Builder Bill Smithers decided to leave his division president position for a national builder to enter the world of custom home building. He discovered several benefits his previous position afforded him after entering the custom building industry, so he opted to offer those benefits to others in the form of a group purchasing collective.
Smithers talks creating the CBUSA, a collaboration of more than 500 independent builders working together to lower purchasing costs and share knowledge, on DuPont's latest installment of its Residentially Speaking podcast.
“Understanding building science is what separates the great builders from the good ones,” said Bill Smithers, when asked about his thoughts on the importance of building science. “As a custom builder, it’s your name on that door. When things go sideways it’s generally not on a small scale. Using quality products applied with the best installation practices is critical to your reputation and your bottom line.”
"Hubbell and Smithers close out the episode discussing how to manage the rising costs of materials, escalation clauses and helping customers understand how quality building reduces the total cost of home ownership. To listen to the full episode, visit DuPont EDU HUB.
The next episode of Residentially Speaking will be released on August 5th with Meagan McCoy Jones, President of McCoy’s building Supply, as Hubbell’s guest. McCoy will provide her views on being a woman executive in the industry and how of being part of the construction supply chain has shaped her views on building science and construction. "
Related Stories
Custom Builder
HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge Announces Forthcoming Resignation
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge has said that she intends to leave office later this month
Custom Builder
Floodproof on a Floodplain
An impressive addition to the IDEA Home series, the NEWLOOK Experience Home is a master class in engineering and creative design, with builder Michael Freiburger out-thinking an exceptionally tricky lot
Custom Builder
Why Start a Custom Building Business?
In this Taking Care of Business segment, expert coach and trainer Scott Beebe joins our host Duane Johns to talk about where custom builders could be getting off on the wrong foot
Custom Builder
3 Questions Answered About Reliable Energy in Home Construction
Energy expert Bryan Cordill makes a case for why and how propane is an answer to growing concerns about reliability and resilience in home construction
Custom Builder
Telling a Story That Preserves the Past
Custom builder and historic restoration and preservation expert Brent Hull walks us through the careful details of his Pennsylvania Farmhouse project
Custom Builder
Start With the Why: Fundamentals of the Custom Builder Business
In our inaugural episode of Taking Care of Business, host and custom builder Duane Johns sits down with Scott Beebe, head coach and founder of My Business on Purpose, to talk vision, purpose, mission, values, and more
Custom Builder
2023: A Year of Case Studies
A look back at the custom homes and craftsman details we spotlighted last year
Custom Builder
Building Relationships, Building a Business
Custom builder and Pro Builder Forty Under 40 awardee Chris Adams built his business from the ground up by first, and most importantly, building relationships
Custom Builder
Trading in the Man Cave for a Music Room in The House That Blues Built
Fourth-generation custom builder Albert Cummings splits his time between the world of residential construction and the music industry, so it only makes sense that his personal home includes a customized music room
Custom Builder
Take Part in Our Annual Housing Forecast
The best way to understand the residential construction industry is to speak with residential construction professionals. And with that being said, we humbly ask for your input in this year's survey