The Modern Craftsman is a podcast for builders who think beyond the jobsite. Hosted by Nick Schiffer and Tyler Grace, this show explores what it takes to build a better business, a stronger team, and a more sustainable career in the trades. Each episode features real conversations about leadership, project management, client communication, team culture, mental resilience, and long-term success in construction. Whether you're a carpenter scaling your company, a remodeler refining your process ...
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Newconstruction Podcasts
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The Portland Real Estate Podcast
Steve Nassar of Premiere Property Group and Joe Fustolo of Soldera
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The only source for Portland Oregon real estate news, forecasts, interviews and entertainment. Steve Nassar and Joe Fustolo cover the latest happenings in the Portland real estate market in this podcast.
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387 Busy Isn't Productive, Stop Multitasking Your Business
1:08:00
1:08:00
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1:08:00
Nick breaks down why his calendar can look "full" while the real priority list stays untouched, and how hiring an assistant forced him to protect time instead of feeding distractions. Tyler pushes on the bigger question: are we building systems to grow, or just cramming more into the same day for no payoff. Show Notes: 00:00 Too many balls 03:29 In…
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Stay out of the cold with these hot budget tips as Tyler breaks down exactly how he budgets a real porch job, from the precon fee and deposit strategy to tracking every cost day by day. The big takeaway is how to communicate "extras" without panic, keep cashflow protected, and still finish strong without rushing. Show Notes:00:00 Cold office, hot t…
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386 Jobsite Photos That Actually Work For You
1:04:44
1:04:44
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1:04:44
Builders already have thousands of jobsite photos on their phones, but most of those shots are not protecting them, selling future work, or showing what they really do. In this episode we break down a simple way to use your phone, a few habits, and better organization so your photos become insurance, a sales tool, and a real portfolio instead of di…
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385 Stop Letting "Cool Details" Kill Your Margin
1:07:34
1:07:34
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Nick and Tyler break down how line item budgets, tiered estimates, and value engineering actually protect you when clients start pushing on price and scope. From losing out on a five million dollar job after an eleven hour estimate to using that same work to land better projects, they talk through transparency, expectations, and how not to let your…
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Tyler answers a listener's question about two belt-on GCs teaming up in a 50-50 partnership and trying to keep things simple while still making real money. He breaks down how to price owner labor, define roles, track time, and protect both your margins and your friendship when you run a tiny company with two owners. Show Notes:00:00 Two owners, tin…
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384 Too Tired For Precon, Too Broke To Skip It
1:23:25
1:23:25
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Nick and Tyler break down how they use preconstruction to protect the architect's vision, keep clients on budget, and avoid the usual bid and bleed disaster. They get into real numbers, value engineering that is not just stripping scope, and how to track the everyday inefficiencies that quietly kill your profit. Show Notes: 00:00 Hidden inefficienc…
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What I'd Do Differently If I Started My Business Today
35:26
35:26
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35:26
Tyler answers a listener email about what he'd do differently if he were starting his business today, beyond just setting up insurance, lawyers, and an LLC. He digs into why chasing "sexy" high-end projects can crush your margins, how T&M and paid pre-con changed his business, and why the less you work, the more you can actually make when your syst…
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383 Money, Anxiety, and Mental Health in the Trades
57:31
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This episode gets real about money stress, comparison, and the head noise that comes with trying to run a construction business and still show up at home. We talk through how we handle the dark season — from boundaries and better systems to finding people you can actually be honest with. Show Notes: 00:00 Intro, sponsors and setup 04:10 Why we are …
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Nick and Tyler sit down live at CCS in Chicago to walk through how they go from 100 inquiries to one real client and why risk is the number one reason people never build. They break down self-qualifying leads, budget reality checks, and using precon and VE to protect both your business and the homeowner before anyone signs. Show Notes: 00:00 Why cl…
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Tyler tears into the "stop buying lattes" take and runs the numbers that actually break buyers and clients. The squeeze lands on builders too - changing bids, quality, and what projects even pencil out. Show Notes: 00:00 The meme and why it's off 04:00 Life costs vs "coffee" costs 06:30 1981 starter home vs today's code & specs 07:25 Rates, prices,…
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The guys dig into the real split between self-performing and running a GC outfit and what actually moves a build when design runs headfirst into the schedule. From Bugatti-level brand lessons to field fixes (bracing, factory edges, install expectations), this one's about picking a lane and building like you mean it. Show Notes: Anderson Windows and…
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What I've Learned Since Buying the Excavator
39:44
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*]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto] supports-[content-visibility:auto]:[contain-intrinsic-size:auto_100lvh] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "061c6004-0d19-4251-9a07-dad8047d4476" data-testid= "conversation-turn-6" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant">…
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PDX Real Estate EP168: What the Fed's Rate Cut Really Means for Real Estate
1:01:38
1:01:38
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The Fed just lowered rates and the ripple effects are already hitting the housing market. In this episode of the Portland Real Estate Podcast, Steve Nassar and Joe Fistolo unpack what the latest rate cut really means for buyers, sellers, and everyone trying to read the tea leaves in a shifting economy. You'll hear why the 0.25% drop in the federal …
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Stop Pricing by Square Foot - You're losing so much money!
28:57
28:57
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28:57
Pricing by square foot is how budgets blow up. Tyler breaks down the real process—scope first, design up front, WAGs, SWAGs, and contingency noted so the numbers hold once you hit the job. Show Notes: 00:00 Understanding client priorities and personal update 01:35 Consulting call and estimating process 02:54 Client communication and zoning variance…
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The guys get into the messy reality of pricing—no templates, no magic—just expectations, scope, and the triangle of quality, budget, and time. We cover scope gaps, site protection, and how pre-con (plus a little AI) de-risks the job so your estimate actually matches how the work gets built. Show Notes: 00:00:00 Intro & our awesome sponsors 00:05:22…
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Tyler lays out why he still self-performs—from demo and drainage to framing and trim—and where he draws the line with subs, risk, and bandwidth. We get into scaling by margin instead of volume, keeping quality tight when you're the one on the tools, and how to make a good living without taking the belt off. Show Notes: 00:00 Keep the belt on and ma…
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379 Stop Overbuilding What You Can't Maintain
1:03:35
1:03:35
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From airtight envelopes to oversized HVAC, the guys unpack the sexy internet details versus what actually survives install and warranty. They get into service cavities, exterior insulation, window boxes, and why simplifying details, coordinating early, and charging to manage risk keeps you out of trouble. Show Notes: 00:00 Perfection Doesn't Scale …
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Why "No" is a Magic Word (and why you should say it more)
29:01
29:01
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29:01
Dependability is the quiet backbone of every project—show up, follow through, communicate. Tyler breaks down how to be the person no one has to chase: say "no" to protect your best "yes," model reliability for your crew, build simple systems, and rebuild trust when you drop the ball. Show Notes: Dependability in Leadership and Business (0:00) Contr…
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