Professional Builder (1993) articles from August 2007

Professional Builder (1993) archives from August 2007

Waiting in the Wings.
August 1, 2007... By Susan Bady, Senior Editor, Design What would you do if one of your key managers gave notice? With a succession plan and a process for developing future managers, you can ensure a positive outcome. Charlie Scott had been with The...

ProBuilder Product Report: Countertops and Surfaces.
August 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek CaesarStone Nick Bajzek Joining the company's large quartz surface collection are the mustard-inspired sandalwood, bedrock, eggplant-hued mulberry mist, pebble, nougat, raven and other styles from CaesarStone. The...

Are We Having Fun Yet?
August 1, 2007... By Paul Cardis, Avid Ratings Co. Why humor in the workplace can help remedy slow sales When was the last time you laughed at work? If it wasn't today, it could explain why your sales are not better than they are. Executives are...

Benchmark power.(online program for builders)(Editorial)
August 1, 2007... Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director We recently completed the site visits for the National Housing Quality Awards, which are based on the Malcolm Baldrige awards but specific to home builders. It's a program we co-sponsor with the NAHB...

Analyze Your Interviews.(interviewing for home-building industry)
August 1, 2007... By Rodney Hall, The Talon Group Know which facts to pay attention to - and which to disregard - during your next round of candidates. After more than 20 years in the search business, my partners and I feel as if we've seen and heard it...

Haven Properties.
August 1, 2007... President Mike Baptist, Atlanta Honeywell Mike Baptist The F300 Whole-House Electronic Air Cleaner by Honeywell removes up to 98 percent of airborne particles passing through the system. The system creates an electrical charge on...

A New Spin.
August 1, 2007... By Susan Bady, Senior Editor, Design Crafts, homework, hobbies and even your pet's bathtub find a place in today's laundry rooms. It wasn't long ago that the laundry room consisted of an alcove for the washer and dryer, a laundry tub...

Beyond Wait and Hope.
August 1, 2007... By John Rymer, New Home Knowledge Refocus your pitch and partner with real-estate agents to make the most of your time. Talk with most sales professionals today and the conversation sooner or later turns to the glory days of new home...

ProBuilder Product Report: New Products.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek Bosch Nick Bajzek Made for sawing through reinforced concrete, roofing tile, brick and masonry materials, the SpeedWave Diamond Blades from Bosch feature synthetic diamonds bonded directly to the blade core. A...

Foundation of a Business.
August 1, 2007... By Scott Shepherd, For PATH Partners Frost-protected shallow foundations can become a builder's standard practice. When home builders refer to comfort, they often mean a good HVAC system or a well-sealed building envelope - a...

ProBuilder Product Report: Paints, Caulks and Sealants.(Brief article)
August 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek UFloor Systems/UZIN Nick Bajzek Ideal for moisture-sensitive installations, the MK 100 from UFloor Systems is a solvent- and water-free adhesive for all types of wood flooring. According to the company, the adhesive...

Florida Fresh.
August 1, 2007... By Susan Bady, Senior Editor, Design Design flair, floor plan innovations and community amenities are a winning combination at University Groves. Like many housing markets across the United States, Sarasota, Fla., is soft. But Fidelity...

More Process, Less Voodoo.
August 1, 2007... By Scott Sedam, TrueNorth Development Listen up, builders: It's time to create a bulletproof building process to ward off customer problems. I frequently run into my neighbor John in the yard. Last evening, while watching the dogs...

Greetings from: The Happiest Place in the World.(company rankings)(Editorial)
August 1, 2007... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor What makes a good workplace? And why should you care? Maybe keeping afloat is all you feel you can focus on right now. Perhaps you think employees expect too much already: a decent salary, safety on the job...

CEO Spotlight: Tom Krobot: By the Book.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
August 1, 2007... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor It's funny how flashy, fast-growth styles of management fell out of favor when the housing slump hit. Those high-production concepts don't work so well when sales stop. Suddenly, a steady hand, conservative...

Opportunity Is Out There.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
August 1, 2007... Bill Lurz, Senior Editor, Business It's easy to get caught up in the doom-and-gloom psychology associated with the current housing market slide. We see the nasty numbers almost daily. But remember, there's a time lag between what happens...

Get 'Em Hooked.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
August 1, 2007... By Craig Guillot, Contributing Editor Hooking great sales employees can be a daunting task. Here's what sales professionals and hiring consultants say you need to know to keep them on the line. In today's world of job-hopping,...

What Makes A Great People Manager?(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
August 1, 2007... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor Hang on to your staff by considering the elements of a good manager. What's the key to making money in production home building? Ask that question of housing industry pros and responses are likely to center...

Getting Private.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
August 1, 2007... By Jody Kahn Kline, Michael P. Kahn and Associates The prediction: Look to private builders to lead the return to growth. The news about public home builders' financial results has been negative as of late. Some of you may be wondering...

A Better Barometer.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
August 1, 2007... By John Burns, John Burns Real Estate Consulting Existing-home sales reflect true market conditions. The existing home market, with its 87 percent market share, is a better barometer to monitor home buying activity than the new home...

Moves.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
August 1, 2007... Staff Orlando, Fla.-based giant Park Square Homes , ranked No. 73 in this year's Giant 400, has named Alan Wilson vice president of finance. He'll report directly to Park Square president Jim Bagley. The firm has 13 communities in the...

Is Your Management Team Able to Do Its Best?(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
August 1, 2007... Michael Dickens, CEO of BuildIQ Improve your workforce as the market comes back. Knowing where your business issues lie is important, but real improvement can only occur when you take the next step. Get your management team fully...

What are You Paid to Do?(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
August 1, 2007... By Rick Heaston, R.A. Heaston and Co. The answer can reveal a faulty sales agenda. Every once in a while I think back to an experience that taught me what the home building business is all about - what leaving a home and buying a new...

Markets Implode.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
August 1, 2007... Margot Crabtree, Trade Trends Even though consumer confidence numbers hit a six-year high at the close of our trading session ending July 31, that positive data and a brief rally was not enough to keep markets from plummeting. Wall...