A Deming Dozen: Nuggets of Wisdom to Work and Live By
Wise words from quality and efficiency expert Dr. W. Edwards Deming abound. Here’s a look at a dozen of the best of Deming's ideas that home builders can learn from
Software for Home Builders: Why It Isn’t Working
Software systems offer home builders real operational advantages, but several stumbling blocks continue to undermine success
Builder Reputation Basics: One Make-or-Break Factor You Can't Miss
If you do nothing else, do this one thing to ensure you have a great relationship with the client right from the start. Your reputation depends on it
2023 National Housing Quality Award Winners: A Commitment to Excellence
The 2023 National Housing Quality Award recognizes two exceptional home builders for their continued quest for operational mastery
Construction Site Fall Protection Made Simple
Do you want workers to take jobsite safety seriously? Then don’t overcomplicate it
4 Construction Management Practices to Improve Your Project
Want a smooth-running construction project? Home builders should follow these steps for project management success
Exclusive Research: Are you connected or stand alone?
Builders polled say integrating software into a single database can be a daunting prospect, a frustrating project, or an initiative that is producing rewards.
Develop strategic sources of supply
Builders need to prepare and face a challenge that they haven’t seen in many years—rising material and labor costs and shortages. Passing the costs along by simply raising prices won’t be enough to solve the problem.
Project Management
Building Homes Is Hard; Giving in to Custom Changes Is Harder
Now that new-home sales have nearly doubled from their 2010 low, we are facing the challenges of a recovering market
Business Management
The Margin Gap: Part II
On the long road back toward sales levels rivaling the best years in the industry, are similar profit levels still available? Where will we find profit?
Schnellenbergerize yourself
Why you should embrace the Hispanic conflict
The search for the magic model
For this issue Pat O’Toole, our venerable publisher, asked me to write about the best business models among those home builders in what is often termed the second tier of the industry, or those companies ranked in the top 25 to 100.
The underutilized and awesomely powerful spreadsheet
From what I gather in my dealings with builders and designers, our industry underutilizes spreadsheets.
Lawsuit: What's in a design?
Proving copyright infringement of a song, screenplay, or house design typically relies on circumstantial evidence because eyewitnesses or a confession by the defendant are rarely available.