Professional Builder Magazine: Building Middle Ground

In this month's Professional Builder Magazine, Kyle Clapham (managing editor) says the following about Goodall Homes in a column titled "Building Middle Ground": Goodall Homes--Gallatin, TN--Housing Giants Rank:  132 Goodall Homes has offered three basic products for the last three years:  single family (small and large), one-level condominiums, and two-story townhomes.  The one-level condominiums continue to be a strong seller as more people opt for simplified, open floor plans, and the two-story townhomes perform amply when located in or near an urban area, says COO Keith Porterfield. The builder expects to close about 300 homes this year in four counties around Nashville, Tenn.  Goodall plans to open three communities in Franklin, Williamson County, which Porterfield describes as "one of the hottest markets in the Southeast," with another development on the way in the future. The company implemented an operational change in November 2012 to improve relationships with subcontractors and trades and provide a better buyer experience.  Goodall had been turning around homes in 80 to 85 calendar days on average but wanted more certainty in its processes. The firm decided to limit starts to eight per week so the customer could know the exact date the home would close.  Doing so also enabled Goodall to tell trades the exact day they would have to be on the jobsite. "Once these homes start, the schedule is uploaded to the trade portal," Porterfield says.  "We know the exact day the lumber will drop, and we know the exact day the plumber will rush into the house." Instead of 80 to 85 calendar days, Goodall's homes now average about 68 work days.  Though the cycle is slower, the change has helped overcome labor shortages, Porterfield says. (May 2013--Professional Builder Magazine)