Texas Association of Builders
Summer 2002 to Summer 2003

 

"This House Checks Out" Building Standard Initiative

In unprecedented action, the membership of the Texas Association of Builders—both volume and custom builders, subcontractors, suppliers and providers of professional services—came together to fund the Building Standards Task Force.  The goals of the Task Force were (1) to create a mechanism wherein both the consumer and the homebuilder are treated fairly to resolve differences through an equitable dispute resolution process rather than be tied up in costly litigation for years; and (2) to create residential building guidelines for the State of Texas without putting in place more governmental red tape that results in bureaucratic boondoggles.

 Factors

• Texas accounted for 70 percent of all mold insurance claims nationwide, while we made up only 8 percent of America’s population.  In fact, our state was home to the largest jury award ever, at that time, to a homeowner for mold-water damages, causing trial lawyers to stir the political waters contrary to our interests.
• About 70 percent of Texas realtors were reporting delayed closings because buyers could not get adequate insurance.
• The Democratic candidate for Governor had just spent $70 million of his own money in his campaign that was, in part, a crusade against homebuilders.
• Well-funded and organized homeowner groups were crafting aggressive legislative agendas based on emotions and expensive requirements rather than science and reason.
• There was an aura of fear and hysteria created by the uninformed media. Texas accounted for 70 percent of all mold insurance claims nationwide, while we made up only 8 percent of America’s population.
• TAB’s leadership was forced to move quickly to persuade political candidates and office holders at all levels not to over react to the pressure of a few, fueled by the media.

Agency Role

Pavlik-Valdez Public Strategies Consulting headed up the internal and external communications components of this state-wide initiative.  Our responsibilities included:

• Development of an overall theme for the program—This House Checks Out.
• Design and production of all collateral materials including media kits, newsletters, etc.
• Development of an informational campaign with the media, including the drafting and distribution of news releases and opinion page articles for newspapers statewide.
• Development of power point presentations for TAB membership meetings and community groups.
• Crisis management when opposition groups went to the media with inaccurate information.

Results

• Even though the political and business stakes were high, the Texas Association of Builders proved that, armed with facts and strategically-developed relationships, the homebuilding industry can overcome obstacles and create a builder-friendly environment.
• Homebuilders and remodelers now register with the newly-created Texas Residential Construction Commission.  As mandated by HB 730 which TAB drafted and pushed through the Legislature, the Commission is adopting building performance standards, provide dispute resolution in circumstances of conflict, track and discipline bad builders, certify arbitrators and file arbitration awards.
• Furthermore, the public will become much more aware of how builders are really their advocates through statewide media coverage of the Commission and the builders who are committed to helping the process work.