Eight Employee Retention Strategies
Preventing turnover is especially vital in tight labor markets. But, with competitors courting the most talented employees, how do you keep yours from migrating?

Hiring smart is the basis of staffing your company with dependable, productive people. Beyond that, it takes more than good salaries to keep employees loyal to your company. “Money is about the fifth or six item on the list,” says Lucy Katz, vice president of customer service and client development at Katz Builders in Austin, Texas.

Select this link to read eight proven employee retention strategies from housing industry professionals. You’ll get some ideas on how to protect your work force and your bottom line.

Need Business Management Tools?

Want more articles like the one linked above? Just go to www.nahb.org/biztools, log on as a member, and you’ll have instant access to more than 190 business management resources. Get guidance on accounting & financial management, business strategy, computers & information technology, customer service, human resources, and more.

Resources are added often. Bookmark www.nahb.org/biztools so that you can go directly to these vital business management resources.

Thank You to Our Sponsors – Intuit MasterBuilder and Wells Fargo

Business of Building e/Source would like to thank its sponsors – Intuit MasterBuilder and Wells Fargo.

Court Decision Helps Cap Storm Water Permit Compliance Costs

A recent court decision by the United States Court of Appeals’ Seventh Circuit rejected threats to a federal permit that is vitally important to home builders and home buyers. The Construction General Permit, which regulates storm water discharges during the home building process, is viewed by builders as the most efficient available option for achieving the strict requirements for complying with federal storm water rules.

“This is a critical victory for home builders because lawsuits like these eat away at housing affordability,” said David Wilson, president of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a custom home builder from Ketchum, Idaho. “Builders want to protect the environment, but we do not want more layers of regulation that cost time and money to fulfill and do little to protect the environment.” Compliance with existing storm water requirements already adds from $1,400 to $4,500 to the cost of every lot, he said.

In a unanimous decision, the court ruled that the Construction General Permit does not violate the Clean Water Act’s requirements for public notice and public hearing.  The court also held that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which issues the permit, complied with requirements of the Endangered Species Act and dismissed the remaining permit challenges, saying the petitioner lacked standing.

The Construction General Permit is used by builders in five states and as a model for the majority of states that regulate storm water discharge. While it is the most streamlined permitting mechanism available to builders, the permit still involves lengthy steps to ensure environmental protection, including filing a Notice of Intent, developing an implementing a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, undergoing inspections and submitting a Notice of Termination. 

The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), one of the petitioners, requested that the Notice of Intent and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan for each permit be made publicly available. The Court ruled in favor of the EPA, saying this would make the general permit “inconsistent with Congress’ intent” and “no different from the process for obtaining individual permits.” NRDC’s claim that the permit violates the Endangered Species Act’s Section 7 was also rejected, in part because the Fish and Wildlife Service (which oversees the Endangered Species Act) agreed that “issuance of the General Permit was not likely to adversely affect those species and habitats.”

EPA defended the permit, and the National Association of Home Builders and several other builders’ groups aligned as intervenor-defendents.

“While we believe there is still room for improvement in the storm water permitting program, we are relieved that no additional permitting costs will be added to the cost of housing, which is already loaded down with fees,” said Wilson.

Get the New Edition of RCPG

Reserve your copy of the newly updated Residential Construction Performance Guidelines, Third Edition (which will be available July 2005). This invaluable resource includes 50 new guidelines, remodeling-specific content, and more, to help your customers understand the basics of a high-performing home and how it should perform during the warranty period. It’s a must-have for every builder and remodeler. Use this link to pre-order your copy today.

Does Your Business Measure Up?

Get your copy of the 2004 Cost of Doing Business Study and you’ll instantly see how your financial performance stacks up against the rest of the industry. The publication gives home builders a rare glimpse at other builders’ books by providing data about profitability, cost of sales, and expenses from hundreds of home builders across the country.

In this 2004 edition, you’ll learn how to develop cost control systems and get tips on cutting cycle time. Start working more profitably by ordering it today.

Save More With BuilderBooks.com Rewards

BuilderBooks.com is offering its first-ever Rewards program to provide privileges, savings, and rewards to its loyal customers.

Launched at the 2005 International Builders’ Show, the program is available for a $9.95 annual fee.

Reap These Benefits

• Reward Discounts: Receive a 5% discount at IBS and selected local and regional trade shows.
• Special Offers: Receive exclusive deals available only to Rewards program participants via e-mail.
• Free Rewards: Show your Rewards card at the BuilderBooks.com store at the International Builders' Show and at selected local or regional tradeshows to receive free gifts. 
• Notification of New Products and Services: Stay up to date on new books and resources for the building industry.
• Quarterly Drawings: Every time you shop during the quarter, your name will be entered into a drawing to win valuable gifts.
• VIP Status: Your status is automatically upgraded to the Gold Level when you spend $2,500 annually. You and a guest will receive access to the BuilderBooks.com Rewards Lounge at the 2006 International Builders’ Show. Enjoy complimentary drinks and more.

Join the Rewards program today and save on the very books and services that build your business. Click here to start saving.

Business Opportunities From NAHB’s Councils and Departments

Share Sales and Marketing Ideas With Your Sales Team

Now you can read archived articles from Sales + Marketing Ideas magazine, published by NAHB’s National Sales and Marketing Council, in the Knowledge @ SMI section of http://www.smimagazine.com/. Featuring articles on Design Trends, Market Research, Merchandising, and Sales Management, Knowledge @ SMI is a great resource for you and your sales team.

While browsing Knowledge @ SMI, you can also purchase a subscription online.  See http://www.smimagazine.com/ for more information.

Expand Your Niche

Want to reach baby boomers and active adults, one of the largest and most affluent groups of new home consumers?  Join the Seniors Housing Council to discover how to capitalize on opportunities within the fastest-growing segment of the housing industry – a market that is expected to hit 100 million by 2012.

Council members include builders, developers, architects, marketers, sales professionals, products and services providers, and others trying to break into the 50+ housing market. Your membership in the Seniors Housing Council will keep you up-to-date with the quarterly magazine, Seniors Housing News. Find out the latest research and other valuable information and learn from experts at Building for Boomers & Beyond: Seniors Housing Symposium, the Council’s annual conference. Gain recognition by participating in the Best of Seniors Housing Awards program, which honors design and marketing excellence for the mature market.

For more information or to join, please visit www.nahb.org/seniors.

Participate in the Concrete Technologies Tour

Sponsored by NAHB’s Concrete Home Building Council, the Concrete Technologies Tour takes place June 26-28 in Kansas City, Mo. This brand-new event will give builders, designers, and other residential construction professionals a broad view of the regional differences in production and building trends, a working knowledge of all types of cement-based materials, and an understanding of how to implement current industry trends into their own businesses. 

Select this link to register online. For more information, visit www.nahb.org/concretetour.

Enter the Mexican Housing Market

Attend the 3^rd International Housing Conference of the Americas and gain critical initial contacts with professionals in Mexico’s burgeoning residential construction industry. 

The conference will be held November 3-5 in Mexico City at the Four Seasons hotel. The conference features six educational sessions, a property tour of higher-end housing, exhibits, and multiple networking opportunities with industry leaders and government officials.

As an added bonus, the first 100 registrants to the 3^rd International Housing Conference of the Americas will receive a complimentary registration to the 2006 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Florida.

Select this link to learn more about this successful conference series. Questions? Contact NAHB International at 800-368-5242, x8419.

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Member Advantage: Get GM Discount Pricing on More Than 80 GM Vehicles

 GM is offering preferred supplier discount pricing on more than 80 General Motors vehicles, including Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, GMC, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Saturn, HUMMER (except H1), and Saab passenger cars, light duty trucks, vans and SUVs as part of NAHB’s Member Advantage discount program.

Through the program:

• NAHB members get Preferred Supplier Pricing on all eight GM nameplates.
• NAHB members can realize the benefits of other GM offers in addition to the supplier price.
• NAHB members will receive their authorization codes and program details via direct mail from GM.

For complete details, go to www.gmfleet.com/nahb. The GM Preferred Supplier Pricing program runs through Jan. 3, 2006.

Other Member Advantage Discounts

For the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, go to http://memberadvantage.nahb.org/. Or visit http://www.nahb.org/ to explore the full range of benefits associated with membership in your local, state, and national home builders associations.