Do You Have to Ask? Yes!

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought I’d share some advice based on my experience of nearly 30 years of marriage: Asking the right questions of the right individuals helps alleviate disappointment, distress and even financial loss. This lesson rings true in a relationship… and in homebuilding. Let me explain.

My wife and I will celebrate 29 years of marriage this year and when we were dating, it seemed very important that I chose wisely on how to celebrate the holiday. What to buy? What to do? How much to spend? With each passing year, I learned what hit the mark and what missed it. I was playing the long game, so it was important to learn from my “misses,” and get it right the next time. Regardless of what you think of Valentine’s Day, many feel pressure to get it right. My advice? Don’t guess at what might hit the mark... Ask.

The same is true in homebuilding, only the pressure to get it right should feel even more intense. Afterall, our industry is delivering products that are expected to perform for decades. So, when your boss, your CEO, or your customer base is telling you to reduce the cost of your homes, rather than guess… Ask. Seems simple, right? But are you asking the right questions of the right people?

• Have you asked your Director of Customer Care: “What are the most frequently addressed warranty claims AND are these claims attributed to certain floor plans or buyer options?” 

• Have you asked your Director of Construction:“What are the plans, products, and options that create the most rework in the field AND which trades are driving up cycle times?” 

• Have you introduced yourself to your Risk Manager and asked: “How much of our profits are we paying out long after we hand over the keys to our customer AND what are we giving up this hard-earned money to fix?”

Asking these questions of these individuals should provide you with specific insight on how and where to reduce costs. Don’t guess… Ask. In fact, you may be surprised to find that making select strategic investments upfront will actually reduce costs overall in this long game of homebuilding.

And while you’re at it, if you’re playing the long game in the relationship aspect of your life, don’t forget to ask your valentine what they really want out of the holiday this year.