Professional Builder (1993) articles from March 2008

Professional Builder (1993) archives from March 2008

Need Customers? Go Guerrilla.(Home builders can lower their marketing costs by using guerrilla marketing tactics )
March 1, 2008... By Paul Cardis, Avid Ratings As builders vie for a piece of a shrinking pie, the old forms of marketing are less effective. It's time to adopt some guerrilla tactics. Nearly 25 years ago, Jay Conrad Levinson coined the term guerrilla...

Decked Out.(McFarland Cascade introduced DrySnap system )(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Staff Water Won't Cascade Here Staff If you're doing work on an elevated deck, consider installing this new drain system from McFarland Cascade. The DrySnap system is made of vinyl ceiling panels that collect and direct runoff way...

A New Future.(Editorial Director identified seven general areas to make a generational-style change in home building industry)(Editorial)
March 1, 2008... Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director Are the fundamentals of home building changing? The drivers might tell us. The housing industry is awash in the detritus of negative opinion. Builders complain about it constantly. We believe we can...

Do home builders have a dog in this race?(The 2008 Presidential election the candidates plan to do to address the concerns of home builders)
March 1, 2008... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor Here's Professional Builder's research on which party might benefit the home building industry the most. The 2008 Presidential election is breaking barriers. Both a woman and a black man are top...

Community Associations as a Friend (Not Foe).(Report)
March 1, 2008... By Mark Jarasek, Senior Editor, E-Media Builders with communities that have homeowner associations face unique challenges and risks. We offer best practices to set up an association that succeeds. Lifestyle: it's a buzzword tossed...

Going for Gold.(National Sales and Marketing Award and John Laing Homes winning 11 gold awards - the highest aware in the program)
March 1, 2008... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor The National Sales and Marketing Award is the ultimate pat on the back for the best work in new-home sales and marketing. Individual sales and marketing professionals; home builders and associates; and sales...

Model Homes Are Necessary. Or Are They?(Discussion on necessity of building model homes and staffing)(Discussion)
March 1, 2008... Moderated by Bill Lurz, Senior Editor, Business Online marketing expert Stan Kates debates with PB columnist John Rymer on the necessity of building model homes and staffing them with on-site sales agents. From the 1950s, production...

Will High-End Homes Lead the Recovery?(Statistical data)
March 1, 2008... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor, Business Late last year, California production builder Mick Pattinson of Barratt American Homes told us that in 2006, "We saw reluctance to buy at the top of the market, in homes priced above $1 million. But (in...

Anatomy of a Best Practice.(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Staff Everyone loves a best practice. Not everyone, however, knows how to develop one. Professional Builder , along with best practices guru Michael Dickens, take the guesswork out of the process and provide you with an outlet to share the...

Think About It.(Brief article)
March 1, 2008... Staff 250,000 That's how many people will opt to buy new housing in communities specifically built for people 55 or older, NAHB's 50+ Housing Council has found. 90% Will green get wild? A recent AIA poll revealed that 90...

Green on the Cheap.
March 1, 2008... By Kelly Cutchin, PATH Partners Labor and resource-efficient construction techniques allow you to stay in the black while going green. Builders who aren't selling to the mansion market can afford to build green homes. Many building...

Incentive to Change.
March 1, 2008... By John Rymer, New Home Knowledge Before you offer that next gift card to your real-estate agents, consider putting a few of these ideas in place. Real-estate agents are a major factor in getting more than your fair share of sales. Ask...

Crystal Clear.(Windows & Doors )
March 1, 2008... Staff Low-E Ogee You normally don't lump "historic" and "Low-E2" together, but Kolbe does just that with the Ogee Direct Set windows. The windows have 7/8-inch of insulated glass with an argon gas fill to give the historic-looking...

The Future of Workforce Housing.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
March 10, 2008... By Joel Shine, CityView Don't wait for the housing economy to change to think about workforce housing, says Joel Shine of CityView. The time is now. Affordable Housing Series Part I: A national perspective Part II: Planning...

An Uptick in the Market?(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)(Editorial)
March 10, 2008... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor, Business That's what one South Florida builder told Bill Lurz on his blog, Ear to the Ground. To test the theory that housing location is more important than ever before as the cost of gas continues to go...

The Housing Pendulum.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
March 10, 2008... By Michael P. Kahn, MPKA Consulting Use your money wisely to come out ahead when the market rebounds. There are very few surprises for us old home building warhorses who have been around for at least 20 years or more, and 2007 was no...

News & Moves.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)(Toll Brothers Inc. promoted Ken Thirtyacre to president)(ProBuild Holdings appointed Lonnie Bernardoni as senior vice president of manufacturing)
March 10, 2008... By Jennifer Powell, Staff Writer TOUSA , also known as Technical Olympic USA , is restructuring its equity and all of its unsecured debt. To implement the proposed restructuring, TOUSA filed for bankruptcy . The filing includes TOUSA...

Improve Your Number.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
March 10, 2008... By Tom Gebes, BuilderMT Reducing your cycle time can do wonders. Here's how one builder made it happen. We live in a world full of numbers. For most home builders, the number of dollars it costs you each day to be build a house is...

It Is A Great Time to Sell.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
March 24, 2008... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor It's mind over market for these sales stars who are closing deals and taking names. "This too shall pass" is the mantra builders are repeating as the home sales market finds its way back to health....

A Glad Hatter, Well Met.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
March 24, 2008... Staff Kinship with real-estate agents, buyers and colleagues takes him to the sales summit. If there were ever a customer Charlie Hatter didn't like, chances are they never knew it. "I've been recognized for my genuine friendships...

Sales Associate Takes A Bite Out Of CBIME.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
March 24, 2008... Staff This rookie worked to keep her neighborhood safe and sales coming. Soon after new buyers moved in, the neighborhood took a turn for the worst. Gang activity increased, graffiti appeared and homes were burglarized in broad...

Train and Conquer.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
March 24, 2008... Staff In the midst of sales staff cutbacks, she retooled and had a banner year. In the present sales environment, most builders are happy if they don't lose market share. Imagine how you'd feel if you actually gained market share last...

Dogged Determination Wins the Day.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
March 24, 2008... Staff Smarts and passion helped her realize dreams for clients, buyers and an award for herself. Susanne Day says a good marketing director is a dream actualizer. And not just for home buyers. "Our main client is not the outside...

The Perfect Storm of Sales Success.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
March 24, 2008... Staff Working together as a sales team isn't always easy. It can take a while to get the feel of each other's methods, rhythms and moods. And sometimes, no matter how long you are together or how hard you try, it never quite gels. ...

News & Moves.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
March 24, 2008... By Jennifer Powell, Staff Writer Taylor Morrison is the exclusive home building partner of Disneyland Resort's Innoventions Dream Home . The Dream Home is a modern-day successor to the park's original House of Tomorrow, which closed in...

Plug Water Intrusion Problems.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)(Interview)
March 24, 2008... By Michael Dickens, BuildIQ How to prevent home building's biggest warranty issue Water intrusion is the biggest warranty issue in the home building industry. Nearly all production home builders have water intrusion issues in their...

No Country for Public Builders.(SUPPLEMENT: GIANTS)
March 24, 2008... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor, Business Go private? Some publics are. Here's what Bill last said on his blog, Ear to the Ground. With apologies to the Oscar-winning Best Motion Picture of the Year, "No Country for Old Men," CEOs of the...