Builder articles from December 2000

Builder archives from December 2000

Decade of Opportunity.(housing construction)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The herd may lead you to a dead end in the coming decade. Builders need to use marketing tools to their advantage. THE DECADE OF THE '905 MAY BE REMEMBERED FOR a single demographic trend--affluent baby boomers fueling demand for trade-up...

BMAIL.
December 1, 2000... Big Builder Backlash AFTER READING "APOCALYPSE SOON" (September, page 75), I was moved to give you my take on home building. I have been in the residential construction industry for more than 30 years, working my way up from a laborer to...

Need to Improve.(house buying and the Internet)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Even the best real estate listing sites barely earn passing grades. WHILE TECH RESEARCH FIRM FORRESTER reports that a whopping 40 percent of ho me buyers hunt for housing on the Internet, don't fire your sales force yet. Research the...

Wish List.(Dell Computer Corp. survey)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... High-speed Internet access is an 'essential' or 'important" feature in the home, say 77 percent of those queried in a Dell Computer survey of 1,001 American PC users who access the Web at least once a week. In fact, such access outranked an...

Seeing Green.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Home buyers may be more receptive to green houses than builders think. What happens in the hotel industry frequently trickles down into housing, so building professionals will want to note the success of Best Inns & Suites "health-conscious...

Got Wood?(Bozell and Jacobs Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Bozell, the New York-based advertising firm that created the "Got Milk" campaign, has completed a set of TV and print ads that will promote wood building products nationwide and throughout Canada. The ads begin running in late January. The...

Coming to Terms.(Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC): A financial security that represents a beneficial interest in a trust having multiple classes of securities. The securities of each class entitle the investors to cash flows that are structured...

Tangled Web.(Internet usage)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... New research on international Internet usage presents a complex picture. An August survey by Media Matrix declared that U.S. Internet users spend more time online (13 hours per week) on average than Europeans. It noted that the French log the...

Seattle Touts Success.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... A case for controlled development? IS SMART GROWTH WORKING? IT MAY BE ACCORD-ing to a report issued by Seattle's King County on new-home building in the area. The report underscored the success of the county's growth plan enacted in 1994....

PUNCH LIST.(includes brief articles on housing-related news)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... BUILDERS editors pick the best, worst, and strangest ho using-related news. * LATIN EXPLOSION: A $2 million initiative is underway to increase Latin homeownership in the U.S. by Freddie Mac, La Raza, National Association of Hispanic Real...

New Partners.(ChanneLinx, ebuild)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... ebuild (www.ebuild.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hanley-Wood, the publisher of BUILDER, and ChanneLinx (www.channelinx.com) of Greenville, S.C., have formed a new strategic partnership. (Hanley-Wood has an invested interest in ChanneLinx.)...

A Lofty Proposition.(Proposition L in San Francisco, California)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Bay area loft battles continue. OPPONENTS OF LIVE/WORK LOFT DEVELOPments in downtown San Francisco thwarted a lawsuit attempting to remove an initiative called Proposition L from the November 7 ballot. The proposition would prevent...

Easement Does It.(Dublin, California, housing)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The clever "two-pack" helps builders create high density without the tight squeeze. BUILDERS ARE ALWAYS looking for creative ways to fit detached homes on small lots, but no buyer wants to sacrifice privacy garage space, or outdoor areas....

No-Growth Gets No Go.(in Arizona and Colorado)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... A major new precedent is established when voters resoundingly reject sweeping anti-growth initiatives. VOTERS IN ARIZONA AND COLORADO set a precedent by crushing two far-reaching growth management initiatives last month. The two failed...

Wall Street Wimps.(builders band together to promote stocks)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Home builders unite to interest investors in their stocks. Eleven of the nation's biggest home builders have decided that Wall Street's bull market bravura has bypassed building industry stocks for too long. When it comes to surging...

Dot-Com Despair.(construction dot.com finances)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... BuildNet, which captured national media attention when it raised $143 million in venture capital in 1999, is the most prominent home building-related dot-com to announce recently that it is laying off staff to save money. With few...

Picture This.(new digital camera made by Olimpus and Polaroid)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
December 1, 2000... OLYMPUS AND POLAROID HAVE TEAMED UP TO CREATE G-211 ZOOM, North America's first digital printing camera, according to the companies. In addition to capturing and storing digital images, the camera is designed to create instant prints anywhere,...

Log On.(Husky Half-Log Insulated Building System)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... THE HUSKY HALF-LOG INSULATED BUILDING SYSTEM Provides the look of logs, but in a more efficient, complete building system. The engineered wood composite siding combines a laminated wood veneer with a molded core of expanded polystyrene and an...

What's Cookin'.(gas oven)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2000... FEED AN ARMY AND THEN SOME. This 30-inch self-cleaning gas oven has a 5.1-cubic-foot cooking capacity--the largest in the industry, says the company. The oven features an extra-large viewing window, electronic controls, and a front simmer...

State of the Art.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... THE FOUR MODELS IN THE CRAFTSMAN SERIES OF ENTRY doors incorporate styles from the Arts and Crafts era, highlighted by square geometric forms, bold linear planes, and understated ornamentation. The doors feature extra-wide, 6-inch stiles and...

On the Level.(Compac levels)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... TOSS OUT YOUR BULKY, BENT LEVELS AND TRY THIS TOOL. THE Compac level's unique design allows it to expand up to twice its normal length without sacrificing accuracy; it retracts back to its original size for storage. Two models are offered: one...

Hold Your Horses.(sawhorse with rubber parts from ZAG)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... IF ONLY EVERYTHING ON THE JOBSITE WERE THIS FLEXIBLE. IN LESS than five seconds, the ZAG sawhorse set adjusts in both height and width--expanding from 30 inches up to 37 inches high and 29 inches up to 47 inches wide. The sawhorses feature...

Brand Your Business.(Michael Crews)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Nothing builds an image like a clear, focused message. WHEN CONSUMERS HEAR MICHAEL CREWS' name, they think single-story homes. That's successful branding. Over his 20 years in business, San Diego semi-custom builder Crews has gradually...

Get Personal.(Midland Builders provide personal items)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Give customers more than they bargained for. REFERRAL RATES SLIPPING? CONSIDER THIS APPROACH BY Midland Builders: On move-in day, Midland's buyers are delighted to find their favorite shampoo and perfume in the bathrooms, their favorite...

Think Negatively.(Country Classics quality control)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... For best performance, look at the operation's bad side. BROTHERS SCOTT AND TODD VAN CLEEF ARE HAVING THEIR busiest year since starting Country Classics 12 years ago. They'll close 75 semi-custom homes in and around Belle Mead, NJ., in 2000....

Mind Games.(Atlanta Live/Work 2001)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Techie bachelor city-savvy family, globetrotting couple -- the Atlanta Live/Work 200lproject aims for funky archetypes. "YOU WOULD LAUGH IF YOU knew how much the buyer profiles have changed since the beginning," says Tern Kemp, vice...

Hedge Your Bets.(landscape architects)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... GUEST ARCHITECT: ANNEMARIE HALL, THE COLLABORATIVE WEST SAN CLEMENTE, CALIF. Q: How can a landscape architect help a builder create an attractive neighborhood and increase its marketability? A: WHEN CONSULTED EARLY IN THE DESIGN AND...

Next Year.(housing start forecasts)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2000... Slowdown will be moderate, economists say. TO BORROW A SENTIMENT FROM someone who knew a thing or two about downturns, the only thing we have to fear is... forecasts that prove to be overly optimistic. But as of mid-November, key housing...

Cut Up.(fiber cement circular saws)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
December 1, 2000... As fiber cement siding grows in popularity manufacturers are working to make tools that can meet the demand. AFTER ONLY 11 YEARS IN THE UNITED States, fiber cement has become the third most popular siding material. Fiber cement captured 9...

Splish Splash.(Jacuzzi shower systems)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Shower systems packed with luxurious offerings are a relaxing option for home buyers. FROM MARBLE TILE TO WHIRLPOOL tubs to multiple sinks, home buyers are shelling out extra money to turn ordinary bathrooms into private sanctuaries. But...

Record Heights.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The U.S. Census Bureau substantially revises remodeling numbers higher. LIFE IS GOOD IN THE REMODELING industry. The U.S. government recently confirmed that residential remodeling, already one of the strongest segments of the overall...

The Big Squeeze.(land and housing costs)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Every builder knows that when supply falls and demand rises, prices go up--especially nowadays when it comes to land. According to the NAHB, costs for developed lots in some high-growth markets have increased from about 25 percent of the total...

Don't Squander the Surplus.(US budget surplus and the construction industry)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... What fiscal policy would best benefit home builders? THE FEDERAL BUDGET POSTED A record surplus of $237 billion for the fiscal year that ended on September 30. It's true that the Social Security trust fund contributed $150 billion in black...

Tapping China's Boom.(international home building conference)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... It's seldom too early to think about opportunities in other markets, even if they're nearly a year away. Next fall, the NAHB will focus on housing in China during its second international conference. World Focus on Housing-China will be held in...

Teaching Fire Safety.(fire safety practice house)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Practice house could save lives. IN A HOME FIRE, KNOWING HOW TO EXIT PROMPTly is vital; just a few seconds could make the difference between escaping or perishing. So the HBA of Greater Springfield, Mo., has built a special fire-safety...

The New Republic.(demographic trends affect home buying market)
December 1, 2000... Be prepared. The sands of demographic change are shifting under the industry's feet. Huge waves of boomers with cash to spend are hitting their mature years looking for move-down, move-over, and empty-nester housing where lifestyle drives the...

FANTASY ISLAND.(Sanibel Island builder Sandcastle Construction)
December 1, 2000... EVERY PARADISE HAS ITS HIDDEN COSTS, BUT THIS GULF COAST BUILDER FACES DOWN DIFFICULT CODES AND CONDITIONS WITH DELIBERATE, ORGANIZED CALEM. IF ANY PLACE IN FLORIDA STILL clings to the dream of the precontact "Lost World," it must be...

ALMOST HEAVEN.(Rancho Cielo Estates, California, housing development)
December 1, 2000... A divine new community in San Diego takes land planning and regional design to new heights. CIELO MEANS SKY OR HEAVEN IN SPANISH, AND when you gaze up at the cloud-dotted blue ceiling floating over San Diego year-round, it indeed feels...

Up to Speed.(wireless communication and the construction industry)
December 1, 2000... With the boom in wireless services, e-business providers aim to help builders save time and money. BY NOW, YOU'VE NO DOUBT HEARD THE FOLlowing scenario: A truckload of drywall pulls up to one of your homes. The project manager whips out...

Fully Loaded.(technology at Hall Development)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Technology permeates Wisconsin builder's business. JAMES HALL IS ONE BUILDER WHO HASN'T wasted any time using technology Only a three-year-old company, Wrightstown, Wis.-based Hall Development has integrated technology extensively in the...

Climate Control.(PlanetHVAC.com)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Planet HVAC.com hopes to be the B2B destination for everyone involved in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry. Its Web site has just fired up its second version; the primary added feature is a surplus exchange....

Telcom Rights.(for apartment tenants)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Apartment tenants don't usually have much say in choosing their utility providers. The Real Access Alliance, an organization that includes the NAHB, the National Association of Realtors, and other real estate interests, seeks to change that by...

Look Out Below!(bracing and anchoring television sets)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... It would seem that the primary concern of builders who install media centers in their new homes would be whether the components work. But the Consumer Electronics Association says that safety--especially pertaining to television tip-overs--is a...

Puzzle Solver.(BeAtHome's integrated home technology system)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... BeAtHome offers integrated system for multiple home technology functions. OVER THE YEARS, TECHNOLogy has made its way into American homes in a piecemeal fashion. Traditionally, a home might be equipped with a security system. Or, it might...

Tuff Stuff.(GETAC notebook computers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Rugged notebook computer takes extraordinary abuse in stride. AS TECHNOLOGY INCREASINGLY BECOMES part of builders' everyday activities, electronic devices are becoming more commonplace at the jobsite. But these devices are often better...

Daily Field Guide: A Logbook for Home Builders.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Daily Field Guide: A Logbook for Home Duilders by Tom Hrin provides superintendents with a guide to keep accurate records, to document what happened during the course of construction, and to schedule trade contractors and suppliers. The book is...

Residential Construction Performance Guidelines, 2nd edition.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Residential Construction Performance Guidelines, 2nd edition: The industry's most widely accepted reference on how homes should be built has been updated for the first time since its release in 1996. The book includes 240 guidelines in 12 major...

The Scopes of Work Program.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Scopes of Work Program by Linda Haas Davenport contains tools and procedures needed to standardize each step of the construction process, gain accountability from field personnel and trade contractors, control costs, increase sales, reduce...

"Ready to wear".(housing in Long Island)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Levittown, N.Y. IN LONG ISLAND FIELDS, HOUSES GREW AS POTATOES HAD: IN three years, 17,447 "ready to wear" homes. Tight and true; built for speed not looks. Second generation builder, William Levitt dreamed his "Island Trees" while in the...

SNAP TO IT.(shear)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Steelhead SS400 Snapper shear has a precision-machined, single-piece aluminum head that is 20 percent lighter and designed for smoother operation. It has a 5-amp, 120-volt motor and a sealed eccentric bearing that is strong and cool....

SHEAR ENERGY.(cement shears)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... This fiber cement shear, model 6604, has a 5.5-amp, 120-volt motor that delivers a variable speed range of 0 to 2,500 strokes per minute. The shears can cut fiber cement siding up to 5/16 inch.

CORDLESS CUTTER.(cement shears)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... This 14.4-volt fiber cement shear is one of two cordless shears offered by the company. The tool, model KB-391-K, is powered by a NiCad battery and delivers 2,300 SPM. It weighs 7 pounds and can cut fiber cement up to 3/8 inch thick.

ALL WET.(Apoge shower system)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Apoge shower system includes eight back massage jets, a foot massage system, and a molded seat and is offered with a choice of four spray, shower, and water control valve component packages. The shower measures 48 inches long by 48 inches...

CORNERED.(corner shower stall)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Pharo Shower Temple 100 is pre-plumbed and can be installed into the corner of most bathrooms. The unit features the company's Clubmaster showerhead, four bodysprays, a hand shower, and overhead halogen lighting. Also included is a built-in...

GREAT ESCAPE.(shower system)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The Rainforest corner shower system includes the Rainmax system, which collects water and drops it softly from a canopy above; a water dispersion system with 12 back jets, and a handheld shower; a steam generator; and a sound system. The unit...

SHOWER TOWER.(WaterHaven)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... WaterHaven features two arched, telescoping shower-heads and four body sprays that slide up and down the tower, providing comfort for users regardless of their height. A hand-held shower also is included. The system can be installed separately...