What does affect new home industry is lower wages and our jobs going to foreign countries. If people can't afford a home, then they don't buy and that directly effects housing industry.

Question 3.

What progressive processes are being implemented for more environmentally friendly and better insulated new homes? All concrete framing? (no wood) Other unique materials and approaches?

Master Builder & Developer's Reply:

As a Master Builder, we use current technology in building material. Concrete is outdated and has many environment problems. Our new homes are most environmentally friendly homes that you'll ever have built.

No wood is used except for molding and cabinets.

But problem is convincing buyer. We have access to material that replaces wood products, that are made up of recycled material that is vastly superior and looks more real than wood.

We have access to luxurious carpet that is made from recycled plastic soda bottles. We have access to recycled paint that has no out gassing. Recycled roofs that have a 20 year warranty. Our homes have an R-70+ rating. Meaning less energy required for heating and cooling.

There are 'traditionalists' and there are 'innovative clients' - all we can do is educate and then clients will benefit and so will environment.

Question 4.

What changes are being implemented to improve customer service to new home buyers? (My daughter is buying a Hovnanian home for a fraction of my last home purchase, yet she is getting a weekly status call from her new home sales representative!)

Master Builder & Developer's Reply:

This depends upon your builder. In our case we provide our buyers, investors and developers with daily video updates. They log into their account on our site and site supervisor walks them through what was completed for that day and what is scheduled for next day.

Our clients have video documentation on their property. We also provide service after sale. If three years after purchase, neighbor throws a ball through window or cat destroys carpet -- all buyer has to do is log on to their account.

They tell us what needs to be replaced or repaired and in what room and we can do it almost immediately, because everything is in our database about home.

In our case, we use current technology and one of reasons why we are both profitable and successful is that we keep abreast to new technology and want our buyers and developers want in their homes.

Question 3.

Is it reasonable for us to ask our builder to identify his subcontractors and allow us to talk with primary subs before we contract (and after)?

Master Builder Replies

It is reasonable, however, not very realistic. Subs come in and out of a job site. If one is not available another one is called in.

Instead, you may want to concentrate on ensuring builder has proper permits and insurance for building. Especially for workman's comp and for liability.

What few people realize is that they can be held accountable if builder doesn't have correct insurance. Let's say that a child comes on to site after builder has left. Decides to climb to roof and jump. Guess who's liable? Check references of others he's built for.

Question 4.

What do you, as builder, expect homeowner to do (other than to pay you as and when agreed).

Master Builder Replies

As builder, we expect home buyer to be reasonable and realistic in their expectations. We have made is easy as possible to work with us. We can provide financing required.

We can provide Realtor to assist you to finding ideal location. We can tell you appraised value. And, we can help you find an Interior Designer to help you come up with a visual floor plan.

The biggest problems that most builders run into is when home buyer to either change what has been agreed to or is unrealistic in what they want. This is why we have our home buyers sit down with an Interior Designer.

The ASID can sit down with you and help you visualize exactly what you want and help you make any compromises you may have to make.

It is very expensive for to make changes. Let's say that you wanted a 17x20 kitchen. Sounds like a big kitchen. Probably too big. However, once cabinets and appliances start coming in you realize that it's too small and want kitchen to be bigger.

This may cost you an extra $50k to make those changes. You can save yourself a small fortune by first working with ASID on floor space, storage, placement, design, and style.