Part II of our report on the 20th Annual Financial Analysis and Operational Study addresses the operational issues that have affected home builders. The first part of the study, featuring an overview and economic impact, can be read on the Builder Partnerships' website here.

We began tracking operational issues on this survey in 1998, and the mix of the builders participating in the study held steady until it changed slightly in 2007. We had a greater proportion of smaller builders than in the past, and this has held true since then. In 2007 the decrease in average revenues and average number of units sold was caused, in part, by a larger number of small builders participating in the study as well as by the general decline in the industry. In 2008 the mix did not change. Therefore, in our opinion, the decrease in the average revenues and units sold for the group was caused solely by the decline in the industry. In the 2009 study, we see an increase in the average revenues and average number of units sold, which was mostly caused, in our opinion, to a change in the mix of participants trending more to larger builders.

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In the September issue of Professional Builder, editor Mike Beirne provides a lengthy feature on Blacksburg, Va.-based HHHunt, which earned the Builder Partnerships Achievement Award in customer satisfaction for the third year. 

For builders looking to improve their customer satisfaction, the article offers many tips from HHHunt on techniques as well as insight from Charlie Scott, principal at Woodland, O'Brien & Scott and a columnist for PB. 

According to the 2012 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) "What Home Buyers Really Want" study, new and potential home buyers focus in on quality and appearance when looking at the exterior doors of a home. And, the focus on quality increases steadily as the age of the person gets older, jumping in importance from 43 percent of respondents in the Gen Y age range to 63 percent of respondents in the Seniors age range.

 

Overall, 54 percent of all respondents selected the trait of "quality" as the most important focus for an exterior door while 34 percent selected the "appearance" of the door as being important. These two traits surpassed "upgrade price," "brand name," "warranty" and "features" by survey respondents as being most important.   

 

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Baessler Homes donated more than $100,000 to Homes for Hope, a charity that provides microloans to impoverished people around the globe. The Greeley, Colo.-based Baessler Homes is a second-generation home builder devoted to improving the community and its neighbors-neighbors who extend to well beyond their immediate surroundings.

The 4th annual Builder Partnerships Achievement Award in customer satisfaction is now accepting entries. Get third-party validation for your customer service and receive recognition for your excellence.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRY is November 1, 2013.

Builder Partnerships will award the Customer Satisfaction Achievement Award in 2014 to recognize builders who deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction. This award does more than offer recognition to quality builders; it provides builders with an economical and reliable third-party verification of customer satisfaction, something every builder can use.

Every builder is eligible for this program regardless of size or location, which differentiates it from other customer satisfaction services.

Builders can earn one of two designations:

• Highest Distinction in Customer Satisfaction: 93% of homebuyers are willing to refer the company to friends and family

• Distinction in Customer Satisfaction: 88% of homebuyers are willing to refer the company to friends and family

There are no rankings. Builders either achieve customer satisfaction or they don't, and their comparison to other builders is only against the measurement.

Entry fee is $99.  

For more information and to submit your application, click here.

BP Manufacturers Well Represented on Professional Builder 101 Best Products

Builder Partnerships manufacturer partners are well represented on the list of 101 Best New Products announced by Professional Builder magazine. 

Therma-Tru -- Pulse Entry Door

Kwikset -- Montara Handleset

Danze -- Florin Five-Function Showerhead

Gerber -- Viper Compact Elongated High-Efficiency Toilet

Sherwin-Williams -- Dry Erase Coating

NuTone -- Cityscape Collection

Formica -- Laminate Patterns

Aquatic -- DriftBath

PPG Industries -- Clarvista-Coated Glass

Fypon -- PVC Trellis System

TimberTech -- Earthwood Evolutions Terrain Collection

Dow Building Solutions -- Hy-pe-rtube Floor Heating

Noritz -- NRC83 Tankless Water Heater

Broan -- LoProfile Fan

To learn more about the 101 Best New Products, click here .

Amaar Introduces Trento Collection

Amaar introduces a new garage door with no tracks, no springs and no rails. Crafted in Italy by Silvelox, the new system uses marine-grade plywood in two sections that overlap and opening using a double-counterweight system. The opener is integrated into the garage door. 

To learn more, click here .