We won a 2012 Prism Award!
Homebuilders’ active participation in the Prism Awards isn’t a cinch that the Charleston real estate market is bouncing back. But every bit helps.
The awards, in its 24th year, honors the best efforts of national contractors, custom builders, remodelers and new-home sales associates throughout the year.
Nearly 50 builders and agents took part for 2012. That’s the highest mark in the past four years, says Andy Barber, vice president of the Charleston Trident Home Builders Association.
“It’s definitely a sign that the market is turning around some,” says Barber, who handles component sales at Builders FirstSource and is a principal in McClellan-Templeton LLC.
This year’s winners in 30 categories were revealed at a banquet Friday night at American Theater in Charleston. Close to 150 people were expected to attend.
The Prism Awards program, he says, is “a way our organization recognizes new home construction and the agents themselves.”
Among the 2012 winners, PulteGroup was the most prodigious, taking home a dozen prizes including nine of 11 in the media, sales and marketing categories. Other winners in the group were Sabal Homes and Dan Ryan Builders.
“Pulte did real well, especially in the sales and marketing (categories),” he says.
The company took home honors for each of its three divisions, Pulte Homes, Centex and Del Webb. It garnered wins in the Best Product – Single Family Houses division, Best in Sales Space and Best New Community, Scotts Creek in Mount Pleasant.
In addition, Ann Ivey of PulteGroup received the “Sales Manager of the Year” award.
Also winning among national homebuilders was Lennar for its Patrick III floor plan, which was named “Best Model Home.”
The association added one honor this year, Excellence in Innovation. According to Barber, the award was created to recognize Cat Five Houses of Charleston.
The company did not win an individual award, but the judges were impressed with its overall efforts such as standing behind its work in case of storms, he says. Cat Five is short for “Category Five”, the highest hurricane-force level.
Along with PulteGroup, multiple honorees included Neil Shepard of Carolina One New Homes for “Salesperson of the Year” and sales volume leader; JacksonBuilt Custom Homes and Saltwater Homes for two “Best Product – Single Family Houses” categories apiece; New Leaf Builders in “Best Product – Single Family Houses” and “Best Product Remodelers” categories; and Priester’s Custom Contracting LLC for “Excellence in Customer Service” and a “Best Product Remodelers” category.
Individual winners also included Citadel Enterprises Inc., Aqua Blue Pools and Structures Building Co.
Shepard topped 30 fellow associates in the 2012 Million Dollar Circle, made up of agents who post sales volume of more than $1 million. He was among six Carolina One New Homes associates in the Million Dollar Circle.
PulteGroup posted the most agents in the $1 million plus rung at 14. Otherswere Dan Ryan Builders, six; John Wieland Homes, two; and David Weekley Homes, Eastwood Homes and Lennar, one each.
Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.
