Success Stories 
Making the Case for High- Performance Production Homes

Position Your Company to Attract the Best Price

By Charles C. Shinn, Jr., PhD

In many of my discussions and presentations, I have talked about the importance of becoming a "Builder of Choice" for the trades and suppliers so that you can attract the best prices and get the best service in your local market. But how does a builder do this? That's easy, just have the most efficient job site and construction process in the area.

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Product Features

Viega MANABLOC helps builders think Green

Earth is easy to distinguish from its neighboring planets due to the vast blue oceans that cover three-quarters of its surface. However, less than 1 percent of Earth's water can be consumed safely. Water, Earth's most important natural resource, is limited and more consumers are becoming aware of how much of it is being wasted.

Consumers are seeking methods to reduce energy and control costs while local, state and federal governments mandate Green building techniques in new civic construction. These Green initiatives are necessary to conserve the Earth's resources and reduce energy use requirements.

Water conservation is one of the most vital aspects of Green Building as wasted water and energy consumption are directly related. Producing one gallon of potable water requires sixteen times more energy than simply conserving the same gallon of water. To protect Earth's most valuable resource and to reduce the amount of energy needed in providing safe, clean water to a home, Viega created the revolutionary MANABLOC system.

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What Do Home Builders Really Think of Energy Efficiency Issues?

In February 2011, Builder Partnerships conducted a survey on energy efficient homes. We received 224 responses, 81% of whom are from home builders. We asked them about their greatest challenges, sources of information, product usage, consumer demand and a lot of other information. We listened, and we learned a lot. Here are three things we learned.

 

1. There is currently only mild consumer demand for energy efficient homes, and affordability is the main driver.  

 

2. Builders would install more energy efficient products, but they can't justify the increased cost.  

 

3. Appraisals don't currently account for energy efficiency upgrades.  

 

If you would like to learn more about this survey, Phil Fingerhut will be doing a webinar next Thursday, March 31. "Maximize Energy Efficiency-Survey Results" (To register or get more information, go to www.builderpartnerships.com/Default/UpcomingWebinars)

 

To see additional graphs, download the pdf of the full newsletter here.

Program Highlights

Builder Partnerships Achievement Awards

HHHunt Homes is the latest home builder to be recognized by Builder Partnerships for the Builder Partnerships Achievement Award for Customer Satisfaction. The Richmond and Raleigh divisions earned Highest Distinction honors while a third division, Hampton Roads, took home Distinction. This makes HHHunt Homes the first home builder to have 3 divisions earn the Builder Partnerships Achievement Award in Customer Satisfaction. "We are thrilled to win these awards," says Olin Wilson, vice president of homebuilding. For more information about the Builder Partnerships Achievement Awards, go to www.builderpartnerships.com/awards.

Call for entries:

Professional Builder's annual Giants 400 survey
Is your firm a housing giant? See where your company ranks among the nation's largest home builders by completing Professional Builder's annual Giants 400 survey. The results will be published in the May 2011 issue of Professional Builder, with extended coverage online at HousingZone.com. Submissions are due April 8, 2011.

Deadlines

• 1st Quarter Submissions are due by April 10th.
   
• Shinn Consulting's Annual Industry Financial and Operational Study-Submit forms by March 31, 2011 -http://conta.cc/hlj1HJ
   
• Get Recognized: Builder Partnerships Achievement Award for Customer Service-Applications Due March 31, 2011 -http://conta.cc/ePwdWE