PB September 2006

Keystone Custom Homes keeps its trades accountable to "doing it right the first time," demonstrating that the pen is mightier than the saw in ensuring construction quality

It's not written in a formal statement or printed on any wall, but Atlantic Builders' mission is to instill a sense of ownership in its employees. President Tom Schoedel and his partner Adam Fried have created a family atmosphere at this Fredericksburg, Va., building company by empowering employees and giving them a say in how things are run.

Helpful ideas builders can use to put jobsite waste to work and limit the amount of construction waste they send to the landfill

Here is an overview of current software on the market for various facets of the home building industry.

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

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.

Professional Builder Editorial Director Paul Deffenbaugh lists a variety of ways how builders can help sustain the communities where they build.

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!

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?

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.