Blogs

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The long road back

The current housing downturn has caused a lot of problems to all members of the supply chain on many levels, and its effect goes deeper than...

The Sweet Spot

Exclusive research: Most remodelers expect remodeling market to improve in 2011

Remodelers are more optimistic than they've been about the remodeling market since 2005 according to our latest survey. For our upcoming...

Green Building Blog

Opportunity lost, opportunity misinterpreted

These days any job is a blessing. In the rush to take advantage of the moment often opportunities are lost because we take the owner’s...

Great Solutions for Builders

5 ways to combat negative press

While conducting research on a builder for a recent issue of Professional Builder, I did what most people do first when they want to learn...

The Lean Builder

A la carte insanity – Could it happen in home building?

It’s hard to say who has taken the “a la carte” mentality to the most absurd level, the airlines or the rental car companies. Pay for food,...

The Sweet Spot

Bosch Expects Slow Growth in Housing Market

I had the chance today to spend some time talking with Manfred Seitz, chairman, president and CEO of Bosch Power Tools, during a visit to...

The Sweet Spot

Core Logic: 'Shadow Inventory' of Homes Tops 2 million

The residential market's "shadow inventory" is up more than 10 percent from a year ago, according to real-estate research firm CoreLogic. ...

Project Financing Blog

QE-2: The implimentation

QE-2 Qualitative Easing implemented and explained. These are the best definitions of Quantitative Easing. This is Clearly written by some...

The Sweet Spot

S&P: 7 to 10 Percent Home Price Drop in 2011

Standard & Poor is predicting more home price pain for 2011.Analysts from the financial market intelligence firm are calling for a drop...

The Sweet Spot

Check out our Sarah Susanka Podcast

I know from personal experience buying a home a few years ago, it was nearly impossible in 2006 to find a builder that would build something...

The Sweet Spot

Free Webinar on Marketing for Remodelers and Builders

Marketing and generating leads continues to be challenge No. 1 for many remodelers. If you're in that group, here's a chance to...

The Sweet Spot

Realtors Offer Typically Sunny Predictions

Another positive prediction for the housing market this week, as the National Association of Realtors released their latest forecast for...

Customer Satisfaction

Quick decisions and growing market share: the chicken or the egg?

While making sales presentations to three of our four most recent prospective clients, we were hired on the spot – three times! On the...

Great Solutions for Builders

6 leadership techniques for tough economic times

Let’s face it, time are tough, and many home builders are doing all they can to keep their doors open amid the brutal economic conditions....

Project Financing Blog

QE2, NOT A MEGA SHIP, VOTE WELL

The media has been talking about how the Fed has to be careful not to let inflation get "out of control" in the coming months and years. In...

The Sweet Spot

NARI hires DC lobbyist - great news for industry

Big move by NARI last week: the trade association has hired a lobbyist to represent remodelers' interests in Washington, D.C. This is...

Project Financing Blog

Private Financing: 'It’s the New Normal'

The entire market of private debt and equity financing is playing a much larger role in the development and homebuilding space than ever...

Customer Satisfaction

I Hear and I Forget

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” — Confucius It is that time of year. Customer satisfaction and...

Great Solutions for Builders

4 Best Practices From the 2011 NHQ Award Winners

Since 1993, Professional Builder and the NAHB Research Center have teamed to sponsor the National Housing Quality Awards — the highest...

The Lean Builder

Down Under II

I just finished a day in Australia, working with suppliers and trades in one-hour Lean meetings. Guess what? If not for the accent, local...

The Lean Builder

Wonder Down Under

For more than 20 years, I have traveled the U.S. and Canada almost weekly. One-hundred nights or more in hotel rooms is not so much fun, but...

Project Financing Blog

4 Observations on the Housing Market

The PCBC show held its first Capital Markets Forum in June. The program was well attended and many of the industry’s top financial experts...

Green Building Blog

Does Energy Efficiency Jeopardize IAQ?

In the race to reduce energy use and carbon in the residential housing arena, I’m concerned that we’re playing down the...

Customer Satisfaction

How To Out-Behave the Competition

Want an excellent book to read? Try Dov Seidman’s “How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything... in Business (and in Life).” This book...

Great Solutions for Builders

What to do when banks come calling

The scenario is all too familiar to builders that have lived through multiple economic recessions: The moment the housing market dives,...

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