Peninsula Builders Exchange News

News has moved to digital distribution - Please sign up below for a email download screen sent to you each time we have something important;

Get Your News Online
You can have this monthly newsletter delivered to you by email. All you have to do is signup on our Construction Assistant (full of helpful things) website. Here is how you do it.

1) Go to www.ConstructionAssistant.com
2) Log in with your username and password
3) In the left hand column click on "View Employee Details"
4) A new screen appears. Again in the left hand column find "Subscribe to E-Mail Newsletter".
5) Click on it and you will automatically entered on the distribution list!

Its much more convenient to get the News by email and its sent in a format that lets you decide when to download it - so it doesn't tie up your email! If you are not sure how to get listed Call Tom or Carlos at 650-591-4486 and we will put you on the distribution.

PLANS ON LINE Need to get plans and bidders? Need to list your company as a bidder? www.ConstructionAssistant.com If you need your username and password call Tom at 650-591-4486 Monthly News We will continue to publish information on our news and events on a monthly basis. We are also adding an opt-in email version of the news in the next few weeks. Watch for more information on it!

If you need your username and password call Tom at 650-591-4486

Home Improvement Contract
The State has changed the requirements for home improvement contracts. Basically if you sign a contract in the home you have a whole bunch of special forms and requirements. Confused? Don't be - Thanks to attorney Jonathan Sweet we have the proper contract on our websites ready for you to download. Go to either of our sites and download the "No Fine Print" Home Improvement Contract.

Need a classroom?
Our classroom, complete with lots of media stuff is available for members to use for training or other purposes. There is a nominal fee for use. Please call the office at 650-591-4486 for details.

OnLine Search
Everything in the bulletin and many digital plans which are not in the bulletin are now on line - there is no need to wait a week to see what is in the plan room - and some of the plans you can now see on your computer screen. Go to our members only site www.ConstructionAsistant.com, log in with your user name and password and click on the project finder tab. "

Up to the minute list of everything in the plan room! "
Links to online, or on our server, downloads "
List your company as a bidder on projects you like "
Sort by project type / bid date / "
Search for all the projects you are a listed bidder on "
Search for; location / project type / name or part of name / location "
Special search for "modified since" "
Put your own project online and upload or link your digital plans

For members only so log in with your user name and password at www.ConstructionAssistant.com and click on the Project Finder tab If you have misplaced or forgotten your username and password give Tom a call at 650-591-4486.

New Homeowner Agreement The new form for contraction for home improvement is ready - State compliant with the 1/1/2006 revisions - Find it on our members only web site at: www.ConstructionAssistant.com Go to management tools, then forms and click on Homeowners Agreement. If you have lost or forgotten your username and password please call Tom at 650-591-4486.

Insurance for Construction What do you need and how much should it cost?? Insurance has become a major cost center and is important in maintaining a competitive edge in the industry. Understand what your policy really says and how to bid out and buy your coverage. This course is information you can not get anywhere else. Insurance for construction is offered this semester beginning March 7th - don't miss it!!! See Events Page

Custom IIPP Classes
Want to save $2000 and comply with the law and improve your company safety and (probably) also lower you worker's comp. costs over the coming years? Sounds to good to be true? Your Exchange and the other regional exchanges in our insurance group have gotten together and created specialized IIPP (Injury and Illness Prevention Programs) for General and Electrical contractors. You get the plan in print and on electronic media and a 3 hour course by expert Dale Thrasher on how to customize it for your company. There is a token "show up" charge of $25. Don't miss this one time only chance!

Office / Warehouse Combo For Lease
Great office warehouse combo space at the Exchange. with 24/7 access. Perfect for keeping the office and warehouse together in one spot. Right at the Exchange in a community of contractors. About 2000 sf of office space next to almost 1000 sf of warehouse with roll up door. Call Michelle Margiotta at Cornish & Carey, 650-358-5255 for more information. We also have great little full service offices complete with high speed internet, in our main building! Ask Michelle about those also!

Get $25 FREE!
I didn't believe this either and made them repeat it several times. Provident Credit Union is offering new Exchange Member accounts a free first deposit of $25. All you do is open an account and they put the first $25 in for you. All Exchange members and their employees are eligible for Provident Credit Union membership. They will have this special offer at the Health Insurance Open Enrollment on 2/9/2006 only.

Insurance Savings
It sounds like a contradiction of terms - But its true for many members of the Exchange. As a member you receive a 5% reduction in premium for ProBuilders Liability insurance. - Besides the membership saving ProBuilders is very competitive for some classifications. In the last 2 months 13 of your fellow members have saved $376,956 in premium by going with this program. Get a quote before you renew your current policy! Look for the full page chart of members savings and discounts elsewhere in this issue.

On Line Plans
We have links to on-line plans on both of our websites. Just follow the digital plans links. Downloadable plans may be a good way for you to take a quick look at the plans before ordering a set or visiting the plan room. Those of you with a plotter can print your own - and don't forget that we have a plotter in our plan room.

Need More Tools for Construction?
Everyone needs more tools. You can get some good management tools on the Exchange Website. These are "cheat sheet" style information pages covering everything from supervision to cash flow and worker's comp. management. There are several on safety topics. You can download them at our website www.ConstructionAssistant.Com or you can get really nice laminated copies in the Exchange lobby.

These are quick and to the point. The perfect tool to give to your employees or keep as a reference. The most popular on is Lien Laws, and they are free to members. Bright, colorful and full of information you should have the complete set in your office.

Got Legal Questions?
If you have a construction related question please phone or email it to us and we will send it to our attorneys for response in our "Legal Matters" column. Call Tom at 650-591-4486 or email support@constructionplans.org

Construction Spanish
The little Construction Spanish, Spanish / English , English / Spanish, Construction Dictionary is for sale. $4.95 each or 10 for $40. Form

Bulletin on Line
Don't forget your weekly bulletin goes up early at www.constructionassistant.com

Is Your Listing Updated?
Is your listing on the construction website up to date and does it accurately reflect what your company is and wants to do? Is your logo displayed? If you haven't gone and checked it out it probably has incomplete or inaccurate information. It's a simple, two step process:

First, go to www.ConstructionFinder.com and sort for your trade or license type. If the results aren't correct, or you don't come up at all then you need to go to step 2:

Your listing information is actually set up on our members only password website at www.ConstructionAssistant.com Log in and then click on your company to go to the company page. Once on the company page you can make sure team finder is activated and then click on edit company to go to the page which profiles your organization. You can also upload a .jpeg copy of your logo. Make changes and then click submit. Your changes will automatically be sent to www.ConstructionFinder.com If you have trouble with your username and password - or need to be talked through the process, give us a call at the office.

Web Sites
Your Exchange has a variety of web sites to serve you. Here is a breakdown of what each of them does:

www.constructionplans.org
Function:
Resource for construction industry.
Features:
On line forms, business information, safety information, Exchange events, industry information and more! Accessible to members and to the public

www.constructionfinder.com
Function:
On-line, searchable and sort able directory of contractors for the general public and project owners.
Features:
Displays your company in detail and allows you to show what you do best and provide a company resume. You update your information in construction assistant. Advertised to the industry and the public as a resource.

www.constructionassistant.com
Function:
On line management tools for contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and other industry participants. Exchange members only with a password required.

Features:
Has three distinct functions

Team Finder:
Create the public listing for your company
Find vendors

Training manager:
Stores training records
Notifies employee and manager of expiration
Lists training by employee
Lists trainers
Communicates with your customers and providers
On site verification
Training moves with employee
On line access from anywhere

Vendor Manager:
Find vendors on line
Build your own vendor book
Rate your vendors and write your experience
Retrieve ratings and history
Accessible from anywhere
Allows company wide use