Step by Step (August 2015)

Publication of the

August 2015 • Vol. 18, No. 8 Editor: Jennie Korth

Chairperson’s Message

Golf Tournament

by Mark Aksamit

Summer is in full force so make sure to keep hydrated and protect your skin when you are outside. I am looking forward to seeing all of you when we gather again. The Home Builders Association of Lincoln will be having their annual membership drive in September, if you know of any potential new members please let the office know and we will make sure to contact them.

Also, put on your calendars the Summer Bash to end the season on Friday, August 7 starting at 5:30 P.M. Matt Kleinschmit is hosting the event at his place, 11401 Van Dorn St. It should be lots of fun for everyone as there will be Human Foosball, live music and great food. Hope you can make plans to attend.

Our next Remodelers gathering will be the Remodelers Council Golf Tournament on August 28 at Mahoney Golf Course. It is not too late to sign up and play. Contact the HBAL office at 402-423-4225 for more information.

Please take time this summer to spread the word about the Remodelers Council and encourage others to join.

August 28, 2015 Mahoney Golf Course • 7900 Adams Street Registration 9:00-9:45 am • Shotgun Start at 10:00 am • $65 per golfer, includes golf, cart, food and prizes • Tournament format is 18 holes, 4-person scramble.

• Tournament is limited to 36 foursomes • Hamburgers and hot dogs are served all day • Handicapped event, flights will be determined based on a 9 hole score randomly selected.

• Prizes awarded following the tournament

r Yes, I’d like to volunteer to help at the Remodelers Golf Tournament Name ________________________________ Phone ________________________________ Company _____________________________

Welcome New Member!

Eric Briggs

r Yes, I’d like to contribute to the Remodelers Golf Tournament Amount $______ Name ________________________________

Millard Lumber, Inc.

Phone ________________________________ Company _____________________________

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.

-- James Dent

We still have space available for your team! Call HBAL at 402-423-4225 to reserve a foursome!

10 Tips for a Smooth Home Remodel Follow these 10 tips when you embark on an exciting home remodeling project.

want to change materials or other project details during the job. Before work starts, make sure you agree with your remodeler about how these changes will be handled. Also understand that changes could affect the schedule and the budget, so it’s important you have all changes in writing.

1. Establish effective two-way communication with the home remodeler. It’s essential to have good communication for a smooth home remodeling project. Does the remodeler listen? Does he or she answer questions clearly and candidly? Can you reach him when you need to? Does he return phone calls promptly? Does he let you know when problems arise and work with you on solving them?

8. Agree on a well-written contract that covers all the bases.

The contract should include these elements: a timetable for the project, price and payment schedule, detailed specifications for all products and materials, insurance information, permit information, procedures for handling change orders, lien releases, provisions for conflict resolution, notice of your right under the Federal Trade Commission’s Cooling Off Rule (your right to cancel the contract within three days if it was signed someplace other than the remodeler’s place of business), and details on the important issues (such as access to your home, care of the home, cleanup and trash removal).

2. Make sure you are compatible with the contractor. You’ll

spend a lot of time with your remodeler so it’s important to have a good rapport and trust in him or her.

3. Set a clear and mutual understanding about the schedule.

You and your home remodeler should agree on the schedule up front to avoid conflict and problems later in the project.

9. Ask for a written lien waiver from the home remodeler

4. Request a written proposal. Often, two people remember

upon completion of the work. If the remodeler hires subcontractors for portions of the work, then it is their responsibility to see the subcontractors compensated. In order to ensure this has been done and to protect yourself, ask for a written lien waiver when the work is finished. This document will verify everyone has been paid.

the same conversation differently. Get the proposal in writing and work with the remodeler to ensure it reflects your wishes.

5. Get a clear and mutual understanding on miscellaneous

details up front. There are a lot of little details that need to be settled before work starts. What times of day will they be working? How will he or she access the property? How will cleanup be handled? How will they protect your property?

10. Establish a project plan, covering all phases and

dependencies in the work. Plan your big picture goals with the remodeler and discuss your needs. Hire a remodeler who will plan with you, listen to concerns and answer questions.

6. Remember to be flexible. Remodeling is an interruption of

your normal life. Remember to be flexible during the project so that you can handle the unexpected and go with the flow.

7. Discuss and agree on how change orders will be handled.

-- From How to Hire Your Dream Remodeler by Tom Higgins, Superior Products Home Improvement, Littleton, Colo.

With home remodeling there is always the chance you may

Jan. Feb. March April May June Total Avg. Cost

#

9 9 36 62 52 19 187

2008 Cost 1,364,460 141,600 589,154 1,208,366 809,323 543,997 4,656,900 24,903

#

2 5 10 10 9 14 50

2009 Cost 52,000 125,240 206,900 198,413 183,000 297,872 1,063,425 21,269

Remodeling Permits: Additions City of Lincoln - Detached Single Family - 8 Year Table #

Jan. 4,500,000 Feb. March 4,000,000 April May June 3,500,000 Total Avg. Cost

#

81 76 89 82 79 76 483

2008 Cost 907,619 947,505 800,412 877,275 723,878 662,915 4,919,604 10,186

#

71 76 72 85 65 89 458

2009 Cost 784,232 706,588 946,927 813,112 617,270 766,615 4,634,744 10,120

3,000,000

Alterations

#

3 7 18 15 20 16 79

2011 Cost 80,100 178,700 452,005 908,366 340,080 603,388 2,562,639 32,438

#

2 5 10 11 20 7 55

2012 Cost 43,500 107,786 691,458 600,931 723,945 224,812 2,392,432 43,499

#

6 2 8 10 13 9 48

2013 Cost 422,000 33,000 357,600 212,603 776,408 379,500 2,181,111 45,440

#

3 3 8 12 12 12 50

2014 Cost 59,336 64,000 338,910 609,495 596,540 430,200 2,098,481 41,970

#

4 2 15 8 14 14 57

2015 Cost 114,877 18,650 816,118 342,365 541,952 575,322 2,409,284 42,268

Remodeling Permits: Alterations

Additions 5,000,000

6 3 11 19 9 12 60

2010 Cost 152,980 99,500 317,000 706,474 148,500 460,740 1,885,194 31,420

City of Lincoln - Detached Single Family - 8 Year Table #

57 69 125 154 124 117 646

2010 Cost 502,454 600,743 1,229,150 1,386,859 931,223 754,480 5,404,909 8,367

#

69 79 104 133 111 112 608

2011 Cost 988,395 893,584 900,086 1,292,245 946,242 819,225 5,839,777 9,605

#

81 69 96 96 123 110 575

2012 Cost 804,484 565,929 1,055,957 871,985 1,544,337 1,093,867 5,936,559 10,324

#

66 42 65 108 92 87 460

2013 Cost 751,024 702,668 1,000,016 1,158,054 605,739 784,050 5,001,551 10,873

#

90 87 93 110 98 93 571

2014 Cost 1,279,205 811,667 1,011,061 1,010,930 1,088,989 1,239,491 6,441,343 11,281

#

71 71 89 103 94 123 551

2015 Cost 1,254,169 949,830 1,225,863 1,446,555 1,087,272 1,322,160 7,285,849 13,223

Insider Hints for Design on a Budget

Don’t have a big budget but want to make some big design changes to your home? Well-designed rooms don’t always have to come with a huge price tag; in fact, designing on a budget may be easier than you think.

Many times, by changing small elements, you can give a room an entirely new personality. Sometimes adding a few colorful pillows or picking up a paintbrush is all you need to do to make your room look like something out of the pages of a magazine.

The Power of Paint

One of the most common fixes for a boring room is color. “Color is easy to do and inexpensive,” says Kathy Browning, owner of Design Consultants, a design firm in Virginia Beach, Va. Updating the color of just one wall in any room will give it an entirely new feel. Painting, when approached correctly, can be an enjoyable experience with instant rewards. Lauren Warnock, an interior designer based in Chicago, reminds home owners that warmer colors can make a room feel cozier and more inviting.

Cooler colors like grey or “stark white,” on the other hand, may give a room a more industrial feeling. “Light airy colors open up a space, while deep, darker colors can make a room appear smaller,” Warnock says.

Connie Edwards, director of design for Shenandoah Cabinetry, has her own advice when it comes to color, particularly if you are looking at the kitchen. “You can never go wrong with neutrals, but color is hot now,” Edwards says. “Not necessarily vibrant colors — although for the right space, they can be fabulous — but think along the lines of buttery yellows, soft sage greens and nearly neutral blues.”

Accessories Pack a Punch

Adding accents to pieces you already own can also make a large difference. For instance, if your couch is not as exciting as it once was, try throwing a few fun accent pillows on it.

Remember, throws and cushions, when selected as accents, can really bring new life to a tired piece of furniture.

Remodeler Confidence Remains in Positive Territory Remodeler confidence improved to 59 in the second quarter of 2015 as the country sprang back from the severe winter, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI).

An RMI above 50 indicates that more remodelers report market activity is higher (compared to the prior quarter) than report it is lower. The overall RMI averages ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future remodeling activity. The RMI was 59 in the Northeast, 61 in the Midwest, 57 in the South and 61 in the West.

“The confidence in the remodeling industry has been in positive territory for nine quarters in a row as the entire housing industry’s situation continues to improve,” said NAHB Remodelers Chair Robert Criner, GMR, GMB, CAPS, a remodeler from Newport News, Va. “With an increase in existing home sales, remodelers received more signed contracts and calls for pricing.”

Major additions gained steam in the second quarter of 2015, rising to 57 from 54. Rising from 56 in the previous quarter to 61, smaller remodeling jobs continued to show strength.

Overall, the current market conditions of the RMI rose one point to 59 this quarter.

The RMI’s future market conditions index rose to 58 from 55 in the previous quarter. Two of its subcomponents—calls for bids and appointments for proposals—gained five or more points from the previous quarter’s reading while the amount of work committed for the next three months and the backlog of jobs remained steady.

“The rebound in remodeler confidence tracks the overall arc of the housing industry as it gains strength through new and existing home sales,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe.

“Gains in the RMI are tempered by ongoing labor shortages for work on remodeling projects.”

For more information about remodeling, visit nahb.org/remodel.

“The use of pillows, throws and draperies in living spaces enhances a room in many ways,” Warnock says. Fabrics also can add beautiful softness to a room and allow additional patterns and textures to be brought into a room.

Rethink Your Artwork

Another budget-friendly change is to rotate the artwork in a room. Using the same frames but changing the images can easily create a new theme or mood, and combining several different frames in different finishes and sizes can achieve different looks.

Love Your Lighting

Often overlooked but strikingly effective, updated lighting can work wonders. “Lighting will dramatically change the mood of a room,” Warnock says. Try installing a new fixture or simply swapping out the shades on current fixtures. Installing dimmer switches is another simple change that can transform any room.

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Board of Directors & Foundation Meetings HBAL Office • 6100 S. 58th Street, Ste. C 10:30 a.m. & 11:45 a.m.

Spike Party at Ribfest Festival Space • North of Pinnacle Bank Arena Call HBAL at 402-423-4225 to RSVP OSHA: Heat Stress & Changes to Confined Spaces HBAL • 6100 S. 58th Street, Ste. C 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. • Free for HBAL Members

Aug. 11

Aug. 13

Aug. 13

Aug. 25

Remodelers Council Golf Tournament Mahoney Golf Course 10:00 a.m. Shotgun Start • $65 per person

Competent Person Training Fall Protection HBAL • 6100 S. 58th Street, Ste. C 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. • $40 for HBAL Members

Aug. 7

Aug. 28

HBAL Summer Bash Matt & Tracy Kleinschmit’s 11401 Van Dorn Street 5:30 p.m. - BBQ Dinner 6:45 p.m. - Human Foosball Championship 7:00 p.m. - Band - “Spare Change”

Calendar of Events