Tampa Builder Puts Lean Building Into Action
An interview with Florida builder Jim Deitch on how he keeps his building operations lean
Business Management
Take the Voodoo Out of Home Building Process Improvement
With a few notable exceptions, builders haven't figured out that if they create a disciplined, bulletproof building process, they'll have very few customer issues. And for those who do, they have time to deal with them
How to Lose a Happy Customer
A sad story about how a builder goes to the trouble to find a great piece of land, build a good house, do all of the hard stuff well, then blows it over four or five details
Sales
Queen Elizabeth II: The Reckoning
The lesson of the two Elizabeths is that as an industry we must begin to see salespeople in a holistic manner, as complete members of the team. It's no longer enough to simply bring in the bucks
Lesson on the Road to Everywhere
The legions of hard-working immigrants that enable our livelihood go mostly unnoticed. Get out to the jobsites and listen to their stories—their journeys of what they left behind
Customer Satisfaction
The Customer Experience: Overpromised and Underdelivered
Avoid flying into the customer expectation trap
Strange Bedfellows: Uncertain Economy + Business Plan? Yes
Even during days of economic uncertainty, try to stick to your company plan
Labor + Trade Relations
Becoming the Builder of Choice
Building as usual is no way to survive in a tightening labor market
New-Home Sales
The Sales Dream Team: Who Will Be My Role Model?
About two years ago, I shared the frustration of many builders who had tried in vain to crack the paradigm of the 'typical salesperson'
