Professional Builder (1993) articles from January 2007

Professional Builder (1993) archives from January 2007

Aim for Avid Buyers.
January 1, 2007... By Paul Cardis, NRS Corp. Your satisfied customers can be your biggest fans. As the home building industry becomes increasingly competitive, our attitude toward customer satisfaction will need to change. Whereas it used to be a major...

Job Seeker Strategies.(Column)
January 1, 2007... By Rodney Hall, The Talon Group Tried and true techniques for finding a new job We usually approach this column from the perspective of an employer. I'd like to focus this month's column on the job seeker because the fraternity of...

Safety in Numbers.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... By Erin Hallstrom-Erickson, Group Managing Editor Home builder develops safety program with OSHA. OSHA has earned a reputation for being the safety police, but don't let the nickname fool you. The group can also a good resource for...

Book It.(business literature)(Bibliography)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... By Sara Zailskas, Staff Writer Read up on these books speakers at Professional Builder's Benchmark conference say drive them to succeed: Life Coach Keith Harrell: The Magic of Thinking Big" by David Schwartz (Simon & Schuster)...

New Magic Bullet: Internet Selling.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor Some things never change, such as home builders' constant pursuit of a magical change in computer technology or management philosophy that will fix everything that ails their companies. "Most builders are...

Want to Build Defect-Free? This Book's For You.("Defect-Free Buildings: A Construction Manual for Quality Control and Conflict Resolution")(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2007... By Sara Zailskas, Staff Writer A leaky window whose weatherproofing failed. A balcony that slopes toward a house and causes water damage. An improperly nailed shear wall. They're just a few examples of construction defects that can wreak...

The Big Chill.(managing home sales)
January 1, 2007... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor Builders who forego discounts and maintain their brand identity are more likely to survive an icy housing market. The once-hot housing market has cooled considerably in the last several months....

Housing's Attic.(history of housing in United States)
January 1, 2007... By Paul Deffenbaugh Professional Builder just completed its 70th year of publication; we debuted in 1936 as Practical Builder . The staff has been digging through the archives, finding great stories and information about the housing...

70 Years of Housing.
January 1, 2007... By The Professional Builder Staff Seventy years ago, Professional Builder debuted as Practical Builder . The average cost of a new home was $3,925, and there were only 30 million existing homes in the U.S. Today, home buyers pay an...

1936-1945 Depression and War.
January 1, 2007... By Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director When Professional Builder was founded in 1936, the housing market was in a slump, along with the rest of the country's economy. From the heights of 1929, the home building market dropped 90 percent...

1946-1955 Driving Toward Profit.(housing developers)
January 1, 2007... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Pinched pennies during the war led to spending in the aftermath. Economic growth started one year prior and continued through to 1960, making the United States the world's richest country. The two major...

1956-1965 Baby Boom.(housing)
January 1, 2007... By Erin Hallstrom-Erickson, Group Managing Editor As soldiers made their way back home from World War II, the American family sprung into action. An increase in births from 1946 to 1964 created a population boom -- known as the Baby Boom....

1966-1975 A Revolution.(housing)
January 1, 2007... By Rhonda Jackson & Sara Zailskas, Staff Writers It was the sexual revolution, and the home building industry wasn't left untouched -- at least not if Practical Builder could help it. A 19-page feature in August 1967 called "Sex and...

1976-1985 Low Energy.(united states housing history)
January 1, 2007... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor Battered by an energy crisis, record inflation, and high interest rates, the housing industry came through this 10-year period bruised but not beaten. Baby boomers came of age in the '70s and '80s and...

1986-1995 Clearing the Fog.(home building history)
January 1, 2007... By Mark Jarasek, Senior Editor A deep-seated financial resource for home builders was uprooted like an oak tree in a Texas twister after the savings and loan industry was torn to shreds. The U.S. languished under the thunderstorm of a...

1996-2006 The Big Boom.(history of united states housing market)
January 1, 2007... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor The last 10 years were all good years for the American housing industry. The unprecedented national housing market expansion that began in 1993 ended abruptly in the fall of 2005, but that 12-year housing boom...

Rough Ride.(housing prospects)
January 1, 2007... By Matthew Power, Senior Contributing Editor Home builders are riding the wave of uncertainty while economists differ on housing's prospects for 2007 and beyond. For several months, Professional Builder has monitored the forecasts and...

ProBuilder Product Report: Flooring.
January 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek Preverco Nick Bajzek The Exotic Series of hardwood flooring from Preverco uses hardwood from areas of South America and Africa, including Brazilian Cherry/Jatoba, Santos/Cabreuva, Sapele and Tigerwood. The...

Jagoe Homes.(home appliances)
January 1, 2007... Scott Jagoe, Co-owner Owensboro, Ky. GE Appliances Scott Jagoe GE appliances, including the Monogram series of ovens, use the company's Precise Air Convection System fan that reverses direction for optimal air and heat...

A Great Wind is Blowing.(wind power)
January 1, 2007... By Glen Salas, PATH Partners Wind power can work for single-family homes. Wind power is the world's fastest-growing energy technology. Could it be too futuristic or too expensive for your clients? Because energy prices are volatile...

Floors Heat Up.(NuHeat's electronic radiant floor heating )
January 1, 2007... By Nick Bazjek, Products Editor NuHeat's electronic radiant floor heating technology offers an alternative to older systems. Warm air rises, cold air falls. That made heating a house from the floor up -- using radiant floor heating in...

ProBuilder Product Report: New Products.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek Grabber Nick Bajzek The ProGrabit decking screw designed specifically for all types of composite materials from Grabber uses the company's proprietary LOX drive system to deliver the maximum torque for fully...

ProBuilder Product Report: Structural.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek Dietrich Nick Bajzek The Contour Track from Dietrich is a framing solution for non-load bearing curves, bends, variable radii and arches for ceilings, walls and bulkheads. Made of the company's UltraSteel, it...

Sprawling Ideas.(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2007... Staff Shame on them I was looking for a product in some of my back issues of Professional Builder and stumbled across Scott Sedam's November 2005 "Sprawl or Nothing" column I missed the first time around. Our little community,...

Monetary Gains.(new home sales)
January 1, 2007... By John Rymer, New Home Knowledge The story behind financing and new-home sales Location, product and price have been the traditional key drivers of new home sales. Today, this trio of key drivers needs to welcome a new partner:...

Creature Comforts.(The Estates at the Preserve in Hampden Township)
January 1, 2007... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor The Blue Mountains' majesty surrounds one developer's well-appointed estate homes. The Estates at the Preserve's 25 estate homes are tucked into the natural topography of Hampden Township in Cumberland...

Web Site at Your Service.(Smith Family Homes)(home builders target women customers)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... By Mark Jarasek, Senior Editor Redesign for Smith Family Homes includes online concierge -- and she's doing her job well. An online concierge named Kim takes center screen when online visitors arrive at the Web site for Tampa,...

Healthy house -- and business.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... By Mark Jarasek, Senior Editor Differentiation is the name of the game for home builders looking to successfully compete in a crowded market. However, finding that elusive "thing" is the major challenge. The American Lung Association...

Across the Generations.
January 1, 2007... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor Show Village -- Professional Builder' s annual model home display at the International Builders' Show -- features real homes loaded with building products builders can use, all showcased in the show...

Carolina Charmer.(McCar Homes)
January 1, 2007... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor Fast-growing McCar Homes makes a bold statement in the Raleigh, N.C., move-up market with a brick colonial masterpiece. Aggressive Atlanta-based builder Keith McSwain knows how to coax Southerners into...

The Acid Test.(quality control in housing)
January 1, 2007... By Scott Sedam, TrueNorth Development What's the real deal in the customer satisfaction game? I once wrote about a client who described the state of quality and service in the industry and lamented, "It's just build 'em up, fix 'em up...

Path to Production.
January 1, 2007... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor Adding luxury-home production operations can help custom builders transition to their next business phase. The baby boom generation includes more than free-spending consumers: custom builders are in there as...

Curb Appeal.
January 1, 2007... By Rhonda Jackson, Staff Writer Beautiful design begins on the outside. Whether you work with an architect or create your own floor plans, adhering to good old-fashioned design principles never goes out of style. The key to winning...

Universal Acceptance.
January 1, 2007... By Ann Matesi, Contributing Editor For builders willing to leave their comfort zone, universal design can make life better for everyone. Inspired by an appliance manufacturer's display kitchen labeled "Universal Design" at an industry...

High Style.(Lochwood-Lozier Homes)
January 1, 2007... By Ann Matesi, Contributing Editor Spec-built beauty adds a modern twist to its Pacific Northwest setting. Cutting-edge technology meets high country living in this contemporary residence designed to appeal to metropolitan Seattle's...

Full-Value Business.
January 1, 2007... By Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director What's your end game? Do you plan to shutter your business and ride into the sunset? Sell to a willing buyer? Pass the company along to your children? Custom building allows you to create...

Dan DeJiacomo Custom Homes.(Dan DeJiacomo)
January 1, 2007... Dan DeJiacomo, President, Big Canoe, Ga. Jeld-Wen Clad-Wood Windows The Builders clad-wood windows from Jeld-Wen feature the company's AuraLast wood treatment and Low-E insulating glass in most common window sizes. Divided lite...

Products: What's New.(Grabber Construction Products's Composite Deck Screw)(Marley Engineered Products's In-Line Bath fans)(Mitsubishi Electric HVAC division's Mr. Slim P Series)
January 1, 2007... Staff Decks Don't Stand a Chance Staff The Composite Deck Screw from Grabber Construction Products is engineered to work with all types of composite deck materials where surface-mounted fasteners are used. The screws feature...

Products: Garage Doors.
January 1, 2007... Staff Clean and Contemporary Staff The Ponderosa Series vertical panel garage door from 1st UDT features a vertical embossment rise with clean lines and a deep wood grain texture in 23-gauge steel. The doors feature the...

Products: Lighting + Electrical.
January 1, 2007... Staff Hand-Blown to Blow You Away Staff W.A.C. Lighting's latest Fused Glass Pendants line includes the Quick Connect G530 Series in three contemporary colorations. The line connects to a low-voltage monorail system,...

Fiberglass opens doors for builders.
January 1, 2007... By Nick Bajzek, Products Editor More options mean diversity and a greater market share. As builders and consumers weigh the short-term versus long-term costs and as manufacturing techniques improve and distribution channels expand,...