Thought Leadership
Process Improvement
Turning the ‘Silver Tsunami’ Into a Wave of Opportunity
September 9, 2021 | Amanda Gilliam
The United States’ rapidly retiring workforce, sometimes called the “silver tsunami,” has the potential to seriously disrupt building department and construction operations across the country. With about 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day, severe internal staffing shortages could make permit and inspection activity unmanageable. But using workforce challenges as a chance to reevaluate your … Continued
Process Improvement
Safety and the Unseen Repercussions of the Backlogs in U.S. Cities Due to Closures From the Pandemic
September 30, 2020 | Joe DeRosa
Recently we covered the many possible solutions for building department backlogs in municipalities across the country. While the immediate focus has been on the most efficient service delivery options as a means to help reduce budgetary impacts and keep projects moving, the risks to community health and safety also rise when those backlogs linger. Even … Continued
Process Improvement
Three Things Municipalities Can Implement in 30 days To Possibly Avoid Budget Cuts
September 28, 2020 | Joe DeRosa
Municipalities continue to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, 74% of municipalities in the United States have already started making unavoidable cuts and adjustments in response to the projected $360 billion revenue loss for cities over the next three years, according to cititsspeak.org. Within that same article, which is based on a survey of nearly … Continued
Process Improvement
Building Permits in the Age of COVID-19: Issuing Doesn’t Have to be an Issue
August 14, 2020 | Marie Buchholz
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly led to the exploration and implementation of alternative service delivery methods for municipal building departments across the country. While the utilization rates of many electronically based platforms for services like Electronic Plan Review (EPR) and Remote Virtual Remote Inspections (RVI) are rising, online platform adaption for permitting seems to be … Continued
Process Improvement
COVID-19 and The Importance of Turning Fixed Costs into Variable Costs
August 12, 2020 | Marie Buchholz
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has led to a cascade of difficult financial decisions. As tax and other revenues dropped off a cliff due to business closures, mass furloughs, and layoffs, state and local governments have likewise had to juggle budget shortfalls, employee furloughs, and meeting the ongoing needs of their communities. Fortunately, there is … Continued
Process Improvement
Who Is Your Local Inspection Partner? SAFEbuilt.
July 28, 2020 | Marie Buchholz
In today’s building and development environment, the importance of working with consultative inspection experts who fully understand your local regulations and are committed to helping you meet them in a safe, timely, and cost-effective manner, cannot be overstated. Partnering with a leading provider, like SAFEbuilt, can help you realize benefits far beyond the inspections themselves. … Continued
Process Improvement
How SAFEbuilt Plans for Trends That Impact Building Department Revenue Streams
July 16, 2020 | Joe DeRosa
While no one can predict the future with absolute certainty, it helps to get a handle on current and emerging trends before making decisions about your building department’s budget. This means paying extra attention to relevant activities and patterns in your community, region, and across the country. You’ll also want to consider your community’s specific … Continued
Process Improvement
How to Fix Your Building Department’s Plan Review Process
June 15, 2020 | Marie Buchholz
Whether you are a municipal leader or a building official, you may be familiar with the frustrations that go along with building plan review delays. Construction booms can bring an onslaught of permit applications that your staff might not be equipped to handle. Yet the thought of hiring more reviewers during these peak times, only … Continued