As climate pressures intensify, builders are being asked to deliver homes that perform under more challenging conditions. The most effective place to start is at the site and planning level, where architects, engineers and builders work together.

How A Home’s Orientation Can Benefit the Owners

Orientation – the direction the home faces – remains one of the highest return decisions available. Street layouts, lot positioning and rooflines directly influence how a home manages solar gain and energy potential. Aligning homes along an east-west axis has multiple advantages to enhance comfort and reduce operational costs:

• allows southern roof planes and their overhangs to be optimized for both passive solar performance and future solar installation
• makes for effective winter-time passive heat gain and necessary summer shading, enhances natural daylighting and reduces discomfort and eyestrain regardless of climate zone
• reduces peak cooling loads, enhances occupant comfort, lowers energy use, and eases grid demand during the hottest parts of the day.

By reducing west-facing glass, optimizing southern and northern exposure, and incorporating properly sized overhangs, cooling loads can often be reduced. This can lead to:

• smaller HVAC systems,
• lower upfront costs,
• meaningful monthly savings, and
• better overall comfort

When paired with a solar-ready roof, energy costs can drop dramatically over time. For builders, these are compelling and easy to communicate benefits that improve both performance and marketability without adding construction complexity.

Natural Airflow As a Building Opportunity

By understanding prevailing winds and topography, communities can be designed to encourage cross-ventilation and other enhanced natural ventilation strategies. This can reduce reliance on mechanical systems and enhance comfort across a wide range of climates while providing a healthy indoor environment.

These strategies also contribute to resilience when the power goes out. A home designed to respond to the climate needs to do two things equally well:

1. Thrive in regular conditions that will be repeatedly experienced over its lifetime.
2. Survive extreme events that may only occur once or twice in a lifetime but would otherwise damage or destroy the home, like earthquakes and hurricanes.

A well-oriented, climate-responsive home can maintain more stable indoor temperatures, provide balanced glare-free natural light and support passive ventilation during power outages. In short, it continues to function, keeping it livable during adverse circumstances, which homeowners value.

“This article was reprinted with permission from NAHB.org”

Homebuyers today expect more from their homes than ever before. As lifestyles continue to evolve, dedicated single-purpose rooms are giving way to spaces that can adapt alongside changing family needs. This shift has elevated the flex room from a desirable upgrade to one of the most valuable design features builders can offer. For homebuilders, creating the perfect flex room is an opportunity to increase a home's appeal, functionality, and long-term value.

The most successful flex rooms begin with strategic placement. Location within the floorplan often determines how buyers will ultimately use the space. A flex room near the front entry may serve as a home office, library, or client meeting space, while a room adjacent to living areas can easily transition into a playroom, media room, or hobby area. Main-level flex rooms are particularly attractive because they provide accessibility and versatility for households at every stage of life.

Designing for adaptability should be the primary objective. Rather than building around a single intended use, the room should be conceived as a blank canvas. Open floorplans, generous wall space, and simple room geometry allow homeowners to furnish and customize the space according to their needs. Avoiding highly specialized built-ins can preserve flexibility and broaden the room's potential applications.

Natural light plays a critical role in the success of any flex space. Large windows create an inviting atmosphere while supporting common uses such as home offices, study areas, fitness rooms, and creative workspaces. At the same time, builders should incorporate layered lighting solutions that allow the room to function effectively during evenings or for activities requiring focused illumination.

Technology integration is another essential consideration. Today's buyers increasingly use flex rooms as remote work environments, learning centers, or entertainment spaces. Ample electrical outlets, strategically placed data connections, and provisions for future smart-home technologies can significantly enhance the room's functionality and future-proof its design.

Storage should never be overlooked. A flex room that can easily transition between uses requires thoughtful storage solutions that help homeowners keep the space organized. Closets, built-in cabinetry, or adjacent storage areas allow the room to evolve without becoming cluttered. Even modest storage additions can dramatically increase the room's practical value.

Acoustic performance is equally important. As remote work and virtual meetings remain common, homeowners appreciate spaces that offer privacy and sound control. Solid-core doors, quality insulation, and careful attention to room placement can help create a quieter environment suitable for work, study, or relaxation.

Perhaps most importantly, builders should market the flex room as a solution rather than a specific room type. Buyers are often inspired when they can envision multiple possibilities for a space. A room that can function as an office today, a nursery tomorrow, and a guest room years later delivers lasting value that resonates with modern homeowners.

The perfect flex room is not defined by what it is, but by what it can become. By prioritizing flexibility, functionality, and future adaptability, homebuilders can create spaces that meet the diverse needs of today's buyers while helping homes remain relevant and sought after for years to come.

Today’s deck designs are larger, more customized, and built to serve multiple purposes. Popular trends include:

• Multi-level deck configurations that create dedicated spaces for dining, entertaining, and relaxation.
• Composite decking materials that offer durability and reduced maintenance requirements.
• Integrated lighting systems that improve safety and enhance ambiance.
• Built-in seating, privacy screens, and fire features that add functionality and visual appeal.

• Modern patios are evolving into outdoor living rooms that homeowners can enjoy throughout multiple seasons. Current trends include:
• Large-format pavers and decorative concrete finishes.
• Covered patios and pergolas that provide shade and weather protection.
• Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits that extend usability during cooler months.
• Thoughtfully designed landscaping that creates privacy and complements the home’s architecture.

• Built-in grills and cooking stations.
• Refrigeration and beverage centers.
• Durable stone countertops and weather-resistant cabinetry.
• Entertainment systems and bar seating areas.

If you’re like some of us at RWC, you may be a reader who enjoys a lifelong relationship with books. We can remember the ones that got us started on that path. One was that Dr. Suess Alphabet book that captured our imagination and made reading fun. Then there was a book about Babe Ruth that recounted his childhood in an orphanage, his mastery of hitting a baseball, and his larger-than-life off field adventures. That one was the subject of our first book report. It was quickly followed by a book about the great quarterbacks of the NFL, which revealed, in its Y. A. Tittle chapter, that a person could be both bald and an NFL quarterback at the same time, a revelation that amazed us at the time.

By finding books at the library or from a suggestion by a caring teacher or family member, we then discovered stories like Sheila Burnford’s The Incredible Journey. We can remember lying in bed trying to read by flashlight (when our parents wanted us to go to sleep) because we were deeply invested in the welfare of that cat and those two dogs we had come to know so well. And then Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird sealed the deal, as we learned important lessons, not from a textbook’s endless stream of facts and assignments, but from a work of fiction that touched our minds, hearts, and souls.

Since then, we’ve read hundreds of books that entertained, educated, or captivated us all the way to their thrilling, meaningful, or startling endings. Over time, we also began many other books that we simply couldn’t finish. There are a few reasons why we keep reading books to the end and remember some books all our lives and why we forget the many that we toss aside without finishing.

First, a good author keeps us turning the pages so that the end of each chapter leaves us thirsting for the story to continue. Another is the skill of the author in creating interesting characters who we care about and thought-provoking circumstances in which we can imagine ourselves—in other words a product of such good quality that we simply must have it. Then there is the hook that captures our imagination and makes us want to know whether that cat and those dogs make it home or whether Atticus Finch can get Tom Robinson the justice he deserves.

As builders, we can learn a lot from the books we’ve loved. For example, when a customer sees your billboard or online ad, does he want to turn the page and visit your office or model home, or does he throw that experience on the pile of ads that were easy to ignore or never really grabbed his attention in the first place? Once in your office or model home, what does he think about the quality of the product you want to sell him? Can he picture the happy ending that comes from living out the thousands of pages and hundreds of chapters of his life in the home you will build him, or does he lose interest because nothing you have to offer stands out from the crowd? When he drives into your development, does he think, “Wow, this must be a great place to live,” or does he turn around after a block or two to look for a place that gets his juices flowing?

And don’t forget that hook that draws a reader into a world he wants to experience or, in our case, captivates a potential home buyer. What is your hook? Is it quality of craftsmanship or value? Is it affordability or design? Is it small low maintenance lots or big yards where the kids can play? Or is it some combination of these qualities? If you find the right hook, you’ll be better able to reel those customers in and grow the kind of company you have always dreamed of having.

What’s your story? Is it a well-crafted one whose hook keeps bringing you customers? We hope it’s a page turner that tells your customers and prospective customers that time spent with you will be something they will always remember and give them an experience that positively changes their lives forever.

Speaking of books, there is no better book you can give your customers at contract time than a warranty from Residential Warranty Company. Over more than four decades, RWC has provided warranty protection on over four million homes. We offer a wide variety of warranty options like our standard ten-year warranty, our Day 1 coverage warranty, our extended appliance and systems warranties, and our specialty warranties for remodeling projects, detached garages, and commercial construction. Only RWC has developed and offers its members a customized state warranty that mirrors each state’s statute of repose and accommodates other state specific issues. All RWC warranties provide clear performance standards that help create realistic homeowner expectations and provide a road map to resolve even the stickiest customer complaints.

At RWC, every guarantee our warranties make is backed by Western Pacific Mutual Insurance Company, RRG. Western Pacific has an A- rating from A. M. Best and only insures home warranty and similar new home construction risks, like builders’ general liability, which can be offered through the RWC Insurance Advantage program to RWC members. No other warranty company has an insurer with this kind of strength solely dedicated to covering builders and their homes.

Each person or company is the author of their own destiny. Here’s hoping that yours is a bright and successful one and that, with RWC at your side, your homes are best sellers!

Have a great summer!

Here are a few key warranty highlights we find our builders appreciate*.

• Only warranted elements which are specifically designated in the warranty standards are covered by this Limited Warranty.
• Actions taken to cure Defects will NOT extend the periods of specified coverages in this Limited Warranty.
• When the homeowner’s request for warranty performance is determined to be a warranted issue, the Warrantor reserves the right to repair or replace the warranted item, or to pay them the reasonable cost of repair or replacement.
• The homeowner must provide the Warrantor and/or Administrator with reasonable weekday access during normal business hours to inspect the condition of your Home and/or to perform their obligations.
• Under this Limited Warranty, the Warrantor is not responsible for exact color, texture or finish matches in situations where materials are replaced or repaired, or for areas repainted or when original materials are discontinued.
• Cost incurred for unauthorized repairs to warranted items are not reimbursable. Written authorization prior to incurring expenses must be obtained from the Administrator.

Notable Exclusions from Coverage:

• Any Consequential Damages.
• Loss or damage to, or caused by, recreational facilities; driveways; walkways; patios, porches and stoops not structurally attached; decks and balconies which are not bolted to or cantilevered from the main structure of the Home; boundary and/or retaining walls; bulkheads; fences; landscaping, sodding, seeding, shrubs, trees and plantings; subsurface drainage systems (other than footer drains); lawn sprinkler systems; off-site improvements, including streets, sidewalks, adjacent property and the like; or any other improvements not part of the Home itself.
• Any Defect consisting of, caused by, contributed to, or aggravated by moisture, wet or dry, rot, mold, mildew, fungus or rust, regardless of the originating cause of any moisture or water penetration that leads to the Defect.
• Loss of damage to the Home, persons or property directly or indirectly caused by insects, birds, vermin, rodents, or wild or domestic animals.

Should you have any questions regarding coverage please reach out to our Warranty Resolution Department at 800-247-1812.

*Some items not applicable in New Jersey (#317 warranty booklet).

By Sandra Sweigert, RWC

Add a polished touch to your office or model home with our high quality, sturdy brochure holder. Ready to use right out of the box.
No assembly required and no cost to you!

Naturally, you'll also need pamphlets to fill it. We offer several choices of literature which explains to the buyer how the warranty works and its benefits. Click here to browse our brochures, flyers, signage and other marketing items.

JUNE 4, 2026

Meeting held at:
Residential Warranty Co, LLC
5300 Derry Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111

Here’s a true story. The name of the builder has been omitted to preserve privacy.

Years ago we sold a Builders Risk insurance policy to a builder in New Jersey. The project was near the coast. Flood insurance could have been added to the policy, but the premium was a bit stiff given the proximity of the Atlantic and the fact it was still hurricane season. This builder’s project was just getting underway. A foundation had been laid, but not much else was done. It was fairly late in the hurricane season. Now, we all have to make business decisions that often entail risk. Our builder made his decision, which may have been to save the cost of adding flood insurance to the Builders Risk policy. Whatever the reason, it was only a short time later that Superstorm Sandy devasted the East Coast. At the time, it was the second costliest hurricane on record. Our builder had approximately $60,000 worth of materials at the jobsite when the storm hit. It was a total loss. None of it was covered.

There are three ways to deal with risk. One is called avoidance. Don’t build close to the Atlantic Ocean during hurricane season. That’s a simple sounding approach, but hardly practical. The second is assumption of risk. This is the method our builder chose. You may not think this was a conscious decision, but deciding not to insure a risk doesn’t make the risk go away. Of course, the third method is risk transference. We purchase insurance and in exchange for the premium we pay, we transfer the risk to our insurance company.

I hope I’m not insulting anyone’s intelligence with these very simple ideas, but the fact is the risks of flood are seriously underestimated by many. Here are some sobering statistics from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):

• Floods are the #1 natural disaster in the US.
• Each year in the US, floods causes billions in losses.
• Just one inch of water can cause severe damage to property.
• Most property insurance, including Builders Risk, does not automatically cover flood losses.
• 30% of all flood insurance claims are made in low to moderate risk areas.
• New construction can increase flood risk, especially if it changes natural runoff paths.
• Only about 5 million Americans have flood insurance. Millions more are either unaware of the their risk or don’t know the options available to them.

Now that you know more about the risk of flood, what about taking a good look at your risk? FEMA has a helpful website: www.floodsmart.gov. Here you can find out if your project is at risk. Then, give us a call at 866-454-2155 x2124 and ask for Allison Jefferies. If you already have Builders Risk with us, she can determine if flood insurance is available. Not insured with us, or looking for Builders Risk? We can help. Visit our website to learn more and to get a quote.

www.rwcinsuranceadvantage.com/products/builders-risk/

The RWC Insurance Advantage (RIA) program is offered exclusively to our builder members. Because of that, we are able to avoid the high risks associated with other
commercial operations. Thus, we keep the cost of claims low and pass the savings on to you.

866-454-2156 or info@rwcinsuranceadvantage.com.

By Doug Davis, EAIC / RWC Insurance Advantage

WHY DOES REMODELING MONTH MATTER?

POSITION YOUR BUSINESS FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT

• “What does a kitchen remodel actually cost in 2026?”
• “How long will my home be disrupted?”
• “Which upgrades give the best ROI?”

• Project timelines
• Unexpected challenges and how you solved them
• Client testimonials that speak to communication and reliability

• Promote limited booking windows
• Offer free consultations or design audits
• Highlight projects that can be completed before fall

• Energy-efficient windows and insulation
• Sustainable materials
• Electrification upgrades (heat pumps, induction cooking)

• Hybrid office/guest rooms
• Finished basements with flexible layouts
• Garage conversions and ADUs

• Curbless showers
• Wider doorways
• First-floor living conversions

MARKETING MOVES THAT ACTUALLY WORK

OPERATIONAL CHECK-IN

• Are your project timelines realistic?
• Is your pricing keeping up with material and labor costs?
• Is your team prepared for increased demand?