Editor’s Note: March 2022

Welcome to our March issue of Builder and Developer Magazine. We hope you are staying healthy and happy! This past year, the housing market has been unpredictable as the industry saw prices fluctuate and demand grow due to low interest rates. We decided it was imperative to discuss all that the industry has been facing.

Many in our industry have all experienced similar struggles; labor and material shortages, record demand, and price spikes. Because of these issues, this March issue is a special one where we cover all things lumber. We highlight the reasons behind the lumber crisis many homebuilders are experiencing from all angles; manufacturing and suppliers to skyrocketing prices and record demand for new builds and remodels.

In our column from Robert Dietz, he discusses the skilled labor shortage that homebuilders are identifying. He predicts that the shortage will be a limiting factor that builders face well over the next decade as many workers have left construction jobs during and after the pandemic.

   In addition to lumber, our other theme for this issue is customer service. Expert Eric Mitchell, VP of Innovation at Eliant, discusses the importance of customer and employee feedback and how anonymity is key. We also have a column from Joe Mandola, the Division President of Tri Pointe Homes Houston, where he shares his expert opinions on how creating greater expectations will inevitably create greater customer service. 

Our column from Chris Jasinski, managing partner and co-founder of JTW Advisors, shares insight into housing demand and many industry professionals are seeing big builders target secondary markets.  

We are so excited for our readers to enjoy our March issue of B&D and as always, we appreciate your readership. If you know of or have been involved in any exciting projects you would like us to showcase or have news you would like us to share, feel free to email me at aurielle@builder.media.

Aurielle Weiss is the Editor at Builder and Developer Magazine. She can be reached at aurielle@builder.media.