Keystone Homes has selected MARK SYSTEMS’ Integrated Homebuilder Management System (IHMS) to ensure that everybody involved in the building process will have access to the information necessary to get their job done in an efficient manner. The company, one of North Carolina’s largest privately owned builders, produces roughly 225 units per year. Their product mix includes entry-level and move-up single-family detached homes as well as townhomes in some of the Triad’s most valued communities such as Brassfield Meadows, Brightwood Landing and Laurel Ridge. Keystone, known for their quality craftsmanship and affordable prices, wanted to instill the same high quality into all areas of their company including technology. By selecting MARK SYSTEMS’ IHMS they have committed to an intuitive tool that can dynamically leverage existing effort to make everyone’s job easier.

Locals Scott Wallace and Mark Michael founded Keystone Homes in 1987 to provide the area’s homebuyers with exceptional quality and service at an affordable price. Their knowledge of the area has given them a leg up over the national companies who have attempted to be the primary builders in the area. The only thing they felt a national company might have over them was the technology to automate key tasks and provide a buyer with real time updates on their home. Though they were currently involved in a lengthy implementation of MasterBuilder for accounting construction management, Scott and Mark felt they would outgrow the package quickly and wanted to bring that aspect of their business into the mainstream. The possibility of adding onto their current system was nixed quickly as it would require unnecessary micromanagement between multiple databases. Their software review started in February 2007 at the IBS show, and since MasterBuilder was finally up and running, they were well aware of the downfalls of a builder specific package. They wanted to know the inside and out of the next package they were to purchase, stating that it would be their last.

After meeting with MARK SYSTEMS and a few other software developers at the 2007 IBS, the team had narrowed down their list to 3 possibilities with hopes come up with one easy choice as they conducted their review. After evaluating IHMS, they noted a number of things that differentiated the system from the others, namely true single-database management of all modules. While speaking with a number of local IHMS users, the team found out that some were actually in their own Builder 20 Group. Scott and Mark, having been burned in the past, started to look diligently for the pros and cons of utilizing IHMS for the following 6 months. They visited a similar size builder in Charlotte who utilized the system, and saw first hand the competitive advantage to be had having complete communication facilitate higher production value and lower overhead. Satisfied that the program would deliver as advertised, the owners were happy to sign the proposal and are currently looking forward to timely installation.

MARK SYSTEMS’ Integrated Homebuilder Management System is the industry’s finest software package developed exclusively for residential builders and developers. Fully integrated from Sales Traffic Analysis through Contract Management, Cost Accounting and Warranty and Customer Service, the software provides state-of-the art information processing tools for the homebuilder, including access via the Internet. With thousands of users at residential builders throughout the country, MARK SYSTEMS software will help manage the construction of over 50,000 homes in 2008.

For more information, contact us at 800-972-7444, or visit us online at www.marksystemsUSA.com.