She joined forces with Edsel Charles, a Nashville resident who had been doing residential construction research in Nashville, Indianapolis, St. Louis and other cities for 10 years. He had a whole system, and he was actually looking for somebody to do the same kind of work he was doing in Minneapolis, Hardle said. I said, Here I am. Residential Research Services collects residential building data including new plats, building permits and subdivision information from nine metro area counties. Every municipality and building inspection office that issues permits is contacted.
Researchers also use planning commission and city council minutes and county courthouse records.
We collect permit data from all the different cities and townships and people who give out permits, Hardle said. And then we actually get in our cars and drive around and look at every subdivision where they re selling lots. Residential Research Services publishes subdivision reports, which include building permit data, in April, August and December. Additional permit data is available in February, June and October. Discounts are available to members of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities.