Home Centers' Biggest Gustomers: Recent Home Buyers

Proving for the first time what conventional wisdom has long held, a new study finds that a majority of homeowners make improvements to their homes within the first year of purchase. Many consumers also make improvements to their previous homes to prepare them for sale.

Kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms are the most likely interior spaces to be improved in both newlybuilt and existing homes. Owners of newly-built homes are also likely to do landscaping projects.

The Home Improvement Research Institute study found that 527o of recent home buyers had completed one or more home improvements within the first year of purchase, and half were planning at least one more project within the next year. The most frequently purchased products include paints and sundries, lumber and building materials, and floor coverings.

Overall, recent home buyers spent more than $4,900 during the first year. Buyers of older homes spent an aver- age of $3,600, while those who bought new homes spent an average of $7,000. Owners of older homes most frequently cited a desire or need to replace worn-out or old materials, while owners of new construction were most often seeking to beautify the house. Purchases of both types of homes reported that they did improvements to support new features and change the decor.

About 407o of respondents who sold a home prior to this purchase said that they made improvements to their previous home to get it ready to sell. The most common improvements prior to sale are interior painting. exterior structural improvements, new flooring, interior structural improvements and replacing cabinetry and countertops. The most frequently improved rooms are kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms.

"The vast majority of homeowners said they believed that the money spent on improvements to their previous home was compensated by the increased value," said Fred Miller, HIRI managing director, noting that homeowners spent an average of $4,800 to improve homes before sale.

Purchasers of existing homes are more likely to paint interior spaces, replace or repair flooring, do electrical wiring, and install new lights and appliances. Owners of new construction are more likely to landscape and build patios or decks.

Not surprisingly, owners of existing homes have completed and are planning more improvements than owners of new construction. As noted, however. owners of new construction spend more on their improvements. "New home buyers were more likely to hire contractors, which at least partially explains the higher average spending," Miller said.

He noted that purchasers of newlybuilt homes had a higher average household income than those who purchased older homes, increasing the likelihood that more high-priced products would be purchased.

Overall, contractors are involved in about one-third of projects done to newly-purchased homes and nearly half of the projects completed in previous homes prior to sale. Homeowners most frequently used contractors who had done previous work for them or who were recommended by family and friends. About lO'.i ol thc plo.jccts incluclc-cl ittstrr llcr'. ltttrtt httrttc i rrrpror cment rctri lcrs. llcgalcllcss ol 1lrolcssional irtr,oIr crncrlt. cottsLllltct'\ nrost olten prrrclutsctl tlte prtlclr,tcts. Holttc Dcpot lrrltl l-ou c's tverc citctl lrs sotlrce for ltlrortt tltrcc-qltitrtct-s ol' tlrosc pLrfcnlrscs.

Most cortsLrrttct's siticl ther ttscrl trrttrtct fltttt't sltvittgs ttr lxry lbl thcir rcccnt pro.jects. lltosc u lto lturchltsctl crisl ins homcs \\'crc nr()rc likcll to r,rsc thcif sar iltgs lf l(, ) than pulchuscls ol ncu'ly-built horttcs 16t)('i ).

[-ess thun l0(i ot hclnrc [rur,ct-s usccl ct'cclit eltr-tls to pltr lirl inrpror cnlcnts: l'.i sairl thcr usccl rrtlnct lirrtt lt lolttt of e\ccs\ nt()r-tgag.c lllollc\

$mftwmre Fr*vfr ders [Vler**

Agilisr s Irtc.. Atluntlt. (i1.. has accltr ir.ctl NrTlcrtcl 'l'ce hnrtlitqr. Inc.. C-oltlt'lttlo Sltrin,'s. Citt.

'l hc ucc;uisitioti crpuntls AgiIisys' cristirt!. * ltolcsaletlistr-ibLrtion capabi l it ics urttl prot iclcs lttt ol)l)r)t lLltl it\ t( ) cstublish thc conrLrincrl eontpunr as it globul lcltlcl in thc rlistlibution sotirr lrr-c rnlrrkct. Firtartciul rlctltils ol the cleal \\'crc r)o[ disckrsccl.

"l;or over tu,'o rlct'lrclcs. NrTrcrtrl Itts bcctt ()11 the t()fc lrrrnt o1' tlcvclopinr clistlibution sltccrlic l'.lll) artcl sLrpplr cltlrin nranaqcnrcrtt solutiotts." saicl .l irtr Sclrirpcr'. chltirrttlttr lunrl c.c.o. of ,'\gilisr s. "The'ir irrttor"lttilc soltttictns. tlctli cutctl tcitr.t.t ol cnrplor ccs. ancl lor ul cttstotttcf basc w'ill bc strong asscts ls uc contirlLrc t() c\l)ittt(l irt tlrc urotr"irtg tlis tribtttiott solltt ;11.' rtlrt kcl."

"Agilis,v-s is rt u or'lcl-class ittsltrtizlttiott rr ith thc globlrl irtl'rirstructurc urtil f inancilrl tcitelt ttt help N.''l'rerltl strcnsthcrt its learlcrslrip l)osilion in tltc rr holcsalc' distrilttr tion inclustrr." saicl Mikc Colnell. \r llcrrtl cltaitrttlttr ltrttl c.c.r). "Oul custorncls ri'ill bcrre lit lirttt ittct'u-asetl ittr cst ntcnts in proclttct ilcvcltt;ltttcttl utttl crptttttlccl resoLttue s.'NrTrcnrl \cr'\c\ ()\cr lt)(X) cotttPltttics u'ith 90.()(X) Lrsct s in sr,rch irrtlLrstlics u: buililing nrirtclillls. elcctricul. lttttl plunrbingr'lrclitinq lir conrlit ionin:'.

June 10 when 5-unit John H Myers I Son, York Pa.. del vered donated lumber, insulation and other building materrals to remode a home rn Wyomiss ng Pa. The footage will air on the Sept 13 prem ere episode aI Hone Delivery. a home improvement reality show with a charitable ttv st The rernodeling effort \tras needed to expand living space and accommodate l';hat s nour a fami y of 1O-parents Jonathan and Kate Gosseiin, a set of tril ns, and infant sextuplets

I-inally, an easy way to install Hardwood Decki ng Pre-Grooved for EB-TY 1x4, 1x6, 5/4 x 4, 514 x 6,2x4, 2x6, and 2x8. In stock: lpe, Jatoba, Massaranduba, Cambara, Cumaru, Cedar, and Redwood.

Specially designed EB-TY also available for the high expansion/contraction of composite decking.

.Interior Hardwood flooring in 3", 4" and 5" as well as custom lengths and widths from Teak to Tigerwood. Porch Flooring with micro bevel.

. Stock rail profiles and custom milling available upon request. Turned Balusters up to 6x6.

Home Depot Buying Batch Of Kmarts

I)iscount lctailcl Kntart. cLlrfcr)tly ()pcrating urrclcl tlutknlptcv ;rrolcction. has solcl as ntan\ us fJ st()rcs t() Hotne Deltitt irr irn cf tort l() tLu'n lr profit.

I)cpot has agleecl to ltiry 5i3(r5 nrillion lor tlie storcs anrl l,ill alul()r.urcc thc locatiolt of its rre ri sites u,ithirr thc ncrt 60 clur s irs rt

Star Expands In Kansas

Star Lunrbcr'& Srrpplr C-o. agrcctl to purcl'nsc Kunsus I'iLrilcline Sult;tlt. \\'ie Itita. Ks.. br .lurrLrtrr'1,' 2(X)-5. lnr.cntorv antl ctlLriPnrcnt t ill hc purl ol' tl-tc purchlsc. lr: ri cll us tltc rccor.lnls rcccirablc ol KIlS.

In thrcc rcars. Stlll LLr ntbcr u ill lrur c ircclr-rire(L nir)c \lorcs. rne luding Kunsus Qualitr Hurrlriootl. Wichita. (iluntl Opcnints Winrlorr, & I)oor'.

Wiclritl: Ovclhcacl [)ool' urrrl Lusco

B r ic k. W ic h itii: Iirrr yr i lc C'u rpc- t ('lcuning. Wichita: l- & (' l;looring. Sulinlr. Ks.. unrl Bostcr I-urnbcr Co.. Sal nu.

KllS loLrlrclcr.lt,r VosbLr lqh u,ls intcrcstcrl in sclling lris strlrc to ir nrttlti Lrnit chuin partlv to inelcusc tltc

*orks nith landlorcls arrtl ntunicipirlitics. Durin-g that tintc. [)epot

* ill rlctcrnrinc rvlticlt ol'thosc

:tote s rt ill hc bcrt lirl tont r'r'ritrlt irt l(X)5.

At auction Iast I car'. Horrrc Dcpot purchuscrl 15 Krnurts riltilc clistributiorr ol Horizon \\'inrlorl s. r"'hiclt alc prrrlrrcctl br his o(hcl eont punr'. \'o: \\'inrlorr & [)oor'('o..

Lou c's rr on tltc bicl on l'ivc storcs.

Kunslts Cilr. Ks. \'osbursh lrnrl r.;t. Stcr c- Stccbr urc crpcctcd [o stu\' ()r) lrl tcr the acrlLrisition.

Stur is lorikirrs lil' othcl erllrnsion opprlrtunities irr Wcstcl'n Kansus. [rrrt hirs rro inrnreclialc plans to crltancl out sitlc ol the stutc.

Fire Levels Hardwood DC

,\ lir.c ut a Wvonrirrq. Mi.. lLrntber' rr ulcltorrsc sl'tot flarncs tlurt u crc visi, blc lol scvcn milcs. dcslr-Lrr inc the bLrilrling.

Thc Niur l5 bllzc itt \ KW Haltlrr oorls. locatcd ncrt to u IIontc Dcpot. look :ir trr-rcks altrl tlo ltoLrrs to extinguish. ultlrorrglt lr.rnrbcl still srtrolrlcrccl. 'l'hc rror-thcrn sc.ction ol tltc lool collapsecl. bLrl lLrckilr llo onc \\ lrs insidc tlre- bLriltling.

I;ilcliqhtcrs ufc still (lctcf tninins thc cllusc ol thc firc. arrtl rlarnages alc cstinlutc(l to bc in thc hLurrlreds ol t ltrtttsurttls ol' cl<tl lars. 'l'hc rr'holesitlcf irlso ()l)cnrtes l sal rrill lncl drr kilns.

Minnesota Dealer Adds #3 'l crrr \\'lltnlrn. o\\ncr ol'Ii.ochcstL-r Lunrl)cr'1'trr-rls in Ilochcstcr urrtl Lakc ('it1'. Mn.. boLrght a llrir.rl r artl irr lnid-.lunc urrtl pllrns to reol)clt thc slofc unclcl lr nc\\ nlulc rr ith a ncrl lircus. \\raltntrrr l)orrsht [-anrbct-t's. Stcl rurn illc'. \1n.. urrtl pluns to t'copcn it Ltnclc-r thc nunrc IiLrilrlcr"s Choicc. rr itlr lr rtcr filcus ()n contnlctot's. -['hc l-lrkc C'lt\ \tol'c also ri'ill bc renarrrcrl to llLriklcr"s C'lroicc.

Anrong Wlltnlrrr's ltllns are con stlLrcting it larscr-hrrrltlirrg in Stenlrrl r illc's nc'u intlLrstlill ylrrk n ithin thc ncrt sir nronth:. Hc ltluns tcl atltl 10.(X)0 srl. tt. to thc builclirrg to triltlc thr' sizc of the busincss. tlntil hc is lblc lo tlo so. Wlllnran is lcusin. tltc currcnt lrrcilitr.

Bcckr Nlontl is st()fc lnlnugcf.

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41 2-665-2500 . Fax 4',2-365-2042

INK-JET, ETCHING, CONTACT PRINTING, INDENTING

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Rick Hogue has been promoted to v.p.-marketing and western region engineered sales at Krauter Storage Systems, Indianapolis, In.

Gary Whitford, ex-Central Michigan Lumber/Wolohan Lumber. has been hired as a sales and purchasing specialist of S-P-F and OSB at Mauk Midwest Forest Products. Lansing, Mi.

Carl Liliequist has been promoted to executive v.p.-sales and operations for Huttig Building Products, St. Louis, Mo.

Dave Wells, ex-Carter Lumber, has been named store mgr. at Schreiber Lumber Co., Greensburg, In. Doug Boykin is the new v.p.-finance and administration at Columbus Lumber Co., Brookhaven, Ms.

Steven M. Anthony has been appointed president of Anthony Timberlands Inc., Bearden, Ar. His father, John Ed Anthony, continues as chairman.

Jeff Wolf is now engineered systems mgr. for Biewer Lumber, St. Clair, Mi.

John Scharfenberg, ex-Universal Forest Products, has joined Conner lndustries, Hogansville, Ga., as regional production mgr. Scott Jones has been promoted to plant mgr. and Bill Werner is new to sales in Chester. Va.

Jim Schmidt is a new outside regional sales representative covering the mid-Atlantic states for TLC Mouldings, Pawleys Island, S.C.

Danny Lyons, ex-Roberts & Dybdahl, has joined Seneca Wholesale, operating a new wholesale/distribution operation in Overland Park, Ks.

Mitch DiMond has been promoted to director of traditional retail sales at Liberty Hardware Manufacturing Corp., Winston-Salem, N.C.

Christy Chacanias is the new marketing mgr. at Precision Architectural Products, North Largo, Fl.

Alicia "Lee" Danek is retiring as office mgr. after 34 years with L.R. McCoy, Worcester, Ma.

Ned Guilbeau, recently retired from Lafayette Woodworks, Lafayette, La., and Dave McGraw, recently recently retired from Kimball & Russell,Wixom, Mi., are new consultants for WoodWare Systems, Memphis, Tn.

Tonya Charles has been named contractor events coordinator for 84 Lumber Co., Eighty Four, Pa. Shirley Mascetta is now a collections clerk and Elaine Molesky an assistant credit operator. Erik Budgett is a new mgr. trainee in Mineral Wells. W.V. Bruno Carl Friske and Mike Ray are mgr. trainees in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Courtney Hooper is a new inventory mgr. in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Lee T. Alford has been named senior v.p.-residential wood products at Weyerhaeuser Co. William R. Corbin was appointed executive v.p.-industrial wood products and international.

Robert F. Hutt Jr. has been promoted to executive v.p. and chief financial officer for Lowe's Cos., Mooresville, N.C.

Peter Dachowski has been named president and c.e.o. of CertainTeed, Valley Forge, Pa.

Thomas Shuman, ex-Royal Building Products, has joined Royal Crown

Ltd.. Milford. In.. as district sales mgr. for the Southeast territory, covering Tx., La., Al., Ms., Ar., Ca. and Fl. He is based in Plano, Tx.

Mark Young, Arauco Wood Products, Atlanta, Ga., was elected president of the Wood Moulding & Millwork Producers Association.

Susan Katz has been named director of corporate events for TruServ Corp.

Laine Weaver is a new truck driver at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., report owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

(Please turn to next page)

The Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association (SLMA) represents over 2AA independendy owned wood products manufacturers throughout the Southeastern United States. Members of the association produce 1.4 billion board feet of quality hardwood arid softrvood products annually. For a complimentary copy o{ SLMA's 2004 Menbership Directory, cill (800) 789-7562 or log on to www.slma. r olg.

A full product mix is available at our mills located in Mississippi and Louisiana. Random lengths of 8' to 24' can be mixed with 2x4 thru 2x12 dimensions. Available grades include DSS, #l , #2, and #3. Mix your truck or railcar with any of the items we produce and turn your inventories faster. Call today to speak to one of our friendly representatives about pricing and availability.

CONGRATULATIONS: f"r#t $t."rI q,l i :"; (( tut/ittttttl f)otit l)t(\i()t{\ l)(t\(')

Jcl't' Waite is thc ncrv storc llsr.. ol' NJc(lor's llLrilclirrg t us naruccl Cl rctl it L,rccLrtir.'c of tltc Ye-ar br thc National Association ol' ('r'eclit Munascntcnt. l)erck Wesle.r' Hall \\ls scntcncecl br a Ll.S. District Clourt l)aniel l-. (lust. Z lltrlcln arc ('o.. [rlgirr. ll.. rias rc clcctccl to Aec Hirlrlrrarc's boultl of clircctors. r\nne NIaric tsobcrg \, as rtatncrl Lr )rl)r )r'rrlc t on t |n trr.t it ut i, rrts nt gr. tbr Acc. Natalie I)anaher \\its prontotecl to ltublic rclations su1-rcrr isor. .lack Herr. cx-MiL ir.rtcnlne e War.chor.rsc. uncl Nlartha,lohnson. cr N,lcrlltjil l-anrlseupirrr: ('olp.. ure ncl harcllincs nlgrs. in Acc's [-BNI rlcoaltrlcnt.

Srrpplr' ('cntcr'. (iaincsr ille. 'l'r. A1 Sun NIrrleo. 'l'r..

Hcl .. Dau n I'aris. Itunurrt rcsourccs fielcl sLr ppot-t. rcccntl\ curnccl ccftificiltion as lr l)rotr.ssional irr Hr-rnlrn I{csourccs. ancl \ita Yogcl. cor'Poratc collecti,lr\ ntor..

-jLrrluc to sclvc (r0 nr()nths irr prison lirl sctting l'ilc last suntnrcl' to t\\/o HorDe [)c1-rot sto|cs in lllrltitl'd ('0untr. Mtl.

'l'heoclore "Tetldl'" \'oung. folnrer crnltlolcc of Itluh<r 'l'inrbcl Co.. I.lrkc Cit,i. Fl.. lus arrcstccl in (iainesr illc. lrl.. tirr ullcgcrlly lcacling a locul luntbcf thcft r ing.

.f ort-N'lichael .fohnson \\'lr\ urrcstc(l on sr-rslticion of scttine

1 ire to ir n ublndoncrl plarrl at ll'l'lanrl l.urnbcr'. Torlington. Ct. /,rcc Mrn'. 1t. 5 | ).

Jeffrel'l,obb. gcrrcral nrqr.. ('untelon's Truc Valuc. Orlirrcl. [)u.. nus lronorctl as Tt'uSen,'s Yt]Lrnq Retailcr' ol the Ycar.

T1'lcr Riggs has .joirrccl Vitginia Tcch's C'cntcr lirr Forcst [)r'oclucts \larkcting & Mana-lcntcnt. I]Iacksbulg. \'rr.. as opcrat ion s nnrl colr'r ln Lr rr iclition s nt gr'.

Keith Springs. DF.s \ Slrecilltr ProrlLrcts. 13orvling (irccn. K1 ri. as l)rornotcrl to plcsiclcnt of its rrct lr cl'cartc(l Hcirth/Zcnith rLivisiorr.

Bill Itradle'r'. cr Anrsprar untl Wagrrer Splavtech. n'as narrrccl national slrlcs ntur. ltait-rt srr nclt'ics at Murshalltou rr. \llar.shirlltol n. Ia.

'l'orn Kritzell rras prontotcd to the ltcrr,'lv clcirtcd ltosition of v.p. ancl gcneraI nt-nr'.-intcrnatiorral olrcratirtns fot Cioopcl Hand'l'ools. Iiulei-'rh. N.C.

Scott Snrith hus bcen nurned presiclcnt ancl chicl opcnrting of ficcl of Prccisior.r Huskr Colp.. Lcctls. Al. His lathcr. Ilob Srrtith. r'cnrair.rs clrairntan of thc boarcl ancl c.c.o.

Ken Langone was re-elected to another one-year term on the board of directors of The Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga.

Don Moody, general mgr., Nucon Steel Corp., was named chairman of the board of the Steel Framing Alliance. George Vary. executive director, American Zinc Association. is secretarv/treasurer.

Yard Settles Bias Lawsuit

Nashville. Tn.-based lumber firm Novell & Wallace agreed to settle a racial discrimination claim brought by the federal government.

The firm settled for $80,000, but did not admit any wrongdoing, insisting it has a long history of hiring minorities.

The suit was filed in October 2000 by eight lraqi employees who claimed a supervisor harassed them while on the job. According to the the plaintiffs, they were abused while installing wall sections on a residential construction. Soon after the suit was filed, the supervisor was dismissed for an unrelated reason.

Currently, two of the plaintiffs are still employed by Novell & Wallace in manasement.

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