# Turn builder directories into a controlled record, not a trail of old facts

A builder citation is any public listing of your business name, address, phone and website: map services, the HBA directory, Parade listings, trade directories, general business directories. Inventory them. Fix first the ones that send a buyer to a dead phone, an old office or a private address. Track each correction until the public page shows it.

## Which citations matter to a custom builder?

Citations are not equal. Check whether a directory shows current information and gives visitors a working route to your site. Do not assume a directory type says anything about buyer readiness.

Put first the records that rank for your name, appear in map results, send referral traffic or carry details a buyer could act on. The goal is not the biggest directory count. The goal is accurate public records that connect to your owned site.

The [local presence hub](/articles/local-presence/) covers the profiles, maps and local pages around the citation system.

## How do you inventory listings without losing track?

Search the current business name, common misspellings, old names, former phone numbers and previous addresses. Add the owner, the login route and the correction method where known. Record what is visible before you change it, so the team can tell a missed listing from a platform delay.

### Use a working citation register

| Register field | What to capture | Why it matters |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Directory and URL | Exact public record | Prevents repeated searching |
| Displayed identity | Name, address, phone and website | Exposes conflicts that affect buyers |
| Context | Map, association, event, trade or general directory | Sets the review priority |
| Control | Owner, manager or no known access | Shows who can request a change |
| Status | Correct, stale, duplicate, pending or closed | Separates facts from work in progress |
| Destination | Linked owned page and tracking label | Preserves the inquiry path |

No passwords in the register. Keep access in the company password manager and use the register to name the account and the responsible person.

## What should you correct first?

Fix what sends a buyer to the wrong place or person. A dead phone line, a former office, an unrelated website or a duplicate map pin comes before a minor description difference. HBA and event listings move up the list before Parade weekends and model openings.

1. Retrieve the approved source sheet for name, address status, phone, website and service area.

2. Mark listings that can misroute a buyer or expose a private location.

3. Confirm which record the builder controls before requesting removals or merges.

4. Correct the [owned website](/process/owned-website/) and primary profiles first.

5. Submit directory changes through the supported channel.

6. Save confirmation details and mark the request pending.

7. Recheck the visible page instead of treating submission as completion.

Some directories offer few controls or keep old pages in their index. Write down the limitation. Do not invent a new address or create extra profiles to bury the old record.

The field-by-field source method is in [builder profile consistency](/articles/local-presence/builder-profile-consistency/). Map setup is in [Bing Places for builders](/articles/local-presence/bing-places-for-builders/).

## How should a directory correction request describe the business?

Identity facts match everywhere. Descriptions fit the directory's purpose and space. An HBA listing can discuss build type and service territory. An event page covers the house, visiting hours and directions. A map profile needs a short operating description and a useful website link.

### Keep project claims attached to their context

Do not turn a directory into a loose pile of model names, communities and features. Plan availability changes. Lots move through due diligence. A one-off allowance or owner selection is not a standard. Link buyers to an owned plan, community or process page you can update when the fact changes.

The [home builder SEO guide](/guides/home-builder-seo/) explains how owned pages carry the detail a short directory record cannot.

### Which association and event records need urgent corrections?

Association and event records come first when visitors will act on their hours, directions or contact details. Review the public profile, category, contact route, project description and media before the event opens. Afterward, update the temporary hours and visiting instructions and keep the project story on the owned site.

A directory link lands on the page that answers the next question. An event visitor needs the project page. A lot owner needs the build-on-your-lot process. A buyer comparing builders needs the specs, selections and [warranty pages](/guides/warranty-and-aftercare-pages/). Sending all of them to the homepage throws away known context.

The article on [HBA membership marketing value](/articles/local-presence/hba-membership-marketing-value/) shows how to turn a membership record into an accurate referral surface without overclaiming what membership proves.

## Who maintains the citation register after cleanup?

One owner, clear triggers. An office move, a phone change, a domain change, a new model, an event entry or a membership renewal creates a review task. Add a periodic check for unauthorized edits and listings that drifted back to old data.

Our agents search public records, compare fields and prepare a correction queue. People verify that each proposed fact matches current operations, handle account access and approve every submission. The [Search presence stage](/process/search-presence/) turns the inventory into a maintenance record you own, with [UTM parameters](/glossary/utm-parameters/) on each directory link so the inquiry source survives.

## Questions about builder citations and directories

### Do we need to be listed in every directory?

Prioritize builder directory records buyers can find, profiles tied to real memberships or events, and listings visible in map or branded searches.

### Must every description be identical?

Builder directory descriptions can suit each audience. Keep identity facts and operating claims consistent while changing the explanation for the directory context.

### What if a directory will not correct an old listing?

If a directory will not correct a builder listing, record the request, response and visible error. Keep controlled sources accurate and document the unresolved record.

### Can an outside vendor control the directory accounts?

The builder should retain directory account ownership and recovery methods. Give staff or vendors access matched to their maintenance responsibilities.