Builder articles from May 2002

Builder archives from May 2002

Tough questions: don't let the dot-bomb influence your thinking about developing a technology plan. It's a must. (Editor's Notes).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SPEND ON NEW TECHNOLOGY within your company? Do you have a plan for allocating capital among technology applications? Are you even aware of all the inexpensive technology options that exist? If you are like most...

BMail.
May 1, 2002... Inspiring Others RECEIVING THE HEARTHSTONE BUILDER Lifetime Community Service Award was a very special event in my life. As I said in an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, you don't work in your not-for-profit activities to...

Phase out! With the EPA announcing that it intends to close the door on CCA-treated wood in two or three years, alternative decking manufacturers maneuver to fill the void. (Pressure Treatment).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... DEPENDING ON WHOM YOU ASK, THE RECENTLY announced phase out of chromated copper arsenate (CCA)--treated wood is either the worst thing to hit the deck building business in 10 years, or the best. The clear winners: alternative decking material...

Code builders. (House Blend).(National Association of Home Builders enters formal agreement with International Code Council)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Since home builders will have to comply with the new International Residential Code (IRC), the NAHB wants to make sure they have a voice in its development. But while NAHB members comprised one-third of the committee that created the first...

Are you on the fast track? (House Blend).
May 1, 2002... If so, you many qualify for our listing of the country's fastest-growing builders. E-mail Loretta Williams for an entry form at lwilliam@hanley-wood.com and be considered for inclusion on our annual Fast Track list, You'll see the results in...

Housing hope. (House Blend).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Northern Virginia home buyers with imperfect credit or limited savings will be able to apply for financing to become first-time home buyers under a new Hope International home buying program. Announced Jan. 22 by U.S. Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.),...

Hang ups. (House Blend).
May 1, 2002... Do states "do-not-call" laws limit real estate marketing? Not in Texas, one of the 20 with "do-not-call" lists. Realtors received dispensation as "licensed professionals" under regulation by state agencies. Had Realtors been forced to comply...

Nix the network. (House Blend).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Networking with the local community is one of the most recommended ways to improve sales, most experts tell onsite sales reps. "But limit your time," says sales coach Bernice Ross, broker and president of realestate coach.com. "Networking is a...

It's another Tequila sunrise: Pulte makes Buenos Aires move just as Argentine economy collapses. (Foreign Forecasts).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... HAVING SURVIVED THE MEXICAN PESO DEVALuation and the subsequent "Tequila Crisis" when the Mexican economy collapsed in 1994, Pulte Corp., one of the largest American home builders, is not too concerned that its new Argentina adventure will...

Corn power. (House Blend).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Michigan may not have oil, but it does have corn and lots of it. Construction has begun on a $50 million plant in Caro, Mich., which will process corn into ethanol. The plant will be capable of turning 15 million bushels of corn into 40 million...

Heading back East: forget the desert; the retirement boom is in the Mid-Atlantic. (Growing Market).(builders Toll Brothers and K. Hovnanian expanding in region)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... THE TIDE IS TURNING ON THE ACTIVE ADULT market--to the East. The Mid-Atlantic is now competing with Florida sunshine and desert landscapes. Toll Brothers and K. Hovnanian are both investing aggressively in suburban Washington locations. K....

Suck it up: affordable central vacuums improve indoor air quality. (Cost Cutter).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... CENTRAL VACUUM SYSTEMS ARE AMONG THE best indoor air quality (IAQ) investments. Beam Industries recently introduced an affordable builder unit. A three-inlet system for a home as large as 2,400 square feet starts at $399. Turnkey with...

About face. (House Blend).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Builders often object to so-called anti-snob laws that require a minimum percentage of affordable housing units within a certain jurisdiction. In the town of Bolton, Mass., however, that rule is working in favor of developers. Town officials...

Building green. (House Blend).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... More than 100 home building companies have completed technical and design reviews for EarthCraft House, the green building program of Atlanta's HBA. EarthCraft has certified 500 new homes in the region. A new green multifamily community...

Messing with Texas: as Texas embarks on electric deregulation, some fear a California repeat. (Deregulation).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... TEXAS IS IMPLEMENTING A POWER DEREGULAtion plan that state officials claim will not cause the same rolling blackouts or political and economic chaos California suffered last summer after deregulating its electric utilities. Consumer...

TND goes to school: builder Construx of Illinois finds the magic mix of affordable, green, healthy, energy-efficient, and infill. (Infill Opportunity).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... MANY UNIVERSITIES HAVE LARGE LAND TRACTS that were once their rural agricultural campuses. Now these tracts have been surrounded by the local towns. College towns face the same affordable housing dilemmas as the rest of the nation. Thus, the...

Spanking Fannie: foes of big government have lined up to take a swipe at Fannie Mae, the government-sponsored enterprise that helped finance 100,000 affordable households last year. (Sour Grapes?).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... WHEN A RECENT WALL STREET Journal editorial titled "Fannie Mae Enron" suggested that Fannie Mae puts taxpayer money at risk, mortgage industry lobbying group FM Watch couldn't have agreed more. Underwritten by banking associations and lenders,...

Eco-terrorist pleads guilty: the face of eco-terror? He's 50 and lives next door. (The Straight Dope: The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth).(man pleads guilty to burning homes under construction)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Rather than bands of organized anarchists, the eco-terrorist can simply be the middle-aged white guy down the street. Mark Sands pleaded guilty to burning eight custom and luxury homes, after a friend taped his incriminating confession...

The big three? Online home auctions look like a growth business. But who will do the growing? (Inside Story).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... IN LATE 2000, IBIDGO (www.IBIDCO.COM) hosted the first-ever virtual home auction. By the end of 2001 it had sold more than 300 homes online and seemed to have a lock on the space. Its successes included a marketing agreement with Builder...

Groove thing. (Top Shelf).
May 1, 2002... YOU DON'T NEED A POP SONG TO GET YOUR GROOVE ON. Do IT with this bronze groover. The tool has a strong, durable one-piece composite handle, which makes maintenance easy. The bronze body is rust-resistant and will ensure crisp, sharp edges over...

Faucet flair. (Top Shelf).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2002... FOR HOME BUYERS WHO WANT A FAUCET WITH European flair, the Trevi lavatory spigot fits the bill. The solid brass unit has a contemporary design and comes in a widespread format or in a single-hole configuration. It has an optional riser for use...

Panel member. (Top Shelf).
May 1, 2002... BASEMENTS HAVE COME A LONG WAY FROM THEIR FORMER DAYS AS MUSTY storage for outdoor furniture and unpacked boxes. Now, Driflor joins the ranks of moisture-blocking products that keep underground spaces dry and warm. The 2-foot-square panels...

Line up. (Top Shelf).
May 1, 2002... WHEN THINGS ARE A LITTLE CROOKED, THE LASER LINE GENERATOR will set them straight. The lightweight, hand-held tool generates a line across flat or uneven surfaces, and, if the laser encounters an obstacle, the line continues past the...

April fresh. (Top Shelf).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2002... CLEAN INDOOR AIR TOPS THE CHARTS OF CONSUMER CONCERNS, AND NEW solutions abound, like the GuardianPlus whole house HEPA air system, which rids indoor air of allergens smaller than 0.3 microns and offers fresh air ventilation. The system also...

Quick fix. (Top Shelf).
May 1, 2002... IF TIME IS MONEY, SAVE BOTH WITH THE PROBLEM Solver quick-dry primer. This solvent-based product reduces drying time to a fraction of the time it takes other primers to dry, the manufacturer claims. It also solves extractive bleeding problems...

Downtown dream: decrepit public housing project is replaced with a beautiful new subdivision. (Urban Redevelopment).(Portsmouth, Virginia)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... THE OLD PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEX was decrepit, two-story barracks-style housing, which was mostly boarded up and abandoned. Called Ida Barbour, the nearly 50-year-old complex had a bad reputation that depressed housing values on surrounding...

Straight and narrow. (First Draft).
May 1, 2002... Q: How can I maintain the integrity of my new-home elevations on narrow lots and still include an attached garage? A: DUE TO RISING LAND COSTS, MANY PRODUCTION HOME BUILDERS ARE BEING FORCED TO DEVELOP HOUSES ON smaller lots than they have...

Jockeying for position: big builders go head-to-head in their "ride for first". (Ask Isaac).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... EXPERTS NOTE THAT WITH THE largest builders now approaching 30,000 units, it won't be long before public builders announce goals of delivering 50,000 homes. However, a quick review of projections for housing makes it clear that growth by...

In the zone: land-use policies, not land prices, determine housing affordability. (Vital Signs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... IT'S A PERENNIAL TOPIC IN THE HOME building industry. "Since I got here in 1984, builders have been talking about how they're spending more on land," says Michael Carliner, an economist at the NAHB. "But the ones that aren't spending more...

Industrial revolution. (Products).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2002... The Facets pendant is constructed of heavy aluminum with cast zinc alloys and is suitable for indoor or outdoor applications, The shade measures 11 1/2 or 14 inches in diameter, and the bullet diffuser is offered in clear or sating etched glass...

Mini modern. (Products).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Contemporary stem-hung mini pendants can be grouped in twos or threes to highlight an eat-in counter or a bar area. The fixture consists of an 8-inch etched glass cone with a 12-inch-diameter curved glass shade, and a brushed nickel stem....

Off the glass. (Products).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2002... The GlassGlass fixture features an Italian glass diffuser that is available in a range of shapes. The glass may be either frosted or transparent in white opal, blue, or yellow. The metal support ring, frame, and ceiling riser come in matte gray...

Pendant power: whether in color or stainless steel, homeowners can't get enough of this versatile lighting fixture. (Products).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... TIME WAS, PEOPLE DIDN'T ASK MUCH from their lighting--as long as it illuminated the dark, helped them find the mayo in the back of the refrigerator, or guided their shaky gait after a night of imbibing, they were happy. What more do you need...

Silver bullet. (Products).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2002... The Mini Corcovado's spun aluminum bullet-shaped housing measures 6 inches tall and 4 inches in diameter at the bottom opening. It has a clear glass lens and uses a 50-watt halogen lamp. Suspended from two metal cables, the fixture can be...

St. Tropez. (Products).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Tropez pendants have mouth-blown Murano glass and measure 10 inches long and 4 inches wide. The fixture is available in either line voltage incandescent or compact fluorescent lamping. Suspension is a standard 60 inches, but custom lengths are...

Marble magic. (Products).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Measuring 9 inches long and inches in diameter, the line voltage pendant is perfect above bars, islands, and counters. The marbleized glass is available in white blue, and green. A black or white cord set is available. W.A.C. Lighting....

Floor show: exotic flooring is itching to take center stage. (Products).(features of homes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE STAtus quo, you can continue to offer the usual flooring suspects in your homes. But if you want to shake things up, manufacturers are pushing new and not-so-new flooring materials that could increase the wow...

Coconut creation. (Products).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Made from 100 percent recycled coconut palm, DuraPalm is an extremely stable flooring that is harder than rock maple, the manufacturer says. It ranges in color from dark to medium red mahogany and comes in finished or unfinished...

Bamboo grove. (Products).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Harder than oak and more dimensionally stable than maple, environmentally friendly bamboo flooring is available in vertical grain or flat grain tongue-and-groove strips measuring almost 4-inches wide in lengths of 36, 48, and 74 inches. It can...

Lovely in leather. (Products).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The ultimate in luxury, Piel leather flooring is suitable in a family room, den, study, or bedroom. The tiles are made from thick water-resistant leather that has been coated with a sealer. Tiles are available in various sizes from 4-inch to...

'Ole timer. (Products).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Bunkhouse Plank flooring is reclaimed from outdoor applications so the wood may contain weathered cracks and knot holes. Available in American oak and southern yellow pine, each 3/4-inch. tongue-and-groove plank is available in standard widths...

Builder U. (NAHB Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The recently announced NAHB University of Housing is a one-stop shop for the NAHB's 205,000 members to learn about and sign up for all of the association's educational programs. NAHB president Gary Garczynski says that the advent of the...

Density matters. (NAHB Briefs).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Want opposition to development? Propose multifamily housing. The NAHB now has the research to debunk negative myths about multifamily (see "Multifamily Myths," page 94). "Multifamily development is a key smart growth strategy," says Andrew...

Builders' Guide Grows Smart: members-only guide helps builders understand and implement development changes. (From the President).(features of homes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... MERE DAYS AFTER THE CLOSE of the 2002 International Builders' Show (IBS), the American Planning Association (APA) released its long-awaited "Growing Smart Legislative Guidebook"--the first new set of guidelines for planning and growth in more...

Balance maintained: lending standards and capital rules saved lenders and builders from themselves. (Seiders Economy).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... THE RECENT ECONOMIC CYCLE WAS characterized by a massive inventory cycle in the manufacturing sector that helped drive the economy into recession and then helped kick-start the recovery that began early this year. In the past, large swings in...

Board feat. (NAHB Briefs).(lumber prices)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The NAHB opposes the Canadian lumber tariff because it boosts home prices, Each dollar increase in the price of 1,000 board feet of lumber adds about $20 to the price of an average new home. For smaller, less expensive homes built for low- and...

Habitat celebrates silver: five-house IBS blitz commemorates 25 years. (Home Builders Care Corner).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... DURING THE INTERNAtional Builders' Show, a number of builders, as part of Home Builders care and numerous other volunteers built five Habitat for Humanity homes. The Atlanta building blitz ran from Feb. 8 to 11. Pulte Homes and Centex...

Tapping boomers. (NAHB Briefs).(age group's housing expectations)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... The first boomers--3.2 million--turned 55 in 2001. In the next five years, 18 million more will turn 55. "The boomer generation has rewritten the book on housing," says Antonio Giordano Jr., chairman of the NAHB Seniors Housing Council and...

The National Housing Center: a reflection of Housing's importance and influene. (Special Advertising Section).(features of homes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... With the completion of a two-year $30 million expansion and renovation of the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C., the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has a new home for the new millennium. "Since 1974, when we moved into...

Small charm. (Hot Sellers).(features of homes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Monterey Residence One, Westcott at Ladera Ranch, Calif. WHY IT WORKED: Small, reasonably priced homes in southern Orange County, Calif., marketed to first-time and move-up buyers. * Located in an II-acre village within the Orange...

Italian art. (Hot Sellers).(features of homes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... DaVinci at Southern Highlands Golf Club, Las Vegas WHY IT WORKED: Empty-nesters and frequent entertainers love DaVinci's generous zones for party space, and its flexible indoor/outdoor spaces. * Large, move-up luxury home for Las Vegas...

Better bungalow. (Hot Sellers).(features of homes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Courtyard Bungalow at Highland Lake, Flat Rock, N.C. WHY IT WORKED: Craftsman charm and livable community plan brought buyers to North Carolina's mountain region. * Community-oriented master plan includes resort retreat center and...

Double take: things are not always as they appear in the quaint world of the TND. There's room for innovation as the precious makes way for the modern.(features of homes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... AT FIRST GLANCE, THE CRISP, WHITE 3,040-square-foot farmhouse looks right at home in Harbor Town, Memphis, Tenn.'s well-known TND. But look a little closer, take a peek inside or around back, as most neighbors do, and another facet of its...

Endangered species? Consolidation tests the survival skills of the large midsize builder.
May 1, 2002... LIST RESEARCH BY LORETTA WILLIAMS JOHN WIELAND HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. Choice Homes. David Weekley Homes. Do they belong to a dying breed? As mergers and acquisitions swallow builders as large as active adult leader Del Webb and as...

Builder 100.(table)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... BUILDER 100 RANK COMPANY/CEO ADDRESS ('00 rank) 1 CENTEX CORP. (p) 2728 N. Harwood, (4) Laurence E. Hirsch Dallas, Texas 75201 ...

The power of strong brands makes Domco Tarkett a perfect builder 100 supplier. (Congratulates the Builder 100: Special Advertising Section).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Domco Tarkett, Inc. is the second largest North American manufacturer of hard-surface flooring products in the residential and commercial markets. With 10 manufacturing facilities and extensive distribution networks that serve the United States...

Top builders know a Therma-Tru door helps increase profits. (Congratulates the Builder 100: Special advertising section).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Every year, builders make the American dream come true for millions of homebuyers. True craftsmen in every sense of the word, they've built their businesses on old-fashioned values: Quality work. Attention to detail. Personal service. ...

The 2001 alphabetical listing. (Builder 100).(features of homes)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... The 2001 Alphabetical Listing COMPANY RANK WEBSITE ALH HOLDINGS 44 AMERICAN HERITAGE HOMES 76 ahhomes.com AMERICAN WEST HOMES 26...

The 2001 gross revenue ranking. (Builder 100).(features of homes)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... The 2001 Gross Revenue Ranking RANK COMPANY GROSS REVENUE (*) 1 CENTEX CORP. $7,757 2 LENNAR CORP. $6,029...

The 2001 next 100. (Builder 100).(features of homes)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... The 2001 Next 100 RANK COMPANY U.S. GROSS CLOSINGS REVENUE (*) 101 DURA BUILDERS 600 $83 102 SEENO HOMES ...

Strength in systems: building systems technologies--projected to represent one-third of all housing units by 2005--NIPS at site builders' heels. (Builder 100).
May 1, 2002... INDOOR HOME CONSTRUCTION. Sys-stems built. Off-site construction. There's no dearth of names for the sector of the housing industry that cranks homes off precision assembly lines. But names aside, building systems technologies--modular,...

2001 top 25 manufactured home buliders. (Builder 100).(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... 2001 Top 25 Manufactured Home Buliders RANK COMPANY/CEO ADDRESS/PHONE 1 CHAMPION ENTERPRISES (*) 2701 Cambridge Ct., Suite 300 Walter R. Young Auburn Hills, Mich, 48326 ...

2001 top 30 modular/whole-house panel builders. (Builder 100).(Directory)
May 1, 2002... 2001 Top 30 Modular/Whole-House Panel Builders RANK COMPANY/CEO ADDRESS/PHONE 1 COACHMEN HOUSING AND 2831 Dexter Dr., Elkhart, Inc. BUILDINGS SYSTEMS GROUP 46515 John T. Trant...

Build a competitive tech plan: define your objective.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Make no mistake, savvy builders have seized on technology to create operational advantage in the marketplace. They have capitalized on widely available and home-grown tech tools to increase sales, lower operating costs, and raise profit margins...

Trading places: ripples from last year's recession have luxury and affordable multifamily builders exchanging positions as top producers. (Builder 100).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... STRANGE THINGS HAPPENED IN THE multifamily sector in 2001. Texas-based JPI, former king of the luxury multifamily builders, produced fewer than half the units it did in 2000. Over the same period, Regency Development, a builder of affordable...

The 2001 top 50 multifamily rental builders. (Builder 100).(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... The 2001 Top 50 Multifamily Rental Builders RANK COMPANY/CEO ADDRESS/PHONE ('00 rank) 1 TRAMMELL CROW 2859 Paces Ferry Rd, RESIDENTIAL Suite 1100 (3) J.Ronald...

Innovative insight to your future site! (Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The subdivision plan has been accepted. The water and sewer are ready to go... and the roads are just about completed in Phase-One. Plans are being finalized for the entrance monument in your newest community. You're ready to start selling. ...

Local leaders: the top 10 builders in the top 50 markets across the country.(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2002... LAST YEAR WAS A GOOD YEAR for builders in the country's top 50 metropolitan areas. As they did in 2000, builders in these markets took home more than half the total number of single-family permits issued, accounting for 634,899 such permits in...

Mold: pull on your sterile cloves, adjust your respirator, and take cover behind your legal counsel. It's time to do battle with the building industry's equivalent of the black plague... (Special How-To Feature).
May 1, 2002... RUMORS OF THREATS TO human health tend to come and go. Remember when Legionnaires' disease stole the headlines? Then, doomsayers predicted that the ebola virus would depopulate the world (at a time when AIDS was doing just that). The anthrax...

Comfort. quality. trust. (2001 Builder's Choice: Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... I Perhaps one of the most crucial components to the success of a new home is its level-of comfort. Of course you want the facade to create a good first impression. You want the rooms to feel spacious. You want the windows to bathe the rooms...

Goodman builder program-a formula for success. (2001 Builder's Choice: Special Advertising Section).(Goodman Manufacturing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Based on the reception of our no nonsense approach to partnering with builders, Goodman has found a home in RNC. We now do business with twenty-four of the largest twenty-five builders in the U.S. Thirty-nine of the top fifty. And sixty-three...

It's the interface: why aren't handhelds catching on? The answer may surprise you. (Builder Tech).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... MANY BUILDERS BELIEVE THAT METTING field supervisors access scheduling and project management data via wireless handhelds will make them more efficient. So why has wireless been slow to catch on? In past issues, BUILDER has identified the main...

Marriage of convenience: two dot-coms join forces--at least in part. (Builder Tech).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... CO-OPETITION IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN two business competitors become allies on one front while continuing to compete on others. That was the case when Denver-based J.D. Edwards & Co. (JDE) announced its intention in February to partner with MH2...

Nimby buster. (Builder Tech).(new clearinghouse of local building regulations will help builders avoid 'not in my back yard' opposition to affordable housing projects)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... It's no secret that local regulations often discourage the growth of affordable housing. But HUD plans to use the Internet to help builders overcome such barriers. The department hopes to launch an online Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse...

All in one. (Builder Tech).(household control panel)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The VIP (www.vipbutler.com) may qualify as a real appliance--something that actually makes life easier. The wall-mounted Web pad has an intuitive, touch-screen interface that includes an on-screen keyboard and lets users go online or easily...

Lead booster. (Builder Tech).(HomeBuilder.com to act as reseller for Builder Homesite Consortium)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... In a move they hope will increase online leads, HomeBuilder.com and the Builder Homesite Consortium have entered a multi-year agreement under which HomeBuilder will act as reseller for the Consortium's property listings. The goal is to...

Inside the box: a new CRM solution offers some unique twists. (Builder Tech).(customer relationship management)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... HOME BUILDERS ARE A RIPE MARKET FOR CUSTOMER relationship management (CRM) software. Builder 1440 launched a builder-specific CRM solution in 2001, and Click2Community plans to do the same later this year. Now the Palatine, Ill.-based Infinite...

What if: drawing program makes concept sketches a snap. (Presentation Software).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... SKETCHUP IS A GREAT TOOL FOR builders who want to explore designs with clients without having to have a full-fledged CAD program. It takes just a few minutes to get comfortable creating the kind of quick, exploratory design sketches that one...

Stairs molding and millwork. (Special Advertising Section).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Whether you are building production or custom homes, you can make some pretty big statements with small details. Finely crafted stairs, molding and millwork give you the opportunity to add the right accents and finishing touches to a room,...

Clear winner. (Tech Gear).(Crestron offers touch panel control system for home security, DVD control, etc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... TOUCH PANEL SCREENS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF MANY HOME systems, but like any screen, clarity can vary with the light in the room. For homes with a Crestron system, the TPS-2000L Compact Video Touchpanel addresses this problem with a built-in...

Mission control. (Tech Gear).(Home Automation offers home control system)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... HOME CONTROL SYSTEMS ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE SOPHISTICATED. THE new OmniPro II includes control for lighting, HVAC, and UL-listed security. Like a growing number of home control systems, it can be remotely controlled via the Internet. Three...

Tabula Rasa. (Tech Gear).(Amana offers refrigerator with electronic voice message pad)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... MANUFACTURERS SEEM TO VIEW THE PRO-saic refrigerator door as a blank slate. And they're determined to put their digital signature on it. Two years ago, a number of companies floated the idea of embedding a Web pad in the door so that the...

The systems sub: how to work with a home electronics systems installer.
May 1, 2002... CUSTOM ELECTRONICS DESIGNER Charles Apostolos is making his first house call of the day, a I60-mile round-trip from his office in Woburn, Mass., to Keene, N.H., to see a potential client. The place isn't hard to spot- it's a neat, two-story...

Take my hand: CRM software can help you get and keep customers. (Inner Workings).(customer relationship management software can help home builders)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... BUYING A HOME IS A BIG DEAL FOR MOST people. That's why a little personal attention at the right time can win a customer's loyalty. It's also why unanswered e-mails or unattentive staff can quickly drive them to the competition. Sales...