Investment propertyPutting Everyone On The Same Page for Quality Construction Standards
It stands to reason that if a builder wants to build a reputation on quality,
there should be some minimum standards that can be used as a yardstick.
Builders who value word-of-mouth buyer and REALTOR® sales referrals are
constantly looking for the reputation among these groups that their homes can
indeed stand the test of time with proper maintenance and buyer education.
When both homebuyers and homebuilders can be on the same page as to what
"industry standards" are, less conflict, happier homeowners, and fewer
lawsuits usually result.
How, then, do homebuilders hold themselves accountable for the homes they
build? "Horror" stories tell us of people who have been the unenviable
position of having to fight a builder who refuses to stand by its original
pledges to structural quality and durability of the components in its new
homes. But what standards do homebuilders use besides the local building code
requirements?
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Builder Book division has
just published the second edition of its already popular Residential
Construction Performance Guidelines, an updated and revised collection of
industry standards in homebuilding. This widely accepted resource was
designed and written with the assistance of builders and remodelers from all
over the U.S and is important as the only authoritative body of information
on how new and remodeled homes should perform under warranty.
The Guidelines, which have already been adopted by thousands of builders
since their introduction in 1996, are the industry"s most accepted reference
on how homes should be built. The book also has become an important tool for
managing customer expectations, forming a basis for a credible and successful
builder warranty program.
The new edition of the Guidelines includes 240 precepts in twelve major
categories of new residential construction and remodeling, literally covering
every aspect of construction. "The Guidelines define in plain English what
qualifies as acceptable construction, much to the benefit of builders and
their customers who often misunderstand the fine print of their contracts and
warranties," says Patrick O"Toole of Professional Builder Magazine.
Used as a reference, a resource and even a sales tool (when builders boast
that they not only meet, but exceed the Guidelines), many builders who have
used the book"s tenets as their standards find it invaluable. The NAHB makes
available two versions of the Guidelines; one for contractors and one for
consumers, in a "homeowners" reference version" format.
"In many places around the country, the publication"s first edition has
become the final authority in settling disputes between builders and home
owners," says NAHB vice-president and builder Robert R. Jones, who helped to
develop them. Jones" company, like others, uses the Guidelines in each of its
initial agreements with buyers, so that there are no misunderstandings later
on as to what is deemed both customary and acceptable in the construction of
their new homes.
Another yardstick industry tool introduced by the NAHB"s publishing arm is a
book called The Scopes of Work Program, which demonstrates how
standardization leads to improved quality, customer satisfaction and
profitability. Because of the explosive growth of the homebuilding industry
in recent years, more and more emphasis has been placed on raising the bar of
professionalism among homebuilders, putting in place systems that are
designed to keep them at above-par levels.
In the publication, industry veteran Linda Haas Davenport offers her
field-tested program as a way for builders to gain accountability from field
personnel and contractors, make sure each trade has fully completed its
handiwork, implement ways to reduce waste materials, control construction
costs and ultimately reduce warranty work.
In a recent NAHB press release announcing the program, its is acknowledged
that implementation of The Scopes of Work Program takes hard work and
dedication and a monetary commitment on the part of the builder, but the
rewards can translate into a bigger bottom line when all is said and done.
It is heartening to know that, although the building industry has experienced
phenomenal windfalls of profit over the past few years, many of the country"s
homebuilders have not fallen into an over-confident, complacent, or
laurel-resting mode, striving instead to continuously raise the standards to
which they hold themselves. And campaigns to improve new home construction,
embracing resources such as those mentioned here can ultimately benefit us,
as consumers.
For information on purchasing these books, go to www.nahb.com.