This editorial is spin 2 by the homebuilding industry.


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5861777.html


 
Great blog on this editorial by Bay Area Houston
We're legitimate businessmen.

You have to wonder why a businessman would have the need to say "I'm a legitimate businessman". Such is the case with Brian Binash the President of the Greater Homebuilders Association with his op-ed in the Houston Chronicle.

Houston's housing market is strong, and so is our homebuilding industry's commitment to high standards.

Some homeowners might not have a clear picture of the stringent building codes in effect in Texas, but this state has a statewide residential building code that includes provisions for windstorm protection in the coastal areas.

He might as well have said, "we are legitimate businessmen". A new home buyer is not interested and probably couldn't understand what standards are being followed, or what standards had to be mandated by the state since the homebuilding industry could not police itself. They are more interested in trusting their builder to do what is right, after all, they are giving them 30 years of their life in a mortgage. It is really all about trust, something Binash doesn't quite understand.

Obviously the state of the industry has driven Binash to say his industry is legitimate when it comes to building codes and rattles off a number of mandates the state has imposed upon the industry. It really begs the questions: If you are a legitimate businessman, why did you wait for the State to mandate the use of building codes?

When it comes to trust, the Texas homebuilding industry is about as bad as Enron's Ken Lay promoting electricity deregulation. So bad, the State had to spend $14 million a year on a builders commission to police Binash's industry since they were incapable of policing themselves. Binash confirms this:

The various legislative measures mandating building code requirements create a system of oversight and accountability that was fully supported by homebuilders because it is our sincere desire to raise the bar and create a principled industry that protects consumers while ensuring that homebuilding and homeownership remain viable and productive drivers of the economy.
And by the way........"I'm a legitimate businessman".
Labels: homebuilding


posted by John Coby at 8:20 AM | 5 comments links to this post 

The builder was quite serious. Can you even imagine anyone insulting the intelligence of the public the way this guy has?
Before the oncoming of the new editor of the Houston Chronicle it was nearly impossible to get a story on builders out to the public. Maybe you would see one or two a year. Little to no editorials were published ither.
When the new editor came along (as I have previously posted) more and more stories seemed to come to light and actually published editorials on the building industry. All of sudden things were quiet again and then not 1 but 2 editorials with a positive spin were written by  the industry. 
Could it be threats of pulling advertising doing this?  Why all of a sudden the change on spin?
The following are repsonses to the editorials:
The second response, mind boggling.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5872284.html

It is true that the American economy is seriously effected by consumer confidence, so that might be the thought here. Maybe it is just a paid ad that looks like an article. Or it’s going back to what in part fueled the building boom, lies upon lies. Many people would love to return to that by any means required.

Homebuilders with Arbitration Clauses
"Brian Binash, executive vice president of Emerald Homes in The Woodlands,
Texas, tells any client who refuses to sign his company's arbitration clause to go
elsewhere. He says they will continue the practice, even if (and when) the roaring
economy slows down."

Well, well...I am going to post a study done by hadd a while back so that folks can see the pitfalls of MBA.
I will post in arbitration forum and it would behoove any consumer to read it as opposed to those in the industry telling us how great their homes are built.