Field notes
Short-form thinking on permit data, market intelligence for trades, and what we're learning while building this thing.
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May 10, 2026 · 6 min read
Finding roofing leads from new-construction permits
Most roofing contractors chase storm work and reroofs. New-construction is the third lane: predictable, addressable, and largely uncontested. Here's how to mine it with permit data.
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May 10, 2026 · 7 min read
HVAC contractor playbook: turning permit data into installs
HVAC has a longer outreach window than most trades — 4-8 weeks from permit pull. Here's how to systematize the new-construction install lane.
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May 10, 2026 · 6 min read
Concrete suppliers: landing builder accounts before they break ground
Concrete is a 30-minute trade with a 14-day decision window. Use permit data to be in the conversation before the slab pour gets scheduled.
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May 10, 2026 · 6 min read
How to find home builders pulling permits in your county
Practical guide to finding licensed home builders pulling new-construction permits in your county. What data to use, where to find it, and how to filter for the builders actually worth chasing.
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May 10, 2026 · 5 min read
Drive-time vs. radius: why your service-area map is wrong
A 10-mile radius and a 15-minute drive cover very different territory. Real Tampa example: 684 permits vs 59.
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May 10, 2026 · 7 min read
5 signs a builder is about to scale
The builders pulling 100+ permits this year were pulling 5 permits 18 months ago. Here are the 5 signals in public permit data that flag them before they're obvious.
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May 10, 2026 · 8 min read
Picking your next lumber yard location: a 7-step framework
Picking a lumber yard location is a 5-10 year bet. Use this 7-step framework backed by permit data, drive-time catchment, and builder density to make the call with numbers instead of gut feel.
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May 10, 2026 · 6 min read
Replacing $25k/yr vendor data with public records
Most LBM and trade-contractor sales intelligence comes from paid vendor feeds. Public records get you 80% of the signal at a fraction of the cost. The math and the playbook.
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May 10, 2026 · 5 min read
What is Census BPS data and why trade contractors should care
The US Census Bureau's Building Permits Survey is the authoritative source for new-construction permit activity in every US county. Here's what it tracks and why it matters.
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May 10, 2026 · 3 min read
Why we built PermitFocus
An LBM operator told us what they pay for vendor data. Then they told us what they actually use. The gap is what we're filling.