The GO First Blog

Contracts

Construction Warranty Policy: What to Promise, What to Exclude, and How to Document It

Most builders handle warranty claims reactively — with no written policy, no documented scope, and no process for distinguishing legitimate defects from normal wear. One unmanaged warranty claim costs more in time and legal exposure than a year of proactive policy. Here’s the warranty framework I install with builders at every revenue level.

Estimating

Construction Bid Conversion Rate: What It Is, How to Track It, and What It Tells You

Most builders don’t track their bid conversion rate — and those who do often measure it wrong. Your conversion rate isn’t just wins divided by total bids. It’s a diagnostic tool that tells you whether your pricing, targeting, and proposal quality are aligned with the clients you’re trying to win. Here’s how to calculate it correctly and what to do when it’s too low or too high.

Financial Systems

The Construction Weekly Financial Review: 30 Minutes That Protects Your Margin

Builders who review their financials monthly discover problems after the damage is done. The builders who consistently hit their profit targets review three specific numbers every week — and act on what they see before a bad job closes. Here’s the weekly review format and the three numbers that matter.

Contracts

Construction Lien Waivers: What They Are, When to Use Them, and How to Protect Yourself

Most residential builders sign lien waivers without reading them, and issue them to clients and subs without understanding what they’re releasing. A lien waiver is a legal document. Sign the wrong one at the wrong time and you’ve waived your right to collect money you’re owed — before you’ve been paid. Here’s the four types of lien waivers, when each one applies, and the language that protects your lien rights.

QuickBooks

QuickBooks Chart of Accounts for Construction: The Setup That Actually Works

Most builders use QuickBooks out of the box — with a generic chart of accounts built for retail or service businesses, not construction. The result is financial reports that tell you almost nothing useful. Here's the chart of accounts structure that actually tracks construction job profitability.

Operations

How to Vet and Onboard Subcontractors Before They Cost You a Job

The most expensive subcontractor mistakes happen before the first nail is driven. Skipping the vetting process, skipping the written agreement, and skipping the onboarding conversation all create liability you carry the whole project. Here's the process that protects your margin and your reputation.

Estimating

How to Estimate a Kitchen Remodel: A Builder's Cost Breakdown

Kitchen remodels are one of the most frequently mispriced project types in residential construction. Variable scope, client-supplied materials, hidden conditions, and high design sensitivity make them easy to underbid and hard to recover on. Here's how to estimate them accurately.