Misery loves company

It was refreshing hearing that a builder of your stature [Jay Grant] had to also change to accommodate the changing economy [“Managing post-sale relations,” February/March 2009]. I always assumed smaller guys would have to bend over backward to stay afloat. I’m obviously wrong.

I own a design firm that also builds our clients’ high-end dreams. Whether it is a remodel or new construction in the multi-million dollar range, these clients can be a handful. Even though the market is very slow, we more often find ourselves doing more personal things for our clients that have nothing to do with construction or closing.

Some of the things my staff and I have been doing for these clients are: physically helping them move in; building their gazebos and/or detached covered patios and putting together their patio furniture; helping them place their furniture; helping them organize; feeding them the day of the move; and paying my personal housekeeper to help them clean up while moving.

I find this to be a bit much; however, we’ve had to endure this with smiles on our faces. My revenue has been down over a half million dollars, I’ve had to reduce my staff (whom I love dearly) by 11 people, and at this point I don’t know what will happen this year. I will not give up hope because those of us that have faith and can hold out will be on top when the market returns.

Eric Spurlock, AIBD
Eric Spurlock Custom Home Design
Albuquerque, N.M.
ericspurlock.com

Things aren’t all bad

Good morning Jay [Grant]. We build homes between $140,000 and $300,000, and believe it or not we have been doing pretty well for ourselves here in the Midwest. We’ve sold eight homes since December and have seen a little more traffic on weekends. Gas prices dropping have helped drastically as has the tax credit for first-time home buyers. This little spurt of activity we’ve seen is a relief. I guess you could say we are doing OK. I don’t know what your views are on the stimulus package, but we can only hope for the best.

As I see it, if people are not working, it doesn’t matter how low the interest rates are or how much a tax incentive is given; people need to get to work. But you hit the nail on the head in your article (“Tough times, tough questions,” February/March 2009]. Hesitating on advertising, hiring, laying off, building an inventory home — you name it — we have run into the same type of problems. And buyers are very wary of builders that don’t have at least half of their subdivision built out.