| Run It |
Author Bruce Tulgan describes why it’s better to use business conversations to build rapport with employees rather than rely on personal details.
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| Design It |
Editors Erin Erickson and Mark Jarasek take you behind the scenes of Show Village 2008 and explain how you can develop your own infill projects based on this year's homes.
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| Sell It |
You face hard decisions every day in every aspect of your job. When it comes to the contingency objection, it’s enough to make a person insane. Find out what you can do to overcome the contingency objection.
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| Build It |
Avoiding these construction mistakes results in a higher quality, more comfortable, energy-efficient home at little extra cost to the builder. In these days of construction litigation, can you really afford to get it wrong?
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| Design It |
Residential development as part of a rail network can be a beneficial opportunity for cities, builders and homeowners alike when it is planned as part of an overall community vision. Contributing Editor Ann Matesi examines the components of successful homebuilding developments near transportation hubs and offers 10 guidelines builders and planners should consider.
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| Build It |
A variety of new structural products from QuietSolution, iLevel and more.
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| Number Crunch |
Did you know that the asking price for the most expensive home in the United States in 2007 was $165 million? Read on for more digestable facts about the home building industry.
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| Sell It |
New home sales consultant Gian Hasbrock says that the way to win during these seemingly dark hours of the housing industry is to keep a positive attitude, ignore the negative reports of the mainstream media, and just sell homes.
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| Run It |
Home builders across the country are using RCD to benchmarks their performance against others in the industry. Read on to find out five uses that they have provided.
Michael Chandler is a proponent of the NAHB’s green building program, while Steve Glenn firmly believes in LEED for Homes. Metaphors fly as the two builders engage in a lively discussion about the pros and cons of the two national certification programs.
Stephen Olson of The Olson Co. shares the approaches his company takes within the California housing market.
Professional Builder spoke to NAHB Vice President of Advocacy Bill Kilmer to find out what its top regulatory and legislative items are for the new year.
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| Sell It |
You can no longer afford to be aloof when closing a sale. Professional Builder columnist John Rymer explains why building rapport is essential to the sales process.
In our first installment of the Professional Builder marketing critique, marketing and advertising experts weigh in on Charlotte, N.C.’s Simonini Builders Heydon Hall ad.
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| Run It |
The sharp increase in home prices has made it difficult for median income workers to buy homes, threatening the markets that builders serve. But builders have found ways to work with cities and states to build affordable homes without losing their shirts.
Though the widely used Net Promoter Score has come under attack, there are good ways to adapt this customer loyalty metric to the home building industry.
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| Design It |
Traffic is strong at Edenglen, the first neighborhood in Ontario, California’s New Model Colony -- part of a 20-year plan to expand the city’s housing stock, retail and commercial space. Edenglen pays homage to old Ontario with a variety of housing types and architectural styles and a pedestrian-friendly land plan.
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| Perspective |
Something about Professional Builder has changed. It looks different. It even feels different. In truth, we have reformulated and redesigned the entire magazine, and we did so to better serve you.
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| Build It |
Check out these new flooring products from Kerfkore, Armstrong and more.
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| Sell It |
Market research is an invaluable tool for homebuilders as they plan new communities. But if builders overlook key variables in the marketplace or fail to look beyond the numbers, a type of buyer they weren’t expecting might show up on opening day.
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| Build It |
All new products for your viewing pleasure from Watt Stopper/Legrand, Makita and more.
Safety on the jobsite has been compromised since the beginning of modern home building by workers under the influence of alcohol and illicit drugs. It is up to builders and their crews on the ground to implement and enforce a strict drug and alcohol policy.
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