Residential Design + Build

SEP-OCT 2012

Residential Design + Build provides architects, designers and builders of custom homes with the information they need to create high-end custom homes.

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2012 Business EXCELLENCE AWARDS Business Administration Ç The design and construction of homes like this by Cullum Homes is managed by a proprietary communications system that keeps clients on top of their project's status. W A winning system The project communications system at Cullum Homes has improved client relations and made the team more effective By Rob Heselbarth, editorial director. Photos by Dino Tonn Photography for A4 Architecture, and Eddie Strong at Cullum Homes hen phones stopped ringing at construction firms across the country, Cullum Homes saw an opportunity to retool and refocus on its sys- tems and processes. A full-scale imple- mentation of Co-Construct selections and communications software has improved staff efficiency and client sat- isfaction. The reception from homeown- ers has been so positive, the custom home builder now presents this feature to prospective clients as a key factor that differentiates Cullum Homes from its competitors. "We looked at what we could do to make the next business cycle more fun, profitable and more systematic," says Rod Cullum, president and owner of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based firm. "One target was how we handled product customiza- tion and all the decisions being made that affect a home's design. For any custom or semi-custom home there are literally hundreds of decisions being made, and sometimes a cus- 14 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 2 tomer can't remember what they decided." Cullum's goal was simple: Streamline pro- cesses by keeping all 26 team members on the same page in real time. The challenge was to answer dialogue, costs and schedule progress in one place for all to see, access and utilize. Key team members used the construction of a model home as the first job. Acting as its own client, the Cullum team was able to fully com- prehend all aspects of what this system could do. This type of organized presenta- tion has provided measurable, tangible results for the builder. "We have been through a lot of systems and software, and what we liked about Co-Construct is the way it handles selec- tions, change orders, client requests and scheduling. Now we're on our 10th or 12th customer going through the process, and are always refining it," he says. With clients online at all hours of the Ç The Cullum Homes client communications system has freed owner Rod Cullum from the day-to-day selection minutiae, allowing him to focus on business development. capture the many facets of home building com- munications, including spec sheets, selections, change orders, diagrams, photos, question and r e si d e n t ia l d e si gn + b u i l d day, it is important to provide them instant access to project information, says Kim Cullum, co-owner. "The longer clients have to wait, the more frustrated they get, so we have to cut down the time it takes to respond. Now, they don't have to work around what time it is in Arizona. They can see what has been posted and ask questions, and when F o r R e si d e n t ia l P r o s . c o m

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