During NETWORK2024 in Chicago last month, ASA released results of its recent Voice of the Builder Survey.

The new survey, executed in partnership with Sarasota, Florida-based Farmington Consulting Group and owner TJ O’Connor, queried builders across the country in the residential, multifamily, commercial and industrial sectors.

A sampling of the findings shows 61% of respondents traditionally own a majority of the properties they are building on, while 39% traditionally work for a larger entity, such as a developer. Ninety-one percent of respondents act as their own general contractor.

In terms of design, 49% of respondents have their own in-house designer, while 39% use an external designer. Fifty-eight percent of respondents purchase decorative fixtures themselves, while 35% have subcontractors purchase decorative fixtures. Eight-nine percent of respondents buy the majority of their decorative fixtures from wholesalers.

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With water heaters, 53% of respondents have their subcontractors purchase water heaters and 95% of respondents buy the majority of their water heaters from a wholesaler.

The average respondent regularly does business with two plumbing wholesalers. That number goes up to three with commercial/industrial builders.

In terms of most important factors to contractors when selecting a plumbing wholesaler to purchase from, product availability, price and relationships ranked as the top three.

The survey also dives in-depth into more product categories, as well as topics such as wholesaler incentive programs, builder budgets, brand preference factors, spec positions, plus builders’ outlooks for the next year.

How Can I Get A Copy?

If you helped ASA in any way with this survey, you will receive a complimentary copy for your firm. Otherwise, the survey is available for $99 for members and $599 for non-ASA members by contacting ASA Manager of Data and Market Intelligence Bri Baresel at bbaresel@asa.net.