<p><span>Bovis Homes made “excellent operational progress” during 2018 with a record year of profits, it said today (February 28).</span></p> <p><span>During its full year ending December 31 2018, the housebuilder’s pre-tax profit rose 47.4% to £168.1 million against 2017, “ahead of market expectations”.</span></p> <p><span>Bovis said that it had achieved another controlled period end with legal completions up 3% to 3,759. Its affordable homes total of 1,192 represented 32% of its completions (2017: 29%).</span></p> <p><span>The average selling price of Bovis’ properties was broadly flat at £273,200 against 2017’s £272,400, with that for private homes lifting 1% to £337,400. Housing revenue improved 3% to £1,026.9 million.</span></p> <p><span> </span><span>The firm said that customer satisfaction had been “central to all that we have done this year” and it expects a four-star HBF customer satisfaction rating for 2018, a marked improvement on the two-stars of 2017.</span></p> <p><span> </span><span>During the first eight weeks of 2019, the company saw strong sales, increasing 15.7% to a rate of 0.58 sales per site per week against the previous year. Its forward sales represent 48% of consensus total 2019 revenues for the group, it said.</span></p> <p><span> </span><span>Greg Fitzgerald, Bovis’ ceo, said: </span><span>“</span><span>The group has made substantial progress operationally over the past …