Cost-Saving Ideas

  • Chasm Between Architectural Plans and Fully Fleshed Out Working Drawings

    Learn about implementing lean methods in home building.

     
  • Builders Are Missing Out on Money-Saving Opportunities

    Hidden source for saving additional dollars can be found in waste in product and process.

     
  • In Desperate Times, Four Companies Change Their Personalities

    Process improvements and different products are what three builders and one developer hope will lead them into the next recovery.

     
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    Meritage Homes Boosts Sales With Smaller, More Affordable Homes

    Builder returns to its "sweet spot" with floor plans from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet.

     
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    Getting Leaner is an Ongoing Process for Kentucky's Jagoe Homes

    The builder involves its subs and suppliers in finding ways to reduce waste.

     
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    Wood-Framed Construction Gaining Ground for Taller Mid-Rises

    But going beyond six stories still raises questions in U.S.

     
  • Some Big Builders Are Still Paying Execs Big Bucks

    Cash flow and cost control are the performance metrics used by public companies for compensating their executives.

     
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    Navigating The Downturn

    Ever the optimists, a clear majority—55 percent—of the 744 home builders who responded to our "State of the Industry" survey say 2008 is the year the downturn hits bottom and the industry begins to recover.

     
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    Ivy Zelman Offers Cost-Saving Tips for Home Builders

    Still looking for a New Year's resolution worth keeping? Try cutting costs in 2008.

     
  • Design Details: Sweat The Small Stuff

    The mood in the home building industry is officially glum. Buyers are playing a waiting game, and inventory isn't moving. Except in the case of that builder around the corner whose homes are being snapped up faster than free NFL tickets on Craig's List. What gives?

     
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    Bruised by the downturn, builders turn to the fundamentals of the construction game.

    For builders, the current market conditions are no game and the stakes are nothing less than survival. You can't afford to drop the ball because there just aren't that many opportunities right now to put points on the board. That's why it's critical to master the fundamentals of the business: hiring and hanging on to good employees, holding a customer's hand through the sales process, controlling your jobsite, and building customer satisfaction through warranty service.

     
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    Architects' Own Homes Rich in Cost-Saving, Space-Saving, Eco-Friendly Ideas

    Architects’ own houses often hold the keys to cost savings, building efficiencies, and new standards of beauty.

     
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    Architect Tips for Budget Kitchens and Baths

    Experts share their secrets to low-cost kitchens and baths.

     
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    Tips to Reduce Construction Costs

    Chuck Shinn offers suggestions on how builders can trim fat from their construction processes.

     
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    Waste Not

    Do you have any idea what's in your dumpsters? You should. All of that debris is costing you money.

     
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    Under Control

    Walk a jobsite at Woodland Village—Lifestyle Homes' community 18 miles outside of Reno, Nev.—with Jon Delaurentis, the builder's former president, and he inevitably brings up how “clean” the site is: no wasted materials or equipment lying around, no mud being traipsed into houses under construction by contractors. Delaurentis notes in passing that subcontractors police the desert surrounding the construction area for loose debris.

     
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    Hit the Shower

    ONE OF YOUR JOBS AS A BUILDER IS to make your houses as desirable as possible without breaking the bank. Anyone can add high-end baubles that cost serious money, but how do you achieve an upscale look for a relatively low cost? Adding cool features to the bath is a good place to start.

     
  • Peer Review

    With economic conditions for the housing industry looking grimmer and grimmer, the competition is upping the ante in a big way: The resale market is slashing prices; big builders are giving away cash, cars, and fully equipped home theater rooms; and local builders are trying every trick in the book in an effort to stand out from the crowd.

     
  • NAHB Briefs: June 2006

    - Housing industry expert Bill Webb releases instructive guide that shows how to maximize sales potential and profits in lean times. - NAHB's Building Systems Councils offer free brochure on the benefits of modular homes. - NAHB encourages members to take advantage of a free savings analysis offered by Solveras Payment Systems.

     
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    Time-Savers

    The building process is inherently slow, but here are some products and systems that can help you shave days off your schedule.

     
 
 
 
 

Industry Centers

 

Local Markets

Featured Market

Houston, TX

News and information on permits, job growth, and construction trends

 
Market Hotness
12 mos. permits per 1,000 residents4.7%
Job Growth
Annual rate last 4 quarters-3.0%
Residential Permits
YTD change vs. prior year -41%