Customer Satisfaction
Leading the Way to Better Customer Service
Many home builders invest in customer service training for their staff, but they will always fall short if the company's leadership doesn't model attitudes and behavior
Cleaning Up the Clean Water Act
Two initiatives are in the works that would streamline the Environmental Protection Agency's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System of the Clean Water Act, which regulates storm water pollution on construction sites.
Community Development
Professional Builder Editorial Director Paul Deffenbaugh lists a variety of ways how builders can help sustain the communities where they build.
Gifts that Make a House a Home
Inspiration in a nutshell. Here are the results of the Housewarming Gift Contest that Professional Builder held for its readers back in July. The online version of the article contains more information and all of the submissions we received. Enjoy!
Employee Perks That Work
Few things have kept pace with the rapid growth of our industry as much as employee compensation. Bonus programs tied to division or company profitability have generated unprecedented compensation levels. As the housing boom subsides and begins shrinking this year's bonus checks, the focus on compensation will take on a new tact.Namely, how do you attract and/or retain great people who have become accustomed to such extraordinary income opportunities?
Paying the Piper
After a decade of unprecedented growth, the party could be over for America's public home builders. As share prices drop under the weight of slumping sales, burgeoning inventories and builders' own deep pricing discounts, look for changes in the way companies operate that will profoundly affect housing markets — and private builders — across the country.
Self-Induced Labor Pains
The medical and home-building industries have at least one thing in common right now: the debate over self-induced problems. The medical community is at odds over just how much physical illness is self-induced. Similar to medicine, our industry is at odds about how much we have brought on ourselves.
Not Just Katrina's Fault
Builders have watched prices for building materials rise over the past year and have heard the excuses. But there's more to the story.
Choose the Right Roofing
Here are the factors builders should consider when choosing roofing material for the homes they build.
CFLs Are Shining Bright
CFLs use 66 percent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to10 times longer.
