Exclusive Interview for "Ask the Expert", WPMI.com

In an exclusive interview for "Ask the Expert", WPMI.com spent some time with John Howard, founder of John Howard Companies, to gather information about building a new home.

John Howard Companies is considered one of the premier residential construction companies in the Mobile, AL area. Mobile is located near Alabama's Gulf Coast where the market for new residential homes has seen healthy growth over the past years. John has played a significant role in establishing a product that has nurtured the construction boom in the Mobile area. His insight into a few of the issues facing those purchasing or building a new home will clearly prove to be of value. Below are some excerpts from the interview:

Q. Mr. Howard, how many years have you been in the home building business?
Over 40 years.

Q. Over that 40-year period, how many homes have you built?
We average 90 to 100 homes per year so over the 40-year period approximately 4000+ homes.

Q. Do you have a basic business philosophy or vision that accounts for your success over the 40 years you have been in the home building business?
Quality construction, true customer service, and providing value to our customers are the keys to success for our business. And I think that is true for most any business. When I started the company 40 years ago, I began with a basic philosophy of serving the customer well by building a superior quality home no matter what the size of the home. It is a simple but powerful formula: stand behind your product and serve your customers. We build to satisfy the expectations of our customers, and we stay with them after the sale. The majority of our work comes from referrals of past customers. I think that speaks for itself.

Q. We understand the vast majority of your homes feature natural gas, why?
First and foremost, our customers prefer natural gas. Natural gas provides a high degree of comfort and reliability at a very low cost. As an example, gas water heaters operate efficiently and have faster recovery times. That's an advantage to the homeowner who needs hot water quickly say for a large family with demands from appliances such as the dishwasher, washer, or family showers.

Gas heating units typically provide higher temperature duct air, so customers will be comfortable on cold days. There won't be disappointments down the road on those cold days when there is increased demand on the heating system.

Gas equipment also has the added benefit of reliability. Water heaters and ranges don't require electricity, so they can be used in the event of a power outage. Gas heating units have longer operational lives and require less maintenance. Customers are aware of these benefits, so the product is in demand in the new construction home.

Q. Do you use natural gas in your home Mr. Howard?
We have every gas appliance available in my home. My wife wouldn't cook on anything but a natural gas range. What I personally enjoy is the quick response of a natural gas furnace, especially when you're getting out of bed on a cold winter morning.

Q. I've also noticed that you are using gas logs in your new homes instead of wood burning fireplaces, why?
Customers want the convenience and cleanliness of gas logs. With the easy to use new generation gas fireplaces that can be operated with the flip of a switch, people just don't want to deal with firewood anymore. Firewood is costly, it needs storage area, not to mention the hassles with soot on the carpet and window dressings. Gas logs are just so much more convenient and practical. Natural gas logs are one of our most popular and most requested features.

Q. Mr. Howard you've been a successful builder for the past 40 years. It's clear that you've preferred using natural gas over those years. What about the future; what do you see evolving in the industry in the coming decades?
The building industry and customer preferences are constantly changing. New and more efficient products are constantly being introduced for use in the home. The homebuilder and those supplying the industry will have to stay in touch with the changing expectations of the customer to be successful. The new home customer has more information now than ever before. This creates a more informed client, so it is essential for anyone in the business to stay in tune with new technologies and methods for home building. Gas industry products are keeping pace with the changing demands of the new home customer. But the thing that hasn't changed over the years that I believe will remain constant in the future is the reliability, comfort, and value of natural gas. Those things will always be important to any homeowner.

For more information on home energy use, and conservation visit: Energy South or Mobile Gas.

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