Builder Confidence on Rise in January
For Residential Pros
“The National Association of Home Builders is reporting that builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family continued to climb for a fourth consecutive month in January, rising four points to 25 on the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released Wednesday, January 18. This is the highest level the index has attained since June of 2007.”

The Lean Designer: The best way to prepare for a plan review
Housing Zone
“As many of you know by now Professional Builder is holding three days of plan reviews by some of the top designers and architects in the country during the International Builders Show. I am honored to be part of that group and very much look forward to the event. Here are some juicy insider tips to help you take advantage of the opportunity…”

Seven Steps to Choosing the Perfect Circular Saw
Fine Homebuilding
“We recently reviewed 14 sidewinder circular saws and found seven features that separate the good from the not-so-good. Let’s take a closer look.”

I Still Have Hope
QR Market Memo
“Fortunately for me, I have found a way through this. I guess tough times can either make or break anybody. So far, I am determined to do whatever I have to do. The real strength that I needed throughout these years of business survival had to come from within. Even now as economic news worsens and we face a very long journey before us, inner motivation is an absolute. Without it we have no hope. There it is. No matter what else drops away, I still have hope. As long as hope remains I can keep going.”

Stronger Lure for Prospective Home Buyers
Wall Street Journal
“Home prices and mortgage rates have fallen so far that the monthly cost of owning a home is more affordable than at any point in the past 15 years and is less expensive than renting in a growing number of cities.”

Giving thanks is not just for Thanksgiving!
Housing Zone
“That fact that you are still in the game is really amazing. We conduct business completely different than what we did in 2005, we take nothing for granted, and we have learned new skills and attitudes that will be the platform for our future success when our market returns to 2001 levels.”

• The end of the closed-off, one-purpose living room is coming to an end. What people want now is a large living space, with living, kitchen and dining rooms spilling in to each other.
• Older homes used to have a grand staircase in the front of the home, with a much simpler, utilitarian one in the back. But with the coming “silver tsunami” that second staircase is making way for an elevator. When people are too ill or infirm to take the stairs, it doesn’t matter that there are two sets.
• Instead of an office or library, a new trend is for a multipurpose room that can be used for working, doing homework, reading, paying bills, etc.
• A Jacuzzi in the bathroom can be wonderful, but how often is it really used? Most people use a shower for their cleaning purposes, so there are going to be more enhancements to that, such as steam.
• As the Wall Street Journal notes, “As the kitchen has opened up into the dining room, there’s less need for a separate, small table for breakfast.” What to do with that extra space? The sky is the limit but builders are seeing a desire for more outdoor space.

Prequalifying Clients
Qualified Remodeler
“There is an old saying that if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there. Similarly, in the remodeling industry, if you don’t know what your business focus is, any client will do. In today’s marketplace, where finding remodeling jobs can be a struggle, accepting clients you avoided in the past may be a necessary evil. However, a group of remodeling contractors in Cincinnati stresses the importance of staying true to your business and yourself.”

Apple’s Visionary Redefined Digital Age
New York Times
Use an iPad on the jobsite as many builders do? Take a moment to remember the driving creative force of Apple.

States With the Highest (and Lowest) Homeownership
24/7 Wall St.
“The dream of owning a home has become increasingly unattainable for many Americans, and the situation is not likely to improve soon, as the collapse of the housing market and the recession continue to take their toll. That is the disturbing conclusion to be drawn from the US Census Bureau’s newly released report ‘Housing Characteristics: 2010,’ an overview of the national home market at the end of the last decade. One of the highlights of the report is a list of the states that have the highest and lowest percentage of homes occupied by their owners. 24/7 Wall St.’s review of the data found that homeownership rates were high in thinly populated states and those with low home prices, while homeownership was low in states with expensive homes and large cities.”

It’s the classic pull-out-a-book-and-a-secret-room-is-revealed move!

This Arizona home has a secret room hidden by a staircase. To move the staircase, the homeowners use a remote control to lift it.

To get to this child’s secret room through a crawlspace hidden by a dresser, one of the clock’s hands is turned to 12:00.

Images courtesy of MSN Real Estate

9 tricks for creating a super model
HousingZone.com
“Believe it or not, if you look closely, you’ll see that some of the world’s most enduring super models have a few things in common with successful model homes.”

Summering in Style in Scandinavia
Wall Street Journal
“From the spectacular setting of Max Hansson’s seaside estate to secluded clearings in the middle of the forest, Gotland has become a prime destination for Sweden’s high-end second-home buyers and builders, who want to personalize their vacation settings.”

The New Customer Isn’t Different
Qualified Remodeler
“Everywhere you turn these days there is advice about how to handle the new (post-recession) customer. Be on your toes, on your knees, between your ears. But are they—the same folks you did business with before the recession—really that different? I wish the proponents of this new, improved customer handling would explain how and, more importantly, why these same people are somehow different now.”

But it’s not the only thing. Over at Boyce on Building, Boyce Thompson of BUILDER Magazine offers a few other ideas.

There’s the problem of too much choice. It’s no secret that it is a buyer’s market out there, but maybe there’s just too much available to make a decision. With a seemingly limitless supply of houses (and more becoming available every day), who can blame potential buyers for paralysis?

Thompson also brings up the green factor. Yes, it is something that is very important to homebuyers nowadays, but there is the struggle between offering basic, well-known things like ENERGY STAR appliances and offering green options that are unusual and really differentiate a home from others on the market.

And then there’s the uncertainty — will it get worse? If it does (the thought goes), there’s no need to buy now. After all, it would be nice to spend as little as possible. But if the market keeps getting worse, buying in a possibly declining neighborhood isn’t a prospect most potential homebuyers relish.

What do you think? Do you see these thoughts displayed with your clients, friends and neighbors? How should builders respond to these attitudes?

• Outdoor living areas: Are you paying more attention to things like porches and patios? An outdoor kitchen (from simple to grand) and a fireplace can add a whole new dimension for homeowners. Who doesn’t love an extra room in the great outdoors?
• Green features: Green is hot right now, but homeowners are demanding practical things like energy efficient windows and water and electricity-saving appliances. Showing that products meet federal ENERGY STAR standards will be important in attracting and informing consumers.
• Open kitchens: If the hearth is the heart of the home, it makes sense people want to be in it. Open kitchens allow that cozy feeling while allowing the cook some additional space to maneuver.
• Smaller homes: To go along with the green theme, smaller homes are easier to heat and cool, easier to clean and discourage the mindless filling of rooms.

Do you see these trends when you are building and remodeling?

But do people want to hear it? Daily 5  Remodel took a survey and found that remodelers most often ask, but the question needs to be delicately phrased. One remodeler who took the survey said: “I do not use the unfortunate expression ‘aging in place’ because I find very little graceful or complimentary associated with it. We ask questions and explore their needs, concerns and issues to help them determine what’s important for them to consider in making choices.”

Another one of Daily 5 Remodel’s survey respondents made the point that, with a perhaps misplaced sense of positivity, people don’t see themselves as needing any accommodations in their home: “When I asked them if THEY wanted univ. design features, the answer was always ‘no,’ but when I switched to asking, ‘Do you have any older relatives or friends who might benefit from accessible features?’ the response rate tripled.”

How do you as a remodeler guide your clients when thinking about universal design and aging in place? How do you highlight design features while gently emphasizing their usefulness in universal design? Do you see universal design and the aging population as a unique opportunity? Let us know in the comments!

7 Secrets to Improve Your Sales to Women Homeowners
Qualified Remodeler
“The Harvard Business Review called this the ‘female economy’ (September 2009). Time magazine called it the ‘sheconomy’ (Nov. 22, 2010). Whatever you call it, women are in a stronger position than ever to influence household spending. Selling to women is not the same as selling to men, but if you use the techniques that work well with women, you won’t hurt your sales to men.”

Foreclosures Are Down, but Not for Long
BUILDER
“Foreclosure activity fell dramatically in the first quarter of 2011, dropping 15% from the previous quarter and plunging 27% from where it stood in the first quarter of 2010. One in every 191 U.S. housing units received a filing during the period—the lowest level the nation has seen in three years. Unfortunately, these overly optimistic numbers won’t last long.”

Job-Site Dogs
Fine Homebuilding
“Start your week with a ‘woof’–visit the job-site dog gallery. Better yet, upload photos of your job-site pal.”