Running a small construction business is no joke—so let’s not waste time.

Here’s what’s coming your way this week:

🚧 Article this week: Understanding Project Management Styles in Construction

🚧 3 curated articles this week, Living in Malls, Mortgage Rates for 2025, and Housing Market articles are on the block today.

Get the knowledge you need, stay informed, and enjoy the ride.
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Project management in construction isn’t just about timelines and tasks—it’s about finding the best way to deliver high-quality results while keeping clients happy, trades aligned, and budgets in check. Over the years, I’ve worked on everything from luxury custom homes to large commercial builds, and I’ve seen how the right (or wrong) management approach can make or break a project.

At Liebo Builders, as a custom home builder, we’ve settled on a hybrid approach—a blend of Critical Path Method (CPM) and Agile—paired with Buildertrend software. Weekly production meetings align the overall baseline, while daily on-site meetings keep us nimble, allowing us to adapt to real-time input from clients, architects, and owners’ reps.

But it wasn’t always this way. I’ve also worked in commercial construction with something pretty close to a Waterfall model. A more rigid system where everything had to happen in order: A wasn’t starting until Z was signed off, etc. It worked—most of the time—but there was little room for the unexpected, which anyone in construction knows is wishful thinking.

Let’s dive into four prominent project management styles—Agile, Lean, Waterfall, and Critical Path Method—to see how they play out in the real world.

Agile Management

Agile is about flexibility and fast adaptation. Projects are broken into smaller phases (often 1-2 weeks), with daily stand-ups keeping everyone on the same page. This approach thrives on communication and client collaboration.

Applications:

• Custom Homes: Clients change their minds. A lot. Agile allows you to pivot mid-project without throwing everything off schedule.

• Remodels: When you open a wall and find “surprises,” Agile helps you pivot quickly without losing momentum.

I’ll never forget a high-end remodel we did in Newport Beach. The client was deeply involved, and every decision required her approval. Using Agile principles, we broke the project into two-week chunks and held weekly meetings to review progress. One day, she decided after seeing the guest bathroom tiled in one color, that she wanted the guest bathroom tiled in a completely different color. That could’ve been a disaster in a traditional approach, but we made the change seamlessly without skipping a beat.

Lean Construction (LPS)

Lean, also called the Last Planner System (LPS), focuses on waste reduction and backward planning (pull planning). The goal? Streamline workflows so every step contributes directly to project goals.

Applications:

• Spec Homes: With repeatable designs, Lean eliminates unnecessary steps and optimizes productivity.

• Neighborhood Developments: Coordinating multiple trades on tight schedules benefits greatly from Lean’s efficiency.

Case Study:

A community build in Austin embraced Lean principles, using pull planning to coordinate 15 trades across 50 homes. By cutting waste and syncing schedules, they reduced rework and finished 10% under budget.

Traditional (Waterfall)

The Waterfall model is the old-school, linear approach: complete one phase before moving on to the next. It’s straightforward, but rigid. If something goes wrong mid-project, you’re either stuck or scrambling to adjust.

Applications:

• Commercial Projects, multi-family: When scope and plans are crystal clear, Waterfall delivers predictable results.

• Spec communities, Tract Homes: Repeatable processes mean you can rely on established timelines.

My Experience:

I’ve been a trade and a GC on various commercial jobs using the Waterfall model. I painted a 14-story office build-out with a Gantt chart as thick as a novel. It worked like clockwork until it didn’t. The delay pushed everything back months. I’ve also seen this executed flawlessly by a friend on a 40+ story high-rise in Downtown Los Angeles. When it works it works well. It goes without saying but the Project Manager is critical.

Critical Path Method (CPM)

CPM is all about identifying the sequence of tasks that absolutely must finish on time to avoid project delays. It’s ideal for complex builds with lots of moving parts.

Applications:

• Large Developments: Coordinating trades, materials, and dependencies.

• Infrastructure Projects: Managing multi-phase operations with tight timelines.

What Works for You?

There’s no “one-size-fits-all” in construction project management. Every job is different, and often, the best approach combines elements from multiple methods. At Liebo Builders, our hybrid model—Critical Path with an Agile twist—lets us tackle big-picture planning while staying flexible enough to respond to the inevitable curveballs.

The key is to understanding them so you can make the call.

Takeaways for Your Next Job:

• Agile: Great for client-facing work where change is constant.

• Lean: Perfect for repeatable processes or reducing inefficiencies.

• Waterfall: Best for straightforward, predictable projects.

• CPM: Essential for managing complex builds with tight interdependencies.

Your Turn: What’s your go-to project management style? Ever had to pivot mid-job and try a new approach? Share your war stories—We’d love to hear them!

Forecasts for US 30yr mortgage 6% in 2025

From The Article: The National Association of Realtors (NAR) forecasts that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage will average 6% in 2025, potentially revitalizing housing demand. They project 4.5 million existing home sales and a 2% increase in house prices, with a median price of $410,700.

Why It Matters: Stabilizing mortgage rates could reintroduce approximately 6.2 million households to the housing market, easing the current supply crunch and offering new opportunities for buyers and builders alike.

Keith’s Take: Let’s face it, housing affects all of us in one way or another. I've said for a long time that the sub-5% rates were artificially held down, and it would hurt us in the long run. The drop by 1pt will help, I think home sizes are going to have to get smaller to make any real dent in affordability.

👉 Full story here.

Top Housing Markets for 2025: 

Realtor.com forecasts that certain U.S. cities, particularly in the South and West, will experience significant home sales growth in 2025, with increases ranging from 13.5% to 27.1%, outpacing the national average of 1.5%.

Why It Matters: This trend highlights emerging opportunities in these regions, driven by factors such as affordability, new construction, and younger populations, which could be pivotal for stakeholders in the housing market.

Keith’s Take: The south, especially here in Florida has taken a hit on prices, but I suspect, as usual, no one will remember why in another month or two. They forget storms almost as fast as they come and go. It’s a very popular state for sun and taxes. Other southern states are attractive as well for cost of living, warmer weather and less taxes.

👉 Full story here.

More Americans are living in malls, as developers get creative to help ease the housing crisis:

Developers are transforming underutilized mall spaces into residential areas to address the U.S. housing shortage. As of January 2022, nearly 200 malls had plans to incorporate housing, with at least 33 completing such projects since the pandemic began. This trend not only alleviates housing deficits but also revitalizes shopping centers by increasing foot traffic to remaining retail and dining establishments.

Why It Matters: Repurposing vacant mall spaces into housing offers a creative solution to the housing crisis, providing affordable living options while rejuvenating declining retail areas.

Keith’s Take: Converting malls into residential spaces is a smart move, turning 'dead malls' into vibrant communities. It's a win-win: addressing housing shortages and breathing new life into these massive, underused properties.

👉 Full story here.

About Keith Bloemendaal
With over 36 years in construction, I’ve built businesses from scratch—some scaled to millions, others taught me the hard lessons. Now, I help contractors work smarter with practical strategies and tech solutions that save time, cut headaches, and boost profits.

When I’m not solving problems or testing new ideas, you’ll find me sharing stories and mentoring hardworking pros like you.

Connect with me:
𝕏 @ContractorKeith
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