New homes options now accessible online

New-home buyers now can go online and select various options for their new home with a new technology platform launched by a group of home builders and product manufacturers. The technology, Envision, is an industry-owned options management platform developed by New Home Technologies.

Home-product manufacturers have been entering product data into Envision's Product Manager for several months through XML feeds or an online interface. The data includes descriptions, features, styles, multimedia presentations and product manuals and warranties.

Meanwhile, builders have been feeding options data for their new-home communities and then using Envision Options Manager to link this data with information about specific products. Builders can organize options and create options packages and rules for communities.

Ten early-adopter builders from the consortium have already committed 50,000 homes to be a part of the program, and they will begin their initial roll out in various markets this spring. Participating builders include: Beazer Homes, Capital Pacific Holdings, David Weekley Homes, KB Home, Lennar Corporation, McGuyer Homebuilders, Morrison Homes, Standard Pacific Homes, Toll Brothers and Village Homes.

Participating manufacturers include: Georgia-Pacific, Hearth & Home Technologies, Honeywell, Kohler, Masco, Overhead Door, Owens Corning, Progress Lighting, Square D, Therma-Tru, Weyerhaeuser, Whirlpool Corporation, York International.

New Home Technologies is a joint venture subsidiary of Builder Homesite.

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