Modern Home Builders Issue 105 April 2021

MODERN

HOME BUILDERS

Issue 105 www.modernhb.com

BEST PRACTICE FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS

A better way

Embracing innovation and technology, The Corbo Group is a complete builder – from concept to completion Home workspaces Owners expect more from their homes than ever before, as they look for functionality that meets the needs of today’s lifestyles

Safety on site When it comes to workplace and site safety, one area that must not be overlooked is the importance of employees’ eye health

EDITOR’S LETTER Chairman Andrew Schofield Managing Director Joe Woolsgrove Editor - Libbie Hammond libbie@schofieldpublishing.com Assistant Editor - Will Daynes Staff Writer - Alex McDonald Art Editor/Production Manager - Fleur Daniels Art Editor - David Howard Advertising Designer - Rebecca Side Sales Director Alasdair Gamble Operations Director Philip Monument Operations Manager Natalie Griffiths Research Managers Ryan Finn, Rachel Harper, Jo-Ann Jeffery, Ben Richell, Kieran Shukri Editorial Researchers Adam Blanch, Mark Cowles Jeff Goldenberg, Mark Kafourous Tarjinder Kaur-D’Silva, James Page Wendy Russell, Richard Saunders Advertising Sales Johanna Bailey, Mike Berger, Alex Hartley, Dave King, Reid Lingle, Theresa McDonald, Ibby Mundhir, Sam Surrell

Hello and welcome to the April edition of Modern Home Builders.

The biggest news that I want to share with you is that our website is now live! Found at www.modernhb.com, the site is where you can see the fascinating companies that we are proud to highlight, as well as our monthly features and news. I am looking forward to building the site content as the year progresses, and of course – if you would like your own story shared on there, then do get in touch!

A message that many of our clients have been discussing with us is the demand from their own customers for new workspace options in the home. As the coronavirus pandemic has forced people to stay indoors and work from their houses, they have come to realize that changes need to be made to their environments, or that they need an entirely new approach!

Our feature on page 4 from Blythe Building Company makes some suggestions on what to consider when creating the ideal home office – I know that I would love to be working from some of these wonderful creations!

Libbie Hammond

Web Sales web@schofieldpublishing.com

EDITOR

libbie@schofieldpublishing.com

Subscriptions i.kidd@schofieldpublishing.com

© 2021 Schofield Publishing Ltd Schofield Publishing - Corporate Head Office

ON THE COVER Our cover story this month is one of

Cringleford Business Centre, 10 Intwood Road,

determination and evolution. From building

Cringleford, Norwich, NR4 6AU, U.K.

his own home with no experience, to creating

T: (312) 854-0123 T: +44 (0)1603 274130

a thriving and modern business Ralph Corbo

MODERN

HOME BUILDERS

Issue 105 www.modernhb.com

BEST PRACTICE FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS

had such an interesting story to tell. It was a real privilege to speak to him and get the inside

Finelight Media 207 E. Ohio Street, Suite 351, Chicago, IL 60611

T: (312) 854-0123

story on the formation of The Corbo Group, and the wonderful homes it builds. Take a look on page 52.

A better way

Embracing innovation and technology, The Corbo Group is a complete builder – from concept to completion

Please note: The opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers within this publication do not necessarily coincide with those of the editor and publisher. Every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information published is accurate, and correct at time of writing, but no legal responsibility for loss occasioned by the use of

Home workspaces Owners expect more from their homes than ever before, as they look for functionality that meets the needs of today’s lifestyles

Safety on site When it comes to workplace and site safety, one area that must not be overlooked is the importance of employees’ eye health

such information can be accepted by the publisher. All rights reserved. The contents of the magazine are strictly copyright, the property of Schofield Publishing, and may not be copied, stored in a retrieval system, or reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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INSIDE THIS 4

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ISSUE FEATURES

4 HOMESPACE WORK OPTIONS Covid-19 has altered the working landscape, and that has led to increasing demand for more functional home workspace options

8 SAFETY ON SITE Eye safety is a commonly overlooked area

HOME WORKSPACE OPTIONS

on a construction site. Here are some measures you can take to prevent eye injuries

10 LIGHTING As we remain under the cloud of a pandemic, Nulty predicts a host of likely

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alterations that the lighting industry will seek to adopt

16 PAINT A highly experienced, independent testing service provider can help manufacturers to ensure their paint products conform to expectations

18 CASE STUDY RC Willey Home Furnishings has improved efficiency and customer experience with

CASE STUDY

TrueCommerce’s cloud-based supply chain management platform

22 SAFETY Garney Construction recently added a new element to its already robust safety programs by testing new wearable technology smart devices

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24 CELEBRITY HOMES MHB’s monthly report on the real estate of the rich and famous – two major stars from different fields have their homes on the market – action hero Tom Cruise, and baseball professional, Derek Jeter

NEWS 14 UPDATES News and information from the construction and home building industry

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INTERSTATE HOMES

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SAFETY ON SITE

6

LIGHTING

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INTEGRITY HOMES

4

AZURE NORTHWEST HOMES

52

THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION®

COVER STORY

THE CORBO GROUP MODERNHB.COM

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Changing needs As Covid-19 altered the working landscape, increasing numbers of people had to start doing their jobs from home, and this has created a demand for more functional home workspace options says Lee Blythe

W

Buyers turned to building new homes. This

the kids, home gyms, larger pantries, in-law

spending more time in their

has created an incredible boom for new home

or Millennial suites, and large outdoor living

homes than ever before

construction that we expect to continue

spaces with fireplaces or fire pits.

in our lifetimes, people’s

through 2021 and beyond.

ith millions of people

expectations from their homes has taken

Buyers are out in force seeking bigger, more functional homes to accommodate their new

a dramatic cultural shift. Coupled with

remotely, we are seeing people moving from

historically low interest rates, many people

big cities to suburban and rural areas and from

are motivated to make the move to a new

apartments to single-family homes. People

home.

want more space indoors and outdoors so

The demand for new workspace options

they don’t feel cooped up while spending

Life has changed dramatically for most people

more time at home.

over the last 13 months. More adults in the

Largely due to the uncertainty with Covid-19, most owners of pre-existing homes decided not to place their homes on the

4

Now that more people than ever can work

Owners expect more from their homes

lifestyles and needs.

workforce than ever need to be able to work

market. This reduced the inventory across the

than ever now. Popular features in the past

from home for a few weeks at a time (ie:

country.

year include home offices, study spaces for

during a quarantine period) or permanently.

MODERNHB.COM

HOME WORKSPACE OPTIONS

Multi-functional spaces

with each other when they are having

concept floor plans, no extra rooms beyond

Some people prefer multifunctional

simultaneous online meetings.

the basics, and small storage areas are no

spaces that can serve several purposes. For

longer functional for millions of people.

example, people may want a large laundry

Zoom rooms

room with a homeschooling space for

Small, soundproofed rooms that provide

offices, nook offices, and clearing out a corner

the kids and a workspace for themselves

privacy for online meetings are gaining in

of a bedroom or living room because most

nearby. Or they may want a kitchen with a

popularity.

began working at home without any notice.

handy adjacent office space as shown in the

They had to do the best with the space

picture.

Designs that used to work, like open-

People have tried to make do with closet

they had. But if they get a chance to design

Zoom backgrounds Buyers want built-in cabinets and professional,

their dream home, what they want is more

Dedicated office spaces

artistic backgrounds to showcase on their

workspace for the home that is as functional

Buyers want rooms that are specifically

online calls.

as their workspace was previously when they

designed to be home offices with a

commuted to a corporate office.

closeable door. Generally, they want a wall of beautiful built-in cabinets/bookshelves

What to consider when creating the ideal home office

Trends in the Columbia, South Carolina Area

and often a built-in custom desk, as well.

We suggest asking yourself questions so

Home offices used to be places where people

Dual offices

workload and your family’s situation perfectly.

paid a few bills or looked at a few emails

Many times, owners need two offices so that

• What do you need most from the space?

now and then. Now, home offices need to

both homeowners have their own private,

o Privacy during online meetings

be completely functional spaces for working

dedicated office space. Older, pre-existing

o Access to the kitchen to cook while

full-time and long-term.

homes don’t generally have this design so

people turn to custom home design.

They need enough space between

the two offices that they don’t interfere

Some of the biggest trends we have seen over the past year for home office spaces in custom homes include the following.

you can tailor your office space to fit your

you work o A professional-looking place for customers to meet with you in person o Storage for inventory and files MODERNHB.COM

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o The ability to monitor children as they have school at home

• How often will you be using the space?

• How many people need private offices

• How do you expect your office needs to

and/or study space in the family?

o A backyard office that is separate from the main house

• How many square feet of space can you

evolve in the future in one year, five years, or ten years?

set aside for your office?

o Large flat workspace

• What features do you need to be as • What kind of work do you do?

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o Good ergonomics

productive as possible?

Predictions about what homeowners are looking for

o Computer work

o Natural light

We believe home office spaces will be

o Phone calls/Video conferencing

o An indoor garden

considered a must-have going forward. Clients

o In-person meetings

o A custom aquarium

are looking for ease-of-use, aesthetics, and

o Mostly fieldwork

o A beautiful view

practicality.

MODERN HOME BUILDERS

HOME WORKSPACE OPTIONS

the past to provide a spark of personality and warmth to the space.

We predict that finished basements will also grow in popularity as a perfect location for dual offices and study spaces for the children.

With glass walls or windows between the rooms, parents can keep an eye on children as they play, homeschool, or learn at home via virtual school.

In areas where basements aren’t feasible, backyard offices/schooling spaces/cottages will likely grow to meet the increasing expectations people will have to meet all of their needs for living, resting, working, playing, relaxing, and exercising at home.

Conclusion Even when the pandemic is long gone, we expect the work-from-home trend to continue. Corporations and world leaders are encouraging people to work from home more and more. The technology to do so continues to improve. Many companies realize their employees can be just as productive from home, if not more so.

Global pandemics shape architectural styles and trends. Cholera outbreaks in the 1800s brought us wide front porches, sanitation, and underground sewage systems. The Spanish flu of 1918-1920 brought us the powder room. Covid-19 is bringing workers home changing our lifestyles and home design for the foreseeable future.

Custom builders will continue to lead the Dual offices will become a greater necessity

and study space design in the home.

in the future as more families have two adults

Custom built-in cabinets and shelves are

(or more, with multigenerational households)

here to stay but with brighter colors than in

charge to help homebuyers design houses to perfectly meet their changing lifestyle needs as we discover the future together. F

working remotely.

Sliding glass walls and movable wall partitions will likely become more common to create flexible spaces. Then people can have the benefits of the open floor plan but also be able to create more privacy when needed.

Soundproofing and acoustic doors will

Lee Blythe, is the owner of Blythe Building Company. Blythe Building Company knows that building a custom home is not just construction. A home is someone’s dream, where people make memories and spend their lives. It takes great pride in creating your dream home using classic design, the finest materials, quality craftsmanship, and the latest amenities. https://blythebuildingcompany.com/

become even more important for home office MODERN HOME BUILDERS

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More than meets the eye Protect your employees’ eye health and your bottom line says Kirk Lauterback

D

espite the serious financial and

permanent vision loss or significant time away

health ramifications that can

from work. However, the right eye protection

Implement a company policy on safety eyewear

result from an eye injury in the

could have prevented or lessened the severity

While it may seem sufficient to advise

workplace, eye safety is one of the

of 90 per cent of the injuries commonly

employees to wear eye protection,

experienced in the workplace (AOA).

unfortunately, it often takes a serious injury for

most commonly overlooked aspects on the job. According to the American Optometric

employers to instate an official policy. Having

Association (AOA), nearly 2000 US workers

these injuries often end up costing businesses

a policy requiring employees to wear safety

sustain job-related injuries every day, primarily

in down time, liability costs, and indirect fees.

glasses is the best way to ensure consistent

as a result of wearing no eye protection or

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the total

use and avoid costs down the road. Protective

wearing the wrong kind of eye protection.

direct costs of eye injuries to businesses to

eyewear is just as important as a hard hat and

Items such as projectiles, foreign objects,

be $467 million a year, and with indirect costs

reflective gear when working in hazardous

chemicals, infectious diseases, exposure

such as legal fees, judgements, and training

environments.

to steam, ultraviolet rays, and infrared

new workers, the number jumps to more than

radiation are all sources of common injuries

$934 million a year.

in the workplace (AOA). In addition, 61 per

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Along with physical harm to employees,

That’s a lot of unnecessary pain for

Educate your employees From a formal company training on eye safety

cent of these eye injuries are sustained in

employees and money lost for employers for

to a simple posted reminder at entrances to

construction, manufacturing, carpentry, and

something so easily avoidable. Here are a few

a facility or work room, employee education

trade work (The Vision Council). While some

measures you can take to prevent eye injuries

not only helps ensure follow-through, but also

eye injuries are minor, others can result in

at your business or job site.

proper usage. It’s also important to dispel the

MODERNHB.COM

SAFETY ON SITE

step you can take toward greater eye safety

Talk to your safety eyewear supplier

in the workplace. Doing so will help them

With the emergence of new options for

identify individual ways to protect their

protective eyewear and endless ways to

eyes and prioritize their overall eye health.

customize it, connecting with your safety

Since overall eye health can contribute to

eyewear supplier is a valuable means in

workplace injuries (e.g., grogginess, outdated

finding the best product for protecting

prescriptions, or eye infections), encouraging

your employees from eye injuries. Every

employees to talk with their eye doctor is

workplace - even if it falls under the larger

another way to avoid injuries to them and

umbrella of construction, welding, or other

costs to you.

trades - will have unique demands when

their eye doctor, as this is another valuable

it comes to eye safety. Connecting with

Choose the right eyewear

eyecare professionals allows you to talk

Safety glasses are no longer limited to the

through whether you need polycarbonate

stock wrap-around workshop glasses from the

or plastic lenses, non-conductive options

past. Thanks to advances in eyewear design

at your disposal, UV protection, and if all of

across the board, access to more-durable

your employees require the same eyewear.

lenses, stronger, more comfortable and better-

Your eyewear supplier is best positioned

fitting frames, and non-conductive eyewear

to help navigate these options and design

is more attainable than ever. Patients can

customized programs and pricing for you

now choose from polycarbonate lenses over

and your workforce.

plastic or glass, and frames can be fitted to the Further, there are now offerings that include

In short, make eye health a priority

cushioning and other safety features to help

When it comes to workplace safety, it can be

prevent injuries to the face or areas beyond

too easy to overlook hazards to employees’

the eye itself. Taking all of these factors into

eye health. In the end, keeping eye safety top-

consideration will help you land on the option

of-mind and emphasizing its importance to

that will best protect your employees based

your employees is key in contributing to the

on their job duties and environment.

overall safety and success of your business. F

individual rather than a one-size-fits-all model.

myth that everyday prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses are sufficient in protecting eyes from injury. Employees may assume risks to be limited to projectiles or that glasses provide a sufficient enough barrier to other hazards, so you’ll want to highlight the need for more durable lenses, side shields, and other features that protect their eyes.

You’ll also want to clearly establish the contexts in which employees should use safety eyewear, particularly if there are hazards in areas they may not expect. Instruct employees on how to properly wear or defog eye protection to help prevent employees from removing it on the job. Ultimately, safety eyewear that meets ANSI Z87.1 standards will provide the best options to your employees.

It is also recommended that employees

Kirk Lauterback, is Shopko Optical’s chief operations officer. Shopko Optical is the trade name of Shoptikal LLC, an affiliate of Monarch Alternative Capital LP. For more than 40 years, Shopko Optical has provided excellent patient-centric care and high-quality eyewear through its dedicated team of nearly 700 optometrists (independent doctors of optometry in IA, ID, MT, SD and WA) and opticians. www.shopko.com

discuss their working environment with MODERNHB.COM

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LIGHTING

A

t Nulty, we are often asked to make annual predictions of trends for the industry and in ‘normal times’ this can actually be a bit of

a struggle. Light forms an invisible character that we as lighting designers are fascinated by.

It can change the whole mood of a building, excite an entire room and inspire creative play. But it can also be a challenge to work with this intangible substance and so figuring out future forecasting can be difficult. What’s interesting though, is now that we are in the full throttle of a global pandemic, we can predict a whole host of likely alterations that the lighting industry will seek to adopt. The first of these predictions is that most of us now understand the importance of light, whether natural or artificial, and how it can impact our health and wellbeing, so the way in which we light our homes will likely become a crucial part of future design.

Over the last year, we have all experienced our homes in a new way. So much time at home has meant that we now understand every inch of the space, every intimate detail, every sound, every creak. For prospective new homeowners or tenants this will mean a change in demand in what they seek when buying or renting a new property.

For those remaining in their homes, a new level of understanding about light is now in motion. We used to only really experience poor lighting when we left our homes. We would complain to office managers that our desks were poorly lit, or usher over waiters in restaurants and ask them to re-light the candle on the table to set the mood. We rarely put

Light

fantastic

Ellie Coombs takes a look at the enormous influence that lighting can have on the inside of a home

much energy into our own homes, but now that we find ourselves working, eating, living and sleeping at home, the time to think about light and make it a priority has never been more important.

Open plan living has long been a requirement for many homeowners. As lighting designers, we have spent a lot of our time during the pandemic helping people use light to define areas within these open plan spaces and to change the ambience throughout the day. Different types of lighting solutions can alleviate the issue of spending the majority of our time in the same space.

As we move into a new year still in the throes of the pandemic, we expect to see a return to more traditional space planning. There MODERNHB.COM

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Another area of lighting design that will gain even further attention this year will be sustainable lighting practices. Sustainability, health and wellbeing have been huge drivers in the industry for many years, particularly with an emphasis on energy efficiency

areas with changeable weather, we have tended to use our gardens only sporadically – when the sun is out and the BBQ is calling.

During the midst of the pandemic, for those lucky enough to have a garden or an outdoor space, they became a precious sanctuary and a place to escape the four walls we were confined to. Outdoor areas have now adapted to act like additional rooms – they are spaces

will likely be a reluctance to serve open plan

to become a standard feature in new homes.

where we can cook, dine, work-out, learn

areas, with many of us favoring separate

Previously, our ‘spare rooms’ served multiple

and interact with nature. As we rediscover

rooms with more defined uses. This will allow

purposes, whether it be a part-time gaming

these underused spaces, we expect to see an

the lighting design to be specific to a space

room, a space to hang up the laundry or just

increased focus on exterior lighting. This will

and will reduce the need for general flexible

a place to have a break from your partner!

help to increase the hours in which gardens

lighting designs. Track systems will be out

Now we are finding these rooms rapidly

can be occupied and can enhance the many

and integrated details in, with fewer light

becoming fully functioning home office

ways in which we now use our gardens.

fittings required and controls simplified. In

spaces. It’s so important that the lighting is

other words – the lighting in each room can

designed properly to support the technical

gain even further attention this year will be

be optimized for its use providing the best

requirements of video conferencing but to

sustainable lighting practices. Sustainability,

possible solution.

also accompany our eyesight, health and

health and wellbeing have been huge drivers

wellbeing.

in the industry for many years, particularly

With many businesses considering making a permanent change to homeworking, either part or full time, home offices are set

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MODERNHB.COM

It’s not just inside that we are seeing the way in which our homes are changing. In

Another area of lighting design that will

with an emphasis on energy efficiency.

Now, however, we are starting to see more

LIGHTING

of a focus on the life cycles of products and focus is being given to the carbon footprint used by manufacturers and designers. We can approach sustainable lighting design holistically and fittings and fixtures, for example, will now be selected based on their environmental impact. We might also find more focus on vintage, reclaimed and hand-crafted light fixtures from suppliers with strong sustainable and ethical policies.

Our home environments have never been more important than they are today, and the way in which we light them has now come to the fore of design. To support this interest, we at Nulty decided to put together a free masterclass on YouTube outlining how to design lighting for homes, room by room. We hope by sharing our knowledge with the industry during these strange and challenging times, more interior designers and homebuilders will become increasingly engaged in incorporating the best light

Ellie Coombs is Managing Director at Nulty. Nulty is a leading-edge lighting design consultancy working with some of the world’s foremost architects and interior designers. Collaboration and teamwork is at the heart of its practice; improving life through light, no matter what the scale, is its goal. A Nulty project is defined by its originality and attention to detail. www.nultylighting.co.uk https://www.youtube.com/ playlist?list=PLhXAtLwd8u9MYjmluZm7zWxOEMheqpreA

possible into our homes. F MODERNHB.COM

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Get virtual The Outdoor GreatRoom Company™ (OGC) has launched its first-ever Virtual Showroom Experience. Powered by virtual software 3DVista, the new Virtual Showroom is an immersive way for guests to discover new and popular outdoor living products manufactured by OGC. The Virtual Showroom incorporates lifestyle videos, informational handouts, and product page website links to deliver a personalized interaction between sales representatives, partnered businesses, and consumers. Easy-touse buttons and an engaging visual interface are included to create a seamless experience.

The creation of the OGC’s Virtual Tour is largely in response to tradeshows and in-person events cancelled due to the pandemic.

The power of reviews Eliant, the leader in experience management solutions for the homebuilding industry, has announced the signing of The New Home Company, a publicly traded homebuilder based in Irvine, Calif., to its best-in-class new home community review website Eliant Reviews (https://reviews.eliant. com/the-new-home-company). With this client addition, Eliant grows its listing of participating national and regional homebuilders to the Reviews platform.

“Our vision is for Eliant Reviews to become homebuyers’ go-to destination for verified, unbiased online reviews about the communities that they are considering calling home. With these additions to our already robust roster of participating clients, the platform becomes an even more valuable resource to the homebuying public,” stated Eliant’s President, Fernanda Luick.

Aggregate ratings are published for the homebuilder in addition to detailed ratings and comments per community. A fantastic sales and marketing tool, Eliant Reviews makes it easy for homebuilders to source and publish verified homebuyer reviews, respond to homebuyer comments directly, and build

The Bradford near Boston Toll Brothers, Inc., the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes, through its Toll Brothers Apartment Living® rental subsidiary, and The Davis Companies is pleased to announce the opening of The Bradford, a brand-new luxury community located in Belmont, Mass. The project marks the sixth partnership between Toll Brothers Apartment Living and The Davis Companies.

The Bradford, a 112-apartment home community, offers a blend of studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans across three buildings.

Each apartment home includes a premier package of modern and contemporary finishes. Residents enter their residences through a secure keyless entry system and are met with high-end features including wood-style flooring, quartz countertops, pendant lighting, stainless steel appliances, full size in-unit washer and dryer, and spacious walk-in closets. Select homes feature dens and balconies.

trust with prospective homebuyers who go online to research new home communities.

“Research shows that consumer reviews are very influential on the homebuyer’s purchasing journey.

We have found that homebuilders who publish verified homebuyer ratings and reviews experience higher degrees of brand trust and credibility, leading to more referral sales,” Luick continued.

Welcome to Portland LGI Homes, Inc. has unveiled Harts Crossing, a new community in Portland, Ore., located ten miles east of downtown. This enclave of 32 townhomes offers new, low maintenance homes with included upgrades in a commuter-friendly location near the TriMet MAX light rail.

“We are excited to announce our first community located in the heart of Multnomah County,” said Ryan Stokes, division president at LGI Homes. “Harts Crossing gives our customers immediate access to the city of Portland’s many amenities and attractions.”

Buyers may choose from three distinct floor plans at Harts Crossing, ranging in size from approximately 1,300 to 1,600 square feet, each equipped with LGI’s CompleteHome™ suite of upgrades. The three- to four-bedroom homes include attached, one-car garages and popular design characteristics such as open-concept entertaining areas, luxurious owner retreats and upstairs flex rooms, which allow space for homeowners to personalize as a home office, fitness area, children’s retreat or more. In each home at Harts Crossing, buyers will enjoy modern kitchens equipped with granite countertops, high-grade cabinetry, stainless steel appliances by Whirlpool® and ENERGY STAR LED lighting.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Home patrol Moorebot, the maker of cool robot applications like the ZEUS fighting robot, has revealed its new Scout robot on Kickstarter. “The Moorebot Scout is an autonomous AI robot that lets you monitor, discover and explore the world around you,” says Jun Ye, CEO at Moorebot at Pilot Labs. “Scout’s applications range from an intelligent mobile home camera, a pet companion, a surveillance tool for handyman, and an inspiring, modern learning platform for STEM education.”

Moorebot’s capabilities include Smart Home integration with either Amazon Alexa or Google Home, monocular SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), and audio and visual intelligence that enables Scout to recognize, follow and interact with individual persons and pets.

Because of its small size (70mm x 100mm x 110mm - 2.8inches x 4 inches x 4.3 inches ) Scout can be used to autonomously monitor a home, office or business, going under furniture and into hard to reach locations. For professionals and businesses, Scout can perform inspections in areas that are hard to reach. Equipped with a 1080P FHD camera and night vision, you can remotely guide Scout into almost every space of your house, office or building.

As expected, Scout will always find its way back to re-charge on its cradle to get ready for the next assignment. In full operating mode, Scout’s batteries will last well over two hours between recharges.

Doubled output Pacific Northwest modular home builder Wolf Industries has completed construction of its new facilities and staff have resumed production. At over twice the size of its last factory, the new location is nearly 21,000 square feet and will accommodate double the production capacity - as many as two homes per week.

Derek Huegel, owner and president of Wolf Industries, says the change couldn’t have come at a better time. “With about a 300 per cent increase in demand, the new shop is everything we need to help meet a massively growing need for affordable housing.” Much of the company’s success, Derek says, is attributed to offering an ‘turn-key’ product. “We not only construct the home, we handle the site work, permitting, set up and delivery as well,” he added.

Through the factory-assembled structures program in Washington state, Wolf Industries is able to produce homes built to IRC standards - the same specifications and requirements found in

Meeting demand The Great Gulf Group has partnered with Westdale Real Estate Investment and Management (Westdale), and with a leading global institutional investor with in excess of $100 billion of net assets under management to source land opportunities, develop, build, own and operate dedicated build-to-rent single family housing communities in the U.S. Sunbelt through a new venture. The partners have committed an initial $200 million of equity to the venture with the potential for an additional $200 million equity commitment.

“We are very excited to have teamed up with two like-minded partners in order to capitalize on the demand for new purpose-built single family housing communities.

We believe this growing demand is largely driven by lifestyle and lifecycle changes by Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, affordability and an increased trend of ‘renters by choice’- a trend that was further accelerated by the onset of Covid-19. The build-to-rent single family sector currently lacks in supply of modern purpose-built single family housing and our partners and we are well positioned to leverage our collective platforms and expertise. We expect the favorable demand-supply imbalance to continue in the near term with current annual demand estimated at over 250,000 newly built single-family rental homes compared to a current annual supply of approximately 50,000.

Great Gulf is in a unique position to leverage its land sourcing, acquisition, development and home building capabilities both internally and via third-party home builders in order to develop a multimarket strategy across the U.S. Sunbelt,” said Ilias Konstantopoulos, CEO of the Great Gulf Group.

much larger and more expensive homes built on-site.

MODERNHB.COM

15

A lick of

paint

As homeowners continue to revitalize their houses with DIY painting projects, manufacturers are reminded that poor quality paints will damage brand reputations – the right testing is needed to uphold quality

S

GS, the world’s leading provider

The global market for paint and coatings,

with a highly experienced, independent

of inspection, verification, testing

including industrial applications, is expected

testing service provider can help them ensure

and certification services, is

to grow annually by 4.92 per cent, reaching a

their paint products conform to customer

reminding paint manufacturers of

predicted $204.83 billion by 2023.

expectations. By subjecting paint products

the importance of ensuring their products perform well and are safe.

With consumers restricted to their homes

to comprehensive analysis, deficiencies can

manufacturers need to ensure their paints

be identified before the product reaches the

perform as advertised. Consumers may not

market.

during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is not

understand what constitutes ‘good quality’ in

surprising DIY projects have become a

paint, but they certainly know ‘poor quality’

under real-life conditions, against the wide

popular way to fill time. A OnePoll survey in

paint and will know not to buy it a second

variety of factors that consumers may

the US found that 81 per cent of Millennial

time. Poor quality paints often have less

reasonably expect from a paint product.

homeowners had undertaken a DIY project

covering power, which means the decorator

For example, a consumer will expect a

since the start of lockdown.

has to apply multiple coats to achieve the

bathroom paint to be water resistant. What

Testing solutions should be conducted

Redecoration is a common DIY project

correct intensity of color. This will leave the

characteristics a paint must conform to

because it is relatively inexpensive but can

consumer dissatisfied, and this can have a

depends on where the paint is to be applied.

have a major impact on the way a property

negative impact on the brand’s reputation.

For example, outdoor paints should be tested

looks. This helps to create a growth industry.

16

To capitalize on this market growth,

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Manufacturers are reminded that working

for factors such as application, adhesion, age

PAINT

resistance, water permeability, rust resistance (metal paints), and beading.

Another primary consideration for

demanding environmentally friendly

consumers is safety. Manufacturers need

products. In the case of paint, this can

to ensure their paint products comply with

mean low emissions. A good way to ensure

should be assessed for similar characteristics,

relevant market regulations governing safety.

paint products meet these criteria is ensure

such as application and adhesion, but also:

This can include the presence of hazardous

the paint conforms to the requirements

• Gloss

substances – formaldehyde, volatile organic

of the EU Ecolabel. It demonstrates waste

• Opacity

compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, etc.

quantities have been limited, environmental

Bathroom and kitchen paints, however,

• Washability • Anti-condensation •

Water steam permeability

•

Liquid resistance

•

Fungal resistance It is only by testing paint products against

the demands of real-life usage that paint manufacturers can ensure their reputation is

Finally, manufacturers should consider the fact that consumers are increasingly

risks reduced, and the discharge of toxic or polluting substances has been minimized. F

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world. www.sgs.com/hardlines

protected.

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CASE STUDY

Revitalized

approach RC Willey Home Furnishings improves efficiency and customer experience with TrueCommerce

R

C Willey Home Furnishings improved efficiency and customer experience by replacing its legacy EDI system with TrueCommerce’s cloud-based supply chain management platform. In this success story, TrueCommerce,

a global provider of trading partner connectivity, integration and unified commerce solutions, analyzes how its ecUtopia platform helped the retailer accelerate order processing and expand into new sales channels.

Background RC Willey Home Furnishings is a Furniture Today Top 100 retailer owned by Berkshire Hathaway and is based in Salt Lake City. Offering exceptional selection, value and service for over 80 years, it currently operates 13 stores and three distribution centers in Utah, Nevada, Idaho and California. Unlike many home furnishings retailers, RC Willey sells appliances, consumer electronics and flooring in addition to furniture and mattresses.

A TrueCommerce-ecUtopia customer since moving from a legacy EDI provider in 2016, RC Willey uses the solution to exchange EDI 850 Purchase Orders (POs) and EDI 855 PO Acknowledgements with vendors, and is currently implementing EDI 856 Advance Ship Notice (ASN) support.

Easy management for thousands of SKUs While most of its competitors offer just furniture and mattresses, RC Willey has the expertise to sell, deliver and install not only these traditional products but also products for the entire home such as, appliances, consumer electronics and even flooring.

EDI helps make that additional supply chain complexity transparent. “It’s easy for us to handle any kind of merchandise because it runs through our system the same way,” reports Stuart Peterson, Vice President of Supply Chain. “It’s a SKU, it’s a vendor and TrueCommerce-ecUtopia handles it all identically. Also, the transaction-based cost model really works for us.”

Winning the ‘Race for Product’ In a market space driven by ever-heightening customer expectations, having the right products in place at the right time is essential to success. And, with online shopping’s growth since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, rapid fulfillment has become even more important.

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19

“In the COVID market, it’s become a race for product,” Stuart relates. “The faster you get orders in, the faster you go to the head of the

crucial to supporting RC Willey’s ongoing

and other important information. This helps

operations.

ease customer frustrations with sometimes

“TrueCommerce-ecUtopia helps us streamline out fulfillment delays,” emphasizes

today’s market.”

Stuart. “The more efficiently things flow, the

important to our order flow,” Stuart states.

Manual processes can’t keep up with

“Automation and accuracy are really

better for our customers. Plus, because we’re

“One of the key benefits of TrueCommerce-

today’s demand and can result in delays and

bringing product in faster with fewer errors

ecUtopia is more consistent and better order

customer frustration. Stuart clarifies: “Without

we can handle more volume and put more

tracking, with fewer errors. The ability to

TrueCommerce-ecUtopia EDI, we’d have

business through our system with our existing

see where product is and know when it will

bottlenecks in our order entry process, and

staff.”

arrive at our DCs is critical to our customer

we’d send POs to vendors more slowly. Those seconds and minutes add up when you’re talking about 10,000 orders.”

He continues: “On the vendor side, without

experience.”

Improving the customer experience

A strong sense of value

According to Stuart, ongoing Covid-19 supply

TrueCommerce-ecUtopia’s deep industry

EDI there could be backlogs in the process of

chain impacts have led to “backorders like

expertise keeps RC Willey’s orders flowing

transferring a PO from a PDF into the vendor’s

I’ve never seen before.” As a result, customer

predictably, even during tumultuous markets.

business system. Those backlogs might delay

communications have taken center stage.

“We have confidence in the

an order by a day or two, which could mean it

TrueCommerce-ecUtopia’s real-time

misses that week’s production cycle and now

visibility into the supply chain makes it

“They understand our business and it matters

the delay is ten days.”

easier for RC Willey to keep customers

to them. They’re professional, skilled and

appraised of delivery dates, order changes

operate with a straight-line focus on resolving

TrueCommerce technology has been

20

unavoidable delays.

line. Speed in ordering is critically important in

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TrueCommerce-ecUtopia team,” says Stuart.

CASE STUDY

problems quickly. The communication is

confirms Stuart. “They are a partner that can

excellent. There’s such a strong sense of value

take us into the future, with new applications

doubled in the current market, and

with TrueCommerce.”

and features that can make us more efficient.

is a key channel for our advertising,

I’m grateful for it.”

promotions and brand awareness,”

Future opportunities

Another compelling option for RC Willey

“Our online business has more than

indicates Stuart. “I confidently

RC Willey is in the process of extending its

is TrueCommerce-ecUtopia’s drop shipping

recommend TrueCommerce-ecUtopia

TrueCommerce-ecUtopia investment with

support, which can automate and accelerate

to people who ask, and it’s nice to see

support for EDI 856 Advance Ship Notices

sending POs and shipment data to vendors for

how familiar people already are with

(ASNs). The detailed delivery information

individual consumer orders placed online.

them in our industry.” F

in ASNs will further improve visibility into inbound shipments, provide physical shipment specifics to aid delivery preparation, and more.

“ASNs will automate our order tracking even more, and also give us more accurate shipment arrival dates,” Stuart notes.

But ASNs are only one of several digital transformation projects on the table for this home furnishings leader. “There’s a lot more opportunity for us to leverage

TrueCommerce is the most complete way to connect your business across the supply chain, integrating everything from EDI, to inventory management, to fulfillment, to digital storefronts and marketplaces, to your business system, and to whatever comes next. To stay ahead in today’s dynamic global market, companies need to be able to do business in a lot of different directions at once. But too often, doing so means too many solutions and too much assembly required. For decades TrueCommerce has helped businesses be more connected, more supported, and more prepared for what’s next. www.truecommerce.com

TrueCommerce-ecUtopia’s technology,” MODERNHB.COM

21

Valuable

data

A new smart device has been trialed by Garney Construction, designed to protect workers from heat stress at ten U.S. worksites

G 22

arney Construction, based in

The devices, worn on the arms of 28 Garney

“We’re committed to continually evaluating

North Kansas City with a singular

workers at ten worksites throughout the U.S.,

new methods of protecting our employee-

focus on water and wastewater

are manufactured by Kenzen. They monitor

owners and incorporating the best solutions

construction, is interested in

key physiological indicators of each worker,

available,” said Ryan Smith, regional safety

keeping its employee-owners as safe as

including core body temperature, heart rate,

manager at Garney who co-ordinated the

possible on the job. Recently, the company

and exertion level. Detecting changes in

proof-of-concept project with the company’s

added a new element to its already robust

these factors can lead to proactive prediction

environmental health and safety (EHS) leaders

safety programs by testing new wearable

and prevention of heat injuries and illnesses,

and regional project supervisors. “We’re

technology smart devices.

including fatalities.

looking to add more prevention approaches

MODERNHB.COM

SAFETY

to supervisors via their phones and a web dashboard that provides real-time heat health status of all team members. Alerts escalate from an initial ‘stop work’ message to rest and hydrate, to subsequent alerts for additional measures to avoid emergency situations.

Follow-up alerts indicate when a person’s core body temperature has returned to a safe level for resuming work.

Cumulative data can be analyzed by EHS leaders at the company to detect patterns and customize heat stress prevention and treatment strategies at various locations – from the dry heat of Arizona, to the extreme heat of the Texas sun, to the hot humidity of Florida, and heat conditions at Colorado altitudes. Garney used the location-specific information to adjust break times and educate employee-owners on steps they can take to protect themselves, such as how to acclimatize to warm working conditions when coming onto a worksite, and best clothing choices.

Although Kenzen collects large amounts of physiological data from each worker, varying levels of information are provided to different viewers to protect workers’ rights, especially with regard to the privacy of their personal health information.

“Garney is on the leading edge of bringing technology into the safety equation,” said Heidi Lehmann, cofounder of Kenzen. “Because Garney is owned by its employees, all were involved in the decision and all are interested in advancing their business through increased safety and productivity.” F to our systems, which now include education and training, hydration, monitoring atmospheric and ambient heat, and cooling stations.”

Safe working Data from the wearable sensors provide alerts to workers by sending vibrations to the device

Garney specializes in the construction of water and wastewater pipelines, treatment facilities, pumping stations, water storage tanks, and industrial/heavy civil projects. Garney was established in Kansas City in 1961 and has 19 regional offices. www.garney.com Founded in 2014, Kenzen is the premier physiological monitoring platform to keep work forces safe from heat, fatigue and over exertion on the job. www.kenzen.com

and notifications to their smart phones, and MODERNHB.COM

23

Photo credit: Joshua Johnson, Interior, Brett Schreckengost, Aerial

Stunning vistas

Two major stars from different fields have their homes featured in this month’s Modern Home Builders – legendary action hero Tom Cruise, and renowned baseball professional, Derek Jeter

S

tardom surged for Tom Cruise in 1983

his children and much of his marriage to

Detached and in its own aspen grove is the

when he was 19 and slid into the

Katie Holmes. It was also the location of his

charming guest house. Combined, there are a

hallway in Risky Business. Now in his

last major interview with Oprah, a follow-up

total of seven bedrooms and nine full baths.

fourth decade as one of the world’s

to Tom’s exuberant couch-jumping episode with Oprah in 2005. Oprah was so taken with

seasons. Outside is a sports court for tennis,

homes in Beverly Hills; Clearwater, Florida and

the Cruise ranch and its views that she later

basketball or ice hockey and a private trail

a 320-acre ranch in Telluride, Colorado that

bought her own home nearby.

system with access to and views of the

he helped design and is now for sale at $39.5 million.

The Telluride home holds a lot of history for Cruise. It is where he enjoyed time with

The first impression of Tom’s home driving

with a private gate into the Uncompahgre

entrance is the staggering view of the

National Forest. There are hiking and riding

mountains and valleys. Designed to take

trails and both dirt bike and snowmobile

full advantage of the views, the

tracks which thread throughout the 320 acres.

11,512-square-foot living space

Telluride has long been a destination for

includes the 10,000-square-foot,

celebrities who like to ski or just get away

four-bedroom main house and

and chill from their high-octane professional

a three-bedroom guest house.

lives and now is even more popular for

Blending in with its wooded

second-home buyers during the pandemic.

surroundings, the structures are clad

Other stars who also find Telluride to be a

in rustic-bleached-cedar timbers

great getaway include Robert Redford, Jerry

and native stone with beamed

Seinfeld, and designer-to-the-stars Ralph

ceilings and large expanses of

Lauren.

The listing agent for the Tom Cruise

kitchen, living room and dining

Telluride ranch is Dan Dockray of LIV Sotheby’s

room that will seat a crowd, there is

International Realty, Telluride, Colorado.

a gym, recreation room and library.

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14,000-foot-high mountains in the distance

up the mile-long driveway from the gated

glass. In addition to a large eat-in

24

The grounds are equally impressive in all

most successful and wealthy actors, Tom owns

Source: www.sothebysrealty.com

CELEBRITY HOMES Photo credit: Wright Bros.

Derek Jeter’s castle

the Jeter compound includes four indoor

More unique than almost anything else on

kitchens, one outside kitchen and an extra-

the real estate market today and expansive

large, infinity-edged pool. Living areas include

enough for family, extended family,

six bedrooms, seven full and five half baths,

teammates and favorite friends, retired New

great room, multiple stone fireplaces including

York Yankees star and first-ballot MLB Hall of

one on the terrace, dens, game room,

surprised most baseball experts by making the

Famer, Derek Jeter, has dropped the price on

sunroom, formal dining room, office, gym

MLB playoffs in 2020 and then knocked out

his castle-like resort home on Greenwood

and family room with a bar. The turret opens

the Chicago Cubs in the first round. Jeter also

Lake in New York by $2 million. Previously

out to a widow’s walk, which is duplicated on

manages a plethora of other business interests

listed in 2018 at $14.75 million, it is now back

the guest house, providing beautiful lake and

and since his marriage to model Hannah Davis

on the market at $12.75 million.

wood views. There are extensive gardens, a

in 2016, is also a family man helping to raise

Statue of Liberty replica and a four-car garage.

their two young children. Unable to spend

built in 1903 by New York Doctor Rudolph

Even with a large number of guests, there is

time in his castle on the lake, it makes sense to

Gudewill for his wife, the estate is actually two

always a quiet place to spend some alone

pass it on to a family who will enjoy it as much

castles - the master castle with a connected

time.

as his own family has over the years.

Known locally as ‘The Castle’ and originally

tower and a guest castle. After Gudewill

With his busy schedule as part owner and

died, John and Julia Tiedemann bought the

CEO of the Miami Marlins, Derek oversees

castle, where they lived with their 13 children

the day-to-day operations of the team that

The listing agent is Mary Lovera with Wright Bros. Real Estate, Nyack, New York.

Source: mlovera.wrightinnyack.com

including an adopted son, William Connors.

Connors was later to become Jeter’s maternal grandfather. Jeter spent many of his childhood summers at the castle swimming, playing sports and chores. The Tiedemanns sold the estate in 1996, but when it came back on the market in 2002, Jeter bought it and began a long and expensive restoration.

For details of these houses and other celebrity homes, please visit: www.topTenRealEstateDeals.com https://www.toptenrealestatedeals.com/weekly-ten-best-home-deals/home/tomcruises-320-acre-colorado-mountain-ranch-is-for-sale https://www.toptenrealestatedeals.com/weekly-ten-best-home-deals/home/derekjeter-lowers-price-on-family-castle

Encompassing 12,590 square feet of living space between the main and guest castles, MODERNHB.COM

25

INTEGRITY HOMES

Building quality

With over 15 years’ experience of creating extraordinary homes in the best neighborhoods, Integrity Homes can be described as ‘a small builder with big connections’

26

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27

INTEGRITY HOMES

T

he name that this business chose

hands, drawing on a wealth of homebuilding

this community with 51 sales in 2020 and the

for itself includes a noun that

experience and passion. The company

balance of homes will be delivered in 2021.

perfectly sums up its business

works with only the best vendors and sub-

An 831-acre master-planned community that

model – Integrity. It represents

contractors, using superior materials and

is loaded with amenities, Embrey Mill offers

who the company is and is reflected in every

products and working with familiar brand

resort style living, with the success of the

aspect of how it does business, as throughout

names such as G.E., Moen, Kohler and Progress

scheme already evident.

its operations, it continually strives to exemplify

Lighting.

all meanings of the word Integrity. So, not only

Exceptional homes

locations in the Washington DC/Virginia/

The newest Integrity community is due to

of construction, but it also works with

Maryland areas, but even as the business

open in spring of 2021. Called The Enclave

truthfulness and honesty towards the people

expands, it always stays true to its ethos of

at Fair Lakes, it will consist of 197 three- and

that will call its houses home.

building high quality and beautiful homes

four-story townhomes, in Fairfax, Virginia. “The

that can be seen as physical extensions of the

Fair Lakes area is a very desirable location that

individuals who live inside.

is rich with amenities and provides easy access

The start of the process of having a home built by Integrity begins with the creation of a quality relationship. Direct, sincere and open

28

Integrity Homes builds in highly desirable

does it build houses with complete soundness

To get an insight into the stunning

for commuting,” said Rob. “We expect to open

communication is one of the cornerstones

projects that Integrity Homes creates, the

for sales in early May and plan to deliver our

of the company’s philosophy, and Integrity

first port of call should be its website www.

first homes in the 4th quarter of 2021. These

Homes believes that this approach brings

yourintegrityhome.com. Here visitors can select

will be upscale homes that are similar to the

peace of mind during what is often one of the

the area that they are interested in and see

design we build at National Harbor.

most important purchases that a person will

a variety of community options – and one

ever make.

aspect that does exemplify the popularity of

Head and Creekside have also recently sold

“Our Estates series on five-acre lots at Popes

Having first created a rapport with the

an Integrity home is how many are sold out!

out,” added Rob. “Plus, since inception we

developer, customers buying an Integrity

Looking at Embrey Mill in Stafford, VA just as

have completed eight phases of construction

home also know that their dream house is

example, and Rob Hutzel, Co-Owner/Partner

at National Harbor with over 350 homes

being carefully and skillfully created by expert

at Integrity noted that it had a record year in

completed.”

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Having referred to National Harbor, Rob brings the conversation onto this unique upscale commercial and residential development, which is located in Maryland and enjoys panoramic views of the Potomac River, Old Town Alexandria, and Washington, DC. With over 40 restaurants and 160 retail outlets, as well as the MGM National Harbor Resort, the area is not just a hub for shopping but also for art, dining and entertainment.

“Integrity Homes reached an agreement to build in National Harbor in 2010, and it has, and continues to be, a significant contribution

Our projections call for a continuation of our operations in terms of volume and overhead based on our present land position and projected new land opportunities, but, we are positioned well for the next three years and have our sights on the needed land positions to sustain our operations for the future

to the success of our company,” revealed Rob. “Monument Series is the newest phase of homes there, which we have adapted from our original Brownstone product line of fourstory luxury townhomes. We delivered our first homes in the Monument series this past February and have just recently opened our models. The reception to our newest product

Masonry Design, Inc. Masonry Design, Inc. have been working with Integrity Homes since their inception. Our relationship is built on the same core principles that include Quality, Truth, Integrity, Pride and Communication. It is a pleasure working with a homebuilder who employs professional, quality-minded personnel. We value our relationship with Integrity Homes and are proud to be a Trade Partner.

line has been very positive as we have sold 47

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INTEGRITY HOMES

30

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of the 55 homes that we plan on delivering in 2021.

“We have paid particular attention to design and the siting of our homes to maximize the views,” Rob added. “The inclusion of a roof top terrace provides exceptional views as well as an outdoor living space.”

Team development Delivering exceptional homes such as the Monument Series has had an additional layer of challenges added to it over the past year, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic that has caused logistical and resource issues for all in the construction sector. Rob highlighted that for Integrity, the effects were felt in the cycle times to build homes, among other areas. “From delays in permitting and material shortages, to extended lead-times for material deliveries, and staging trades in the houses, these factors - all related to Covid-19 - have challenged us to build our homes and have extended our cycle times,” he said. “The recent spike in materials costs, especially lumber, has also put pricing pressure on our homes.

“As a company, we were very optimistic coming into 2020, we had a solid business plan and backlog of sales to support it,” he continued. “It was April when we felt the initial impact of Covid-19 when sales activity came to a halt. Fortunately, in May our sales rebounded for the balance of the year and resulted in a record year for both sales and closings for our company. We had no manual or policy on how to manage a pandemic, but we quickly adopted one to promote a safe working environment by having office staff

have been possible without the ability of our

to secure additional land opportunities will

work remotely or in shifts and the office was

employees to acclimatize to the changes that

be critical to achieve the goals we have set

locked down for employee access only. In our

were required due to Covid-19.

in our future business plans,” he agreed. “Our

communities, we controlled access into our

“I also feel the development of the senior

projections call for a continuation of our

models and our project managers limited their

management team and their ability to work

operations in terms of volume and overhead

physical interaction with our trade partners

cohesively to manage the operations on

based on our present land position and

on site.

a day-to-day basis has been a significant

projected new land opportunities, but, we are

development and will greatly enhance our

positioned well for the next three years and

success.”

have our sights on the needed land positions

“Our daily operations and how we functioned had to change in many ways.

How we conducted meetings, processed

As the vaccination program gathers speed

files, managed virtual site inspections of our

and confidence increases further in the

homes by county officials, interacted with

market, Integrity Homes can look towards

our customers via our website and directed

the future with a sense of optimism. Rob did

virtual tours of our models, are all testaments

note that a recent surge in sales has depleted

to our employees’ ability to not only adapt, but

finished lot inventories, but the pipeline

to do so in a manner that seemed seamless.

for new residential land opportunities is a

The success we achieved in 2020 would not

challenge most builders are facing. “Our ability

to sustain our operations for the future.” F

Integrity Homes www.yourintegrityhomes.com Services: Quality house builder

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AZURE NORTHWEST HOMES

32

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Best in the

Northwest

From sunrise mountain views to lush green forests, Azure Northwest Homes is inspired by the land, culture and lifestyle of the Pacific Northwest

MODERNHB.COM

33

AZURE NORTHWEST HOMES

34

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I

saac Stocks and Tom Young were working at a national home builder when they met. Operating in the land-constricted Puget Sound region, a market traditionally

dominated by local builders, the pair watched on as the aftermath of the Great Recession forced many well-established home builders to decide between buy-out offers from national firms and retirement.

Isaac and Tom realized the scarcity of

If we maintain our current trajectory and improve our processes, we will soon be closing 100 to 150 homes a year consistently in the Puget Sound. I think we have a really unique ability to develop land and I think more of those development opportunities will be heading our way in the months and years ahead

entitled lots in the region, and recognized the need for a local development and home

Pacific Northwest’s best-loved mixed-use

but a drive through an older neighborhood

building company that could help meet the

communities.

in Tacoma really inspired us. These were

demand for housing in the Northwest. “This is

“One of my favorite developments at

single story homes with five- or six-foot tall

a unique market in many ways, so you really

present - one that I am particularly proud

basements that provided storage and space

need someone who is very familiar with each

of - is in Tehaleh, where we are building what

for mechanicals. We knew that we could apply

jurisdiction and how to navigate the waters,”

we call ‘half basements’,” Isaac says. “We are

this building style and develop a modern and

Isaac explains. After many late-night strategy

constantly struggling with affordability in

more efficient version of these classic homes.”

sessions and cups of local coffee, Isaac and Tom

our market. Azure NW was presented with

founded Azure Northwest Homes in 2014.

an opportunity to design smaller, more

Azure developed a plan whereby living space

Acquiring raw land, entitled land and

affordable homes on 35 wide by 80 deep

could be located on the main ‘upper’ floor

finished lots all over the Northwest, Azure

lots. We sketched out some product ideas,

and bedrooms on the lower ‘basement’ level.

After experimenting with this concept,

closed over 70 homes in 2020 and is quickly establishing itself as one of the larger local builders in the region. Most recently, work was completed on the East Harbor Estates project, a development of private, tucked-away, openlayout homes with rooftop decks, detached garages, and an average lot size of 15,000 square feet.

Inspired ideas Ranging from 1370 square feet to 1685 square feet, homes in Edmunds Park - another Azure project - contain up to three bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as easy access to community coffee shops, playgrounds, and nature trails. The Edmunds Park development is located in Tehaleh, Washington’s best-selling master-planned community.

Just 20 miles from Tacoma and 40 miles from Seattle, Tehaleh lies in the shadow of Mount Rainier and features ‘rustic-meetsrefined’ Northwest-style living, popular with those looking to balance work-home life and enjoy outdoor activities. Along with Edmunds Park, Azure has created one-of-a-

Bringing Designs to Life Full service Interior Design Studio, specializing in Model Home design and merchandising for production builders in the Pacific Northwest.

PENNINGTON DESIGN GROUP LLC 562.208.1811

kind, affordable, single-family homes at fellow

Meg@penningtondesigngroup.com

Tehaleh communities Observation Ridge,

www.penningtondesigngroup.com

The Peaks and The Trails. Rich with amenities and boasting over 20 miles of trails through forests, meadows and wetlands, as well as 12 unique parks, open spaces and native terrain

MEG PENNINGTON Principal Designer Chair-Professional Women in Building, PDX, Metro

for exercise and leisure, Tehaleh is one of the MODERNHB.COM

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AZURE NORTHWEST HOMES

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One benefit of the new design was that it

were able to navigate the waters. We invested

continues to work its way through a

allowed the company to build with a lot more

in technology quite early on as a company.

number of existing projects, including a

concrete, improving Azure’s ability to control

We have a builder platform that is web-based

new development in Edgewood. With the

costs in the face of market fluctuation.

and our computers are Microsoft Surfaces, so

company already expanding at a significant

we were able to create home workstations

rate, Isaac believes that the key to further

that we were able to take a 25 wide plan and

and move around with hotspots onsite. When

success for Azure is to keep focusing on what

make the living space feel just as inviting and

the pandemic hit Washington state, we were

the business does well.

spacious as a larger property,” Isaac reports.

shut down and unable to work for six weeks.

“We were also able to reduce the amount

Fortunately, our team was flexible and resilient.

improve our processes, we will soon be

of lumber, siding, and other materials that

Everyone adapted to the new landscape and

closing 100 to 150 homes a year consistently

helped keep costs down. It was a puzzle for

kept the company moving forward.

in the Puget Sound,” Isaac declares. “I think

“The half basement design also meant

a while, until we were able to figure out the

“All in all, our team really embraced working

“If we maintain our current trajectory and

we have a really unique ability to develop

most functional layout, but we were able to

from home,” Isaac continues. “The majority

land and I think more of those development

deliver a unique and affordable product that

of workers in the home building industry

opportunities will be heading our way in the

has been very popular with our buyers.”

remember the Great Recession, so I think

months and years ahead.” F

when times get tough, our sector is pretty

Flexible & resilient

nimble and can adjust with the tide. We found

Recipient of the Local Tribute Award for

that we were pretty efficient working from

Builder of the Year in 2019, Azure has grown

home, and now are in a position where we

tremendously over the last half-decade,

need to decide what our business is going to

employing more than 50 local people in

look like moving forward.”

the process. Cognizant of the latest industry

Azure Northwest Homes www.AzureNW.com Services: Designer and builder of single-family homes

As we move into the spring, Azure

trends and demands, the company is currently navigating demographic shifts, alongside a strong tailwind for housing. In order to keep its finger on the pulse of the market, Azure is careful to listen to its customers and adapt its offering accordingly.

“As a builder of our size, we believe in trying to understand what works for our customers and then appropriately serving those needs,” Isaac remarks. “We also really pride ourselves on our purchase process. We knew from our previous experience with larger builders, that it was essential to have established processes for guiding and managing customers through the phases of homebuilding. We wanted to provide a personal customer experience, and consistently deliver homes that our buyers can be proud of.”

Azure’s customer-centric approach is exemplified by its work at Tehaleh. In line with requests from buyer surveys and client wish lists, the company has focused on designing and delivering homes with larger garages, pantries and outdoor living spaces. Not only has this resulted in developments better suited to client needs, but also in a boost to Azure’s ever-growing reputation that even helped the company defy expectations in 2020 – a year dominated by Covid-19.

“The company has done incredibly well over the last 12 months or so,” Isaac reveals.

“It was actually a little shocking how well we MODERNHB.COM

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INTERSTATE HOMES

Hot property Building lasting memories in Utah’s Hurricane Valley, Interstate Homes has forged a reputation for creating innovative homes at affordable prices in desirable communities

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INTERSTATE HOMES

I

n amongst the mountain valleys and red rock mesas of southwestern Utah, sits the Hurricane Valley. Sandwiched between St George and Zion National Park, the region

has become famous for escape, adventure, and thanks to the work of Interstate Homes, beautiful places to live.

A subsidiary of Interstate Rock, Interstate Homes has been designing and building innovative, energy-efficient, and affordable homes in Hurricane Valley communities for more than a decade. Benefitting from the engineering and excavation capabilities of its parent firm, Interstate Homes can transform any dirt tract into a property of the highest modern standard.

Amanda Condie, Production Manager at Interstate Homes, believes that a large portion of the company’s success over the years has been driven by the pride it takes in each and every one of its projects. “Not only do our home owners live in our communities, but we live in our communities too,” she explains. “Most of us in the Interstate Family of businesses have grown up in Hurricane, and as a result, we are highly invested in this community and in making sure that our properties enhance the area in which we all live and work. We want our home owners to be happy!”

Interstate Homes has performed work on a number of new subdivisions over the last decade, including Westfield Estates, and Parkside at Grandpa’s Pond. Featuring some of the most spectacular views in southern Utah, lots at Grandpa’s Pond come in a variety of shapes and sizes, allowing each owner to select the ideal site for their dream home. This subdivision will continue to grow through future phases.

Design trends In 2021, Interstate Homes has been focused on projects at Cottonwood Hollow, where Phases 3 and 4 will be opening this summer, and The Ridge at Zion Vista – another subdivision offering unrivalled views of the Hurricane Valley and surrounding mountains. No matter where a new owner wishes to live, each Interstate home is designed and constructed with the same key principles in mind.

“First of all, we want to deliver a home that is cost-effective to build and live in,” Amanda reports. “Secondly, whether we’re working with

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a family, a couple, or an individual, we need to

one-tone paint for use on walls, doors, trims

that won’t look out of place 20 years down

design homes that suit people from all walks

and ceilings.

the line.”

of life.

“I think all trends recirculate, but this is one that has surprised me,” Amanda states. “I

Building relationships

have great energy efficient additions that a

suppose one-tone is timeless. A lot of people

In order to help its home owners realize

lot of other builders ignore. The difference is,

come in during the design phase and they

their own specific visions, Interstate Homes

we want our properties to be forever homes.

really want a home that won’t age quickly.

employs technology such as Buildertrend

We build homes that everybody can see

People don’t want the classic black and white

software, which allows the firm to keep

themselves living in for the rest of their lives.”

look anymore because, in 5 years’ time, we

track of selection processes, ordering times,

Of course, the nature of the construction

will all know when those homes were built.

schedules, home owner information, property

industry is such that, even if core principles

I think that timeless concept is on a lot of

information and permit management. More

remain the same, consumer needs and

people’s minds. They don’t want a timestamp

important than these automated processes,

design trends are everchanging. One such

on their home, but a brushed nickel finish

however, is the company’s small but

contemporary inclination has seen a return to

is always going to look good, or wall colors

dedicated workforce.

“All in all, our homes are well laid out and

“We currently have eight employees

In the future, I anticipate that we will grow and expand into different areas in Washington County and the surrounding regions, including, perhaps, Iron County and Kane County. I think we’ll predominantly stay down here in the desert of southern Utah, but we want to expand to different communities

covering 67 homes, which might not sound like a lot, but all our properties are semicustom and that takes a lot of management,” Amanda points out. “We are a very tightknit team and I think we portray that to our home buyers and the wider community.

We want people to love our homes, and we stand by our product because we know it’s great quality work performed by fabulous subcontractors, who are a key part of our

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INTERSTATE HOMES

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team. We pride ourselves on building great

piece of the pie, which changes the dynamic,

though it’s still all about building and finishing

relationships with our subcontractors, with

but I think everybody here knows, and can

around 75 single-family homes a year, I

the people who buy our homes, with the

see, that our quality and our expertise really

believe we will eventually start to construct

members of our community, and with city

shine through.”

multifamily units as well because, typically,

municipalities and representatives.”

Alongside a focus on efficiency, Interstate Homes hopes to acquire more land in 2021

that’s the way this business trends.

“In the future, I anticipate that we will grow

Welcoming communities

as part of its efforts to seize the moment and

and expand into different areas in Washington

In 2020, Interstate Homes faced perhaps the

take advantage of surging desire for homes

County and the surrounding regions, including,

biggest test of its history when the Covid-19

in the Hurricane Valley. Though the pandemic

perhaps, Iron County and Kane County,”

pandemic hit the United States. After an

has given rise to equipment shortages and

Amanda notes. “I think we’ll predominantly stay

initial two-week period of disruption in which

longer lead times, Amanda is confident that

down here in the desert of southern Utah, but

developers and construction companies

there has never been a better time to move

we want to expand to different communities.

were forced to step away from their work,

into a new home in one of the USA’s most

We want to bring our love of the building in

Interstate Homes was soon inundated with

dramatic landscapes and most welcoming

the Hurricane Valley to new areas and to as

opportunities and its greatest challenge

communities. She is also adamant that

many people as possible.” F

became sourcing materials fast enough to

Interstate Homes is the best company to help

meet demand.

make those Hurricane Valley dreams a reality.

“We are building across four separate

“Despite all the obstacles in our way, it’s

subdivisions right now with multiple lots,

been a really positive year. Now I just want

and we receive three to five calls each

to see the business growing steadily into the

day from potential home buyers,” Amanda

future,” Amanda remarks. “I feel as though

reveals. “Covid has impacted the supply

our current team has reached capacity and,

Interstate Homes www.myinterstatehome.com Services: Innovative home builder

of lumber, and our subcontractors are struggling to obtain bathroom fixtures due to manufacturing plant shutdowns, but we are working through it. The ripple effect of the pandemic has led to price increases across the board, but we are pleased to have avoided a slowdown. Instead, we’ve had a crazy ballooning of demand, so we are just trying to build as fast as we can and as well as we can.”

The rapid increase in demand for Interstate Homes’ services, even during a year dominated by a global pandemic, is due, in part, to the rising popularity of the Hurricane Valley with home owners. With Covid-19 leading many businesses to the realization that their employees can work effectively from home, vast numbers of Americans are now enjoying the freedom to move out of metropolitan areas and work remotely from locations as geographically diverse as Hurricane.

“This area has just completely blown up,” Amanda declares. “If we had hundreds more lots available, we would have hundreds more contracts. We live in a wonderful place with tons of outdoor recreation opportunities, which, as the world shut down, were some of the only hobbies and activities that could continue. The result is that Utah, and the Hurricane Valley, have been at the center of mass migration recently. Unfortunately, since that has happened, a lot of out-of-state builders have come in to the area to get a MODERNHB.COM

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THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION®®®

Masters of

community

Bridgeland - Josey Lake Boat House

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With a portfolio stretching from New York to Hawaii, The Howard Hughes Corporation® has built a reputation for developing some of the best-in-class and most desirable master planned communities in the United States

Lakeside Row

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THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION®®®

The Woodlands Towers at The Waterway

The Woodlands Waterway

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D

edicated to innovative placemaking, The Howard Hughes Corporation owns, operates and develops award-

winning commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate across the US. With a portfolio strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, Howard Hughes operates one of the strongest property portfolios in the country.

Going forward, we will continue to deliver communities that remain focused on sustainability, as well as environmentally, but from a market penetration standpoint as well.

We are constantly striving to keep our finger on the pulse so that we can adjust to the market and be dynamic in everything we do

Focusing on master planned communities and communities of the future, Howard

to remain vibrant and relevant within the

Hughes’ inspirational vision helps people

marketplace for the long-term.”

discover new ways to experience life.

“Our approach to master planned

Hughes’ commitment to the environment.

“We encourage health and wellbeing in our

While every one of Howard Hughes’

communities,” Melton states. “You’ll see a lot of

master planned communities has its own

pedestrian connectivity in our neighborhoods.

communities at Howard Hughes makes us

distinct environment and amenities, each

We like to make sure we have extensive trail

unique,” declares Heath Melton, Executive

is developed with the same principles of

systems to help connect residents from their

Vice President, MPC Residential. “We are one

design excellence and focus on providing

homes to places of interest, including parks,

of the few fully-integrated, publicly-traded,

exceptional open green space, parks, lakes

retail centers or their office. A live, work, play

large-scale developers in the industry. We

and trails, offering residents the opportunity

component is incorporated into our design

develop all the infrastructure associated with a

to connect meaningfully with nature and each

and our placemaking experiences to create

project and self-perform all asset classes with

other. These areas also fall in line with Howard

an urban walkable environment. It also helps

the exception of home building. We focus on long term value creation and remain 100 per cent involved in our projects for the life of the community.”

Environmental commitment As of 2021, Howard Hughes’ portfolio includes the Seaport District in New York City, Downtown Columbia in Maryland, The Woodlands®, The Woodlands Hills®, and Bridgeland® in Texas, and Ward Village® in Honolulu, Hawaii. Summerlin® in Las Vegas, another of Howard Hughes’ master planned communities, was originally the site of a property owned by the company’s namesake and takes its name from Mr. Hughes’ paternal grandmother, Jean Amelia Summerlin. Today, Summerlin is the #3 top-selling master planned community in the US. “Our company is dedicated to being creators of culture and building for the future, with an unwavering commitment to masterful design and excellence in execution,” Melton says. “We want to bring people together in places where they can really engage and enjoy life. Building for the future has been a major focus for us. As you can see from our sites, we don’t just develop for the current day, we like to build with the future in mind both from a sustainability standpoint, as well as ensuring our sites stand the test of time architecturally. We want all our developments MODERNHB.COM

47

THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION®®®

The Woodlands Hills

The Woodlands Hills Pool - Founders Park

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with our sustainability goals. Not only do these open, walkable communities reduce vehicle

inspired exteriors and interiors.”

As part of its contemporary approach to

sacrificing the design aesthetic fitting for our master planned community developments.”

usage, but we use a lot of plant materials

community building, Howard Hughes has

native to the region, which sustainably

also been concentrating on the affordability

introducing more multifamily programs in

reduces long term maintenance cost and

and attainability of its properties. With the

some of its master planned communities,

water usage. We are focused on the overall

need for housing on the rise across the U.S.,

allowing the business to better speak to

ecosystem – all of nature’s creatures existing

and master planned communities becoming

the demographics of each location. The

together.”

an increasingly popular choice, Howard

Woodlands, for example, which is one of the

Hughes believes in offering a variety of

company’s more urban, business district-

Community portfolio

residency programs at various price points,

based communities, is now home to a

Over the course of the last 12 months,

whilst maintaining the overall quality and

variety of high-rise, mid-rise and garden-style

the market around Howard Hughes has,

aesthetic for which the company has become

multifamily properties.

understandably, shifted dynamically due

renowned.

to the Covid-19 pandemic. As more and

“One example of how we respond to

To diversify its assets, Howard Hughes is

“Our multifamily residences include large, two-story townhomes with dedicated garages,

more people decide to move out of densely

market demand can be viewed through our

as well as four-story programs,” Melton remarks.

populated areas, the demand for a quality

townhome offerings. We partnered with

“We offer a nice blend of offerings that speak

lifestyle with open spaces has increased, and

select home builders and re-envisioned the

to different demographics, both in terms of

Howard Hughes’ master planned communities

elevations, making them feel really rich and

location and buyer/renter price points and

have been ideally positioned for the spirit of

modern, from the interior to the exterior,”

preferences.”

the moment.

Melton reveals. “We have used the same

“Today’s consumer is looking for alternatives to the traditional office density that provide

In the coming months, Howard Hughes is

strategy on introducing 40-foot and 45-foot

set to begin work on two million square feet

homesites, offering lower price points without

of development across its master planned

a higher quality work/life balance and many have transitioned to working from home or a hoteling concept where they work from home two days a week and then go to the office for three days,” Heath explains. “We have definitely been able to capture that level of demand within our communities. Our home sales increased dramatically in 2020, and we will amplify that in 2021 if current trends persist.”

When it comes to residential properties, Howard Hughes’ efforts during the last four years have been directed towards cuttingedge design and becoming an architectural market leader. Since 2015, the corporation has helped to bring more modern interpretations of single-family residences and is widely believed to be the first to introduce modern farmhouse and modern prairie style designs to the Houston market.

“Bridgeland has been home to a modernist development program that includes midcentury modern design and more transitional elevation. It has fared really well with the millennial generation that is now coming of age. In general, millennial customers have a changing family dynamic and are looking to get out of cities and buy homes in higher rated school districts,” Melton reports. “As a result, to better suit this market, we’ve worked closely with builders to redesign interior floor plans and create more of an open concept for people who like to entertain and seek modern MODERNHB.COM

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THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION®®®

The Woodlands Hills - Activity Center

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community portfolio. New condos and multifamily residences, as well as office and retail facilities will soon find their way to the Seaport, Downtown Columbia, Summerlin, Ward Village, The Woodlands and Bridgeland.

“We are really bullish about 2021,” Melton asserts. “Based on the increasing demand for single-family housing, we think there will continue to be huge opportunities for us in Houston and Las Vegas. The single-family residential market will certainly be a focus for us in 2021, and we will be working across all our communities to satisfy that requirement.

“As vaccines are implemented and the market recovers from Covid-19, we are going to see retailers re-awake in the market space,” Melton continues. “All signs point toward 2021 being very different from 2020. We are not only focused on filling out our existing space but also on discovering new opportunities that we can bring to market to fulfil the rising demand.”

As owner and developer of its own master planned communities, Howard Hughes’ destiny remains very much within the company’s control. Not interested in selling its properties to third-party users, Howard Hughes is able to manage its own supply chain and, to some extent, manage the market, ensuring the space in which it operates never becomes oversaturated.

“As we look out across the next three to five years, one advantage is our flexibility,” Melton notes. “We remain very flexible in both a design sense and in how we implement our plans.

“As our core values suggest, we are always looking to build for the future,” he adds. “Going forward, we will continue to deliver communities that remain focused on sustainability, as well as environmentally, but from a market penetration standpoint as well.

We are constantly striving to keep our finger on the pulse so that we can adjust to the market and be dynamic in everything we do.” F

The Woodlands Hills - Trails

The Howard Hughes Corporation® www.howardhughes.com Services: Real estate owner, developer and operator, specializing in master planned communities & premier commercial properties

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THE CORBO GROUP

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F

rom building his first home with no construction experience, to creating a very successful homebuilding firm known for its innovation and

quality, Ralph Corbo has never shied away from a challenge. The Founder and Owner of Connecticut-based business, The Corbo Group, and still at the helm in his 70s, Ralph is proud to be taking the business into 2021 with a firm plan for future success and his son beside him on the journey.

Before sharing his strategies for the next half decade, Ralph started with the fascinating story of how The Corbo Group came into being and the evolutions it has undergone up until this day. “It was around 1975 when my wife Natalie and I built our own first home, based from a plan we saw in the local newspaper.

We were enamored with the authentic English Tudor design, and we decided to embark on that undertaking, despite having never built a house before,” he began.

While Ralph and Natalie may have been young (mid-20s) and inexperienced (both were public school librarians at that time) they were both determined, creative and not afraid of hard work or research. “By the time I

A better way

was 28 we had built a beautiful home, doing a lot of the work ourselves, including general contracting and interior finishes,” continued Ralph. “At the same time as the project was completed, we held a party at the house for a congressional candidate that I was helping, after he won his seat. There was media at this party, and one of the reporters from the major newspaper in the area loved our home and ended up featuring it in the Sunday magazine section. That story led to people approaching me to ask about the building process.” Seeing an opportunity, Ralph decided that during school summer vacations, he would build a house or two – thus, The Corbo Group

A focus on innovation and a dedication to excellence has enabled family-run business, The Corbo Group, to deliver exemplary homes to its customers in Connecticut for 44 years

was born in 1977. The next three years were successful and following taking leaves of absence to try the job full time, Natalie and Ralph left the library world and dedicated all their time to making their new venture a success.

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THE CORBO GROUP

While focusing on homebuilding and some

“Colin also innovated an internal

significant restoration projects, including two

construction estimating and accounts system,

really is useful here. I read about techniques

former schools, the Group also worked on a

so we now have the ability to access what we

now and think to myself ‘we’ve been doing

few commercial buildings as well, keeping

paid for a bill a month ago and compare it to

those for 25 years’! I am glad that someone

and managing the properties for several years.

what we paid for it today. To be able to look at

else recognizes it now,” Ralph commented.

But in 2002 a near-disaster struck – Ralph

that in real time and instantly see what impact

was involved in a motorcycle accident that

it’s having on our business plan and finances

starts with a collaboration with a third-party

required multiple surgeries. Needing a right-

helps us be current with our customers.

energy rater, who assists with the design to

hand man to help Natalie run the business,

Colin’s technology expertise has allowed us to

include a high degree of energy efficiency.

he called on his son Colin, who was a graphic

operate more like a big company but remain a

“This can include areas such as ‘does the

artist at that time, to assist him.

very small company.”

home face the sun, what are the climatic

“He came back to help out and he never

Every home that The Corbo Group builds

conditions in this neighborhood, are we

left!” said Ralph. Indeed, Colin has had a

Corbo DNA

in a valley, are we on top of a ridge, which

transformational effect on the Group, not just

It is clear that Ralph is very willing to embrace

windows are we using, what is the heating

through supporting Ralph with the business,

innovation and it is true to say that this

and cooling system’?” explains Ralph. “They

and also through the sad passing of Natalie

philosophy has been a major part of The

come up with a design that is inputted into

in 2012, but by introducing new technology

Corbo Group since it was founded. In the

the Federal Department of Energy program

and approaches to Corbo’s way of working.

very early days of the business, Ralph and

called RESCheck, which gives us several

“The innovation that Colin has added to the

Natalie discovered a home concept called an

specifications and performance levels, and

company has been dramatic,” Ralph revealed.

‘envelope home’ that is very energy efficient,

tells us how much energy the home will

“Natalie managed the business well but she

and they were also very involved in passive

consume based on a standard – we are always

managed it from our generational point of

solar homes – once again, these attracted the

looking to be below that standard.

view not from his, and he has now digitized

attention of the press, raising the reputation of

every aspect of our company.”

the company and attracting new business to

is voluntary by the way) to the building

its doors. This dedication to energy efficiency

department to show what our energy profiles

filing system, where every document

has never waned, and the company is still

will look like. Then after the house is built, but

associated with an individual project is

always looking for simple ways to produce

before the walls and holes are closed up, the

scanned and collated into one file, which can

energy efficiency in the structure and design

energy rater will come back into the home

be accessed from a desk or jobsite. “We can

of the home.

and inspect all of the items that were specified

This includes the creation of an electronic

simply point and click, and see a contract,

54

experience of building passive solar homes

“Being based in the North East our primary

“We submit that information (which

in this energy package to ensure they have

pictures, anything at all that relates to the

concern is heating more than cooling, and

been done according to plan. If not, we can

house or development, and that has been

we work on several techniques on how the

rectify it at this stage, before the house is

excellent just in itself,” said Ralph.

houses are built and assembled, and our

sheetrocked.

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“Finally, when the home is finished, they come in and do a final check and thorough inspection. They give us a report that tells us how the house performs, and typically it’s better than what was originally planned.

We take real pride in being able to hand that document to our customers, and show them the results. We spend extra money to do this, but we think it’s well worth it.”

Further innovations that are part of the Corbo DNA include integrating technology

I still get up every morning and I am just enthused about what is the day going to bring. I am always reading, designing or creating, and looking ahead to what’s happening in the future, and I think that customers can tell that we aren’t just going through the motions – this is truly a vocation and that our enthusiasm is infectious

into the home. The Group has been doing this for the past 15 years, again under Colin’s

to. “Our ability to do this is not typical for

influence, and as Ralph explained, its abilities

most homebuilders, but is part of how we are

here set it apart. “We want to make our homes

always looking for another useful, simple thing

thorough cleaning by a professional cleaning

technology-friendly, and for many years we

we can do for the end user in an easy way.”

company and we do not allow our customers

have been using structured cables in our

subcontractors like it, too.

“Once the home is completed, it gets a

to take occupancy until two or three days

projects to enable this. Structured cable has

Digital solutions

after the final clean. Again, this causes a little

multiple cables inside, for uses such as video,

Having raised the topic of Covid-19, Ralph

bit of time consumption, but we are very

audio and internet in a single bundle. It allows

went onto give more details about the

concerned about what we are delivering, we

multiple things to happen inside that cable

changes Corbo made to its operations in

always want to make our customer happy and

and it means there is no pulling the house

order to keep projects on track as safely

that encompasses every aspect – from good

apart, or cutting the dry wall for installations -

as possible. “We introduced these policies

quality design and construction work, to how

whatever use the client wants it’s there.

in Spring 2020, with a major change only

the people and players involved have been

allowing one subcontractor in the home at

managed.”

“We also joined the Custom Electronics,

Corbo also benefited from the fact that

Design and Installation Association (CEDIA)

a time, and leaving a day or two in between

many years ago, and they do a lot around

crews. Usually you would have the HVAC,

it already had so many digital operational

home theatres and whole house technology.

plumbers and electricians all inside the house

solutions in place, as when the virus struck,

We have now done several home theatres in

working around each other, each one doing

the Group was able to quickly adopt Zoom

our projects.” Furthermore, with the advent

their own task. This new approach costs us

meetings and be able to discuss projects

of Covid-19 and people using their houses

money and slows us down, but we haven’t

online with customers, sharing files and

in different ways, Corbo’s approach offers

had anybody sick, and nor have there been

showing them pictures and documents in real

customers flexibility to change as they need

any incidents on any of our jobs. I think the

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that Colin innovated and brought in, we

these in another community, two of which

would have been fumbling like a lot of other

are already spoken for. We also work with

that Ralph demands from all Corbo builds, the

people,” agreed Ralph.

individuals who already own a site, working

company has been the recipient of numerous

with them on their design and with the

awards over the years, including multiple

innovative approach to technology, especially

architects. I would say that we do a lot of

HOBI Awards, given by the Connecticut Home

the flexibility that it brings to their working

design and build and that has been a strong

Builders’ Association. This year, Ralph is hoping

life. “Colin has created a system that allows

point, with a good success rate.

another of his projects receives a HOBI Award,

Corbo’s office staff also appreciate its

remote access to home offices, so if we have

“The other specialty we have developed

Unsurprisingly, given the level of excellence

as it was particularly significant to him. “The

a bad weather day or a situation arises, our

over the last five years is doing lake front

last house we did on the lake was a secondary

key people can access their work through a

properties at a private lake front community

home for a home builder from Florida,” he

supplied laptop from their home,” explained

in Connecticut,” he added. Corbo is now

said. “It was a real honor to be the builder for

Ralph. “I don’t mind if they are inputting

working on its fifth home on that private

a builder (the client owns Brista Homes) and

invoices at 10pm because that suits their

community, and this involves liaising with the

he was able to bring a lot to the development.

schedule - maybe they are doing it in their

power company that owns the lake, as well

The home came out beautifully, and they are

PJs, who knows!” Ralph also likes to get his

as working in an environmentally-sensitive

very happy with it. I’ve built for little guys and

staff’s opinion on projects, as a lay person’s

area with an existing community. “We have

big guys but building for another builder - I

perspective can highlight an issue that

developed a very good rapport with both

am very proud of that.”

perhaps someone with more construction

the community and the power company, and

expertise wouldn’t consider. “I think they like

we have the required expertise to create a

generally fall into the luxury, high-end

knowing there is something more to their

lakeside property that not everybody can do. I

category, and Ralph noted that, particularly

job than admin, and I like to show my staff

would say that being a complete builder from

with the lakefront properties, they are usually

they are valued, not just with a good salary

concept to the completion is our niche.”

second homes, and this means the buyers

The beautiful properties created by Corbo

and benefits but with a friendly atmosphere, periodic lunch meetings and conversations about topics other than work. We want everyone to like us and work with us, while always doing a great a job and a keeping their goals in mind.”

Concept to completion Having introduced MHB to the operations at The Corbo Group, Ralph directed the conversation to the areas of construction where it applies its expertise, which extends across several areas of the residential home market. “When you look at a finished home, you don’t always appreciate the many, many stages it has gone through to get there,” he said. “One area where we excel is that we start at the very beginning as real estate developers - we can identify large pieces of land and take them through the complete process of creating individual building home sites. That is a very arduous process, with a lot of risk and different elements, but we have experience in doing this and have nearly finished our latest development. This has taken us three years to do an 11 plot sub division in one of our local communities. We are finishing house number ten which has sold, and next we are going to start house number 11 on spec to complete that project.

“We also buy individual home sites,” he continued. “We recently purchased three of MODERNHB.COM

57

THE CORBO GROUP company ethos, and its eternal dedication to innovation. Now in his 74th year, Ralph’s curiosity about upcoming trends and his willingness to try new techniques and technologies remains as strong as ever, and these traits are also shared by Colin.

Ralph noted this has to be balanced with an appreciation for the market and what will work for a Connecticut buyer. “Our marketplace is a little bit traditional, so we try and input a little bit of ‘trendy’ design, but in a way that is compatible with our demographic. Our buyers still want dining rooms for traditional celebrations, for example, so we have to always bear that in mind.”

From speaking to Ralph, it is clear why The Corbo Group has seen the success it has achieved. He remains as enthusiastic about his business and clients as he was when the business was founded, and he maintains an energy to deliver a client’s dream that shared by his team, and ultimately the customer.

“I still get up every morning and I am just enthused about what is the day going to bring. I am always reading, designing or creating, and looking ahead to what’s happening in the future, and I think that customers can tell that we aren’t just going through the motions – this is truly a vocation and that our enthusiasm is infectious.

Suppliers and contractors also like working have more discretionary income, and a

home buyers’ market, and larger scale home

with us, because we are interested in what

bigger budget, giving Corbo a bigger scope

renovations. “In Connecticut, we are seeing a

they are doing and what they think, and we

for creativity. “That by no means diminishes

boom right now from New York buyers who

are always looking for a better way of doing

our other customers who have two incomes

want to get away from Manhattan and want

something.”

and two children, who of course are looking

to get in a less dense environment. A lot of

for innovation but have to be more budget

those are second home buyers so they are not

company’s focus also reflect his intention

conscious,” he added. “In fact, it is here that

as constricted by budget.

to reduce his role in the active day-to-day

our expertise can help them to meet their

“The other area we are going into is larger

operations of the company, and concentrate

expectations at a cost they can afford. With

scale home renovations. A lot of people love

his own expertise on the financing side, with

the market as it is, with materials costs

the property they currently live in but need

Colin taking on more duties. He mentioned

escalating, it has been a big challenge to

to adapt it – they don’t have $1 million to

that at some point he is ‘going to want to

address rising costs, but we can look at areas

build another house, but they will spend

get a beach chair and a margarita’ – given his

that can be changed – such as swapping a

$400,000 to make this one really great. So, we

drive and dynamism, and his obvious love for

granite kitchen surface for example – so that

are going to be moving over the next couple

what he does, Colin and The Corbo Group will

our customers can manage their budget.”

of years to the home renovation segment

no doubt be keen to keep Ralph’s input into

and we are going to look to hire a project

projects for many years to come. F

True vocation

manager that specializes in that area. We think

Having spoken about ‘middle-of-the-road’

the secondary home and home renovation

sector of the market, Ralph noted that as

markets will give us more flexibility to deal

part of a new strategy that is currently being

with market changes.”

formulated by himself and Colin, The Corbo

58

The changes that Ralph mentioned to the

While changes may be afoot for the

Group will see a change of direction in the

direction of Corbo, what will remain at the

future, shifting more focus onto the secondary

center of its operations is a strong, family-

MODERNHB.COM

The Corbo Group www.CorboGroup.com Services: Premium homebuilder

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