PB April 2004

Cost of materials should be merely one factor when evaluating paints and stains.

Whether you’re charging a million-dollar premium for a custom home on the ocean or $10,000 for a cul-de-sac production home, that premium could be too low.

Once a kitchen standard, linoleum began losing ground to other flooring types, namely sheet vinyl, in the 1940s.

One of the most curious trends to emerge from our 2004 GIANTS survey is the heat in high-rises, long a dormant housing form of little interest to the largest production builders.

Builders who rely on the Internet for leads might not regard the recent update of the Google search engine as an improvement.

I have seen a few companies define what they believe with statements under headings such as 'we believe' or 'basic beliefs.' Somehow, a statement of beliefs seems stronger than a mission statement.

Most companies we encounter overlook relationship value, the measurable things a company does to create 'likability' between employees and customers

Factory-built housing predicted to grow 1.2% annually through 2005

When a landowner’s plan to develop a New Rochelle, N.Y., estate fell through, Ginsburg Development Corp. bought the 17-acre site and revised the plan to bring Kensington Woods to reality. The result: an empty-nester enclave of 52 luxury homes.

The best way to grow a home building company is to focus on these three objectives: maintaining competitive strength, creating value for the customer and, most important, maximizing profit.