Tell the Story You Want Told
Set the bar high and understand which steps, people and skill sets are needed to reach it. Dedicate yourself and your associates to living the story you want told.
Taking the J.D. Power Cure
Perhaps most important, J.D. Power and most other customer satisfaction surveys miss the most critical factor of all because it's so hard to measure, and that is the impact of relationships.
Different, By Design
Under a fun-focused management team that now owns the company, Professional Builder's 2004 Builder of the Year, John Laing Homes, is morphing into a new breed of home builder.
Fee Hike Worth Its Wait in Golden State
Builders faced with a permit fee hike might want to resist the urge to rush in plans before it takes effect.
As Housing Boom Plateaus, What's Next?
Demand remains strong, though first-time affordability, tech toys and demographic changes beckon competitive builders.
3-D Software Models Land Uses
It has been compared to the video game SimCity, but at $4,995 a pop, CommunityViz 3-D simulation and modeling software is no toy.
Stone Countertops Steal Market Share
A new study from market researcher The Freedonia Group forecasts that U.S. demand for kitchen and bath countertops will grow more than 2% annually to 467 million square feet in 2007.
The ABCs About the AMT
If you haven't seen your planned tax refund turn into a tax payment, be patient. Your time will come. Virtually every method you have used to reduce your federal income tax works against you under the AMT.
Avoid High-Leverage Financing
Reduce financing costs by cutting construction times and the number of spec houses in inventory.
Planning for Success
Keeping quality people is key to long-term success, but few of the builders who do succession planning go beyond the most senior-level positions.
