Elizabeth Evans Custom Homes

What trends are currently shaping the construction industry?The economy is crippling the industry. Everyone is unsure on the mortgage rates on what is happening with “return to work” across multiple industries, are we going to have a war or a recession, etc. So it has created somewhat of a paralysis where people might want to sell their home but they can’t afford a new home and they are just fearful to make decisions.

How are you implementing sustainable building practices?We are very mindful of our impact on the environment. Our sales force drives high efficiency vehicles, averaging over 40 mpg. We use digital paperwork for all of our contracts and paperwork exchanges with customers. We minimize waste on the jobsite and recycle at every opportunity.

What challenges are you facing with labor shortages or supply chains?Labor is a much greater challenge than the supply chain. You can have all the best material in the world but if you do not have the correct trained and skilled craftsmen to install the material, it is useless.

How do you ensure safety on your job sites?We use weekly toolbox talks and we employ active superintendents. We also inform all that everyone is a safety officer. No matter your position on the jobsite or in the company, anyone can stop work and call out an unsafe act at any time without repercussion.

What role does technology play in your planning and execution?We would be lost without technology! We use it to forecast schedules, order our materials, communicate with customers, schedule inspections, project cashflow. Technology is incorporated into every part of our business.

Can you describe a recent project that stood out to you?We love working with Homes For Our Troops. We recently completed a home for SGT Sean Karpf and his family in St. Augustine, Florida. The outpouring of support from the community during volunteer day and the Key Ceremony shows just how committed the First Coast is to welcoming all veterans into our community and truly showed Sean and his family why the First Coast truly is the best place to call home.

What advice would you give to someone entering the construction field?You need to be resilient and you need to never stop learning. You need to constantly be researching and looking at ways to improve your methods through technology while also listening to those that have been in the trades for years. You learn so much more from those that have been in construction for decades than you will learn from a curriculum or education, you just have to be willing to listen and take notes.