The Building Code

On this episode of "The Building Code," we sat down with Adam Copenhaver, owner of CopeGrand Homes, and one of his project managers, Sam Wilson, to talk about what actually keeps a luxury build feeling calm week after week. Most builders talk about client experience in vague terms like communication or service. This conversation gets specific: the routine documentation, the client updates and the day-to-day discipline that clients never see directly. They just feel the absence of chaos. Adam and Sam also get into how much trust it takes for an owner to step back from daily oversight and let the system do its job.

Today on "The Building Code," Carly and Jordan sit down with Kevin Nguyen, founder and owner of Capital Development in Kennesaw, GA.   Kevin started the company as a way to pay for college -- knocking on doors to replace mailboxes -- and in seven years has grown it into a firm running three business lines at once: custom residential, commercial retail buildouts for national brands and full design-build. Capital Development has moved more than $75 million through those three lines and built over two million square feet across metro Atlanta, all under one operating system.   In this episode, you'll learn:   How Kevin structures a week that has a custom home client, a retail buildout and a design-build project all moving at once Why he splits production meetings by division, then brings leadership back together mid-week How an open-book, profit-sharing structure keeps project managers accountable to the numbers The early hiring mistake that almost broke the business, and the two weeks he took away to rebuild it right   Follow Kevin and Capital Development:   Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok     Join "The Building Code" Facebook group:   https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebuildingcodecrew/   FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/buildertrend/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/buildertrend/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Buildertrend/ YOUTUBE: / @buildertrend https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO7SI6btsZPc1jJJIemoH-A LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildertrend   #Buildertrend #TheBuildingCodePodcast #ConstructionLeadership #CommercialConstruction #CustomHomes #DesignBuild #BuilderLife #ConstructionBusiness #CapitalDevelopment #AtlantaBuilders

Today on "The Building Code," Carly sits down with Joe Christensen, founder and owner of Cardinal Crest Homes in Kansas City and, as of this year, president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City. Buildertrend just released the Modern Builder Playbook -- a new industry survey on what separates today's top builders from the rest. Joe is a real-world proof point of those findings, and in this episode he walks through 15 years of building Cardinal Crest from a two-man startup to a multimillion-dollar custom home business. I

Learn how builders can future-proof their businesses with better documentation, communication and digital approvals to reduce risk and improve client trust.     In this episode of “The Building Code”, host Carly Ward is joined by Eric Stenger and Preston Reed of Seed Development + Design for a candid conversation about what separates builders who will thrive in the next decade form those who won’t   As the construction industry evolves, success is no longer defined by craftsmanship alone. Builders are facing rising client expectations, increasing project complexity and growing operational risk – and many are still relying on outdated habits like verbal agreements, scattered communication and incomplete documentation.   Eric and Preston share how those exact gaps once cost them – and how tightening their processes, centralizing communication and documenting every decision helped transform their business into a more profitable and resilient operation.   Key takeaways from the episode “In the next five years, building beautiful homes won’t be enough – you need disciplined, resilient operations behind it,” Carly said.   “If not documented, you’re leaving yourself exposed – two people can walk away with completely different expectations,” Preston said.   “We don’t touch a change without a signed approval. That’s what protects both us and the client,” Eric said.   From handshake agreements to signed approvals, this episode explores why documentation – especially digital – is becoming a non-negotiable part of modern construction.   What you’ll learn: How to eliminate costly miscommunication by documenting every decision and approval Why centralized communication is the backbone of scalable, high-performing teams How digital approvals and signatures reduce risk, disputes and revenue leakage The simple process changes that protect margins and improve client trust The operational mindset required to stay competitive as the industry evolves   Why it matters The builders who succeed in the next five years won’t just build great homes – they’ll run disciplined, transparent and well-documented businesses.   This episode shows how small operational gaps – unclear scopes, missed documentation and informal approvals – can compound into major financial and reputational risk, and how fixing those gaps creates stronger, more scalable companies.   Related content: 5 ways construction document software simplifies contracts and client signatures   Seed Development + Design: How a Georgia remodeler reversed a six-figure loss and rebuilt their business with Buildertrend   5 communication tips – and the new tool you need for boosting collaboration on your construction jobs      

Margin pressure is squeezing builders from every direction – rising costs, longer timelines and more complex projects. But profit isn’t usually lost in one big moment. It’s lost through small breakdowns in process, procurement and pricing discipline.   In this episode of "The Building Code", Carly Ward is joined by Sarah Biben and returning guest Tyler Farrell, founder of Killowen Construction, to break down how builders protect profits through tighter workflows, smarter procurement and clearer pricing communication.   They explore how forecasting, purchase orders, job costing and standardized processes help builders surface risks earlier, defend margins and maintain trust with clients throughout long build cycles.   What you’ll learn: • Why margin squeeze often hides behind strong revenue • How disciplined process and procurement protect profitability • Where builders lose money without realizing it • How pricing clarity improves financial outcomes and client confidence   Subscribe here, and never miss an episode.   Got podcast topic suggestions? Reach out to us at [email protected].   Links and more Find Killowen Construction here Learn more about IBS 2026 here Follow Buildertrend on social: Instagram | Facebook Watch The Building Code on YouTube Join The Building Code Crew fan page on Facebook to connect with fellow listeners and keep the conversation going   #TheBuildingCode #Buildertrend #KillowenHomes #BuilderProfitability #ConstructionFinance #MarginProtection #CustomHomeBuilder #Procurement #JobCosting #ConstructionLeadership #BuildingBetter #ResidentialConstruction