I am a new general contractor in Nashville, TN. Me running across your video was a literal Godsend. It was the encouragement I needed to continue to move forward with my first new build, which is getting off the ground in the next couple of weeks. Thank you so much for opening your playbook, sharing your experiences, and offering so many valuable insights. I will be watching all your videos! Thank you Brad the Builder!
Congratulations on your new venture! I'll share a "line" a friend's mom always said and I've never forgotten: If you want something bad enough, keep your chin up and your elbows greased". (I may be dating myself, so in case you are not familiar with the "elbows greased" part, it means 'hard work'.) I'm glad you came across Brad's channel. You will enjoy it and no doubt learn some things along the way. You'll see a lot of interaction with his subcontractors and see that he really has developed a team that is 1) good at what they do, 2) reliable, 3) hard working and 4) loyal. You'll also see that Brad is involved with what's going on and treats them very well. He's respected by his clients and subs alike. I hope that your build goes really well for you and that it's a great step into a rewarding career! Best of luck to you! Take care, Heather🇨🇦
Even though I'm not a builder, a contractor or anything in the building trade I just love watching building videos. I also watch Stud Pak on UA-cam. They build homes and are now building a huge home for their son. The sons work with the dad. You channel is fun and entertaining for me. I'm 63 and a retired nurse.
Great video! Civil/Structural engineer here looking to get my own development business off the ground. I've had the same idea wrt building spec homes that I could move in to as a way to limit risk starting out. You totally validated the idea! I also love the tip on buying existing lots from owners on a subordination strategy. So much great info in this one video!
You have an excellent educational background to do this business! Sometimes it takes a little push to get on board and the best way to do. It is to minimize as much risk as possible… I’m here to help anyway, I can. 👍
@BradtheBuilder no its cool to hear your story and the differences how it was when you started. You're right though, 18% is a nightmare and a reason to be thankful today. I bought just in time before the recent jump in interest rates thankfully. Love your videos Brad. As a local fence contractor it's always helpful and I need to take a detour to go try some of those donuts here soon
I am a newly licensed GC in TN. Just beginning my journey. You and a few other UA-camrs ignited my passion for this industry! I strive to be in the same position as you one day.
You will do great! Keep learning ( never stop learning) and surround yourself with like minded people so they can support your dreams & goals! Please reach out to me with any questions to have 😎🎺
Good evening Sir I've been subscribed to your channel for quite some time now and I don't really reply comment on a lot of them (mainly due to the fact that I'm a man of few words LoL) but I do however like and share absolutely every one of them, and I saw in one of your replys that you had thought that this video would have come across as boring but I must say Sir that during the entire duration of time that I have been subscribed to and watching your content I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt that I don't think that you have yet to ever put out any video that came across as being anywhere even remotely flippin close to being boring, they're always very enjoyable and also very informative aswell and I just wanted to say thank you very much for each and every one of them and to please please please continue providing your content absolutely each and every style they're all very much worth it aswell as very much welcoming and appreciated and again thank you for all that you do Sir and I God bless you and your family and I hope y'all have a wonderful evening
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and express yourself! I really appreciate you taking the time to watch all the videos… I really appreciate you reaching out with your comments! 👍❤️🎺
Awesome Brad I love your videos and have been watching for awhile I am a 22 year old aspiring homebuilder with 5 years experience doing all kinds of different work in new houses I would love to see more educational type videos maybe even a podcast because I have so much learn and it's very overwhelming.
Thanks so much for reaching out and congratulations on picking a wonderful career! I would love to do a podcast as the more I get into these educational videos I take for granted how much there is to learn and to talk about! I could share a lot of things that I’ve learned over the past 35 years
@@BradtheBuilder You’re an inspiration man there’s not many actual builders putting out content like you so if you do decide to do more educational videos I’m ready to take notes. Im a sponge😂
@@BradtheBuilder The whole process start to finish😂. A couple things would be doing an estimate, make up a contract, all the different permits, etc. I want to build a small inexpensive spec house for my first one on my own and I want to be as prepared as possible.
@@camjones2013 thanks for bringing some of these topics to my attention and I’ll start creating more educational videos and I would like to do a video where people can call in and ask questions
Great video Brad, thank you !! I may not always comment on every one of your videos, but I am subscribed an I also click the Like Button on every one of your videos that I watch👍🤠‼
Hi Brad, definitely enjoyed the video. Thumbs up on a separate series about crazy stories; add those in once and a while. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!
Brad wonderful video and I can tell you are very genuine and speaking from learned experience!! Hopefully your knowledge helps some youngins coming up in the world. I remember being hungry lol I’m pretty content now but still love reading informative subjects. Loved your bank robber story I’m a retired nurse I’ve got a few too lol
Brad, That’s, sincerely wonderful and well summarized start-up background story you have! I hope to meet you one day, check out your incredible building sites,lol, and share some of our learning experiences….keep on doing what you’re great at doing👏
@@BradtheBuilder well you do a great job, My middle Son is currently studying to get his Contractors license, I sent him this video, he has been in business for several years but can’t do a job over 40,000 without a license
Great video, Brad. This information is valuable for anyone wanting to start a business from the ground up. They can easily take these points and apply it to their trade. Loved the bank robber story. I wonder if he ever got caught? No chance you remember the guy's name, do you, haha!? As funny as it is to learn that you almost sold a house to a bank robber, imagine if you DID! Think of what you could have done with the reward money🤣. Great to see you, friend. All the best, as always. Heather🇨🇦 I hope this reads ok. I am the lucky owner of a concussion these days - something I'm not very fond of and wouldn't want to give it away to anyone (that I like, haha).
So glad there are builders like you. Alot if these big homes today are still boring. To me alot is no color are design. Landscaping is the worst. No colors a bush here and there rock ect I was told it's because rich people don't wanna do the work to plant different things and take care of them. Also the ones I use to clean out never had shades on there windows second floor bathrooms. I ask why they said them being across the lake couldn't see them. Ok at night with lights on I believe they can and there are some that might go the extra mile to see. Also removable shower heads no one had them. Try cleaning out a shower that holds 10 people with rinsing out with a cup!! Lol You have to know who to hire i had work done last summer updated things I fired 3 contractors in 2 weeks they not show are 4 hours late do it there way not mine you name it! One watching someone who knows what they are doing, and down to earth instead of being stuck up because you have made it. Congrats
Hey Brad, do you do any commercial projects. I haven’t seen you post a video of any. Can you answer why you don’t post them or why you don’t do any at all?
I don’t do commercial construction because it’s totally different from residential and requires different subcontractors so I played in my strengths and focus on residential home construction. You would think construction is construction but it’s not! You don’t see commercial construction guys building homes… I have built homes for commercial contractors.
Thanks Brad! I sold tickets & Arrest for 30 yrs before becoming a trim carpenter! I always found I enjoyed being a 1 st responder ? It’s a calling ! Your calling was putting ppl into a home creating or adding to a neighborhood! God always puts us in our place if we head to that tug! Great story ! You see for many years I served on a unit called “ SIU”. Where we pursued career criminals ? Bank Robbers, murders, major gang members or a very profitable drug dealer where we arrested him and seized their assets? So I probably knew some of that guys friends ? Probably not a bad guy? Just a bad business plan?
Haha! That was a bad business plan… these guys are smart, but if they put their talents it into a real business that are illegal, they would come out on top just fine! I bet you have some great stories to tell from your professional
@@BradtheBuilder The answer I always got from them was “ takes too long to make it & it was boring”! Or “ I hv felony convictions no one will hire me”! Which is BS ! They just like being criminals , money, women, all the trappings of the underworld ! I always told them well! Sir your now gonna be locked up with wierdos , thugs , stinky, smelly , perverts? Enjoy ripping them off cause they hv a different way of dealing with you? “Oh where are the keys to your Porsche Carrera ; we will be driving it now”! Adios!
It sounds like you used your brain and thought things out very thoroughly at the beginning. Collecting all the people and using their expertise worked out well. It just proves that you don't have to know everything you just have to know who to ask. Or in this case who to hire as the subcontractors. 👍🎺👍🎺
Hy hope you're doing well, I have a question, kindly mention it incrementally. How can I become a builder,what are the legal steps , explain it all , including timeframe.mention all the licenses ,is it helpful or necessary to take real estate salespersons license first?? Recommendations
You don’t need your real estate license to become a homebuilder, but you will need to take a test to get your state license… Generally, it’s an open book and check with your local permit office and they’ll direct you to what you need to get your building license. Having a real estate license would help if you’re planning on building spec homes so you can sell them yourself
brad i’m in college for construction management, aiming to be a pm for a home builders company in hopes to one day own my own company, do you think starting out as a pm will help
Personally carpenters make the best builders. Carpenters are very knowledgeable about all facets of construction. Drives me crazy to see a realtor build because they have zero knowledge of building. I’m glad it worked for you. But I think your number one attribute is your a salesmen. I’m a great builder but I’m not a great salesman. Selling is a large part of building. I’ve seen all types of builders, police officers, firemen, stay at moms, realtors, landscapers, etc. The biggest problem I’ve seen with builders and why they fail. They over extend and rob Peter to pay Paul. Slow and steady is the name of the game. It’s like a slow moving train. Also you are correct about finding good subs, talk to the suppliers.
Your bank robber story reminded me of a story that happened to my family when I was 11 years old, my family and I went to Hawaii in 97’ and the FBI raided our house while we were gone because Andrew Cunanan (the guy that killed Gianni Versace) used my brother’s information as an alias to fly somewhere
@@johnboggan4390 I just told my kids they should consider being an insurance agent so you get residual income off your sales… Vs. Building homes and only getting paid once!
Enjoyed working with you in 1999 on your first website. Great story and happy to be a part of your amazing story and success. All the best, Brad!
I remember that… That was the early days of websites and I picked up a customer just because I had a website👍. Thanks for being their ❤️👍
I am a new general contractor in Nashville, TN. Me running across your video was a literal Godsend. It was the encouragement I needed to continue to move forward with my first new build, which is getting off the ground in the next couple of weeks. Thank you so much for opening your playbook, sharing your experiences, and offering so many valuable insights. I will be watching all your videos! Thank you Brad the Builder!
I’m glad you found me! Thanks for watching and I hope you stick around and watch all my previous videos… please asking me questions
Congratulations on your new venture! I'll share a "line" a friend's mom always said and I've never forgotten: If you want something bad enough, keep your chin up and your elbows greased". (I may be dating myself, so in case you are not familiar with the "elbows greased" part, it means 'hard work'.)
I'm glad you came across Brad's channel. You will enjoy it and no doubt learn some things along the way. You'll see a lot of interaction with his subcontractors and see that he really has developed a team that is 1) good at what they do, 2) reliable, 3) hard working and 4) loyal. You'll also see that Brad is involved with what's going on and treats them very well. He's respected by his clients and subs alike.
I hope that your build goes really well for you and that it's a great step into a rewarding career!
Best of luck to you!
Take care,
Heather🇨🇦
Even though I'm not a builder, a contractor or anything in the building trade I just love watching building videos. I also watch Stud Pak on UA-cam. They build homes and are now building a huge home for their son. The sons work with the dad. You channel is fun and entertaining for me. I'm 63 and a retired nurse.
Thanks so much for subscribing & watching! I appreciate it❤️👍
Glad you finally did this video! I remember asking you for this over a year ago, thanks for the insight Brad!
Sorry it took so long… more to come👍
Great video! Civil/Structural engineer here looking to get my own development business off the ground. I've had the same idea wrt building spec homes that I could move in to as a way to limit risk starting out. You totally validated the idea! I also love the tip on buying existing lots from owners on a subordination strategy. So much great info in this one video!
You have an excellent educational background to do this business!
Sometimes it takes a little push to get on board and the best way to do. It is to minimize as much risk as possible… I’m here to help anyway, I can. 👍
Great information! You're a natural born salesman and a great communicator.
Thanks so much… You found my two strengths! Don’t ask me to spell anything over four letters😬
That video was amazing. Seeing how you built your business was very informative and very interesting. Thanks Brad for sharing your life with us.
Thanks Mary! ❤️
Brad! You outdid yourself with this video. So much information and great stories. Thank you! And please more videos!
Really? I was afraid it would be boring…😬. Thanks for your support❤️👍
@BradtheBuilder no its cool to hear your story and the differences how it was when you started. You're right though, 18% is a nightmare and a reason to be thankful today. I bought just in time before the recent jump in interest rates thankfully. Love your videos Brad. As a local fence contractor it's always helpful and I need to take a detour to go try some of those donuts here soon
I am a newly licensed GC in TN. Just beginning my journey. You and a few other UA-camrs ignited my passion for this industry! I strive to be in the same position as you one day.
You will do great! Keep learning ( never stop learning) and surround yourself with like minded people so they can support your dreams & goals! Please reach out to me with any questions to have 😎🎺
this is the perfect video to come across as i want to become a custom luxury builder as well graduating with a business management degree in may
Really enjoyed this video. Very interesting and informative. Crazy story also.
Thank for this Brad
Thanks for watching… I have many more crazy stories over the past 35 years!
@@BradtheBuilder I look forward to hearing them.
Good evening Sir I've been subscribed to your channel for quite some time now and I don't really reply comment on a lot of them (mainly due to the fact that I'm a man of few words LoL) but I do however like and share absolutely every one of them, and I saw in one of your replys that you had thought that this video would have come across as boring but I must say Sir that during the entire duration of time that I have been subscribed to and watching your content I can honestly say without a shadow of a doubt that I don't think that you have yet to ever put out any video that came across as being anywhere even remotely flippin close to being boring, they're always very enjoyable and also very informative aswell and I just wanted to say thank you very much for each and every one of them and to please please please continue providing your content absolutely each and every style they're all very much worth it aswell as very much welcoming and appreciated and again thank you for all that you do Sir and I God bless you and your family and I hope y'all have a wonderful evening
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and express yourself!
I really appreciate you taking the time to watch all the videos… I really appreciate you reaching out with your comments! 👍❤️🎺
Awesome Brad I love your videos and have been watching for awhile I am a 22 year old aspiring homebuilder with 5 years experience doing all kinds of different work in new houses I would love to see more educational type videos maybe even a podcast because I have so much learn and it's very overwhelming.
Thanks so much for reaching out and congratulations on picking a wonderful career! I would love to do a podcast as the more I get into these educational videos I take for granted how much there is to learn and to talk about! I could share a lot of things that I’ve learned over the past 35 years
@@BradtheBuilder You’re an inspiration man there’s not many actual builders putting out content like you so if you do decide to do more educational videos I’m ready to take notes. Im a sponge😂
@@camjones2013 I will definitely start working on more educational videos! Do you have certain topics you want me to cover?
@@BradtheBuilder The whole process start to finish😂. A couple things would be doing an estimate, make up a contract, all the different permits, etc. I want to build a small inexpensive spec house for my first one on my own and I want to be as prepared as possible.
@@camjones2013 thanks for bringing some of these topics to my attention and I’ll start creating more educational videos and I would like to do a video where people can call in and ask questions
Great video Brad, thank you !! I may not always comment on every one of your videos, but I am subscribed an I also click the Like Button on every one of your videos that I watch👍🤠‼
That is GREAT! 👍
Hi Brad, definitely enjoyed the video. Thumbs up on a separate series about crazy stories; add those in once and a while. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!
Oh, I have plenty of crazy stories!’
Much respect for your journey in business 🇺🇸
Thanks! It was exciting
Great video Brad. Definitely want to see a video of crazy stories. It would be very helpful for all of us. Thanks again 😊
People need to hear the crazy stories, because when it happens to you, you think you’re the only one that deal with these kind of people😜
Awesome video Brad. I am sure this one will help a lot of people with all this information. Great job and you definitely have a wealth of knowledge
I hope people want to hear more of this? Once I got started talking all these memories came flooding into my mind
Very enlightening and entertaining! Thanks Brad!
Thanks for watching
Loved This! Thanks for sharing the Wisdom Brad!
Thank you for watching 👍🎺
Thanks for some more knowledge towards the next few projects iv got going on. Learned a lot
Let me know of any other ways that I can help you out👍
Brad wonderful video and I can tell you are very genuine and speaking from learned experience!! Hopefully your knowledge helps some youngins coming up in the world. I remember being hungry lol I’m pretty content now but still love reading informative subjects. Loved your bank robber story I’m a retired nurse I’ve got a few too lol
Ooooh! I would love to hear some of your crazy medical stories 😲
Thanks Brad. A lot of great information. You did very well for yourself.
There were many days when I was questioning if I was on the right track!!!
Very educational video, and very helpful for me. I want to become a custom home builder so I really appreciate this!
It’s a wonderful career path… Please continue reaching out to me with any questions you have. I hope I can help you out.👍
Great content as usual
Thanks again 👍🎺
Brad, That’s, sincerely wonderful and well summarized start-up background story you have!
I hope to meet you one day, check out your incredible building sites,lol, and share some of our learning experiences….keep on doing what you’re great at doing👏
Thanks so much for your support!
Brad I’m glad you are not only a Builder but a influencer, love your video’s
Im having fun with all this 👍
@@BradtheBuilder well you do a great job, My middle Son is currently studying to get his Contractors license, I sent him this video, he has been in business for several years but can’t do a job over 40,000 without a license
@@bobbyfisher6343 when he gets his license he’ll have references from his smaller jobs which should help him grow his building business
Thanks for sharing the video with your son👍
Thank you Brad!👍🏻✌🏻
Thank you for watching
Wow!! Whatta awesome video. So informative Brad! Love this kinda video...I feel smarter, lol...thanks brother...
Really? That makes me feel good👍😎
Well Done Brad🎉.
You really threw yourself into the game and came out on top,Kuddos friend 👍❣️.
JO JO IN VT 💞
Not without some scares and a bruised ego😬. It was a roller coaster ride
Different type of video Brad🎉 but very interesting. Awesome as always 💞🎉
Glad you enjoyed it!
Good info Brad. Thank you
Thanks 👍😎
Great video, Brad. This information is valuable for anyone wanting to start a business from the ground up. They can easily take these points and apply it to their trade.
Loved the bank robber story. I wonder if he ever got caught? No chance you remember the guy's name, do you, haha!? As funny as it is to learn that you almost sold a house to a bank robber, imagine if you DID! Think of what you could have done with the reward money🤣.
Great to see you, friend. All the best, as always.
Heather🇨🇦
I hope this reads ok. I am the lucky owner of a concussion these days - something I'm not very fond of and wouldn't want to give it away to anyone (that I like, haha).
Brad great video, and a lot of great information & very good stories about starting a business. 😊
Thanks for reaching out!
So glad there are builders like you. Alot if these big homes today are still boring. To me alot is no color are design. Landscaping is the worst. No colors a bush here and there rock ect I was told it's because rich people don't wanna do the work to plant different things and take care of them. Also the ones I use to clean out never had shades on there windows second floor bathrooms. I ask why they said them being across the lake couldn't see them. Ok at night with lights on I believe they can and there are some that might go the extra mile to see. Also removable shower heads no one had them. Try cleaning out a shower that holds 10 people with rinsing out with a cup!! Lol You have to know who to hire i had work done last summer updated things I fired 3 contractors in 2 weeks they not show are 4 hours late do it there way not mine you name it! One watching someone who knows what they are doing, and down to earth instead of being stuck up because you have made it. Congrats
Thanks so much for watching & reaching out!
Great insight!! thank you
Thanks 👍
Great video man.
Thanks so much
Love this!
Really? Thanks ❤️
Too tall for my hair? 🤣 I love it! I'm so stealing that line!!
Haha! It yours for the taking 😜
so much better than HGTV
Do you think I have a shot at my old TV series?
BRAD THE BUILDER FOR PRESIDENT.!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Not if some of my college photos are made public!!! 😜
We can just do like Hillary Clinton and “accidentally delete” those.!!! 🤣🤣🤣
@@michaeldugas1994 haha! 😜
Hey Brad, do you do any commercial projects. I haven’t seen you post a video of any. Can you answer why you don’t post them or why you don’t do any at all?
I don’t do commercial construction because it’s totally different from residential and requires different subcontractors so I played in my strengths and focus on residential home construction. You would think construction is construction but it’s not! You don’t see commercial construction guys building homes… I have built homes for commercial contractors.
Can you explain drawing from lot value from bank again?
Do you want me to put this in a separate video?
Thanks Brad! I sold tickets & Arrest for 30 yrs before becoming a trim carpenter! I always found I enjoyed being a 1 st responder ? It’s a calling ! Your calling was putting ppl into a home creating or adding to a neighborhood! God always puts us in our place if we head to that tug!
Great story ! You see for many years I served on a unit called “ SIU”. Where we pursued career criminals ? Bank Robbers, murders, major gang members or a very profitable drug dealer where we arrested him and seized their assets?
So I probably knew some of that guys friends ? Probably not a bad guy? Just a bad business plan?
Haha! That was a bad business plan… these guys are smart, but if they put their talents it into a real business that are illegal, they would come out on top just fine!
I bet you have some great stories to tell from your professional
@@BradtheBuilder The answer I always got from them was “ takes too long to make it & it was boring”! Or “ I hv felony convictions no one will hire me”! Which is BS !
They just like being criminals , money, women, all the trappings of the underworld !
I always told them well! Sir your now gonna be locked up with wierdos , thugs , stinky, smelly , perverts? Enjoy ripping them off cause they hv a different way of dealing with you?
“Oh where are the keys to your Porsche Carrera ; we will be driving it now”! Adios!
What brand LVP did you use in Flair's and your new house?
Hmmm?🤔. Good question…I will have to look into that
It sounds like you used your brain and thought things out very thoroughly at the beginning.
Collecting all the people and using their expertise worked out well.
It just proves that you don't have to know everything you just have to know who to ask. Or in this case who to hire as the subcontractors.
👍🎺👍🎺
Amen! Find people who are smarter then yourself…. In my case I didn’t have to look very far😜
@@BradtheBuilder 😂 it seems that you did okay though. 😉🎺
Lots of great stories!! You really had to fight your way to the top…
I have some scares to prove it! 😜
Finally
❤️👍
Hy hope you're doing well, I have a question, kindly mention it incrementally.
How can I become a builder,what are the legal steps , explain it all , including timeframe.mention all the licenses ,is it helpful or necessary to take real estate salespersons license first?? Recommendations
You don’t need your real estate license to become a homebuilder, but you will need to take a test to get your state license… Generally, it’s an open book and check with your local permit office and they’ll direct you to what you need to get your building license.
Having a real estate license would help if you’re planning on building spec homes so you can sell them yourself
Just seen the intro.. vid should be longer awsome
Imagine if you would have called into America's Most Wanted and got the reward for the arrest of the bank robber. Crazy story Brad! 😜
That would’ve been nice👍
Brad you should make a video or go live and tell all of your crazy stories from the past 35 years of being a home builder.
That would make for a fun…. Long video😜
brad i’m in college for construction management, aiming to be a pm for a home builders company in hopes to one day own my own company, do you think starting out as a pm will help
I'd like to see the very first house you built.
That would be fun for me too!
I’m going to knock on their door, introduce myself and see if I can do
A video??! Thanks for the idea 👍
Personally carpenters make the best builders. Carpenters are very knowledgeable about all facets of construction. Drives me crazy to see a realtor build because they have zero knowledge of building. I’m glad it worked for you. But I think your number one attribute is your a salesmen. I’m a great builder but I’m not a great salesman. Selling is a large part of building. I’ve seen all types of builders, police officers, firemen, stay at moms, realtors, landscapers, etc. The biggest problem I’ve seen with builders and why they fail. They over extend and rob Peter to pay Paul. Slow and steady is the name of the game. It’s like a slow moving train. Also you are correct about finding good subs, talk to the suppliers.
You are so right… Slow and steady, keep costs down and don’t over extend yourself 👍
Your bank robber story reminded me of a story that happened to my family when I was 11 years old, my family and I went to Hawaii in 97’ and the FBI raided our house while we were gone because Andrew Cunanan (the guy that killed Gianni Versace) used my brother’s information as an alias to fly somewhere
Wow! That is crazy? Was it just a coincidence that he used your bothers name?
Great ideas, to bad I am now 70 years old. Good video and thank you much. 😅
Think of the money you saved by not becoming a homebuilder😜
@@BradtheBuilder think of the money I missed. Better than an insurance agent.
@@johnboggan4390 I just told my kids they should consider being an insurance agent so you get residual income off your sales… Vs. Building homes and only getting paid once!
Man...the only homes i get to build are 150,000....
That’s ok! Are you making money? That’s the real question.
Promo sm 😱