Modern Home Builders Issue 109 August 2021

MODERN

HOME BUILDERS

Issue 109 www.modernhb.com

BEST PRACTICE FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS

A legend in lumber Embodying what is meant by a ‘family-business’, building materials company 84 Lumber has based its success on a dedication to people

Working together Why building stronger relationships with real estate agents is key if builders are to maximize their success over the long-term

Grow your business With so much new work on the horizon, it is crucial to have an easy-to-use, reliable management software system in place

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

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

I was so excited to be able to include a feature from Ben Caballero in this magazine. The current Guinness World Record holder for ‘Most annual home sale transactions through MLS by an individual sell side real estate agent’, Ben was also the first real estate agent to exceed $1 billion in residential sales transactions in a single year. He has a unique position and perspective on how real estate agents and builders can both benefit from working in closer collaboration – read his article on page 4.

We also take a look at safety – an issue that has always been on the agenda for home builders but one that has been compounded by the added requirements of Covid-19. According to our author, technology can help the construction industry manage increasing demand, mitigating risk while ensuring quality outcomes at the same time. The article is on page 8 if you want to learn more.

Technology is also discussed on page 12, where Kai Duebbert introduces a ‘stress-free business management system’ – it certainly sounds appealing! Take a look at the feature to see if it might help you.

Libbie Hammond EDITOR

Web Sales web@schofieldpublishing.com

libbie@schofieldpublishing.com

Office Administrator Jessica Olley Subscriptions i.kidd@schofieldpublishing.com © 2021 Schofield Publishing Ltd

ON THE COVER This month’s cover story focuses attention truly embodies not just the American dream,

Cringleford Business Centre, 10 Intwood Road,

but also the spirit of family. Putting people first,

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

the company to a multi-billion turnover. For the full story of this fascinating business, turn

Chicago, IL 60611

to page 22.

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

BEST PRACTICE FOR INDUSTRY LEADERS

using their feedback in a real and dynamic way

207 E. Ohio Street, Suite 351,

T: (312) 854-0123

BUILDERS

listening to employees and customers and has helped Maggie Hardy and her team take

Finelight Media

HOME

Issue 109 www.modernhb.com

on the success of 84 Lumber – a business that

Schofield Publishing - Corporate Head Office Cringleford, Norwich, NR4 6AU, U.K.

MODERN

A legend in lumber Embodying what is meant by a ‘family-business’, building materials company 84 Lumber has based its success on a dedication to people

Working together Why building stronger relationships with real estate agents is key if builders are to maximize their success over the long-term

Grow your business With so much new work on the horizon, it is crucial to have an easy-to-use, reliable management software system in place

correct at time of writing, but no legal responsibility for loss occasioned by the use of 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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1

INSIDE THIS 4

8

ISSUE FEATURES

4 HOME BUYING Ben Caballero looks at how builders and real estate agents can work more closely together to create long-term success

8 HEALTH & SAFETY The right safety tools will help the construction

HOME BUYING

industry manage increasing demand, mitigating risk while still ensuring quality outcomes

12 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Why you need an easy-to-use, reliable management software system in place to deal

12

18

with the increasing amounts of work on the horizon

18 CELEBRITY HOMES MHB’s monthly report on the real estate of the rich and famous – this issue we highlight Alex Kadavi’s modern home with outstanding LA views, and Eleonora R. Sears’ Massachusetts mansion

NEWS

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

16 UPDATES News and information from the construction and home building industry

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36

42

17 BELLAVISTA HOMES 2

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COVER STORY

HEALTH & SAFETY

8

CELEBRITY HOMES

2

M/I HOMES

84 LUMBER MODERNHB.COM

3

Working

together

How builders can build a better home buying strategy. By Ben Caballero

A

remarkable 88 percent of all buyers today purchase their home

4

estate agents is key to long-term success.

While nine in ten buyers work with real

The four most common areas where differences are most pronounced are sales

through a real estate agent, a

estate agents to buy a home, unfortunately for

contracts, closing date, and which title

steady increase since 2001. While

builders, agents and their buyers, unnecessary

company and lender are used.

builders use multiple sales channels to sell

friction can occur due to the differences

SALES CONTRACTS: Builders are corporations

their homes, successful builders have learned

between the way new homes and existing

and operate under different conditions. They

that building good relationships with real

homes are sold.

are often accountable to company directors,

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HOME BUYING to provide a clean title. It would be highly inefficient and time-consuming for builders to engage with multiple title companies.

LENDERS: Not all mortgage companies are the same. If a lender is unable to deliver a loan or delivers it late, this can be costly for a builder. Builders need to close a home sale on time because every day it is not closed, they carry the costs for interest, property taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance and more.

The upside for agents – who understand these differences – is that selling new homes has many advantages.

First, builders help real estate agents solve one of agents’ most persistent problems: a lack of inventory. Builders are the best source of new business for agents because that’s what they do: create new inventory.

Second, builders and agents share the same goal of selling homes. Real estate agents have the buyers, and builders have the homes. With these two forces together, a beautiful and bountiful business relationship is created.

Third, builders are in the business of selling homes. They are highly motivated sellers whose object is to move their inventory.

Unlike an existing home sale, builders are like you, they sell homes. Builders are sellers who don’t have life-long memories attached to the homes they are selling.

Fourth, new homes offer buyers more. They feature the latest energy saving technologies, updated floorplans, modern design and colors, and lower maintenance costs. New homes are constructed with the latest building codes, and they are, well, new.

Finally, new homes show better: there are no odors, deferred maintenance issues, or pets in the way. Plus, the builder representative is an agent’s ally and will do much of the hand holding to create a relationship with them.

While it’s true that when inventory is as scarce as it is today, builders can pick and choose their buyers, that’s not always going to be the case.

As a former builder for 18 years and as a licensed Realtor for many more, I’ve been on both sides of the fence. My experience shareholders, legal departments, lenders, and

municipal inspections, material deliveries, labor

convinces me that the key for a builder to

land developers as well as the municipalities

dependability, and vandalism can all cause

maximize their success over the long term is

where they build. Individual sellers are not.

delays. Builders cannot provide a fixed closing

to build stronger agents relationships.

As a result, builders must use different sales

date because of these and other variables.

contracts.

TITLE COMPANIES: Specific documentation

table to attract agent business. Builders have

CLOSING DATES: Variables outside the

is required to certify a builder is authorized to

detailed knowledge of their product — from

control of a builder, including weather,

sell the property and allow the title company

the materials, available options, and upgrades

Builders bring so much expertise to the

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to the history of the subdivision. Builders need

current property listing information – which

changes, or new photos are available, you must

to leverage this knowledge.

creates trust in the marketplace.

reflect that change immediately in the MLS.

The MLS also is the great connector. It’s

That’s what helps build trust between a builder

Tapping the power of the MLS

the tech platform that more than 1.4 million

and agents and buyers when the most current

Perhaps the most overlooked resource for

licensed and active real estate agents use to

and accurate property information is on the MLS.

builders to sell more homes and sell them faster

make transactions happen.

is maximizing listing exposure through the

When a builder properly leverages the MLS, they increase their profitability because when

power of the Multiple Listing Service or MLS. The

to their clients because they have access to

homes sell faster, builders reduce carrying

MLS is what makes the real estate market work.

the MLS.

costs and build more homes. It’s also why

The MLS is the most powerful and lowest-

Unfortunately, many builders put homes

big builders, who are marketing 100 or more

cost marketing tool to reach the greatest

in MLSs solely because it is an item on a

homes a year, can’t rely on a few people to

number of buyers.

checklist. But to maximize the power of the

manage the MLS process.

The MLS drives more business in residential real estate than any other technology. It has the best market data – the most accurate and

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Real estate agents deliver incredible value

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MLS, you must manage every home listed for sale throughout its listing lifecycle.

Every time the property status changes, price

We have found that a single listing can average 23 changes from its initial posting to its closing. For every 100 homes sold, that’s

HOME BUYING

2,300 changes needed to keep the data current in the MLS. Having updated property data in the MLS is what agents want, and their buyers expect – and deserve.

Builders can be the differentiator I’ve often been asked, ‘What’s my secret to success?’ To me, the key to success is always to have focus. Specializing is key for almost every highly successful real estate professional. My specialty is working exclusively with builders.

If builders can help show more real estate agents the opportunities available with new

Ben Caballero is founder and CEO of HomesUSA.com, and he holds the current Guinness World Record title for ‘Most annual home sale transactions through MLS by an individual sell side real estate agent.’ Between 2004 and 2020, Ben sold 43,265 homes totaling $15.188 billion in sales volume. Ranked by RealTrends as America’s top real estate agent for home sales since 2013, Ben is the most productive real estate agent in US history. He is the first real estate agent to exceed $1 billion in residential sales transactions in a single year. He is also the first real estate agent to exceed $2 billion in annual sales, which he accomplished the last three years straight.

An award-winning innovator and technology pioneer, Ben works with more than 60 home builders in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. https://homesusa.com/

homes, they can be that differentiator agents need. F MODERNHB.COM

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Building a

safer future Bob Butler explains how the construction sector can tap into tech to drive quality as well as safety

F 8

or a sector that is sensitive to economic

had to navigate large hits to the bottom line as

cycles, Covid-19 has been one of the

well as disruptions in labor, supply chains and a

demonstrated remarkable resilience, upping

most challenging periods for the

decline in demand. On the upside, construction

its game with rigorous Covid-19 protocols

construction industry. The pandemic

has the potential to jumpstart recovery as the US

designed to keep workers safe. Now is the

presented an additional layer of complexity in

gets back to business. But what will this look like

time to take stock of these procedures,

an already high-risk sector. Organizations have

in a post-pandemic America?

looking at how they can be applied to

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In the last year, the construction sector has

HEALTH & SAFETY

avoid other tragedies as the industry moves

— whether by rigorous inspections against

demand, mitigating risk while ensuring

forward.

building codes, or minimizing the spread of

quality outcomes at the same time.

The key challenge lies in cementing these safety procedures, ramping up operations

Covid-19 throughout work sites.

Technology can do some of the heavy

Easily scalable processes

as demand returns to normal levels, and

lifting here. The right tools will help the

Inspections are critical in the construction

safeguarding against risk across the board

construction industry manage increasing

sector, covering everything from pre-starts MODERNHB.COM

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and daily site safety audits to near miss

fit with your ways of working. A simple way to

laid the foundation for levelling up their

reporting. Keeping it all in check starts with

start is by using a digital checklist for anything

operations. Regular inspections for quality

one important step: inspecting your own

from risk assessments to job hazard analysis.

assurance, site audits and risk assessments,

Moving from paper to digital through

present the entire operational ecosystem

processes first. By assessing and eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy, organizations can

a platform like iAuditor helps drive

instead of fragmented elements operating in

unlock the full capabilities of their workforce.

accountability with actionable tasks and

their own silos.

SafetyCulture helps some of the world’s

validation by having a clear endpoint that an employee can complete. It effortlessly

this data, organizations have oversight

and accountability in their organizations.

streamlines the whole inspection process

across everything from inventory to

In our line of work, we see the value in

from collation to analysis - and to action.

equipment failures and can take action accordingly. Unpack trends over time and

simple, effective processes every day.

The construction sector shoulders both

Raising visibility

find opportunities for better operations.

a broad and high-risk scope of work and

Like most industries, construction is

For instance, data collection from near miss

over-complicated workflows affect how it is

experiencing a rapid shift to digital channels.

reporting can be invaluable for understanding

managed.

New ways of tracking information, onboarding

and targeting trends. Teams can analyze

subcontractors and reporting mean that

trends over time and help pinpoint areas for

they should be simple and routine. Digitization

digital checks aren’t just an efficiency boost

hazard reductions and other improvements.

is the obvious solution here, but it needn’t

for safety audits. It increases the quantity,

come with the time-consuming complexity

consistency and quality of information

Build a culture of speaking out

often associated with digital transformation.

gathered.

It’s the people on the frontline in every

Inspections should not be a burden, instead

Consider introducing processes that already

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By using a centralized system to house

largest industries embed a culture of safety

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In digitizing inspections, businesses have

industry who have the ability to own safety

HEALTH & SAFETY

practices from the ground up. A safer worksite is a better worksite, and it requires everyone’s help to get there. Organizations must actively encourage employees of all levels to speak up when something raises a concern in the workplace.

Everyone needs to take responsibility to create a genuine culture of safety, from the frontline to senior management. Put processes in place that connect teams from a distance, engaging and enabling them to speak up, raise issues and take action. An effective business doesn’t prescribe rigid ways of operating, but puts power in people’s hands and makes them part of the solution.

As we look to life post Covid-19, it’s the people on the frontline of every industry who have the visibility to build a culture of safety from the ground up. It’s down to each

Bob Butler is General Manager North America, at SafetyCulture. SafetyCulture is the operational heartbeat of working teams around the world. Its mobile-first operations platform leverages the power of human observation to identify issues and opportunities for businesses to improve everyday. More than 28,000 organizations use its flagship products, iAuditor and EdApp, to perform checks, train staff, report issues, automate tasks and communicate fluidly. https://safetyculture.com

and every member of your team to ensure procedures and guidelines are followed. F MODERNHB.COM

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Grow your

business Introduce a stress-free business management system to reach the next level, says Kai Duebbert

W

e all know that feeling of

Excel file, the schedule that could be in Trello,

rising panic when you’re

the timesheets in yet another online system,

struggling to keep on top

and the proposals distributed over many

performing well, particularly as people attempt

of lots of projects and trying

The US construction sector is currently

directories on a file server. Because of this, the

to get back on their feet post-pandemic. But

to update separate systems while running a

same data is entered multiple times, wasting

one of the main challenges that companies face

successful business.

your valuable time and leading to confusion

is managing workloads efficiently and recruiting

and miscommunication because one system

and keeping the right staff.

There’s the time off that might be in an

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wasn’t updated but the other one was.

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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

The frustrations of dealing with disjointed

consider implementing a new system to

Service-based SMEs of up to 250 employees

information across multiple systems can both

iron out these issues and manage multiple

need a system that links proposals, projects,

reduce profits and drive people away, holding

projects. But it’s crucial to have an easy-to-

timesheets, tasks, time off and schedules to

back businesses in their growth, effectiveness

use, reliable management software system

each other in one central location, and where

and accountability.

in place as you look to reap the rewards

updates in one area are reflected across a

of increasing amounts of work on the

central dashboard, giving crucial business

horizon.

insights.

Business owners in the construction industry may believe they are too busy to

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to know what they are meant to do and

To succeed and grow your business, you need access to game-changing insights that will save you time and money. It’s worth it in the long run because it will reduce your personal workload - and stress levels

where they need to be. The sales team needs to understand the availability that’s there, and management needs to know what pipeline is in place so that resources can be planned accordingly.

We were tripping over each other with ineffective and inconsistent data in spreadsheets, and we were unsure about what work was coming from our sales and quotes

We understand your pain

ourselves when our company, Murphy

pipeline. This all resulted in long hours, stress,

As a fully qualified land surveyor and business

Geospatial, first started as a small, family-run

lower than ideal productivity, and unhappy

owner of a leading surveying company in the

business in the 1980s.

staff and customers.

United Kingdom and Ireland, I have first-hand

had problems in keeping pace with the

Let the system take the strain

in a challenging environment and highly

changes. We struggled with delegating tasks,

Many companies are on the same journey

competitive market requires to succeed.

obtaining the right information at the right

that we were on in the beginning. Having

time, and making important - and shareable

worked on thousands of projects over the

to divide their time, leaving them feeling

- scheduling, resourcing, and other strategic

years, we realized that we needed a focused

overworked and unable to keep on top

business decisions.

management tool to keep track of our work.

We understand how people can struggle

of things. We were in a similar situation

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The business grew very quickly, and we

experience of what a fast-growing business

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When a project goes live, your team needs

We spent a long time trying, unsuccessfully,

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

to find a business management system that could work for us, but they all seemed far too big and complex. In the end, we decided to design our own and, using my skills in software development, we created a system that fits our sector perfectly and is ideal for remote working.

Geospatial surveying is an important part of the construction sector and therefore shares a lot of the challenges with the homebuilding industry in managing a variety of projects, field crews and office staff and, importantly, keeping track of the sales pipeline.

A home builder could start out with their own company and have all their information on a spreadsheet, but then the firm grows, more people join, and suddenly you find yourself juggling with different sources of data. It may seem obvious to have a streamlined system that can keep track of everything, but it’s understandable when companies start out quite small before things get more complex.

The main issue with these companies is that they don’t have a problem getting the work in the first place, but they have a problem getting it done.

Light at the end of the tunnel Implementing a web-based platform allows you to manage your projects, your staff and your business wherever you are, whenever you need to, in real time. You can literally take your office with you, on any device.

The result is that you have the tools to help you adapt quickly to ever-changing requirements, massively improving the efficiency and effectiveness of what you do and how you do it.

To succeed and grow your business, you need access to game-changing insights that will save you time and money. It’s worth it in the long run because it will reduce your personal workload - and stress levels.

We’ve had several early adopters in Ireland and the US who have started to use our system over the last year and have seen the benefits it can bring. That gives us great satisfaction.

Now, when we’re demonstrating it to new customers, they can really see how it will help

Kai Duebbert is Kompass BMS managing director.

Developed and used for more than 15 years, Kompass is a business management system focused on giving service-based firms with 20 to 250 employees exactly the tools they need to manage their business processes, in a fully integrated way, from enquiry to the final invoice. It has been built by business owners in the construction sector, using a GIS platform that records project coordinates and the history of each job. Kompass BMS - which is a standalone company - has its main office in Dublin, Ireland, and is looking to expand to other countries and sectors. www.kompassbms.com

them. It gives them some light at the end of the tunnel. F MODERNHB.COM

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Now selling Century Communities, Inc., a top ten national homebuilder, has returned to sought-after New Braunfels, TX with over 100 single-family homesites at Hidden Springs. Homebuyers can choose from a versatile selection of inspired single- and two-story floor plans, with exceptional included features like granite countertops, 42” cabinets, and 9’ ceilings. Boasting a prime location with mature trees,

Gold award winner

Hidden Springs offers quick access

Kolter Homes, a Builder Magazine ‘Top 100’ honoree and leader in developing next-generation,

to the Comal and Guadalupe rivers,

highly amenitized, master-planned communities in the Southeast US, was recently honored with

shopping at New Braunfels Town

three Aurora Awards by the Southeast Building Conference. Two of the company’s model homes

Center at Creekside, the 70-acre

were recognized with ‘Best Single-Family’ awards, and Kolter’s Artistry Palm Beach community

Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and

was named the 2021 ‘Residential Housing Community of the Year.’ Three additional Kolter model

other popular area amenities. The

homes earned interior design awards in the 2021 competition.

community expects to open a model home for tours in fall 2021.

The home options at Hidden Springs include three to four bedrooms, two to 2.5 bathrooms,

“We are grateful for the recognition, and pleased to provide our residents with award-winning new homes and communities,” said Robert Rademacher, President of Kolter Homes. “I am also very proud of our team and vendor partners who put in the effort, care and attention every day to deliver champion-level results and experiences to our customers.”

The ‘Best Single-Family’ awards were earned for floorplans Kolter Homes currently builds in

one and two bay garages, lofts, game

Northwest Florida, Southwest Florida and Southeast Florida. Artistry Palm Beach, the 2021 Gold

rooms, sliding door options and more

Aurora Award winner for ‘Residential Housing Community of the Year,’ is located in Palm Beach

(per plan).

Gardens, Florida, and offers new homebuyers 12 unique floorplans they can personalize along with a lakeside clubhouse, wide walkways, scenic streetscapes and gated entrance.

Innovative designs LGI Homes, Inc. has announced Terrata Homes is now selling in the Austin, Texas market with the opening of its

Island mortgages

newest community, Spicewood Trails,

Motto Mortgage, an innovative mortgage brokerage franchise focused on transparency and

where it is offering a carefully-curated

compliance, has a new office in Hawaii. Motto Mortgage Home is now open in Honolulu and serving

collection of innovative designs that

all markets throughout the Paradise State.

combine a luxury aesthetic with

Established by Thu Nguyen, with extensive experience in finance, Motto Mortgage Home is a

everyday functionality. This newly

customer-first, full-service mortgage brokerage. “Motto Mortgage Home offers an advantageous

designed collection includes five floor

alternative to the traditional mortgage bankers currently operating in Honolulu,” said Nguyen. “We

plans ranging in size from 2,643 sq ft

provide the scope, scale and support of a large retail lender, while offering the flexibility, autonomy

to 3,976 sq ft. Open floor plans with

and exceptional service of a local mortgage broker.”

up to four bedrooms and four baths

Thu will serve as the broker and

showcase centrally located family

mortgage loan originator for the office.

rooms, private master suites, spacious

She is a mortgage expert and takes great

walk-in closets, game rooms, media

satisfaction helping homebuyers achieve

rooms, private offices, flex spaces,

their dream of homeownership.

formal dining rooms, covered outdoor

Motto Mortgage Home is open for

living spaces with outdoor kitchens

business, but currently implementing

and professionally landscaped front

health precautions to make the mortgage

yards. Each of these five floor plans is

experience as safe as possible for

equipped with the upgrades today’s

customers and employees. Currently, no

homebuyers are searching for.

walk-ins are available; it is appointment only until further notice. A digital mortgage experience is available for borrowers who would prefer to conduct business remotely.

16

MODERNHB.COM

INDUSTRY NEWS

Printed home

Resort-style for Richmond

Twente Additive Manufacturing (TAM) has announced that its Fibonacci House, Canada’s First 3D

Traditions of America, a national

Printed Home, which is also the world’s very first Airbnb listed 3D Printed Concrete Tiny Home, is

leader in the development of active

now available for vacation rental.

adult communities, will be offering

The house showcases the

234 new homes in Richmond,

advantages that the 3D Concrete

Virginia along with exceptional

Printing Technology has to offer;

resort-style living. Traditions of

free form design with curved walls

America at Chesterfield will be the

that gives the house the fluid

first of its kind in the area and the

outline combined with the robust

28th community for this award-

structure that enables the home to

winning active-adult builder.

be completely sound and climate

Managing Partner & Founder

proof, easy to maintain and clean.

Tim McCarthy says of this new

The Fibonacci House was printed

development: “After decades of

using a concrete printer designed and sold by Twente Additive Manufacturing, a construction-

building highly successful 55+

technology company. The design of the house was created using the Fibonacci Sequence, a

communities across Pennsylvania,

well-known pattern that is often referred to as ‘the golden ratio’ which can be found in nature

we are thrilled to enter the Virginia

in numerous variations. The site of the printed house is in the Kootenay Lake Village project at

market with a product we feel is

Procter Point, one of the fastest-growing communities in the Nelson, BC catchment basin.

unrivaled - and long overdue - in

All proceeds from the Airbnb revenues are being directly diverted to an affordable homes

the greater Richmond area. Our

project spearheaded by World Housing, an international NGO. Building on the lessons learned

singular focus is - and has always

from the Fibonacci house, World Housing will build what they hope is the first community in

been - building communities for

Canada of affordable living space built entirely with 3D printing.

the 55+ homebuyer. We understand them. We know what they want. And we can deliver on our mission of

Massachusetts mergers

improving the lives of 55+ adults.”

A suite of resort-style amenities -

BluSky Restoration Contractors, LLC has merged with Bridgewater, Massachusetts-based Integrity

including a Clubhouse with Fitness

Construction & Development, LLC and Carver, Massachusetts-based RebuildEx of Plymouth

Center, Outdoor Heated Pool, Tennis/

County, LLC.

Pickleball Court, Bocce Courts,

“Integrity and RebuildEx are made up of really great people who are going to fit right in with

Walking Trails, Shuffleboard, Putting

the BluSky family,” said Drew Bisping, BluSky president. “We’re excited to further expand on

Green and a full-time Lifestyle

the great reputation both companies have established, and we look forward to serving New

Director - are what make Traditions of

England’s property restoration needs.”

America at Chesterfield unparalleled

The merged companies will continue as BluSky Restoration

in the region.

“From a development standpoint,

Contractors, operating 37 offices

this site is one of the best I’ve seen.

in 17 states from coast to coast.

The gentle, rolling topography

Integrity and RebuildEx specialize

will make a spectacular setting

in property restoration and

for the Chesterfield community.

reconstruction services in New

Curvilinear street designs, cul de

Hampshire and Massachusetts,

sacs, and many homes backing to

including the greater Boston

trees and privacy will add to the

metropolitan region. In addition

appeal. With a network of walking

to structural rebuilding services

trails and having many homes within

currently provided by Integrity

walking distance to the expansive

and RebuildEx, BluSky plans to add its mitigation and commercial roofing business lines to the

clubhouse - this is poised to be an

northeast markets.

A+ neighborhood,” says Art Plante,

The announcement is the fifth in a strategic plan of mergers and acquisitions to support BluSky growth. BluSky has grown from a privately-owned Colorado startup in 2004 to one of the largest

Regional Vice President for Traditions of America’s Virginia Operations.

national restoration firms in the United States.

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17

Photo credit: Joe Bryant, Juwan Li and Marc Angeles

Modern classics Two breath-taking properties feature in this issue – reconstructive surgeon-to-the-stars’ Alex Kadavi’s totally modern home with outstanding LA views, and Eleonora R. Sears Gilded Age Massachusetts mansion

R

econstructive surgeon-to-the-

been incorporated in the home several times

More unusual design features include a

stars, Alex Kadavi, made his fortune

in addition to the price, including bedrooms

retractable DJ table in the foyer, a koi pond

keeping the beautiful people

(there are seven) and measurements.

as large as a swimming pool that can be

looking their best. His success in

According to the listing, the home’s Non-

viewed from inside through glass walls, a

the cosmetic-medical field made it possible

Fungible Token (NFT) art gallery features seven

glass elevator encompassed in the koi pond,

to fulfil one of his dreams: design and build,

indoor large-screen media displays and a

and numerous seven-horsepower jets in the

in collaboration with Ali Rad Design Group,

rotatable 2-D laser projector that casts light

infinity pool that coordinate with the home’s

‘Palazzo di Vista,’ a contemporary-futuristic

in a rhombic-shape up to 1,650 square feet

music - so swimmers can literally feel the beat.

home. It is located on top of a promontory in

over the pool with misters, emulating Disney’s

Bel Air with some of LA’s best views.

California Adventure Park’s World of Color

with seven bedrooms and 11 baths, which

attraction. Also featured is artwork by Ghost

includes a master wing with a floating

Palazzo di Vista is for sale with a unique asking

Girl, Andy Moses, Shane Guffogg and Jimi

wrap-around deck and the ‘seven-star resort’

price of $87,777,777. The number seven has

Gleason.

bath. There is a glass-walled wine room,

Located in the city’s Bel Air neighbourhood,

The house is sited on a bit over one acre

multiple dining venues both inside and out, a theater large enough for a crowd, additional lounge areas and a suspended glass floor walkway. The kitchen is large and minimalist in design and is open to the outdoors with two glass walls. There is also a detached guest house. The NFTs and physical artwork are not included in the listing price but are negotiable.

The listing agents are Aaron Kirman of Aaron Kirman Group at Compass and Mauricio Umansky of The Agency.

18

MODERNHB.COM

CELEBRITY HOMES Photo credit: Douglas Elliman

Updated mansion

Harold Vanderbilt (to whom she

Many of America’s Olympic stars of today

was once engaged), Cole Porter

can thank socialite Eleonora R. Sears, who

(who played the piano at some of

in the early 20th century made women’s

her gatherings) and Judy Garland,

sports in the United States acceptable and

her oceanfront mansion was the

popular. When she died in 1968 at the age

perfect venue for everything from

of 86, Boston Globe sportswriter Victor Jones

intimate dinners to fundraisers.

wrote, she ‘was probably the most versatile

Two years after Eleonora’s death, the home

original mantels. Large slabs of white marble

performer that sports has ever produced —

was purchased by a family-owned Boston

have been used in the spacious kitchen

not just the most versatile female performer,

construction materials company, Benevento

and bathroom updates. Large windows and

but the most versatile, period.’ She was a

Companies.

French doors open to the terraces that fill

four-time national tennis champion, the

Built in 1904 on Massachusetts’ Gold

the home with sunlight, creating an elegant

first women’s squash champion and an

Coast, the 28,000-square-foot mansion has

accomplished horsewoman, who was the

11 bedrooms and 13 baths sited on three

beachy vibe.

first woman to ride a horse in a major polo

oceanfront acres with a private beach and

Sarkis Team, Douglas Elliman Real Estate,

match. With her social standing and the

carriage house. All rooms have ocean views

Boston, Massachusetts.

wealth it provided, the home she chose was

with most having fireplaces retaining the

Source: www.elliman.com

The listing agent is George Sarkis of The

a glamorous Gilded Age mansion with 400 feet of Massachusetts Atlantic oceanfront and private beach, where she lived for 40 years until her death in 1968. Named ‘Rock Edge’ due to its location above the rocky shore, the home has undergone a meticulous 21st-century update and is now for sale at $22 million.

For details of these houses and other celebrity homes, please visit: www.topTenRealEstateDeals.com https://www.toptenrealestatedeals.com/weekly-ten-best-home-deals/home/l-a-s-bestviews-laser-art-dj-booth-seven-star-resort-bath https://www.toptenrealestatedeals.com/weekly-ten-best-home-deals/home/americasmost-versatile-athlete-her-historic-mansion-is-for-sale

As a socialite whose friends and frequent home visitors included the Prince of Wales, MODERNHB.COM

19

84 LUMBER

Maggie Hardy

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MODERNHB.COM

A legend

in lumber

Celebrating 65 years in business in 2021, 84 Lumber remains the first choice for contractors and builders across the entire US, thanks to its dedicated team and inspirational President and Owner, Maggie Hardy

A

s the nation’s leading privately

owner, Maggie Hardy, is one hundred percent

Company as a company, although that sounds

held supplier of building materials,

invested in the success of the company

strange!” he said. “She really thinks of it as a

manufactured components

and her people, in way that public-listed

living, breathing entity, or almost one of her

and industry-leading services

businesses find hard to emulate.

children. This is really, truly a family business,

for single- and multi-family residences and

Frank Cicero, Chief Operating Officer at

built around people and full of staff who have

commercial buildings, 84 Lumber already

the company (and who has worked for 84

been here for years and we have all grown

holds a unique position in the market. Not

Lumber for 38 years), believes that this is a

together to do this job.”

only does its lack of shareholders give it a lot

very important factor that sets the business

of operational flexibility and freedom, but its

apart. “Maggie doesn’t really view 84 Lumber

Given Frank’s history with the business, he is perfectly positioned to give the magazine’s MODERNHB.COM

23

84 LUMBER readers a brief insight into its evolution, which started back in 1956, with its founder, and Maggie’s father, Joe Hardy. “Joe started a company to help contractors build houses in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where there was a miniature housing boom at the time,” said Frank.

For 20 years, 84 Lumber added stores across the States and then in 1976, it recognized a new competitor in the form of ‘home centers.’ These

We build everything from the ground up, and I think that’s how we keep our culture as one. We bring transparency to everything – to our associates, our customers and our vendors, and we all work together. We have 350-400 people that work in our team headquarters, and these are the people that support our 250 locations throughout the US

were selling raw materials for building houses as well as stocking bathrooms and kitchens –

listening to people and then acting on what

the 2008 housing bust. It heralded a tough few

bolting on the other peripheral items that are

they said – which is another of Maggie’s

years for 84 Lumber, but as a company that was

needed to create a home. “We saw this as a great

strengths – that made us what we are today.”

privately held, it weathered the storm. “Maggie

model as the stores would draw in retail traffic.

Maggie’s philosophy recognized the

personally invested her own money to keep

But then in 1989, the big box stores like Home

different needs and trends of each location,

the company going through those hard times,”

Depot start opening up, so in turn, the company

and over the four years from 1992 to 1996 she

said Frank. With Maggie’s support, 84 Lumber

spent the next three years figuring out how to

reset the culture. “Deciding to stop waiting for

persisted; in 2011 it entered a period of recovery,

best fit into this new world.”

people to come into stores, she created an

with new stores arriving four years later.

outside sales program, with associates that go

“We had this little growth spurt in 2016/2017

and while only in her late 20s at that time, she

In 1992, Maggie became Company President,

out and meet builders and find out what their

and from 2017 to where we are today, we have

had essentially spent much of her life beside

needs are, and drive sales into the stores in

been on this wonderful trajectory of growth

her father at 84 Lumber, learning about the

that way,” added Frank.

that could see us end 2021 at over $7 billion of

business and how it works, and her arrival

revenue,” exclaimed Frank.

heralded a step change in approach. “It was a

Growth trajectory

major shift in our company and is why we are

If 1992-1996 reset the culture, then 1996-2001

the areas where stores are located has been a

successful today,” asserted Frank. “When Maggie

set the foundations. Having established a great

crucial factor in the evolution of 84 Lumber, and

became 84’s President in 1992, she visited

model and facilities, 2001-2006 saw 84 Lumber

a differentiator between it and the competition,

stores, listened to our company associates and

enter bigger markets, and just as it was seeing

because as Frank notes “it’s so different from

found out what each individual market needed

success in new locations such as Dallas, Los

market to market. As you can imagine – a

to be successful. It was really her patience,

Angeles and Phoenix, the market was hit by

builder in Boston is going to have different

Maggie’s philosophy of learning a lot about

needs to one in Northern California.”

The strategy has been very successful and means that 84 Lumber can supply its customers at every stage of a house’s construction, wherever they are located. It starts with the framing. “We do windows, exterior doors, siding and roofing, and then we go inside with interior doors and trim. The range is broad and encompasses everything that you see in a house,” explained Frank.

Frank referenced a few of the items supplied by 84 Lumber, but his list was just a small selection – the business offers a huge variety of construction building materials and supplies, from decks and drywall to stairs and moldings.

James Hardie James Hardie is the world leader in fiber cement siding. The company empowers homeowners and building professionals alike to achieve the home of their dreams with premium quality solutions that enable endless exterior design possibilities, while also delivering trusted protection and long-lasting beauty.

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24

MODERNHB.COM

Congratulations 84 Lumber on your continued success!

We look forward to our ongoing partnership.

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84 LUMBER – may not be new inventions in themselves, but they do include innovation in the way that 84 Lumber delivers them to the construction site. “What we want to do is receive a question from our customer, work with them to develop a measurement of that delivery option, go and do it, assess it, come back and review it, score it, price it and if it’s deemed worthy and it goes to the adoption stage, ultimately scale it,” said Ken. “That could be for floor panels, it could be longer panelized wall systems, or it could be usage of cranes instead of rolls on a job site. It involves manufacturing of products, as well as the installation side and how we can join them together. We work really hard with our stores to make sure that the store, the plant and the labor are all pointed at the customer.”

In fact, the synergy between stores and Its buying power and depth of inventory

conversation. He explained that the business

manufacturing is a priority, and Ken confirmed

means that contractors’ projects will stay on

now has 12 manufacturing plants in total,

that the business is committed to increasing

budget and on time, and its understanding

based predominantly east of Mississippi

its manufacturing capability to support the

of local markets means that the advice of staff

and manufacturing for its own stores

growth of the stores. “That means looking at

and range of professional services and specialty

and customers. With an investment and

markets with stores we are in today and adding

products available meet the needs of its

modernization program underway, 84 Lumber

or increasing manufacturing in those markets.

customer base.

is greatly expanding its capacity both in

We are also taking positions in new markets

facilities and the equipment inside, upgrading

both in terms of stores and manufacturing sites,

Capacity expansion

to automated truss lines, pluck systems, wizards

so it is really exciting to be on the edge of that.”

Another significant additional aspect that

and various types of modern equipment. “We

sets 84 Lumber’s product selection apart is

are looking at autofeed systems, and with some

already underway, with March 2021 seeing

its own in-house manufacturing capability.

of the new plants we have staked out, we see

the opening of a new, dedicated truss plant in

“Once Maggie’s new philosophy and culture

that type of technology becoming part of it,”

Richmond, Virginia. The new component plant,

were set up, she knew we had to get into

he said.

which primarily manufactures wall panels, roof

This process of location expansion is

manufacturing,” said Frank. For over three

“The efficiencies also come from our

and floor trusses, is fully automated, outfitted

decades, the organization has established

associates and the training programs we

with the latest design software, computerized

itself as a leading manufacturer of metal plate

have for them, as well as the set up of the

saws, a trackless gantry system and laser

connected roof and floor trusses and wall

equipment. We have focused on our industrial

projection equipment.

panels for some of the country’s largest single-

engineer talent process, with process managers

family and commercial builders.

going into our facilities to work with the

another opening, this time in Statesville, North

To get some further details about

operators to look at how they are setting up

Carolina. The utilization of the technological

this important segment of 84 Lumber’s

and then modernize that aspect of it as well.”

solutions in each of these new truss plants

business, Vice-President of Installed Sales & Manufacturing Ken Kucera joined our

The products built inside 84 Lumber’s facilities – trusses, wall panels and floor panels

Just five months later, 84 Lumber celebrated

means that the manufacturing teams can design and manufacture the right solutions for

INDOOR SPACES WITH AN OUTDOOR FEEL The indoor/outdoor living trend has continued to rise in popularity. For the past few years, homeowners have been craving spaces designed to open to the outdoors, framing the views around them and seamlessly integrating their interior design style to outdoor entertaining spaces. While traditionally indoor/outdoor living spaces have included opening an entire wall to the outside, there are many ways to bring the outdoors in.

Remove Boundaries with Big Doors Contemporary design is on the rise, with more homeowners seeking out designs that incorporate natural light and clean lines. As a pillar of contemporary design, walls of glass like big doors from Andersen, accentuate the view outside and provide the feeling of openness in the home. The Andersen MultiGlide™ doors help homeowners add more square footage to their home by connecting the indoors to an outdoor living space designed for relaxing and entertaining.

Visit your nearest 84 Lumber store for more information about Andersen MultiGlide™ doors.

26

MODERNHB.COM

INDOOR SPACES WITH AN OUTDOOR FEEL Andersen® Big Doors give you the ultimate design freedom to blur the line between indoors and out. And with the best options for indoor and outdoor living spaces*, there is a style and design for almost any home.

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7/19/21 11:41 AM

84 LUMBER customers in much less time and deliver them to the jobsite ready to install.

While the component manufacturing side

The growth the company is undergoing also

at the ground level and learn all about

means that it is looking for new associates to

design and engineering. The opportunities

add to the team – it is looking to hire as many

for advancement through the company are

is a crucial contributor to the success that

as 3,000 roles across the country throughout

impressive, and recruitment and finding the

84 Lumber has achieved over its history, the

the rest of 2021. In a short video on YouTube

right team members is a continuous process

facilities and machines are nothing without the

that gives a small insight into 84 Lumber’s

for 84 Lumber. “We are proud of our associates

right operators, and this applies to the stores,

truss plant in New Britain, Pennsylvania,

and what we do here, and I think it’s reflected

too. From the top floor to the shop floor, the

Sean O’Connell, the plant general manager,

in our growth and what we will be doing in the

business strives to hire great people and keep

commented that working for the business has

future,” said Frank.

the same culture – for this reason it has never

given him the opportunity to ‘play a part in

undertaken an acquisition.

building the future.’

“Our people set us apart,” stated Frank. “We

In fact, everyone along the value chain is important to 84 Lumber – putting people first is a priority. “I think what drives the

build everything from the ground up, and I

People-first approach

company more than anything is watching the

think that’s how we keep our culture as one.

For any young people who want to

success of its people. We all get tremendous

We bring transparency to everything – to our

experience this for themselves, 84 Lumber

amounts of enjoyment from that, especially

associates, our customers and our vendors, and

has a component designer apprenticeship

Maggie,” said Frank. “We are going to take care

we all work together. We have 350-400 people

program, where successful applicants enter

of our associates and customers first, and

that work in our team headquarters, and these are the people that support our 250 locations throughout the US. “Surprisingly enough, everybody is here between 6:30-7:00 a.m. and everybody leaves between 5:30-6:00 p.m. because the team headquarters works the same schedule as the stores; there is no differentiation here - we are all one team.”

“What our associates can get done both in the manufacturing space and in the stores that we supply, I think it’s been a differentiator in this current run that we are on,” agreed Ken, from a manufacturing perspective. “In some markets, we are adding tools that they haven’t had before, and they quickly take advantage of it.”

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84 LUMBER indeed, building long-term relationships with

but we want to make sure we have a strategic

customers is also something else that sets us

partner along for the ride with us.”

apart,” he added.

vendors that have been with you for over six

Technology evolution

decades, beside you every step of the way,

forming close collaborations with the customer,

This customer-first approach was also made

giving you what you need and probably a little

and he agreed that this approach would

evident during the Covid-19 pandemic months

bit more - all that has kept us growing and

remain very important. “It can happen in many

of 2020, when, as a designated essential

thriving through these challenges.”

different ways, so it could be simply having the

business, 84 Lumber and its stores remained

product they need, but it’s also the research

open. “Those front line associates that took care

feedback from those working on the front line

and development, value engineering, bringing

of our customers were the true heroes of this

has been a cornerstone of her success: “Having

them cost and time saving ideas, decreasing

company,” proclaimed Frank. “We didn’t miss

an owner who constantly asks ‘what do you

cycle times - that is the trade off to get to that

a beat, and actually after the first three to four

need’ has been essential,” he said. Therefore,

relationship,” he reiterated.

weeks starting on March 16th, our business

when Frank described the arrival of Paul Yater,

boomed off the planet, and we had front line

the newly appointed Chief Information Officer

associates who worked through it with us.

in 2017, it wasn’t a surprise to learn that part of

This echoed Ken’s previous comments about

This collaborative approach requires a lot of flexibility, and Ken agreed that this way of operating has contributed to 84 Lumber’s

30

“However, when you are a 65 years old company with an owner like Maggie, and

“The pandemic did cause people to really

success. “I think its going to really tell the tale

love their homes,” he continued. “I think the way

in the next 12-18 months where capacity and

people look at their homes is a bit different

constraints of manufacturing are going to

right now, plus we have an economy with very

remain,” he added. “We need to listen to our

low interest rates for people to buy houses. So,

customers and form deeper relationships with

we have a boom in the building industry, but

them and ultimately, if there is an investment

I think some of those suppliers through 2019

in capital to get there, we are willing to do that,

into the pandemic weren’t ready for the surge.

MODERNHB.COM

From Frank’s description of Maggie, getting

his process involved discussions with the teams

RoyOMartin 84 Lumber became a customer of ours in 1999 with their first purchase of 23 AC plywood. Our relationship grew when they purchased their first load of 8’ 7/16 OSB in July 2007. Along the way 84 has helped expand our demographic reach especially in WindBrace® and Tuffstrand® extended length panels. Today, we are proud to have 84 Lumber as one of our top OSB customers.

84 and RoyOMartin are both family owned businesses, so we can both appreciate all the highs and lows that come with that! In 2016, RoyOMartin hosted their annual shareholders meeting at Nemacolin and had the very unique privilege of having Maggie Hardy speak to Martin family members. RoyOMartin family board member Eric Howard recalls, “Maggie opened her heart up to us about her growing up, working with her dad and her lumber company that, like ours, had very humble beginnings. Noting the numerical size of her family (quite small), versus ours (enormous), I realized: Maggie’s employees are her family, and it shows in her actions.”

RoyOMartin President Scott Poole attributes 84 Lumber’s success to their commitment to their customers’ success.

“Through their decades of growth to over 250 locations, 84 Lumber has proven their commitment to the building industry. As we prepare for the generations to come, we are excited to have 84 Lumber at our side.”

From all of us at RoyOMartin, we congratulate 84 Lumber on an amazing 65 years. Thank you for being a wonderful partner.

84 LUMBER on the shop floor. “We are around three and

our digital and technology offerings to operate

bring a different angle to solving challenges. “I

half years into this IT road map, and our CIO

at an even higher level.”

believe that ‘group think’ can be counterproductive

spent several months travelling the country

Through the transformational roadmap Paul

at some point, so if an owner who happens to be

seeing people so that he could take what we

is creating, which focuses on both customers

a woman can put a little different tilt on that and

had and make it better,” said Frank.

and associates, 84 Lumber’s systems and

crack open some new ideas and creativity then all

technology are being designed to work as hard

the better,” added Ken.

Paul was tasked with optimizing the company’s network to support 84 Lumber’s

as every member of the team and help take the

planned growth and expansion, and his

organization to the next stage.

Commited to communities

conversations revealed a key theme: It was time

From speaking with Frank and Ken, it

for change. “The evolution of technology in the

is clear that Maggie’s management style

With the business also being nationally certified through the Women’s Business Enterprise National

building materials industry is reshaping how

(Frank described her as a ‘fearless leader and

Council, Ken acknowledged that being female-

we do business,” commented Maggie upon

entrepreneur’) and her approach to business

owned and operated does give the business a

his appointment. “Paul’s vast experience with

have been game changers for 84 Lumber.

uniqueness in the industry and gives it a platform

global organizations will allow us to redesign

Decisions made from a female perspective can

from which it can work with customers on certain projects. “We also found that we were able to provide mentorships for women-owned firms

Biewer Sawmill We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such an incredible company like 84 Lumber every day. We really appreciate the relationships built and the business that we have done together over the years out of our SPF and SYP sawmills. Congratulations to 84 Lumber on 65 successful years of business, we are looking forward to being a part of the next 65 years!

The Biewer Sawmill Team

that are smaller in nature. This is definitely a relationship we are focused on building, so we are going to be adding associates to that program,” he elucidated. “We want to get the word out and make sure we are connected with groups that are focused on women and minority ownership and bringing more people to the table to help face all

32

MODERNHB.COM

the shortages and constraints we have on the industry.”

Mentioning the way that 84 Lumber works with some community groups and smaller businesses brought Frank to the topic of philanthropy. The business believes that being a good corporate citizen goes beyond donating money and materials. For 84 Lumber, it means having a commitment to helping individuals and organizations most in

campaign in May 2021 in honor of Military

communities across the country and to give

need, as well as a vision for making a positive

Appreciation Month. “Operation Appreciation

back to those who have given so much.”

impact. Through its Building Hope program,

is one of our favorite times of year,” said 84

it has worked with numerous charitable

Lumber Vice President of Marketing Amy

Appreciation, 84 Lumber has donated to

organizations, ranging from volunteer fire

Smiley. “It means a lot to us to be able to set

various military-related charities, highlighted

departments, to chapters of the Red Cross and

aside time to honor heroes from all of our

company associates around the country who

Throughout the years of hosting Operation

United Way, to the national efforts of Habitat for Humanity. In 2020 alone, the business donated millions to a variety of charitable causes.

Members of the United States military have always been recipients of 84 Lumber’s strong commitment to helping others. To continue the tradition, the building materials supplier

BlueLinx Congratulations to 84 Lumber on 65 years in business and becoming the nation’s largest privately held building materials supplier. BlueLinx are proud to have served 84 Lumber for over half a century. As one of the nation’s largest building products distributors, we take pride in providing each 84 location with the products and services that meet their individual needs. We look forward to the next 65 years.

hosted its sixth annual Operation Appreciation

MODERNHB.COM

33

84 LUMBER have served, launched major partnerships

Signing Day event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

in the skilled trades. “As a 65-year-old building

with organizations including the Fisher House

In a style similar to National Signing Day

materials company, we know firsthand that

Foundation, and one year, the company even

events for high-school athletes, the students

young people can thrive and have incredible,

gave away a tiny house to a military veteran

committed to careers in the skilled trades

lifelong success through the skilled trades,”

in need.

and signed ‘letters of intent’ for a job offer,

said Maggie. “We are proud to be a sponsor

May 2021 also witnessed an event that

apprenticeship or advanced technical training.

of SkillsUSA, and we are even more proud of

highlights not only 84 Lumber’s dedication

Following the signing, Maggie surprised all ten

the students we’ve been able to get to know

to developing the technical skills of the next

students with scholarships, totaling $50,000,

through this event.”

generation, but also its generous approach

towards the trade school of their choosing.

Building success

to philanthropy and Maggie’s hands-on

At a time when the residential housing

involvement. In celebration of the next

sector is booming, and businesses continue

As the company navigates the second half of

generation of trade workers, 84 Lumber hosted

to expand, this event shone a much-needed

2021 and celebrates its 65th anniversary, now

ten high school seniors for a SkillsUSA National

public spotlight on students pursuing careers

is a great time for 84 Lumber to highlight all of its successes. As Frank puts it, “how many

Metrie Metrie has been a proud partner of 84 Lumber for over 25 years. Rooted in family ownership and values, our two companies are dedicated to serving customers’ needs at an exceptional level. This focus allows us to be operationally entrepreneurial while delivering across a national footprint. We have grown together over the years, enduring earthquakes, housing bubbles, and pandemics. In today’s constricted supply and high demand environment, our strong relationship has fostered the communication, collaboration and trust needed to not only survive, but thrive in these uniquely difficult conditions.

Congratulations to the Hardy family and 84 Lumber on 65 Years of success!

65-year-old companies are there, privatelyheld by the second generation and turning over $7 billion a year?”

As it heads into its next decade, Frank and Ken envision the business continuing to be a privately-held, family company, consistently growing its store locations, expanding its team of loyal associates, and entering new markets where it is not present. “We will also be

34

MODERNHB.COM

investing capital back into our existing stores

She really wanted to give back to each and

so that they continue to have the tools they

every one of them, and she came up with the

need,” added Frank.

idea that we would pay each one of those staff

New store openings are already frequently

members a certain dollar amount for the first

celebrated at the business, and 84 Lumber

five days they achieved $1m revenue and then

is expanding into Stockton, California; Boise,

she kept adding $500 a day. We went back 40

Idaho; Detroit, Michigan and more later this

days later and gave everyone in the store a

year. “This is all part of the road map to growth

check for $18,000! I think this really shows what

that is driving us forward,” said Frank.

being privately-owned means, as you can really

These investments are all very much part

Maggie Hardy, Company President with her father and company founder Joe Hardy

put your money where your mouth is. If you are

of Maggie’s willingness to give back to the

the CEO of a public company, I am not sure if

company, and Frank concluded with a story

that is your MO.”

that really highlighted not just Maggie’s own

Under Maggie’s leadership, 84 Lumber

generosity, but also her personable approach

has been built to survive the highs and lows

to management and the level of engagement

of market changes, embracing innovation

she has with her teams. “Her true love is visiting

and technology, and creating valuable and

a store and seeing the associates, making sure

rewarding careers for hundreds of staffers. On a

people are successful,” he said. “One of our

continuing path of evolution and growth, and

stores in Dallas, Texas got on a bit of a run this

representing a true American success story,

year where they were doing a million dollars in

84 Lumber can be proud of its heritage and

revenue a day. Maggie visited the store when

legacy and look forward to a future where its

they were on day five of this success, and she

contributions continue to build on the success

saw just 86 associates delivering these results.

of a nation. F

84 Lumber www.84lumber.com Products / Services: The USA’s largest privately held building materials supplier

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BELLAVISTA HOMES

Hasta la vista

One of Central Florida’s more exciting enterprises, Bellavista Homes has been built upon its ability to forge healthy and strong relationships with all of its potential buyers, and is now benefiting from increased migration to the Sunshine State

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BELLAVISTA HOMES

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ormed in 2014, while Central Floridabased residential community developer and builder Bellavista Homes may be a relatively young entity, its

activities are buttressed by the many years of industry experience possessed by its founding members. At the core of the company are its three principle leaders, individuals who each possess 30-plus years of experience in the home building market, and who – even

Another quality that sets us apart is our flexibility.

When we started Bellavista, we knew that we needed to diversify ourselves, if for nothing else than to be best prepared for the next cycle that might impact upon the residential building market. This way of thinking led us to take on more commercial and industrial work

when in the past they worked for competing firms – have managed to maintain a strong

that the company will not only always be

wealth of commercial work, including office

relationship with one another.

upfront about the potential challenges facing

spaces, sports facilities, event/convention

a project, but that it will invariably come back

centers, and hotels.”

Aldo Martin, CEO and co-founder of Bellavista Building Group and Bellavista Homes

with a solution to those issues. “I certainly

talks about how the company came to be. “It

think that is a trademark of who we are,” Aldo

Superior workmanship

was several years after the recession of 2006-

affirms. “Another quality that sets us apart is

While Aldo appreciates that what he is about

2007 – which caused many businesses in our

our flexibility. When we started Bellavista, we

to say can often be regarded as a cliché, he is

sector to go to the wall – that I was attending

knew that we needed to diversify ourselves,

still keen to stress how the business sees itself

a trade show and happened to come across

if for nothing else than to be best prepared

and its employees as one big family. “There is

one of the men who would go on to become a

for the next cycle that might impact upon

absolutely no way whatsoever that we could

partner here, Dennis Perez. I remember saying

the residential building market. This way of

have gotten to where we are today without

to him that I believed that the market would

thinking led us to take on more commercial

the efforts of our people, and in turn our own

return to growth, and that I was looking at

and industrial work.

ability to ensure that they remain happy and

putting together a team together for a new venture.”

“Here in the US, it is much more common

focused on the task at hand,” he says. “When it

for people in our space to be very sector

comes to our clients and sub-contractors, we

specific in the projects they undertake. We –

apply a similar mind-set in that we treat them

Flexible approach

on the other hand – do all kinds of work, from

and their respective businesses as if they were

There may have been a degree of scepticism

detached single-family homes, to multi-family

our own, working hard to protect them, and

towards Aldo’s thoughts at the time, but

housing products and apartment complexes

always making decisions that essentially treats

within a matter of months the new business

made up of hundreds of units. We also do a

their bottom line as importantly as Bellavista’s.

was up and running, with Aldo as employee number one, partner Steven Hiss as employee number two, and Dennis joining the fold later. “When making the transition to the new team, we were very privileged to see the vast majority of the clients that we had forged strong relationships with in the past migrate over to us,” Aldo continues.

“That meant that from day one, we had contracts in place, work to carry out, and cash flow coming in, which allowed us to get off to a fast start. Many of those clients remain with us to this day, and the relationships we share with them only go from strength-to-strength.”

One of the things that said clients tell Aldo and his team on a regular basis is that what they particularly like about working with Bellavista is the knowledge MODERNHB.COM

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BELLAVISTA HOMES

What you have to remember as well, is that a sub-contractor can have the luxury of choosing who they wish to work with. Therefore, it is imperative that we maintain the best possible relationships with this workforce.”

Proof of Bellavista’s superior efforts and workmanship can be found in its many completed projects, examples of which Aldo is more than happy to share details of. “One particularly memorable undertaking was our work on Balmoral at Water’s Edge, a resort community located in Haines City, Florida,” he details. As well as boasting resort styled single family homes, Balmoral at Water’s Edge also comes with resort styled swimming pools, a water park, gardens, and a gated entrance.

“There is a great story linked to this project, and one that really goes a long way towards highlighting how we constantly strive to go that extra mile for our clients,” Aldo continues. “The first phase of it involved the building out of the homes themselves, the resort’s amenity center, and its main swimming pool, and it was next to the latter that the client wanted to have built the water park, complete with towers, slides and more. Not long after this first phase of the project was complete, the client came to us to say that they were planning a grand opening of the complex in 45 day’s time, and that they really wanted the site cleaned up and as operational

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as possible before his guests arrived. So, what

huge amount of credit with the client, and we

revenues and profit margins. Part of this would

we did was gather the team together to devise

have since gone on to do additional business

have been down to the fact that it was considered

a way in which we could complete the second

with them to the tune of several hundreds of

an essential business, able to operate throughout

phase – which was supposed to have a four-

thousands of dollars.”

the last year-and-a-half, while another important

month lead time – in 45 days.

“In order to achieve this turnaround, we

For Bellavista, the work continues to come in

factor is the increase in migration to Florida, which

thick and fast. Among the varied mix of projects

has created immense demand for housing. “This

worked every single day, pretty much around

that it is currently working on – as of August

migration is not only occurring domestically, but

the clock, to the point where the night before

2021 – or has plans to in the coming months,

also internationally, with more and more people

the grand opening itself, myself, Dennis and

include 100,000-square feet of professional

from South America – for example – wanting to

several other team members were on-site at

office space close to Orlando International

come here to start a new life,” Aldo highlights.

1am cleaning things down and making it ready

Airport, several large apartment complexes

“As a matter of fact, I was recently speaking to

to receive people. The result was that the client

located throughout the state, up to 1000

an old mentor of mine, who told me that he

was able to hold his grand opening celebration,

residential units, a number of large custom

felt that Central Florida is now in the midst of a

and while the water slides were not yet open

homes, and even a church!

similar wave of expansion as that seen in places

for use, they were lit up with water running

In spite of the damage dealt globally by the

like Atlanta 30-off years ago, and that will see it

down them, providing a fantastic visual for

Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Bellavista would

being a major metropolis in the South East of the

everyone. Needless to say, this bought us a

in fact enjoy its best year ever in terms of

country for years to come.

“Fortunately for us, Orlando has plenty of space in which to grow, and I believe that the local economy will only become more diverse as we welcome more homeowners and businesses to the region. From that perspective, the future looks fantastic for companies such as Bellavista!” F

Bellavista Homes www.mybellavista.com Services: Residential community developer and builder

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M/I HOMES

Adapting

to change

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Although the pandemic has had hard hitting consequences, M/I Homes has been smart in its response to ensure it continues to provide beautiful homes for families across the country

S

Patrick Mayhan

cattered across 16 markets in the US, M/I Homes is a home builder founded in 1976 with a heart for family residences and a core value

that believes in treating its customers right.

that continues to affect the service delivery for

We spoke with Patrick Mayhan who serves the

many industries,” Patrick says.

business as its Vice President of Purchasing at

As far as business is concerned, the

the Houston Division office and he tells us of

contractor prides itself on creating homes in

the recent successes that have been making

which families can build a sturdy future, and

the company a household name in the home-

in order to support that vision, the company

builders industry. He also shares with us how

works closely with developers and design

the business is overcoming the supply chain

consultants to secure land acquisition that will

struggles that have plagued the construction

house communities safely and securely. “We

industry as a result of Covid-19.

partner with different land developers who

Since the beginning of its 45-year journey,

buy raw land and essentially renovate it by

M/I Homes has earned a reputation for

putting in the infrastructure, street paving, and

delivering better quality, design and value

the power and sewer lines. They then divide

in order to create successful communities.

up the land into certain lots, and following

Although it has remained committed to

that, they’ll reach out to home builders and sell

providing a greater home buying and home

the lots to establish a master plan community.

building experience, it has also had to adapt

From there, we purchase those lots and start

rapidly to the turbulent changes enforced

building and selling the homes,” he describes,

by the global crisis to continue to support its

continuing to note that by aspiring to create

clients.

better, personalized living spaces, an M/I home

“I’m inclined to believe that all industries

is equipped to be energy and water efficient,

are experiencing very similar situations

sustainable and built to last. “We also have a

with regards to the supply chain troubles. A

Land Development Department that allows

circumstance that may not be as well-known,

us to self-develop new communities when it

that has been occurring in our neck of the

makes more financial sense to do so.”

woods, is that many products that go into a

One support structure that has enabled

home are manufactured by facilities/plants

the business to do this successfully, which

based in Mexico and are shipped across the

Patrick is happy to share, is the company’s

border into Texas and other nearby states. For

strong financial support from its corporate

a while, the Mexican Government has shut

headquarters based in Columbus, Ohio.

down all those plants and manufacturing

The extra reinforcement has enabled it to

facilities that make doorknobs for example,

stay ahead of the competition, despite the

brick, HVAC condenser units, etc. so we were

challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

unable to get any materials or products, even

“Back in March of 2020, when the US Federal

at a reduced capacity from that region. When

Reserve lowered interest rates to near historic

the Mexican Government eventually opened

lows, in order to help suppress the projected

up the border again, there was a severe lag in

economic forecast decline at that time, the

the supply chain due to shipping and freight

result caused major demand from people to

haulage shortages. With less drivers to send the

buy new homes across the US. This, along

trucks across to deliver the goods and services

with numerous manufacturers deciding to

throughout the country, it added another layer

temporarily halt operations on many of their MODERNHB.COM

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M/I HOMES and lumber mills across the States. As he mentioned, many businesses geared up to shut down their facilities in preparation for a decrease in demand and to save the money that would otherwise be wasted on keeping them operational. However, the opposite happened. In a time where the world was forced to remain cooped in the confines of their homes, many saw it as an opportunity to reinvent their living environment. “But with a record demand and a diminished capacity to service that demand, we faced a massive backlog – it was just a consequence of the pandemic. Unfortunately, these supply chain facilities at the same time, created a perfect

and CEO made a commitment to hold off any

challenges have caused pricing from nearly

storm of record demand, with much more

employee layoffs until a better long-range

all sources to rise dramatically, which we are

limited capacity to handle this.

picture could be realized. By the beginning of

forced to pass along to our buyers. Our lumber

the second quarter of 2020, sales and demand

costs alone from August 2020-to-June 2021

had shot up dramatically.”

shot up over 200 percent on average. Until

“People who were living in the inner cities, where there was a higher population density,

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were then motivated to move away from the

According to Patrick’s experience, many

close quarters and buy homes in the suburbs.

businesses within his industry expected the

demand. In July, we finally saw a drop in sales

Through the uncertain time during the first

economy to falter in response to the pandemic.

demand, although it remained fairly strong.

quarter of 2020, our Corporate Headquarters

This would impact the operations of plants

We believe that the overall barrage of price

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very recently, we have not seen a slowdown in

increases from all materials and products has started to subside, although others do continue to happen due to record demand and already committed projects in the pipeline, which has meant that direct supplier and manufacturer relationships have been absolutely key.

We have learned how important it is to be flexible in these circumstances and within our operations and logistics,” he shares.

As a result of this, the business placed a large

The company’s goal in the future is to build

Homes’ future is a matter of continuing to

emphasis on fine-tuning its communication,

and capitalize on what is already available to

strengthen its financial strategies with the help

not only within the company but throughout

it, and with growth comes an additional need

of its corporate headquarters. As long as it

the supply chain, to ensure that operations

for employee infrastructure and a skilled labor

remains focused on its aspirations to grow and

were underway to the best of their ability.

force to continue with its success; all factors

expand, Patrick has no doubt that the business

“We also had to change where we sourced

that Patrick is confident will come together for

will continue to lead the home building

our materials because those who we

the business’ prosperity. “This isn’t necessarily a

industry. F

normally worked with were having their own

situation of re-inventing the wheel, but we do

problems when it came to acquiring supplies,”

believe we’ve got a good strategy and a good

Patrick states, adding that throughout the

model for what we do and how we’re going to

unprecedented period of 2020 and throughout

keep our business secure to survive the effects

2021, he was astonished by the sheer volume

of the pandemic,” he says. Despite the setbacks,

of the impact, a reminder of how fragile the

the path ahead looks promising for the home

corporate ecosystem can be.

builders. As far as Patrick is concerned, M/I

M/I Homes www.mihomes.com Services: New home residential construction

“Trying to mend this situation means that unfortunately, there will be a slight standstill as a result of price increases that have come about from the difficulties of material sourcing.

There is a percentage of buyer groups that we sell to who have now put their purchasing on hold so I think the overall demand will subside a bit, and that will balance out and eventually we hope to see the pricing that we’re paying start to go down as well,” he explains.

Regardless of these challenges, Patrick is an optimistic man who believes in the robustness of his business. His main focus at the moment is to hold back as many cost increases as possible to provide some breathing space for the other components that keep M/I Homes going. “I feel like my job has shifted from trying to find savings, into doing my best to hold back the avalanche of price increases hitting us from all sources. Sometimes I can get a supplier to lower the increase percentage in order to suppress it, but sometimes I cannot. Due to the record demand that we received, which I’m sure many companies in our industry have received as well, M/I Homes is implementing what we call ‘good land positioning’ to prepare for the next three years.

As far as our new communities, we want to expand growth here in the Houston market and ensure that we are well prepared to do so,” he informs us.

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