Qualifying as a Builder Friendly Company

Builder Friendly Program Initiative

These are components of the Builder Friendly Program, i.e. what manufacturers of log, building systems should offer their builders to be considered for the designation of a “Builder Friendly” company from Building Systems magazine.

This serves as a way for system manufacturers to gain recognition for their hard work in these areas. Mainly the requirements would be met with written policies in the following areas. This helps create a building relationship between manufacturer and builder where everything is detailed—and above all—professional.

Most criteria must be met in order to receive designation. A third party team will make the decision who receives the Builder Friendly designation. If enough criteria are not met an explanation will be provided and the company will have as much time as they need to make changes and reapply.

Who can participate?
All log home manufacturers and handcrafters are invited to participate in the program. There are no exclusions whatsoever.

Enrollment period
The Builder Friendly Award will be made on an annual basis. Applications are accepted through April 20, 2009. Qualifying companies will be notified via telephone prior to May 6th. Announcements of the qualifying companies for 2009 will be made at the Log Home Leadership Conference in Chantilly, VA. BuildingSystems.com will have a Builder Friendly section listing the qualifying companies. The July/August issue of Building Systems Magazine will also announce the qualifying companies. Award certificate, logo and press release will be made available to your company upon qualification.

Applications should be made in writing and sent to:
Building Systems Magazine Attn. Builder Friendly Program
4125 Lafayette Center Drive, Suite 100
Chantilly, VA 20151

How are you selected to qualify?
Every possible provision has been made to make this award as un-biased as possible. Each application will be numerically scored based on the importance of each criterion and the total score achieved. Our goal is to qualify the largest number of companies possible. No application will be rejected, and every effort will be made to notify a company if they have not met enough criteria and what the criteria are. You will be provided with as much time as needed to qualify for this annual award. Please apply only if you currently meet and can document at least 90% of the criteria listed. This program is based on the integrity of the participants; there are no provisions to verify the veracity of the facts supplied. A disclaimer to this effect will be on the web site.

How were the criteria selected? Building Systems selected the criteria with an industry panel of builders and log home companies. Every effort was made to be fair. These criteria are not carved in stone and we want an open dialog with the industry. The criteria are expected to change and evolve over time with industry and builder input.
Company Background
Company Name
Company Contact
Phone
Fax
E-mail address
Location
Year founded
Manufacturer, Handcrafter or both
Number of homes produced
Number of builder/dealers
Log Type (s)
Market Areas
Log grading, yes (which kind?)or no
Shell erection available, complete construction or both

Criteria
1) Manufacturer mission statement: Company focus can go a long way toward ensuring success
2) Bio’s on key company officers: Builders should have some idea of whom they are doing business with
3) Membership and involvement in key industry associations
4) Clear designation of market areas served
5) Have a physical manufacturing operation
6) Have a design department: meaning on-staff designers versed in CAD
7) Furnish blueprints or blueprint processes, as well as having a written policy detailing the costs of design services. Include a description of construction instruction drawings or log package construction detail
8) Custom design capabilities; meaning redesigns of standard plans and/or custom designs
9) Written policy or construction manual on assembly details
10) Technical assistance availability on first few projects
11) Field support sales and construction
12) Product warranty details furnished in writing
13) Written customer service policy
14) Written policy of procedures for handling service and warranty requests from builders
15) Written policy for price protection on cost estimates and time frames
16) Company sales literature available
17) Annual dealer/builder meeting
18) Provide log construction workshops and or training sessions

Contacts:
Charles Bevier 303 985-3564
Elaine Nosaka 800 336-9548