The trends for 2016 house construction styles have been published, and in terms of exterior home finishes, it’s a bit of a crazy quilt! While different sections of the U.S. have varying color palettes, one trend which covers all is using a variety of materials on the house exterior. Mix and Match: The varying roof lines and bump-out areas of previous popular architectural design are still hot, but with an updated twist. First of all, the look of a single style or color of siding is old. Instead, 2016 features a mix and match approach to finishes. A stone façade … Read more »

When you hear the abbreviation, PH, you think … hmmm, didn’t I learn something about that back in the day, in science class? Well, while it’s true that pH IS a scientific term, it also could represent the Passive House, an up-and-coming building type that’s growing in popularity. The reason for this trend is the nature of the Passive House. It may be just about any building design that exists, but the way it’s constructed makes it nearly airtight and greatly reduces the need for heating, cooling and lighting. These homes are incredibly energy-efficient, extremely sound-proof and very stable in … Read more »

If you have a solid grasp of what the market trends are in construction, you can better design your homes to accommodate those trends. This in turn should increase your sales price and your number of home sales. Let’s take a look at what is on the current home-buyer’s wish list. SINGLE FAMILY HOMES While multi-family housing was a hot trend in the 2015 housing industry, in 2016 it is predicted to slow. Instead, the single family home will have a 20% increase, according to Dodge Data’s 2016 Construction Outlook. The main driving force for this increase is the Millennial … Read more »

In this 21st Century world, being digital and online is a must for growing your business. Yet many of us, who did not grow up “plugged in,” find it difficult to know where to start in generating a presence online. But from customer service to lead generation, the internet is really one of your best resources for building your reputation, name-recognition and ultimately business. Let’s take a look at how you can get started … with mobile technology. MOBILE DEVICES: Nearly every person in the US owns a cell phone of some sort, and most are smartphones. Another mobile technology … Read more »

In this 21st Century world, being digital and online is a must for growing your business. Yet many of us, who did not grow up “plugged in,” find it difficult to know where to start in generating a presence online. But from customer service to lead generation, the internet is really one of your best resources for building your reputation, name-recognition and ultimately business. Let’s take a look at how you can get started … with a blog. WHY A BLOG? If using technology is relatively new to you, you might wonder what a blog even is. The word is … Read more »

In this 21st Century world, being digital and online is a must for growing your business. Yet many of us, who did not grow up “plugged in,” find it difficult to know where to start in generating a presence online. But from customer service to lead generation, the internet is really one of your best resources for building your reputation, name-recognition and ultimately business. Let’s take a look at how you can get started … with LinkedIn, YouTube and Flickr Social Media. SOCIAL MEDIA: As with Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Flickr can provide additional exposure to your business. … Read more »

  In this 21st Century world, being digital and online is a must for growing your business. Yet many of us, who did not grow up “plugged in,” find it difficult to know where to start in generating a presence online. But from customer service to lead generation, the internet is really one of your best resources for building your reputation, name-recognition and ultimately business. Let’s take a look at how you can get started … with Facebook and Twitter Social Media. SOCIAL MEDIA: What do you think of when you hear the words, “Social Media?” While the thought of … Read more »

In this 21st Century world, being digital and online is a must for growing your business. Yet many of us, who did not grow up “plugged in,” find it difficult to know where to start in generating a presence online. But from customer service to lead generation, the internet is really one of your best resources for building your reputation, name-recognition and ultimately business. Let’s take a look at how you can get started … with a website. WEBSITE: Does your business have a website? It’s easier than ever before to get a professional-looking website to give your customers an … Read more »

As America’s population ages, the demographic which needs accessible housing is increasing. The Baby Boomer generation, one of the largest generations, is entering their retirement years. This increase in the aging population means that more accessible homes are needed. In addition, an estimated 56 million Americans – not just the elderly – have some sort of disability. What are you, as a builder, doing proactively to accommodate the needs of this generation? While the Americans with Disabilities Act mandated requirements for accessibility in public places, it has no bearing on private residences. Nonetheless, it is to your advantage as a … Read more »

As you may know, Millennials are the generation which was born between 1980 and 2000. They currently range in age from 16 to 36. A large portion of them are just hitting the age when they start to consider buying a home. Statistically, this market is even larger than the baby boomer demographic was. How can you, as a builder, make the most of marketing to this up-and-coming generation? The first consideration is communication. Because they have grown up with technology as an integral part of their lives, Millennials do not enjoy talking on the phone as much as they … Read more »