in volume from the other builders in your more conventional markets and we have seen an increase,” he said. “Our two biggest markets are Fayetteville and Jacksonville and they have been a huge part of the reason.” Overhauling their products to entry
level and big box value lines has also benefited Caviness & Cates. “A lot more of our communities and house plans now are strategically placed to where we can compete with the resales,” Cates said. “We’re also doing a lot of value building, which is offering a large amount of square feet for a low dollar per square foot amount.” Entry level homes with open floor
plans have been appealing to customers, Cates said. “We do it based on entry level, just trying to offer a home that people can afford,” he said. “People once had to buy resales because there was no new construction at that price. Now we can offer a product that people can have. That gives them a new home with new warranties, its Energy Star rated and we can produce it at a low dollar per square foot.”
Energy Star ratings are a tremendous
plus for Caviness & Cates homes, producing homes that are approximately 30 percent more efficient than five years ago, Cates said. Other elements have made the homes attractive. “Most of the homes have vinyl siding,
which is very low-maintenance” Cates said. “We try to put hardly any wood on the exterior so customers don’t have to maintain that.” In business since 1999, Caviness &
Cates is appreciative of its customers, many of them active duty military, and gives back to the community through the Homefront Project and other military charities. “We’re very blessed to be in Fayetteville and we feel a need to give back to the community, because it is the reason we are in the top 100,” Cates said. “There’s no doubt.”CV To view H&H Homes and Caviness &
Cates Communities’ listings for the last two years, log onto: ht tp://www.bui lderonl ine.com/ business/builder-100/.
34 | November • 2010
