Building Business

Survey: 64% of Remodelers Expect Business to Increase in 2011

By all accounts, 2010 was a year of mixed signals for brands in the housing, construction and the building products sector. Despite conflicting indicators, remodelers are viewing the immediate short-term with renewed optimism. According to a new survey from Housingzone.com, 64 percent of remodelers expect business to increase during 2011, and only 15 percent expect it to decrease. This survey, conducted annually, found more optimism today than any point since the height of the housing boom! While acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding foreclosures, Housingzone.com states that positive economic indicators such increasing consumer confidence and slowly decreasing unemployment are playing strong roles in remodelers’ rosy outlooks. 

@NeilAndrewJames

The Coolest, Most Innovative Green Building Products of 2010

Winning market share in the building products industry isn’t that heard. Just converge stunning design, innovative thinking, strong utility and sustainable efficiency into a value unmatched by your competitors. Pretty easy, right? It was for these 16 products identified by Preston Koerner in the article for Jetson Green, 16 Green Building Innovations of 2010. Our favorites? PowerPly solar panels by Lumeta, Inc. are backed with an adhesive and are applied directly to the roof, reducing installation time and material costs. Plumen 001 light bulbs by Hulger last eight times longer than regular incandescents and saves 80 percent on energy bills. Especially cool is the eMonitor whole house energy monitor by PowerHouse Dynamics which provides electricity use, cost and carbon footprint information in real-time. 

@NeilAndrewJames

Green Builders Ignoring Recession as Business Soars

No different from any other industry, the construction sector overall has been affected by the current recession. Despite this fact, the green building market is on the rise - in a big way. As Earthandindustry.com reports in a new article, Despite Recession, Green Building Soars in U.S., green building represented 25 percent of all new construction activity in 2010 and that the value of green building construction starts was up 50 percent. And the growth spurt still expected to rise. Not only is it positive to know that green companies are thriving in this market, it will be a tremendous benefit to our environment. 

@JoniArtz

Consumers Growing Warier of Foreclosed Properties

In many cases, foreclosed properties epitomize the notion of “too good to be true.” The value proposition of a foreclosed home sold at a fraction of its market value dissipates quickly as homeowners discover the true extent of restoration costs. A new Trulia/Reality Trac survey, as chronicled by Alison Rice in her article for Builder Online, Americans Become More Wary of Buying a Foreclosed Home, finds that 81 percent of consumers believe there are downsides to purchasing a distressed property. Furthermore, an increasing number, 54 percent, acknowledge purchases of distressed properties as risky – up five percentage points from the last survey. This doesn’t mean builders can discard to threat to their business posed by foreclosures, however. Forty-nine percent were still “at least somewhat likely” to consider purchasing a distressed home, up four percentage points from the previous survey. 

@NeilAndrewJames

Seven Green Building Predictions for 2011

With each year, not only have green technologies grown, but so has consumer demand for sustainability. So where is green going next year? Mitchell Funk and the team at Green Building Pro has released their second annual list of green building predictions in the article Green Trends in 2011. Among their predictions, Green Building Pro foresees strong growth in Building Information Modeling (BIM) which provides designs for more sustainable buildings and helps optimize construction practices for efficiency. In addition, Green Building Pro predicts a wider variety of options for builders to finance energy efficient improvements, including new tax credits, utility rebates and state grants. 

@NeilAndrewJames

What Will Consumers Be Buying For Kitchen Remodels in 2011?

After several dismal years, all signs point to a slow yet sure loosening of consumer purse strings with respect to kitchen remodels. But no matter how flush they are with cash, they’re still only going to buy one floor and one countertop. So what are kitchen products are they most interested in? A recent survey by Kitchen Cabinet Kings as chronicled by Eric Vasquez in the article Kitchen Remodeling Trends 2011 has the answers. The survey explored the latest trends in numerous categories including cabinetry, flooring, faucets, sinks and major appliances. What surprised us? Stainless steel was identified by 80 percent of participants as the trendiest cabinet material and induction cooktops were rated the trendiest cooking option. 

@NeilAndrewJames

3/4 of Business Owners Would Rather File Taxes Than Set Up Search Marketing Campaign

It takes a special type of mind to enjoy setting up a pay-per-click (PPC) search marketing campaign. Apparently, that type of mind is incongruous with the minds of most small business owners. According to an article from Pat Curry for Builder Online, Pay-Per-Click 101, three-quarters of small business owners would rather file their taxes than set up a search marketing campaign. For those who dare brave setting up a campaign, Curry details the basic concepts of PPC for builders including the importance of keywords, ad copy and tracking. To cite the benefits, Curry details an Atlanta-based builder who used PPC to drive eighty percent of the site’s new visitors and ten percent of the site’s total traffic. 

@NeilAndrewJames

Market for Quality of Leads, Not Quantity

It doesn’t matter whether the target market for your building products are wholesalers, distributors, purchasing agents, or even the end consumers. The ultimate outcome of your marketing efforts should be leads and sales. But are sales better served by more numerous or qualified leads? The most successful builders are emphasizing the latter according to Lauren Hunter in an article for Hanley Wood, It’s Who You Know. According to Hunter, several builders and remodelers have found success by de-emphasizing traditional media tactics in favor of relationship marketing efforts such as social media and event sponsorship. Although the phone rings less frequently, advances in digital tracking has better enabled marketers to identify which channels are producing sales. Marketers should still maintain a traditional presence however, Hunter says, lest complete radio silence leads prospects to believe you’ve gone out of business. 

@NeilAndrewJames

Is Your Building Products Brand Niche Enough?

You can’t be all things to all people. If you stand for everything, you stand for nothing. The sheer number of clichés articulating the pitfalls of mass appeal should serve as a warning to every marketer dismissive of specialization. Mark Buckshon expands on this notion in an article for Construction Marketing Ideas, Construction Marketing: The Mass and the Niche. Buckshon argues the appeal of specialized services and niche interests is paradoxical in that, compared to mass appeal, there is more opportunity for growth and development. Although messaging designed to appeal to larger audiences may be easier to understand, it is far more difficult to cut through the clutter and engage prospects in a meaningful way. Buckshon implores marketers to better understand the needs of their target market to discover the unique niches that appeal to their heart, emotions, and most importantly, their wallets.

@NeilAndrewJames

Consumers Shifting Dollars From Remodeling to Maintenance and Repairs

With the housing hangover seemingly in the rearview mirror, consumers are once again putting dollars into their domiciles. But are these dollars going towards upkeep or upgrades? Sentiment appears to favor the latter as reported in a new article for Kitchen & Bath Business, Survey Shows Shifts in Remodeling Projects. After a strong start in the first quarter, demand for additions and remodeling has dropped 18 percent on a national basis, led by a 33 percent decrease in bathroom remodeling. So where is the demand going? The survey reports that 46 percent of consumers have waited over a year to invest in high-cost maintenance and repair services. Sixty-two percent of homeowners reported the need to avoid further upkeep as the primary factor in the decision to eschew remodeling in favor of repairing. 

@NeilAndrewJames