Leadership

Value Versus Reduction

When you discount, you undermine the value of the service you are offering. The way to improve the bottom line and make it more resilient to the ups and downs of the economy and the regulatory market is to increase the value of what you deliver.

Design

Wired

In a study of more than 400 consumers nationwide that are either owners of newly constructed homes or prospective buyers of the same, researchers found that 49% of the target consumers, presented with at least one home technology option, made a purchase.

Leadership

Product Review: The Products Make the Home

Award winning homes require quality products. Here are the manufacturers whose products were used the most in the making of this year's BALA homes.

Leadership

In My Own Words: Blair Custom Homes

John Blair of Blair Custom Homes in Bethlehem, Penn., describes what products he wouldn't build without.

Leadership

Details of Award Winning Homes

After reviewing hundreds of entrants for the 2005 Best in American Living Awards, this year's judges discussed a number trends that emerged both regionally and around the country, including baby boomers' affinity for second homes as well as an occasional occurrence of lime green.

Leadership

Design Idea File: Spanish Gold

A porte cochere sets the stage for this southern California custom residence's grand entrance, withholding the view of the two-story home's elegant Spanish Colonial façade until one has passed under its distinctive arcade and into an ultra-private central car court.

Leadership

Winning Ingredients

If successful custom home building was a recipe, the ingredient list would be one part skilled builder and trades; one part good land, floor plans and options; and two parts satisfied customers. Because customer satisfaction is such an integral part of the custom home building recipe, custom home builders are focusing more than ever on improving their customer satisfaction ratings.

Leadership

Best in American Living Awards

Leadership

A Service Business

Custom builders are finding allies in a new place — their suppliers. A few short years ago, the residential construction industry seemed to be focused on removing what they thought were unnecessary costs from the supply chain. The impulse was being driven by the national builders, who were trying to leverage their buying power to create economies of scale.

Leadership

Product Review

  Sprint     Sprint and Motorola have partnered to offer the i930, a phone featuring the Windows Mobile…