As a follow-up to our Coping with Financial Distress webinar from last August, this session will help Canadian and US builders identify how to analyze those ratios that are the most important in running their business. Using the information from your accounting systems can help you improve your bottom line and increase your profits. In addition, timely communication to lenders from their builders will help ensure viable financing solutions. Steve Hays and Felicia Malter, Partners in the Home Builder Services Group at RubinBrown LLP, will also share some information about what financial reporting might look like as we prepare for better times.

Slides

Audio

Video

Many builders, both small and large, can achieve cost advantages and improved forecasting using purchase orders. In this session, builders will learn how to reduce costs as a result of issuing purchase orders and paying trades without relying on completion slips and invoices. Even if you are already using purchase orders for your trades, this session will provide additional opportunities for process improvement.

Slides

Audio

Video

Now that the housing boom is behind us and the entire industry is dealing with a new reality, managing warranty and service costs is very important. In this session, we’ll show you how many builders have reduced their warranty and service costs, and improved customer satisfaction and referrals with small investments in online homeowner manuals, maintenance guides, newsletters and service request portals.

Slides

Audio

Video

Similar to the Large Builder Roundtable this group provided an inside look at small and medium sized builders discussing the recent stimulus programs, selling new homes, doing more with less, implementing software systems, working with trades and suppliers, vendor portals, home builder websites, and the impact of green building on home builders. Each builder describes their experiences dealing with conditions in their market and how they use technology and processes to do more with less.

Audio

Video

Today’s home buyers are fearful of making a buying decision and consumer confidence is at historic lows. We as sales people must do all the heavy lifting to get them to want to buy. The key to this is repetitive contact and building a trusted relationship to enable them to take action without regret. This means using your system to its fullest to keep in touch with the prospect. None of us can remember all the details and the necessary follow-up schedule. This session will explore the reasons for the fear, despite the great values in the market, and justify the use of valuable tools you may already have to make high tech equal high touch.

Slides

Audio

Video

All Constellation customers have received invitations to our upcoming virtual user conference.  If you have still not registered, please do so using the links below.

Constellation HomeBuilder Systems is pleased to invite you to our first ever, Virtual User Conference on March 23 through March 27, 2009.

Join us for this FREE event in the comfort of your office, or any location with an internet connection and a phone.

Hosted by our BuildSoft, Builder 360, NEWSTAR, FAST and Constellation CRM (formerly “CFT”) product families, these series of webinars will include valuable product update sessions, industry best practices, and home builder roundtable discussions.

Delivered by Constellation experts and guest speakers, you will learn about new product enhancements, upcoming events, industry best practices, trends in the customer base, and opportunities to help you get the most out of your software system.

Product Update Sessions

On March 23rd at 1PM EST, we will be hosting the following product update sessions. Please register for the product update session of your choice using the links below.

– FAST

– NEWSTAR

– Builder 360

– BuildSoft

– Constellation CRM

Industry Best Practices and Guest Speakers

Lead Qualification and Sales Best Practices Ross Robbins – Shinn Group March 24th at 1 PM EST – Today’s home buyers are fearful of making a buying decision and consumer confidence is at historic lows. We as sales people must do all the heavy lifting to get them to want to buy. The key to this is repetitive contact and building a trusted relationship to enable them to take action without regret. This means using your system to its fullest to keep in touch with the prospect. None of us can remember all the details and the necessary follow-up schedule. This session will explore the reasons for the fear, despite the great values in the market, and justify the use of valuable tools you may already have to make high tech equal high touch.

Online Homeowner Warranty and Maintenance Brad Brickman – Constellation HomeBuilder Systems March 25th at 1 PM EST – Now that the housing boom is behind us and the entire industry is dealing with a new reality, managing warranty and service costs is very important. In this session, we’ll show you how many builders have reduced their warranty and service costs, and improved customer satisfaction and referrals with small investments in online homeowner manuals, maintenance guides, newsletters and service request portals.

Implementing a Purchase Order System Craig Schweikart – Constellation HomeBuilder Systems March 25th at 1:30 PM EST – Many builders, both small and large, can achieve cost advantages and improved forecasting using purchase orders. In this session, builders will learn how to reduce costs as a result of issuing purchase orders and paying trades without relying on completion slips and invoices. Even if you are already using purchase orders for your trades, this session will provide additional opportunities for process improvement.

Get the Information You Need from Your Accounting System Felicia Malter and Steven Hays – RubinBrown March 26th at 1 PM EST – As a follow-up to our Coping with Financial Distress webinar from last August, this session will help Canadian and US builders identify how to analyze those ratios that are the most important in running their business. Using the information from your accounting systems can help you improve your bottom line and increase your profits. In addition, timely communication to lenders from from their builders will help ensure viable financing solutions. Steve Hays and Felicia Malter, Partners in the Home Builder Services Group at RubinBrown LLP, will also share some information about what financial reporting might look like as we prepare for better times.

Builder Roundtable Discussion

On March 27th at 1PM EST, we will be hosting the following builder roundtable discussions. Please register for the session of your choice using the links below.

– Small Volume Builders and Remodelers

– Larger Volume Production Builders

Additional Information

Register now, or contact
Cathy Kotsopoulos via email or by phone at (888) 723-2222 x6140.

Markham, ON, January 30, 2009 – Constellation HomeBuilder Systems, the largest provider of homebuilding software, is pleased to announce the winner of two Constructech Top Products awards for Constellation BuildSoft and Constellation OnLocation-Construction Manager. “Constellation is a unique company in the home building software industry.  We strive to develop world class products, work closely with our customers and provide stable solutions home builders can trust to run their business now and in the future”, says Dexter Salna, President of Constellation HomeBuilder Systems. “The BuildSoft system for residential builders and remodelers is a great example of how Constellation has invested in an established product to improve software, documentation, training and customer support.  BuildSoft customers agree that the product has improved immensely and we receive positive feedback on a daily basis.”

OnLocation-Construction Manager is the latest solution in the award winning suite of OnLocation mobile device applications for home builders.  In addition to core scheduling functionality and payment approval, field staff and inspectors can easily identify and record quality issues at any point during the building cycle and beyond.  Not only can vendor payment be withheld, but issues can be addressed easier and tracked over periods of time.  Using the camera capabilities of many mobile devices, you can capture photos from the field and automatically categorize them within the system. Once they are in the system, they can easily be made available for all employees and distributed to managers, vendors, and home buyers as necessary. The photos and easy identification of quality issues becomes a key tool in supplier and trade negotiations. This Constructech Top Products award for enhanced products is the third award for Constellation’s OnLocation suite of mobile device software solutions.

BuildSoft is one of Constellation’s core production and accounting systems, tailored specifically for small-volume, custom home builders and remodelers.  Our other mission critical production and accounting systems include FAST, NEWSTAR, Builder 360, BuildSoft, Constellation CRM (formerly Computers for Tracts) and LandDev.  We continue to support and enhance these systems with the latest regional and regulatory requirements and bring new functionality to help our customers improve their core operations.

About Constellation HomeBuilder Systems
As the largest home building software company in the industry, Constellation HomeBuilder Systems has helped more than 2,100 builders manage their information technology costs with integrated software solutions to run their business from dirt to warranty. From planning to homeowner services, we have land development software, new home sales and marketing software, production, purchasing, scheduling, accounting, warranty, electronic homeowner manuals, and vendor portal solutions designed exclusively for the home building industry.

About Constructech Residential
Looking at information technology, building control automation, and automated home technology through the eyes of the builder, contractor, and corporate owner, Constructech magazine is focused on providing the construction industry with the necessary tools to increase productivity and profitability. Constructech Residential takes the perspective of the homebuilding professional in uncovering the true value of automated home technology options and information technology tools.

Media Inquiries
Cathy Kotsopoulos
ckotsopoulos@constellationhb.com
(888) 723-2222

2009-01-30 – Constellation Top Products Award Press Release

The benefits of mobile device software, field scheduling solutions, quality contral, and vendor communication are discussed by Tim Alexander from HPH.

The full article can be found at the following location:

http://www.specialtypub.com/constructech/article.asp?article_id=7334

The most recent edition of Green Builder Magazine has an interesting article about Constellation BuildSERV and its ability to help builders better manage home owner warranty and service.  With electronic media, e-mail communication, and internet websites, builders can provide better information related to warranty guidelines and home maintenance.  BuildSERV helps builders communicate with new home buyers as generation X, Y and millennials would expect.

“Homeowners using a web-based portal to access information reduces the need for a paper manual and the related environmental costs,” says Brad Brickman. “The exciting story is our ability to use the web and e-mail to build an ongoing relationship with the homeowner – to update and deliver maintenance and product information on the specific products in their home.”

The full article can be found on page 42 of the December 2008 issue.

It can be downloaded from the following location.

http://www.greenbuildermag.com/files/current_issue/gbm_122008.pdf

As you prepare and finalize your budgets for 2009, we wanted you to be aware of the following solutions that we have enhanced or released in the previous year.

We are also announcing an exciting 30-minute webinar series that can help you with the following:

• Reduce production costs
• Improve management insight
• Build stronger customer relationships
• Work more efficiently with suppliers and trades
• Maximize upgrades on each sale

Sales and Home Buyer Solutions

Constellation BuildSERV’s hosted document library and online collaboration systems help builders manage home ownership documents and related warranty information. Our comprehensive services ease the task of organizing and compiling home ownership guides, and provide a method for delivering and tracking important buyer communications.


– Tues. Nov. 11 @ 2PM EST

Constellation HomePlate – Home Buyer Portal

Constellation HomePlate offers home builders a secure, web-based portal for their homebuyers and homeowners from contract to post-warranty. It’s designed to deliver instant information to your customers anytime, anywhere.


– Mon. Nov. 24 @ 2PM EST

Constellation Online Virtual Showroom

Constellation Online Virtual Showroom is a web-based lead generation tool that creates qualified prospects through unique visualization technology. Visitors to your website can mix and match exterior and interior colors and materials and see their choices instantly rendered on photographs of your model homes.


– Tues. Nov. 25 @ 2PM EST

Constellation CRM

Constellation CRM is a comprehensive suite of customer relationship management solutions for all sizes of home builders. Designed to help improve customer communication, options selection, and upgrade sales, now is the perfect time to take a look at Constellation CRM.


– Tues. Nov. 18 @ 2PM EST

FAST E-Leads and FAST Sales

FAST SALES and FAST E-Leads arms your sales team with the advantage they need to close the sale. FASTSales helps you streamline your sales process by automating follow-up and leveraging process-based workflow. With every sale a precious commodity you need a sales system that provides flexibility while maintaining accountability, that is FASTSales.


– Thurs. Nov. 20 @ 2PM EST

Constellation CRM Design Center

Constellation CRM Design Center provides your design staff with the tools to quickly, accurately and profitably prepare complex measured goods configurations, such as flooring or custom countertops. If you are looking to maximize the profits from your dedicated Design Center, now is the time to consider Constellation CRM Design Center.


– Wed. Nov. 12 @ 2PM EST

Construction Management and Communication Solutions

Constellation FOCUS is an integrated, web-based Business Intelligence (BI) solution designed to improve business performance through monitoring and proactive exception-based reporting. FOCUS can easily distribute pre-configured reports and notifications to suppliers, managers, employees and other business partners.


– Wed. Nov. 19 @ 2PM EST

FAST Insight

FAST Insight helps you to make the critical business decisions necessary in today’s economy on a daily basis, FASTInsight provides dashboard level views and detailed decision support in real-time so you can make those decisions with confidence. Know in an instant your financial and operational health with FASTInsight.


– Fri. Nov. 21 @ 12PM EST

Builder 360 – JobView 360

JobView 360 is a secure web-based project management solution designed exclusively for home builders to powerfully advance the flow of communication and develop reliable, partnerships between trade partners, subcontractors, and homebuilder employees.


– Mon. Nov. 17 @ 2PM EST

Constellation LandDev

Constellation LandDev supports detailed and summary level budgeting, estimating, bidding, contracting, and payment processing with user configured authorization processes. Find mistakes on paper before they happen in the field and become too expensive or too late to fix. LandDev allows users to eliminate the paper chase with workflow technology that sends e-mail messages to targeted individuals for budget approval, change order approval, payment approval and notification, as required, leading to an unprecedented control of cost and schedules.


– Mon. Nov. 10 @ 2PM EST

OnLocation-Schedule

OnLocation-Schedule is an award-winning, fully-integrated, wireless software application designed to meet the needs of field staff, home builders and suppliers. This easy-to-use application offers effortless monitoring and tight control of construction schedules and payment processes, while improving the efficiency of supplier communications.


– Thurs. Nov. 13 @ 2PM EST

PocketFAST

PocketFAST works seamlessly with your FAST schedules to extend the benefits of an integrated management system to your production line. Field managers and vendors will be more efficient, more effective, and more accurate with PocketFAST, providing essential, time sensitive information throughout your organization, as it happens. That’s what you should expect with an enterprise system, and PocketFAST delivers.


– Thurs. Nov. 13 @ 2PM EST

Constellation BuildPro

Constellation BuildPro is the leading, integrated, scheduling and vendor collaboration system utilized by home builders to effectively manage tight construction schedules and improve homebuilding efficiency. Over 10,000 builders and suppliers are using BuildPro and SupplyPro to help build thousands of homes more efficiently, communicate more effectively, and build stronger trade relationships. As an internet solution, the system is always available in the office, at home, or in the field.


– Fri. Nov. 21 @ 2PM EST

New Product Preview

OnLocation-ConstructionManager allows you to schedule jobs, control payments, control production quality, and communicate with trades. With real-time exception control and quality monitoring, you can identify quality issues before it’s too late or too expensive. Your superintendents and quality control staff can quickly run though a checklist and identify problems. Not only are the problems identified and stored in NEWSTAR Enterprise, but you can take photos with your mobile device for management oversight and supplier communications. These photos serve as a record of deficiencies for suppliers and trades and ensure that everyone has the ability to see problems when they occur.


– Thurs. Nov. 20 @ 2PM EST

OnLocation-DesignCenter

OnLocation-DesignCenter is an integrated software application that helps design center staff easily manage options, upgrades, and color selections and maximize home builder design center profitability. Using a barcode scanner, options, upgrades, and colors are easily captured and recorded in NEWSTAR Sales. From there, design center staff quickly generates the contract addendum and present it to the customer for approval. Design center staff no longer need to waste time keying product codes into the system while the customer waits.


– Fri. Nov. 14 @ 2PM EST

Additional Information

If you have any additional questions, please contact Cathy Kotsopoulos at (888) 723-2222 or via e-mail at ckotsopoulos@constellationhb.com.