Quality is No Accident
The best builders approach it systematically What separates great builders from good ones? A lot of things do, but part of the answer is that great builders are obsessive about small details. And taken together, those small…
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Built for Success
Quality homes and happy customers don't happen by accident. The best builders have systems to ensure those outcomes. If you have a complete set of construction documents, including accurate architectural and structural plans…
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Change Management
Post-contract changes need not be a problem, but they absolutely need a well-thought-through process. Professionals who build fantastic homes for satisfied customers share some important traits. Two of these are an obsession…
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How to Use Online Contractor Reviews
Trust? Maybe. Verify? Definitely. A September 2011 Business Week article reported on a Texas home improvement contractor that hired a writer to post 200 positive reviews on sites like Yelp and Google. The story went…
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A Touch of Drama
Outdoor lighting is a real art, and the best result comes from planning ahead. A beautiful custom home represents a huge investment of time, care, and money. Someone who has decided to make that investment most likely wants…
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Raising the Performance Bar
The best builders are engineering their homes for health and comfort Efficiency, health and comfort—a great new home delivers all of those. But creating that home using today's construction methods takes more knowledge…
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Thinking About Appliances
Take the time to get the models that work best for you. We find that most homeowners like to take plenty of time researching their kitchen appliances. And, many of them also want some advice when making the final choices. In…
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Making Sense of Allowances
For best results, narrow down the options up front Allowances--that is, budgeting general costs for items before the specific items are chosen--are a fact of life on many projects. Some homeowners have trouble making decisions…
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Is Voice Control for You?
More and more home systems are adding voice control technology. Let's look at the pros and cons. The star of this year's International Builder's Show was a smart lady by the name of Alexa. As you know, she's the personal…
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