What is TQM you might ask?  TQM is short for Total Quality Management.  I would like to start this 3 part series where the rubber meets the road…the job site.  This is where all of the effort, both the back end and field work, comes to fruition.  The finished product is what drives the builder; it’s what you are proud to put your name on.

Penn Homes would like to introduce Isaac Barnes, Project Superintendent.  Isaac has been with Penn Homes for 3 years and comes with over 15 years experience working his way through the home building and carpentry trade.  A proud second generation builder, Isaac has learned the trade from his dad, work ethic and by taking every opportunity to learn in the field.  With Isaac, you know what you are getting.  He just tells it like it is – good, bad or indifferent.

Isaac’s responsibilities are challenging to say the least.  His project starts with the final review of the plans and contracts prior to construction. Daily observation and direction is the object of each day.  Isaac says “without dealing with people it’s pretty easy.”  Of course with over 30 subcontractors, 45 suppliers and employees, it’s more than a job and not one for the faint at heart.  Isaac supports a rigorous lifestyle, working out to “burn off the stress” from a hard days work.  He is married and has two beautiful children which makes all this worthwhile.

Balancing the rigid construction schedule and budget is the trick, a talent that not many superintendent’s possess.  Weekly project meetings reviewing construction schedules, changes, budgets and warranty work wrap up a week with planning for the next.  It sets the expectation, one of high quality, speed and cost efficiency.

The superintendents attention to detail and communication is what puts the “quality” in Total Quality Management.  We’re proud to have Isaac on our team and his dedication to the industry exceeds our expectations.

Part II will focus on Project Management,  the key to proper communication and TQM.

After months of design, redesign, corrections, tweaks…Finally it is here!  Meet the Chateau Collection by Penn Homes.  The first two plans have rolled out and promise to be another spectacular creation.  The goal was to provide never before constructed sustainable exteriors that appealed to the demands of todays buyer.  Mixing old world stucco with used brick and stone was chosen as the facade.  Harmonizing the mix is key to curb appeal.  Our designer is provided as part of the total building package when selecting us to build your home.  Our designs include towering ten foot tall ceilings adorned with crown molding to suit your needs.  Open floor plans were selected where family can connect after the activities of the day.  Spacious Kitchens and Breakfast Nooks with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances anchor the finishes in this area.  The Master Suite provides for a perfect retreat from along days work.  Separate shower and garden tubs accompany each plan with large walk in closets in the Master Bath area.

Let Penn Homes build your dream home.  It all begins with a phone call to one of the numbers on this page or by simply clicking on the Contact Us button.

Have you ever tried to save a dime and wound up spending a dollar?  At times it is embarrassing, but when it happens to the largest investment you will possibly ever make, it often turns tragic.  Over the last 30 years, I cannot tell you how many times I have heard from a disgruntled homeowner…after the damage is done.  It is what some call a “Horror Story.”  I’ve heard it and I know you have, or possibly even experienced it.

Story after story, job after job, stories keep surfacing.   About one out of three calls received are from troubled buyers, dissatisfied with the results obtained by not properly vetting  the most important player in their new home or remodeling project:  The Builder.  So what can we do about this and how can we keep these unwanted results from occurring?

Recently, I was appointed by Governor Jindal to serve on the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.  This commitment, to making our industry a safer and more reputable environment in which to do business, is the goal of the board.  Actually, being able to make a difference for the industry is an honor and a way for me to give  forward to those future homeowners and builders.  Getting the “bad guys” off of the street and out of commerce is just treating the symptom and not curing the problem.  As long as there is a demand, there will be a supply.  The construction process starts with a need from a consumer and properly educating the buyer is one way of tackling the challenge.

The solution is a cooperative effort from both the building professionals and the consumers.  What are the warning signs a consumer should be wary of?  What are questions that should be asked?  Learn how to identify the building professional and the following is a quick summary:

• Proper Permitting.  The first indicator is if your project is permitted.  If you are asked to take out the permit, you become the contractor of record.  Becoming the contractor of record brings along with it the responsibilities of liability and workers compensation insurance, code compliance and OSHA regulations.  Unlicensed builders cannot pull a permit within the state of Louisiana as licensed builders are required to properly permit the project.
• Proper licensing.  The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors maintains a database of contractors who are licensed.  Louisiana Licensed Builder.  Select the “Is a contractor licensed or registered?” button.  If your contractor is not on the list, ask for a license number and verify.  Contractors doing remodeling projects $7,500 or more are required to have a license.
• Proper Insurance.  Ask for general liability and worker’s compensation insurance certificates with you as the certificate holder.  This should be sent directly to you from the contractor’s insurance agent to prevent the document from being altered.  Insurance is required for proper licensing.
• Check References.  Your contractor should have many references from previously completed projects.  Ask for a list and make the calls.  Past clients will be honest and you will gain valuable information from this source.
• Continuing Education.  Proper licensing requires continuing education.  The National Association of Home Builders promotes continuing education and has created the University of Housing to administer their education curriculum.  To gain a list of builders in your area that have attained theses credentials, go to Builder Education Link  By completing 64 hours of training, a builder can receive his first designation.  Not only does continuing education demonstrate the discipline of gaining industry related knowledge, it symbolizes his commitment to the industry – a trait not found with the fly by night contractor.
• Ask for a firm contract price.  Never do “cost plus” work as it promotes two things, both not in your best interest.  First, it signifies the person or firm you are hiring is not capable of providing the most essential element of the contract, the price.  It may also show the only skill you are hiring is their ability to call and schedule subcontractors and material suppliers.  Secondly, the aim to reduce costs also reduces the contractors profit, and the motivation to save on costs is not part of this model.  New home projects should never use the cost plus method and only very complicated remodeling projects should even consider using this contracting method.
• Ask for a written contract.  If you don’t get it up front, you certainly will not get it when there is a dispute.  Make certain the contract includes a detailed scope of work and most importantly the price as defined above.  It should define the payment method and terms along with the completion requirements for final payment.
• Have the contractor sign a Lien Waiver.  This should be executed at each payment and also before the final payment.  You certainly do not want to pay for the work on your home two times!
• Ask for the warranty.  In Louisiana, the New Home Warranty Act is the base warranty for any new home constructed within the state.  Go to:  New Home Warranty Act   for a copy.  The law requires the contractor of record to produce a signed copy at closing.  Note that the warranty begins on the date of sale of the residence.  An owner building their own home is bound by this law and the warranty does not begin until they sell the home some 5 to 20 years later.

Home building should be a very exciting and pleasant experience when you use a building professional.  I hope that by using the aforementioned techniques, your venture will progress smoothly without blemish.  Should you need further building information please contact one of our home professionals at the number above.

The value of homeownership has been questioned by the media as Americans struggle in the current recession. But the truth is that most families are happy about their choice to buy a home.

Bankrate, Inc., a financial publishing company, recently surveyed more than 1,000 randomly-selected adults about their home purchase and 90 percent responded that they don’t regret buying their home.

Even during tough economic times such as these, many homeowners realize that the benefits of homeownership are overwhelming — especially in a time where housing affordability is at its all-time high. According to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI), 72.3 percent of all new and existing homes sold in the second quarter of 2010 were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,400. At the end of 2007, only 46.6 percent of homes were affordable to families earning the median income.

What are some of the other benefits?

An immediate benefit is that interest rates are at record lows and there is a wide selection of homes on the market to choose from.  It’s a buyer’s market.  Purchasing a home now will allow you to negotiate for more items on your wish list than when the housing market recovers and you may have to compete with others for your dream home.

A little further down the road, when filing your federal tax returns, you will be able to claim two deductions — the mortgage interest deduction and the property tax deduction.

Much of your monthly payment, especially in the first few years after buying a home, goes towards the interest on the loan and not the principal. The federal government allows you to deduct those interest payments from your taxes in most cases. State and local property taxes paid on the assessed value of the home are also deductible on your federal return.

For many home owners these combined tax deductions can result in a tax savings between $5,700 and $11,400, depending on filing status.

Also, homeownership is the biggest source of net worth for most families.  It is the one investment that not only can help you put your kids through college or retire comfortably in the future , it can also be used to house your family and create lifetime memories and a strong, healthy community in the meantime.  You can’t get that from a stock or a bond.

These are just a few examples of the financial savings and other advantages of homeownership.  Learn more in the free “Opportunity Knocks” brochure available from the National Association of Home Builders.

If you are interested in purchasing a home, we’d love to help you with this investment.  Call Penn Homes and we can help you with one of our floor plans and three of our communities.

Our children in the Courtyard. Justin Penn, center, is a Project Manager at Penn Homes.

At  Penn Homes, we consider it an honor and privilege to be invited into your home.   What do I mean by ‘invited’ into your home?  You know…’invited.’ Invited to come and look at your home to discuss remodeling, renovation or a home addition.  I get an adrenaline rush when I walk in the front door — endless possibilities.  I love it!  Mike is the more analytical one who can turn the dream into reality, but I love the creative side.

For the first 15 years of our marriage, Mike and I lived in two new homes built by Penn Homes.  I loved them both, but I was interested in the challenge of taking an older home and customizing it for my family’s specific needs.  As I type this blog, I’m sitting at my kitchen table (the hub of every home) looking out a beautiful window into a koi and goldfish-filled pond.  The pond is situated in a beautiful courtyard with mondo grass nestled between blue stone pavers.  The iron fence and gate surrounding the courtyard were re-claimed from an estate down the street.  It’s the quiet place you’ll find us most afternoons after a long day at the office.  Simply beautiful…

I’ve often been asked how did we decide what to do.  What can you do to a home that gives  the most return on your investment?  What is the most value-added enhancement to a home?  How did we have the vision?  Over the next few weeks, I’ll blog about the renovation of our home and different remodeling and home addition projects for others that have been crafted by Penn Homes.  I’ll have comments from some of our remodel customers about the projects…and, hopefully, you’ll be inspired and see the potential in your home and ‘invite’ us over.

It can be an office with the large desk in the middle of the room and bookshelves behind. It can be a tool bench in the garage with outlines of every hanging tool on the pegboard maintaining the inventory. It can be a basement decked out with a bar, flat screen TVs, movie style high back rocker chairs, retractable arm rest, cup holders, all stadium seating, all digital – DTS & Dolby Sound system. Or it can be an old plaid couch and wagon wheel coffee table the wife tried to get to the curb when you moved in together. It’s the space a man carves out of the territory and marks as his own. It’s the MAN CAVE.

Men do need their own space to relax and decompress after a long day hunting and gathering at work and there is nothing better for some than sitting near the glow of a large TV or bank of computer screens while blowing up tanks.

Women also receive benefits from the Man Cave. If your man is insistent upon keeping certain items that you would prefer not to have on display in the more traditional rooms of your home, the man cave is the perfect place to use those items. Also by allowing a man spaces to decompress and do “nothing” it recharges him mentally and emotionally to better engage with the rest of the family.

A tip for the women: never complain when your man comes out of his cave. Greet him happily and he will be glad he came out. Greet him grumpy and he will wonder why he came out.

A tip for the men: let your woman know you are heading into the cave and when you expect to come back out and she will be much more understanding of your needs.

Why remodel?

Remodeling your home can modernize the style, make it more comfortable, improve energy-efficiency and home functionality, increase the value of your home, and help with upkeep and maintenance. Remodeling is a sure investment in your home to ensure longevity, usefulness, and home value.

When is it time to remodel?

Perhaps it was that moment when you realized that avocado green and harvest gold are no longer the “in” colors for today’s trendy kitchens. Or maybe you had an epiphany one day as you stood in line to use your own bathroom. Whatever the impetus, the thought has crossed your mind: Maybe it’s time to remodel . . .

If you decide to follow through on that thought, you’ll join millions of others who decide to remodel their homes each year. The reasons for remodeling are as varied as the projects we undertake. Some of these include:

• Adding more space.
• Upgrading cabinets, counters, appliances, and fixtures.
• Creating a floor plan that’s customized for your lifestyle.
• Improving energy efficiency with new windows, doors, insulation, and climate control systems.
• Increasing the resale value of your home.

What are some remodeling ideas?

Before you head too far down the remodeling path, it’s a good idea to think through your wants and needs:

• Decide what changes you want to make.
• Ask yourself and other family members what you like and dislike about the house, then create a prioritized list.
• Look at magazines and collect pictures of what you like.
• Think about traffic patterns, furniture placement, colors, lighting, and how you want to use the remodeled space now and in the future.

How do I plan a remodel?

The first step is to develop an idea of what you want to do. Write a prioritized list of your needs and wants. Look at magazines and Web sites and collect pictures of what you like. The more clearly you can envision the project and describe it on paper, the better prepared you’ll be in making your decision.

Think about traffic patterns, furniture size and placement, colors, lighting and how you expect to use the remodeled space. If your decision to remodel involves creating better access for someone with limited mobility, you may want to consider contacting a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist.

Figure out how much money you have to spend on the remodeling job, furnishings, landscaping or any other cost you might incur.

If you’ve decided you want to hire a remodeler, learn how to choose a professional, avoid contractor fraud, and make your dream home reality.

How do I pay for a remodel?

One of the most important considerations for your home improvement project is financing. After all, the project will go nowhere if you can’t pay for it.

Fortunately, there are several options that can provide the dollars you need. Four of the most common are a home improvement loan, a home equity line of credit, a home equity loan (second mortgage), and a cash-out refinancing of your current mortgage. However, the simplest method of financing is cash.

How do I find a professional remodeler?

When you hire a remodeler, you are buying a service rather than a product. The quality of service the remodeler provides will determine the quality of the finished product and your satisfaction with the result. To ensure your satisfaction, make sure you hire a qualified, professional remodeler.

Look at the How to Hire a Professional Remodeler resource page for tips, questions to ask potential remodelers, qualities to look for in a remodeler, and a searchable directory to find a professional remodeler in your area.

What should I expect during the remodel?

While remodeling can be an exciting process, it can also present unexpected challenges. Many problems can be avoided by planning ahead.

Every project Penn Homes undertakes is unique because every family is unique. Some projects have more challenges than others and this was definitely one of them. Weather seemed to be one of the largest with high winds, excessive rain, and snows that we don’t typically see in Shreveport, Lousiana area.

The art of this project is in the details. Balancing sleek high end appliances and finishes combined with the reality of lakeside entertaining requiring durability. The beauty of the stainless steel and granite rests comfortably with the wood and ironwork detailing of the stick shaped hardware on the cabinetry.