A quick self evaluation quiz for Builders/Developers with excerpts from NAHB's "Guide to Consulting Services"

 

KEY FUNCTIONAL AREA:  EXECUTIVE/LEADERSHIP

  • Do you have written clearly defined goals that each team member has subscribed to?
  • Have you developed a written business plan to achieve those goals and effectively communicated the importance of each team member's role to attaining success?
  • Have you involved your business advisors in the planning process and enlisted their support in implementing your plan?
  • Have you attracted competent and trustworthy individuals capable of achieving your goals?
  • Are you leading your organization by example?

 

KEY FUNCTIONAL AREA:  FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING

  • Do you understand how to evaluate and act on the five critical financial reports?
  • Are you creating written budgets on a rolling basis for the next 4 quarters and adjusting to changing market conditions quarterly?
  • Are you taking full advantage of all discounts, rebates, and supplier co-op money available?
  • Are variance reports being reconciled before weekly/monthly payroll is released to the field?
  • Is your company structured to receive full benefit of the current tax laws?

 

KEY FUNCTIONAL AREA:  OPERATIONS

  • Have you hired only people that believe in, and fully subscribe to, your company's business goals and philosophies?
  • Are each persons responsibilities clearly communicated in writing and are all team members held accountable for their actions?
  • Is there full cooperation and seamless communication between all functional areas of your organization?
  • Are your information systems properly designed and effectively monitoring all administrative operations?
  • Do you have a written plan that ensures the continual improvement of people, product, promotions, and profitability?

 

KEY FUNCTIONAL AREA:  SALES AND MARKETING

  • Do you determine who the end user of your homes will be and their ability to purchase prior to going hard on a land/lot contract?
  • Does your architect understand how to design homes that excite your prospective buyers, yet can be built and sold at a profit.
  • Are you able to find and keep top quality Realtors and sales professionals.
  • Do you know the "cost per sale" data of each medium you are using to promote your product?
  • Do you "Mystery Shop" your sales staff to evaluate their competency on a regular basis?

 

KEY FUNCTIONAL AREA:  PRODUCTION AND WARRANTY

  • Does your CPM system consistently achieve "on time", "in budget", "no call back" homes?
  • Have you developed a dependable trade base that can quickly respond to "spikes" in your sales and starts?
  • Are you continually bringing in your jobs at less than 1/2% variance?
  • Are you purchasing and production people trained and skilled at negotiations?
  • Are you consistently achieving over 90% on your Customer Satisfaction Surveys?

 

BEFORE YOU HIRE A CONSULTANT:

Many times it is difficult for an Owner/Principal to take a totally objective look at their business.  Sometimes emotions and personalities may cloud the issues and, in many cases, the Principal is a specialist in one or two functional areas of operation, but only a generalist in other critical areas.

Today most businesses operate on very tight margins.  A good Consultant can help the Owner/Principal identify areas needing improvement, give needed direction to implement the improvements, and monitor the results without incurring the permanent overhead associated with hiring another full time In-house executive.

During the initial meeting with your Consultant, you should provide him/her with your objective.  He totally open about what you are trying to achieve and your perspective of the situation.  The results you attain from any qualified Consultant will be directly proportional to his/her understanding of your objective and perspective relative to the issues to be addressed.

At Roger Fiehn & Associates we are continually strategizing new methods of improving performance and profitability.  We assist many of the Nation's most progressive companies by streamlining management systems, identifying areas where costs may be lowered, creating high impact sales/marketing programs and recruiting top talent to ensure that the company's goals are achieved.

Roger's leadership and achievements have earned him recognition as one of the housing industry's leading authorities on business management, marketing and sales.  This year he has been honored with inclusion in the Who's Who Worldwide Registry of Business Leaders and also in Marquis International Who's Who for his leadership in developing sound business plans, designing effective business management systems, and developing highly accountable management teams.

His credentials include receiving the NAHB "Excellence in Education" award, Past President of the Bay Area Builders Association, Past President and current faculty member of NAHB's Institute of Residential Marketing, Trustee of NAHB's National Sales and Marketing Council, President Elect of Builder Realty Council International, and chairing many business related councils of the housing industry.  Roger is a frequent speaker at National trade events and his articles are found in prominent trade publications including BUILDER, SunCoast Architect/Builder, Custom Builder, and Builders Management Journal.