Options and Upgrades

  • A Downplayed Upgrade

    Hardwood floors and countertops are among the most apparent product categories when it comes to opportunities to glean profits through options and upgrades. How about carpet upgrades?

     
  • See It Now

    For years, home builders have been looking for a reliable software tool that would let home buyers view home plans and models and select options in 3-D and then integrate with a builder's back-office system.

     
  • Open and Shutter Cases

    THE BAD NEWS ANNOUNCED EARLIER this year is that we may be facing serious hurricane activity for the next 15 to 20 years. This means a vicious cycle of destruction and cleanup for those along the coasts, but it also means harsher weather for inland dwellers as well.

     
  • Chain Reaction

    Six industry leaders debate ‘disconnects' separating manufacturers and builders.

     
  • Night Lights

    ALMOST EVERY PRODUCTION builder offers upgrades on the decorative lanterns that light up garages and doorways. But when it comes to low-voltage landscape lighting, buyers are often left in the dark.

     
  • Ticket To Ride

    TY CHIVERS WATCHES THE real estate frenzy in South Florida and remembers a similar scene from another era.

     
  • Clothes Case

    THE CLOSET IS A PERPETUAL issue for Americans: Some can't seem to find enough space for their clothes, skis, and camping gear. Cincinnati-based Schulte Corp. has a solution for those caught in a closet conundrum: A Web-based design tool that allows consumers and builders to customize their space in...

     
  • She's Got The Look

    CHAD AND JAN WILSON HAVE been married for 16 years. They were college sweethearts. He's an electrical engineer; she's a marketing executive.

     
  • Deere Home

    IN A HOT HOUSING MARKET, A BUILDER must find ways to stay ahead of pack. Raleigh, N.C.–based St. rence Homes has launched a program to do just that. The company has partnered with Moline, Ill.–based lawn care manufacturer John Deere to build a “John Deere Signature Community” of upscale homes.

     
  • Online Payoff

    PAGEANTRY COMMUNITIES HAS A WEB STORY few builders can tell. Bill Hoover, Pageantry's Nevada division president, says the company's upgrade sales increased fourfold in the first year the home builder used Options Online, a Web-based options selections and construction management system. Pageantry...

     
  • Broadband City

    All RidgeGate homes will feature a fiber-to-the-home backbone that can support home entertainment options that run more effectively over broadband.

     
  • Kitchen Couture

    Selling cabinets and countertops is both an art and a science.

     
  • Buyers Floored

    Thanks to innovations among tile makers, options in flooring upgrades continue to increase all along the price spectrum.

     
  • Opportunity Knocks

    Buyers inquires about home-technology solutions presents five opportunities for builders to sell.

     
  • Retail Intervention

    The Estridge Home Experience offers the public the opportunity to see the latest in home décor trends, learn about Estridge communities, observe the options and upgrades process, and buy something wonderful for their home

     
  • Brains and Brawn

    LAST YEAR, FIRST HOME Builders of Florida was struggling with too much of a good thing. Sales were soaring, and, coupled with significant price increases, so were the company's revenues. Yet, despite the record demand, the Fort Myers, Fla.–based builder couldn't find the trades it needed to close...

     
  • Insurance Policy

    Association Health Plans represent true market reform designed to reduce health-care costs by giving small businesses an alternative to purchasing coverage from a large carrier.

     
  • Driving Force

    NEW-HOME BUYERS ARE FOCUSED ON ENTERTAINMENT and communications—and they want the latest flat-panel monitors and audio systems to blend seamlessly into their homes, according to the “CEA/NAHB 2005 Home Builder Study,” the third annual study on home technology jointly sponsored by the Consumer...

     
  • Virtual Care

    New Surroundings looks like a lot of builder Web sites that offer community information. But what sets it apart are two things: its interactive qualities and its depth.

     
  • CSI: Technology: Follow the Money

    By tweaking costs and staffing levels, builders can add revenue to the bottom line, keep growing with the same amount of people, and, in some cases, put experienced building industry people in more productive jobs.