as criticism. The crux of the matter is that you have given it a shot and that is important.

Keep yourself open for suggestions:-

A construction business owner should keep his minds open for any suggestions that he receives from business experts. The business decisions should be on the basis of these suggestions. The business experts understand the market better than the one who operates the business. They do round the clock analysis and then come down to a conclusion. They may not be able to estimate the future quite precisely but may remain close to what we call precise.

Set up good rapport with your clients and stakeholders:-

Getting more business fairly depends on the kind of relationship you have with your clients and stakeholders. Setting up good rapport with them can go a long way in getting more businesses from them. Delivering work on time, being honest with them may sound very basic but it matters a lot in times where people take any mode to please others. Standing tall on your ethics does matter a lot in establishing confidence in the hearts of your clients. Giving quality work also plays a significant role in generating strong rapport with the clients.

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Acquire young talents at lower costs

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Irrespective of you having a big or a small construction company, it is very instrumental for you to acquire young guys to work with you. No matter if they are not experienced and do not know their job, all that matters is their determination to stick around with your company and learn the work. They are turn out to be great assets to your company if they are trained in the right fashion. All they need is somebody who can guide them and help them understand the thing they would be doing. You have to show them a bright career for them to focus on work. Construction industry is one such industry that has the potential to offer the youngsters the future that they are looking for. The only thing the industry wants from them is to learn things and try to become an expert. It does not take long for a person to learn few tricks of the trade of the industry if he/she has the appetite to learn.

Can offer jobs to thousands of people in a country:-

Construction industry is on such industry that can offer jobs to thousands even millions. It not only just provides them with a job but it also shapes their career in a way that they become disciplined and inclined to grow in life. Countries like Dubai and other middle-east countries are spending a fortune on numerous construction projects as they have the idea to turn the place into a tourist hub for which they need quality workers to complete the projects.

Thus, people who not mind moving to other countries can find this to be a fabulous option and can get the exposure of working in an alien environment. He/she may probably get to learn more than what he/she can do working in US. There he/she may get to work on heavy equipment that are highly advanced and not many companies in US are using them. This really means a lot to them and will carry a lot of weight to his/her resume if he/she ever decides to make his way back to his homeland and search for a similar job.

Company can save a lot by hiring fresh minds:-

Construction companies like any other companies have to pay more for experienced work force. If they try to keep a balance of experienced as well as fresh workmen, they will be shelling less money as pay package to the young lots. It is quite evident that the young lads/lady will not negotiate much when it comes to salary. However, that does not imply that you got the right to exploit them. You are bound to give them the standard package as per the norms of the industry. You will still be able to save a lot if you follow this process and the money you save doing this can be utilized for other developmental purposes.

By employing young people, you are not only providing jobs to the unemployed but also giving them a career that they can pursue for long.

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Having a good sales team can have a major impact on your construction business

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Sales constitute a major role towards the making of any company. If you have a good sales team that believes in the product you make, then your company may probably not see many bad days irrespective of any phase of the market. Sales play a dominant role in any sector as you got to sell things that you have produced and you got to do it real quick. Products staying with you for long is a not a good sign of development. You need to sell it fast in a market where others are able to sell things at a steady pace. Having a sales team that is experienced enough to sell apartments (if you are into construction of apartments) is a huge plus point. No doubt that you have to pay them handsomely but you should be pleased to do so if you have a team that delivers.

Many construction companies find it immensely difficult to sell apartments in a sluggish market condition. However, there are few companies that are clearing their stock despite of the poor market condition. Industry experts reckon that the sales team you have has a major role to play in getting the stocks cleared. It is also very important to set up some standard for the sales team to follow. A salesman can go to any level to sell a product. He may even misguide his customer leading to several complications in future. It is therefore very crucial that you set up some standards for the sales team and ensure that they all carry out their responsibilities within the framework.

The sales team should believe in your product:-

Be it selling heavy equipments or residential apartments, the sales team should believe that the stuff they are selling is one of the best in the industry. That does not mean that they should start believing that whatever they are selling does not have any drawbacks. If a customer highlights a drawback, they should be in a position to take the feedback positively and if possible can counter it with logical reasoning. If he does not have anything to say then just take the feedback and move that up to the higher level.

A good salesman will never have unwanted debates:-

Having any kind of debate with the customer can lead to a no-sell. On top of that, it may even irk the customer and he may pass it on to others. This will only make things more difficult. Construction business runs mostly on goodwill and if that is tarnished it is rather very difficult to regain what you have lost. Customers may usually have issues with the amenities provided in an apartment. A sales guy can handle the situation by having a word with his supervisor if anything can be done with the amenities part and convey the same to the customer. The customer will be content with the fact that you have at least tried to work things out for him.

A sound business strategy is the need of the day in the construction business

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We all get so fascinated by hearing stories of people who have successfully carved a career out of their business and dream to follow them, to become someone like them. There is definitely no problem to think like that but it is important to think what they did so different than others that they are so successful in life and what price did they pay and are we willing to pay the price if we too take up the challenge. If someone is dreaming to make a career in the construction industry, then he needs to prepare himself right from the day he has begun to dream and start making plans to achieve his dreams.

Having a sound business strategy is considered to be one of the most important component for becoming a successful businessman. Now, a business strategy is required in any sort of business regardless how big or small it is. However, if one is chalking out plans pertaining to his construction business, he got to be make sure he comes out with a real good plan. Following are few pointers that will stress on how one can set up a sound business strategy.

Strategize your plans based on the business requirement:-

Strategies are often made keeping into consideration your business requirements. For instance, you are planning to buy some heavy equipments. Here you will consider the price of the machines, the utility factor, the features it possess and most importantly does the project really require any enhancements as far as the equipments are concerned. If you find positive answers for it, you should go ahead with your strategy or else it is better that you continue with the existing heavy equipments.

Take opinions of experienced people:-

If you are running a small business, you should far importantly take opinions of experienced people before you start planning up something. If possible share your plan with someone whom you can trust. People who are experienced in the construction segment will give you suggestions that will help you a long way.

A good strategy is the result of good team work:-

In case, you have a big business where you are required to big decision that will have a lasting effect, you should involve people who hold the top positions of various departments. You put to them your vision and ask them to come out with some plans. Ask them to think about the opportunities and threats involved. Once they give you a detailed report, you can absorb them all in your plan. You have the big picture in front of you. You only need to give it a proper shape. Once you come up with a final plan, place it in front of the senior most people in the company and see how good it sounds to them.

Keep your strategy flexible:-

The strategy you have adopted should be flexible and not stringent. When things may not go the way you have estimated them to, you may have to change them. Your strategy should allow you the space to make changes.

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