The BLOG:

It’s time for a makeover… No, I’m not giving up the flannel shirts… but I have changed the name Nick Schiffer Podcast to NS Builders Podcast. Because even though I like to think the world revolves around me (my wife tells me daily I’m wrong about this…), this podcast is really about everything and everyone that makes NS Builders a success. And on this episode of NS Builders Podcast, Ken DeCost joins me as cohost as we plunge into a topic that I’ve discussed before, which usually prompts the question: “You spent how much on rework last year?!!”

Let’s jump right in…

It’s time for a makeover… No, I’m not giving up the flannel shirts… but I have changed the name Nick Schiffer Podcast to NS Builders Podcast. Because even though I like to think the world revolves around me (my wife tells me daily I’m wrong about this…), this podcast is really about everything and everyone that makes NS Builders a success. And on this episode of NS Builders Podcast, Ken DeCost joins me as cohost as we plunge into a topic that I’ve discussed before, which usually prompts the question: “You spent how much on rework last year?!!”

Let’s jump right in…

Lately, it feels like my life is an open book—it's almost a full-time job keeping up with posting new and engaging content and videos across all of the NS Builders social media platforms. (Seriously, Doug, I couldn't do this without your expert help.) Our viewers have questions ranging from how to take over a partially completed project to accurately estimating costs to—weirdly enough—what I'm wearing. Luckily, I'm not a shy guy and am happy to share life lessons I’ve learned.

In this episode of the Nick Schiffer Podcast, I address a great question regarding value engineering. And explain how I define this over-used and often abused term—it drives me nuts when people describe “value engineering” as simply “cutting costs.” If the focus is only on reducing costs, one might be tempted to cut corners and jeopardize the quality of the work or use inferior materials. And that, in my professional opinion, is NOT what value engineering is all about.

Welcome to episode 1 of the Nick Schiffer Podcast. I’ve got Mike Hume with me on this inaugural episode to tackle a great question pulled from a comment left on YouTube—“Do you guys like working together?”

Loaded question… here’s what we came up with.

I’m bringing in Ken to help me answer this loaded question from a viewer: As your company grows with more employees and equipment, how big is too big? Is it impossible to scale detail? This is a great question, and Ken and I are excited to share our perspective on how NS Builders has successfully met this unique challenge.