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NAHB Research Center Certifies Two Builders for Commitment to Quality

Grayson Homes, a privately held builder headquartered in Ellicott City, MD, and KB Home Las Vegas Division, a publicly held national home builder, are the first home builders in the nation to earn certification under the National Housing Quality (NHQ) Program’s pilot Certified Builder initiative, the NAHB Research Center announced last week.

Participation in the NHQ Certified Builder program is designed to increase efficiency and consistency in building practices. The Certified Builder program provides a rigorous and complete review of business practices, and ensures that all elements of the company’s quality assurance system are incorporated to provide greater customer satisfaction. Certification candidates participate in field and office training to implement their quality program, work more efficiently with their trade contractors and begin the continuous improvement efforts required by all NHQ programs.

Grayson Homes — A Solid Quality Foundation

In 2002, Grayson’s trade contractors began training with the NHQ Certified Trade Contractor program. Last year, the company won the NHQ Silver Award, which is patterned after the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and represents the highest recognition by the housing industry for quality achievement.

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“Achieving and maintaining our status as an NHQ Certified Builder will engrain consistency and predictability into all facets of our home building business,” said Cindy McAuliffe, president of Grayson Homes. “It will be an easily observable demonstration of our quality commitment to our buyers, trades and employees that aligns our performance with our mission and provides a valuable third-party testimonial of our quality.”

Grayson customer satisfaction surveys find that 96% of the company’s home buyers would either refer the company to a friend or would choose Grayson again when buying another home.

KB Home Las Vegas — Leading the Quality Charge

Last November, after its Las Vegas division successfully implemented the NHQ Certified Trade Contractor program, Bruce Karatz, the company’s chairman and chief executive officer, announced that KB Home would become the first large builder in the country to implement the NHQ Certified Trade Contractor program nationwide.

“Building on our stringent internal quality processes, KB Home’s participation in the NHQ Certified Builder Program sends a powerful quality message to our customers,” said Leah Bryant, regional general manager of KB Home and former president of KB Home Las Vegas.“ So far, as a result of program implementation, our Las Vegas division has seen a four-day improvement on its build time, with the confidence that we and our trade partners are building with a consistent commitment to quality.”

KB Home delivered more than 3,300 homes in Las Vegas in 2003 and ranked in the top three in the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 New Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study in Las Vegas.

“By focusing builders and trade contractors on getting the job done right the first time, NHQ certification differentiates those who talk about quality from those who can demonstrate it,” said Dean Potter, director of quality programs at the NAHB Research Center.

The NAHB Research Center will officially launch the national roll-out of the NHQ Certified Builder Program during the 2005 International Builders’ Show in Orlando.

In the interim, builders interested in starting on the path to quality certification can click here or send an e-mail. Or call Rita Knab, NHQ program coordinator, at 800-638-8556 x6225.
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