Professional Builder (1993) articles from November 2006

Professional Builder (1993) archives from November 2006

Best in Class Winners Give Builders What They Need.(Professional Builder's 2006 Best in Class Survey)
November 1, 2006... By Nick Bajzek, Products Editor Quality, customer service and a good warranty rank most important with builders. Professional Builder's 2006 Best in Class Survey covers a wide swath of the home building industry, from toilets to...

Web Update.(Professional Builder enhances website)
November 1, 2006... By Paul Deffenbaugh There are basic assumptions about our readers we make here at Professional Builder . You're busy and don't have time to wade through a lot of crap. You want information that has been tested in the real world of...

Ray Tonjes Builder Inc.(building materials)
November 1, 2006... Ray Tonjes, President, Austin, Texas TruStile Interior doors Ray Tonjes www.trustile.com All TruStile panel doors come in paint-grade MDF, 12 different finishes as well as any TruClad metal finishes. Buyers choose styles from...

Mail Call!(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... By Scott Sedam, TrueNorth Development You don't have to be a loser in the race to control costs. Imagine you own a fairly large framing business. You run 20 crews and work hard to price fairly, maintain quality standards and stay on...

This Land is Your Land...(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2006... Paul Deffenbaugh Immigration Debate Continues Scott Sedam gives some good arguments in his assessment of the immigration problem vis-a-vis our industry. However, the fact remains that they are here illegally, and when we, as business...

Navigating Contingencies.(home selling and sales management methods)
November 1, 2006... By John Rymer, New Home Knowledge Tips for dealing with customers with homes to sell It has been more than seven years since we last had a buyers market for resale homes, so it is not surprising that many new-home sales professionals...

Simply the best.(The Green Company )(Mayberry Homes)(Mattamy Homes)(Farnsworth Development)(Pulte Homes)(Del Webb Communities)(Shea Homes)
November 1, 2006... By Paul Cardis, NRS. Corp. with Additional Reporting by the NRS Team Satisfied customers are the lifeblood of every home builder. NRS reports its annual Customer Satisfaction Awards Without happy home buyers, referrals dry up along...

The Green Company.(Company overview)
November 1, 2006... By Paul Cardis, NRS. Corp. with Additional Reporting by the NRS Team At The Green Company, 97.5 percent of customers would recommend it to others and 55 percent of the company's actual sales come from buyer referrals, thanks to a unique...

Mattamy Homes -- Halton Division.(2006 NRS Award)(Company overview)
November 1, 2006... By Paul Cardis, NRS. Corp. with Additional Reporting by the NRS Team Mattamy Homes has invested time and resources trying to empower its employees to deliver outstanding customer service -- not an easy task for an organization that builds...

Mayberry Homes.(2006 NRS Award)(Company overview)
November 1, 2006... By Paul Cardis, NRS. Corp. with Additional Reporting by the NRS Team Bob and Karen Schroeder, owners of Mayberry Homes in Lansing, Mich., have only been in business since 2002, yet they have garnered more awards for customer satisfaction...

Del Webb Communities and Pulte Homes -- Phoenix Division.(Company overview)
November 1, 2006... By Paul Cardis, NRS. Corp. with Additional Reporting by the NRS Team With a presence in 54 markets throughout the U.S., Pulte is the largest home builder in North America. In Arizona alone the company operates four divisions: one in Tucson...

Farnsworth Development.(2006 NRS Award )(Company overview)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... By Paul Cardis, NRS. Corp. with Additional Reporting by the NRS Team Farnsworth Development has truly set itself apart as a company that uses customer service to thrive in a hyper-sensitive market. With about 10,000 homes to its credit,...

Shea Homes.(J.F. Shea Company Inc's Shea Homes)(2006 NRS Award)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... By Paul Cardis, NRS. Corp. with Additional Reporting by the NRS Team Shea Homes ranks number four on the list of top performing builders in the Phoenix market. Shea builds homes in a variety of price points, ranging from $200,000...

T.W. Lewis.(2006 NRS Award )(Company overview)
November 1, 2006... By Paul Cardis, NRS. Corp. with Additional Reporting by the NRS Team T.W. Lewis' excellent customer loyalty ranking helps make it No. 3 out of 41 on the list of top performing builders in the Phoenix market as a higher-end luxury...

Strong, Silent Types.(using insulating concrete forms, and structural insulated panels in construction)
November 1, 2006... By Kate Fried and Scott Shepherd, PATH Partners Alternative construction technologies gain momentum over popular standbys. Builders can tackle problems with skilled labor and climbing energy bills at the same time by considering using...

Home Technology.(On-Q/Legrand offers multi-source audio systems )(LiteTouch offers new room controller )(Open House offers H650 Integrated Voice Network telephone system )
November 1, 2006... By Nick Bajzek Ditek Nick Bajzek The HD2 120/240 volt single-phase whole-house surge protection from Ditek filters out electromagnetic and radio interference. This device is hard-wired to a 120/240 volt power panel that...

Trendy Incentive Plans.(marketing strategies)
November 1, 2006... By Laura Butalla, Senior Editor As the market slows, builders get creative with incentives for Realtors and buyers. The slowing housing market has created new incentives for home builders to boost sales, and builders are finding...

KB Home Opens First New Orleans Model.
November 1, 2006... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor Just two weeks after Hurricane Katrina's first anniversary, KB Home takes a step toward fulfilling Bruce Karatz's promise to rebuild the city. The model home opened Sept. 16 at KB's River Garden community...

Perfect (Green) Match.(VerdeEnergy.com offers information for energy-efficient contractors)(United States Department of Energy launches Rescheck 101 software)
November 1, 2006... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor New online service pairs users with energy-efficient contractors Green builders, have we got a match for you. VerdeEnergy.com -- a free online Web site -- has been matching pre-screened green...

Plan to Vacation, Stay to Live.(Carl M. Freeman Communities plans waterfront development)
November 1, 2006... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor Bayside offers mid-Atlantic urbanites a getaway before and after retirement. The Delmarva Peninsula around Delaware, Maryland and Virginia has been a vacation and second-home destination for years, and...

Have It Your Way.(Wilshire Homes' marketing strategy)
November 1, 2006... By Bill Lurz, Senior Editor Texas Giant Wilshire Homes uses Burger King's customization strategy to sell houses. You're looking at the 3,315 square-foot Gunnison, Wilshire Homes' new model home at Belterra, a 1,400-home master planned...

2006 Best In Class Survey.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)
November 1, 2006... By Nick Bajzek, Products Editor Quality takes the top pickwith custom builders nationwide. What keeps a builder coming back isn't necessarily the bottom line price or a well-known name. The 2006 Best in Class survey conducted by the...

The Marriage that Works.(TDB Construction )(Tom DiBenedetto)(Mueller Homes )
November 1, 2006... By Matthew Power, Senior Contributing Editor What makes one custom builder's expansion into remodeling work profitably, while another goes belly up? Expectations, budgeting and the will to make it work can make or break builders in a bind....

When Visions Collide.
November 1, 2006... By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor When custom builders and architects don't agree, the results can be explosive. But when there's synergy, a partnership can be a beautiful thing. The synthesis between architects and custom builders is...

Where the Fire Is.(fireplace trends)
November 1, 2006... By Marcia Jedd, Contributing Editor An update on fireplace trends More custom builders are giving the nod to gas-fueled and propane fireplaces (in rural settings) over masonry, wood-burning fireplaces. The fireplaces' popularity comes...

A Healthier Home.(Frank Laskey)(Capital Construction)(Michael Phinney )
November 1, 2006... By Ann Matesi, Contributing Editor Upstate New York Shaker-Adirondack spec home promotes going green while capitalizing on an area known for health benefits. East Coast urbanites once flocked to Saratoga Springs for the promised...

Inner Beauty.(Castleworks)(Contemporary Mediterranean luxury homes)
November 1, 2006... By Ann Matesi, Contributing Editor Natural materials and Asian influences transform this master suite into a personal sanctuary. At this spec-built luxury residence in Windermere, Fla., double doors open to reveal the Zen-inspired...

The Ultimate Toolbox.
November 1, 2006... By Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director So much of home building has become about the land, the design and the business that we seem to have lost contact with the element of craftsmanship that defines custom. Without the craft, there is no...

Black Diamond Builders.(SUPPLEMENT: Custom Builder)
November 1, 2006... William H. Novak Jr., President, Atlanta Delta Faucet Co. www.deltafaucet.com Delta Faucet Co.'s Ellington Bath Series features a fresh, high-arc, tubular design. Ellington offers a larger spout and hub to add an elegant focal...

Products.(Sierra Vista)(Toney Traditional)(Super Cabinet)
November 1, 2006... Staff New Finishes Staff The Venice and Valencia from Omega cabinet doors come in three new finishes: portobello opaque, onyx glaze and antique. The antique effect uses dents, worm holes, chiseling and scrapingto make...