Custom Builders - 03/30/2007 (Plain Text Version)

Alex Hannigan,
Chair, Custom Home Builders Committee

Welcome to the New Custom Home Building Quarterly

Spring means new growth, deep cleaning, and a breath of fresh air, so we're clearing out the old NAHB newsletter for custom builders and bringing you this new one ... with a new look!
We've got a new design that's not only beautiful, but more functional and easier to read. Now we're asking professionals like you to get involved in keeping this quarterly newsletter on top of the design trends, building techniques, and business management practices that help custom home building businesses remain vibrant and profitable.

You could probably write a book about your experiences building one-of-a-kind homes for demanding clients, right? Well, we're not asking for the next great American novel, just your input and ideas for what you think ought to be covered in a quarterly newsletter especially for custom builders. And, of course, we welcome short articles. Click here for writer's guidelines and e-mail your ideas and articles to customeditor@nahb.com.

Then, read on for more ideas about how you can participate in NAHB's programs designed specifically for custom home builders, including how to submit a proposal for an education session at the 2007 Custom Builder Symposium, Oct. 26-28, in sunny Naples, FL.

Explore Hidden Treasures at 2007 Symposium

Naples Grande

Resort and Club
The Custom Builder Symposium is a once-a-year opportunity for you to attend the best educational event designed for custom builders by custom builders! Year-after-year this leading event is the one place custom builders like you go for world-class education, exceptional networking opportunities and fun-filled activities.

Here's just a sample of what you'll experience at the 2007 Custom Builder Symposium at the Naples Grande Resort & Club:

Golf tournament and 19th Hole Awards Event
Home tour of exclusive custom homes in the Naples area
Welcome reception sponsored by CertainTeed
World-class education programs that give you the tools and knowledge you need to improve your profitability
NAHB Custom Home Builder of the Year Award dinner ceremony sponsored by Dryvit Systems, Inc.
Roundtables, sponsored by CBUSA, to discuss ways of handling issues, solving problems and improving your business
Plus ... more fun and exciting networking opportunities with custom builders from all over the country!

To be notified when registration opens and for more information on this year's Custom Builder Symposium, click here. [return to top]

Last Chance to Submit Proposals for Education Sessions

Do you have expert advice on sales & marketing, construction management, or other aspects of business development and management you would like to share with custom home builders? If so, don't miss the chance to propose an education session for the 2007 Custom Builder Symposium, Oct. 26-28, in Naples, FL.

Proposals must be submitted through NAHB's online system by April 5.

Participants rate the symposium as one of their best business investments of the year, and one reason is the sought-after education sessions. That's because while hundreds of worthy proposals are received each year, they undergo a rigorous evaluation by a committee of custom home builders, and only a few are chosen for the final program.

Selections are based on relevance to the custom home building industry, timeliness of the topic, practical application, and speaker qualifications.

To read more about the proposal process and submit, click here. [return to top]

Help Custom Builders Remember You: Become a Sponsor

Looking for an opportunity to connect with builders one-on-one in a more intimate setting than a large trade show floor? The Custom Builder Symposium is the ideal place for you to demonstrate your leadership in the industry by participating as a sponsor.

The symposium offers more than a dozen opportunities for sponsorship, each with its own unique array of benefits. All sponsors have an unparalleled opportunity to network with symposium participants throughout the three-day event.

For more information on sponsorships, contact Grante Wright at 800-368-5242 x8051. [return to top]

Are You the Next NAHB Custom Home Builder of the Year?

2006 Custom Home Builder Committee Chair Dave Stormont (left) with the first NAHB Custom Home Builder of the Year Award winner, Paul Magleby

Everyone likes to be recognized for a job well done—especially when the accolades come from the people you most admire and respect. That's why the Custom Home Builders Committee created the NAHB Custom Home Builder of the Year Award last year.

Sponsored by Dryvit Systems Inc., the award gives members an opportunity to say thanks to one of our own for helping to elevate the profession of fine home building.

If you, or someone you know, is worthy of the title in 2007, go online to www.nahb.org/customaward to get more information about how to nominate someone and to be notified when the call for entries goes out. [return to top]

Free Content Available for Your Consumer Communications

The latest edition of NAHB HouseKeys, a free consumer e-newsletter, is now available.

NAHB member companies are invited to use non-bylined content in NAHB HouseKeys to repurpose and customize for their consumer outreach projects, including Web sites, newsletters, or magazines. NAHB provides a graphic that can be posted on your own Web site or in print products to promote NAHB HouseKeys as a free benefit for consumers.

This month’s issue includes advice from Kenneth R. Harney, an award-winning, nationally syndicated real estate columnist, on searching for a new home.

"Leverage is one of the key differences between buying a house and buying stocks or bonds," says Harney. "Flat or down markets, in fact, may well be the best times for buying a first house. Prices tend to be lower and more affordable. Home builders and sellers tend to be more willing to negotiate, and mortgage rates—like today’s—often are lower than during high-inflation periods."

Also in this issue, learn which simple household products can bring green to a home, and check out the latest and greatest in our green photo gallery.

In addition, the issue explores steps for finding the perfect builder; an insider's look at the International Builders’ Show; reducing heating and cooling costs while getting tax credits; avoiding household headaches; and the organic and eco-friendly architecture of the Southwest.

To view the complete issue, click here.

Members are encouraged to submit general, consumer-focused feature stories for consideration for this new publication and share NAHB HouseKeys with their e-mail list of consumers. The e-newsletter is an opt-in only product, meaning the public has to subscribe to receive it. To subscribe or view back issues, visit www.nahb.org/housekeys. For more information on leveraging this free resource with your consumers, contact Niki Clark at nclark@nahb.com. [return to top]

Biz Forms and Checks Will Increase Your Efficiency

Biz Forms and Checks is the newest Member Advantage participating company, qualifying NAHB members for a huge discount on some of the most important tools in a contractor or builder’s toolbox.

Biz Forms and Checks is offering NAHB Members:

A 30% DISCOUNT ON EVERY ORDER
100 FREE Proposal Forms (item #SNP-11) with your first order
The chance to win a $500 Home Depot® Gift Card. Every NAHB member who places an order is automatically entered in the contest. Three $500 Gift Cards will be awarded on June 15, 2007
Free printing of logos on the forms and checks

Biz Forms and Checks has commonly used forms, including standard and remodeling proposal forms, weekly time records, non-computerized forms, and other forms and checks that work with the most popular accounting programs, such as QuickBooks®, Quicken®, Peachtree™, or MYOB®.

Go to http://www.bizformsandchecks.com to place an order and see the complete line of compatible products, or call 866-849-4374 to speak to a customer care specialist.

One of the most popular benefits of NAHB membership, Member Advantage gives you an easy way to reduce expenses, maximize profits and increase efficiency. Through agreements with 15 national companies, NAHB members can receive discounts on a variety of products and services that can benefit your business, employees and family.

For the latest updates, visit www.nahb.org/MA. [return to top]

Buy Now Advertising Assistance

NAHB's Board of Directors in February approved a total of $3 million for a grant program aimed at helping local home builders associations boost home sales in markets hit hard by the current housing downturn and to help offset the cost of local ad campaigns.

NAHB will evaluate the effectiveness of the program after the first $1 million in grants is put to work by local associations. If it is determined that the local ad campaigns have been successful, then the remaining $2 million will be made available in grants to qualifying HBAs.

The NAHB “buy now” ad assistance program provides grants to qualifying HBAs in three different categories:

HBAs conducting ad campaigns in the top 10 media markets can receive assistance for up to one-third of the total cost of the campaign, with a maximum NAHB contribution of $75,000. In other words, an HBA conducting a campaign costing $225,000 could receive a $75,000 contribution from NAHB and cover the remaining $150,000.
HBAs with more than 250 members operating in areas outside of the top 10 major media markets would qualify for matching grants up to a maximum of $40,000 and be required to pay for at least half the cost of the campaign.
HBAs with 250 or fewer members would qualify for grants of up to $5,000.

To qualify for grants, the ads must deliver a “buy now” message and be placed in 2007. Funding is for campaigns in markets that have experienced a major decline in home sales and housing production.

NAHB has approved requests from 38 HBAs totaling $932,429. The total costs of these campaigns run nearly $3,500,000. Other HBAs are encouraged to apply now for funding that may become available after the evaluation period, as applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received.

To learn more about the program, eligibility considerations, and requirements, click here (www.nahb.org/buynowapplication), or contact Niki Clark at 800-368-5242 x806l. [return to top]