Blogs

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Quality Management

Here is a list of some of the best books on quality and performance improvement. A book that can help make the penny drop regarding the...

Quality Management

Part 2 SOME QUALITY TOOLS & LINKS TO FREE TEMPLATES

There are a wide range of quality improvement tools and techniques, below are a list of some of them. We will be touching on all of these in...

Quality Management

The Basics of Process Improvement, Part 1

PDCA and DMAIC. One of the most basic things to understand about process performance improvement is the Deming Cycle or Plan, Do,...

Quality Management

THE NATIONAL HOUSING QUALITY AWARD (NHQA) & SELF-ASSESSMENT

SELF-ASSESSMENT Self-assessment is in itself an important process which should be conducted at least annually to monitor the performance of...

Quality Management

PROCESSES & METRICS

Metrics are all about the effectiveness of your processes. There are four key types of performance that we can focus on in this blog. ...

Quality Management

WELCOME TO IMPROVING BUSINESS PERFORMANCE !

THE MARKET Surely the most important issue facing everyone in the homebuilding industry, indeed every industry today is improving...

The Sweet Spot

Mark Richardson Webinar on the Future of Remodeling Now Available

In case you weren't able to catch it live, we've archived our webinar with Mark Richardson. As usual, Mark had some great insight into where...

The Sweet Spot

Remodeling Continues Heading Up

More good news this week for remodeling.The market keeps growing, even while new construction continues to get battered. The latest is a...

The Sweet Spot

One step forward, two steps back for 1099 repeal

By Jonathan Sweet, Editor in ChiefPosted 3/7/11The battle to repeal the new 1099 requirements continues to move at a glacial pace.(In case...

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Blog: Now is the time for land acquisition

We’ve all heard the mantra, “Now is the time to buy!” Well, that also holds true for land acquisition. Distressed properties in the hands of...

Project Financing Blog

Goodbye Freddie and Fannie

The Obama administration outlined three options to change the way home loans are financed, calling for the shutdown of mortgage giants...

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NPDES: To comply or not to comply, part II

In my last blog, I discussed whether to comply or not to comply, and the bottom line is that you don’t have a choice but to comply under the...

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NPDES: To comply or not to comply

My clients’ (successors in interest to distressed properties) most frequently asked question is: “Do we have to comply with the NPDES...

Housing starts up 14% in January to 596,000 units

The Sweet Spot

CoreLogic: Home sales down, NAR overestimating existing sales

By Jonathan Sweet, Editor in ChiefPosted 2/16/11In a report sure to cause some controversy, real estate research firm CoreLogic says that...

The Sweet Spot

Census Bureau 'massively' overstating number of vacant homes?

One of the big barriers to a housing industry recovery is the perception that there are a large number of vacant homes out there that are...

The Sweet Spot

Reason to believe in recovery

A preview of our February issue: I’ve just gotten back from the International Builders Show, the industry’s big show for all things...

Great Solutions for Builders

Blog: 2012 - The year mobile takes over

While conducting research for this month’s report on “16 Tips For Driving Consumer Traffic,” I came across an interesting...

Great Solutions for Builders

Entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well among home builders

This past September, we wrote extensively about the state of builder and buyer financing, which no doubt is one of the most-difficult...

The Sweet Spot

There’s opportunity out there

Our cover story this month focuses on the opportunities being afforded by social media and the Web in general. And although many remodelers...

Great Solutions for Builders

Entrepreneurial spirit alive and well

This past September, we wrote extensively about the state of builder and buyer financing, which no doubt is one of the most-difficult...

Project Financing Blog

Private project financing vs. traditional banks

One of the primary obstacles to obtaining private project financing is understanding the differences between the formal banking experiences...

The Sweet Spot

Latest tax bill leaves energy efficiency, remodelers out in the cold

It's not getting a lot of attention in the partisan bickering over the tax compromise in Washington last week, but remodelers hoping for an...

The Sweet Spot

Majority of Americans expect housing recovery after 2012

Another survey, another sign that consumers still are not sold on a housing recovery.The latest came out today from Trulia and RealtyTrac,...

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Behavioral interviewing, in simple terms

If you’ve ever been in an interview and heard a question that started with, “Tell me about a time...,” then you’ve experienced a behavioral...

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Project financing trends from the fall ULI meeting

I had hoped to hear some great insights (if not encouragement) at the October Urban Land Institute meeting, but there wasn’t much to go...

Home Builders Institute's Schools to Skills Grant Application Open Through December

As Mortgage Rates Rise, Buyers Lose Purchasing Power

Renters Are Choosing Single-Family Homes for These Features