Fall 2013
Fall Home Remodeling Expo Preview page 22 Backyard Dream House Giveaway page 26
We’re growing!! To help provide our customers with the best service possible, we’ve
expanded into a larger office in Rice Lake and we’ve opened a new office in Menomonie!! Let us know how we can make your real estate goals a reality!
700 Wolske Bay Road, Suite 275 Menomonie, WI 54751 Phone: 715-309-4013 Fax: 715-309-4016 vtamenomonie@vinopaltitle.com
1030 Regis Court Eau Claire, WI 54701 Phone: 715-831-0880 Fax: 715-831-0882 orders@vinopaltitle.com
407 West Knapp Street Rice Lake, WI 54868 Phone: 715-736-4882 Fax: 715-831-7474 vtaricelake@vinopaltitle.com
You can also find us on:
www.vinopaltitle.com
Contents 9
Checklist for finding and hiring a builder or remodeler
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Editor’s Note
Editor Jennifer Johnson, NAC FD
Insist on Your Incentives!
Creative Director Kristen Hartzel
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Jennifer Johnson, NAC FD Mary Kay Brevig, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative
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What You Should Know About Hiring A Remodeler
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Prepare for Winter By Doing Outdoor Maintenance Chores This Fall
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2013 Fall Home Remodeling Expo
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Ready Your Hearth For the Holidays
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CVHBA Summer Events At-A-Glance
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Backyard Dream House Giveaway
Signature Event Preview
Graphic Designer Kristen Hartzel Printer Badgerland Printing
This publication is published three times a year by the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. For information regarding advertising in an upcoming issue, please call 715.835.2526. Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cvhba!
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2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Billy Bergh, Driftwood Builders VICE PRESIDENT Lance Brunkow, Brunkow Builders, Inc.* SECRETARY John Schwieters, ShredAway TREASURER Pat Sturz, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP PAST PRESIDENT Bill Albright, Heartland Homes DIRECTORS: Jim Bechly, Bank Mutual* Frank Biermeier, Menards – East* Cody Filipczak, C&M Properties & Construction LLC Neil Haselwander, Haselwander Bros., Inc.*+ Gregory Haselwander, Haselwander Companies, Inc.+ David Hopkins, Woita & Associates* Tom Kruse, Independent Flooring* Paul Madsen, RainMaster Lawn Systems Mike Marthaler, Mike’s Custom Homes* Glen Mills, MyNextHome Barb Oas, Royal Credit Union Dennis Pawlak, Pawlak Construction* Bill Pozarski, Pozarski Enterprises* Roy Rico, Rico Quality Homes, Inc.* Monica Sommerfeldt Lewis, Archer Lion, Inc.*+ Jason Steen, Steen Construction of Osseo, Inc.*+ Randy Tews, R. Tews Construction & Design, Inc.*
*Also serves as a Director on the Wisconsin Builders Association Board +Also serves as a Director on the National Association of Home Builders
CVHBA STAFF: Jennifer Johnson NAC FD, Executive Officer Ingrid Schultz, Office Administrator Linda Luberda , Accounting Kristen Hartzel, Communications Manager Joe Luginbill, Member & Community Services Director
4319 Jeffers Road, Suite 200 | Eau Claire, WI 54703 715.835.2526 (phone) | 715.835.2905 (fax) www.cvhomebuilders.com (web) Like us at www.facebook.com/cvhba
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Checklist for Finding & Hiring a Builder or Remodeler Doing your homework will help you have a more successful experience. Use this checklist to help you select a home builder or home remodeler to work on or build your home: ◊ Contact your local home builders’ association for the names of member builders and remodelers. You can also ask family, friends, or coworkers for recommendations. ◊ Make sure the builder or home remodeler has a permanent business location and a good reputation with local banks and suppliers. ◊ Find out how long they have been in the building business. It usually takes three to five years to establish a financially sound business. You want to make sure they will be around after construction is complete to service any warranties. ◊ Check out the company’s rating and if there have been any complaints filed with your local Better Business Bureau: www.bbb.org. ◊ Make sure the builder/remodeler has sufficient workers compensation and general liability insurance. If not, you may be liable for any construction-related accidents on your premises. ◊ Ask the builder/remodeler to provide you with names of previous customers. If they won’t, beware. If they do, ask the customers if they would hire the builder/remodeler again. ◊ Ask if you can see the builder/remodelers work, both completed and in progress. Check for quality of workmanship and materials. ◊ Do you feel you can easily communicate with the builder/remodeler? Remember you will be in close contact with them throughout the construction process and afterward as you live in your new home. ◊ Make sure the builder/remodeler provides you with a complete and clearly written contract. The contract will benefit both of you. If you are having a new home built, get and review a copy of the home warranty and homeowner’s manual as well. ◊ Be cautious of unusually low-priced bids. If the builder/remodeler is unable to pay for the materials and labor as the project proceeds, this may indicate a potential problem. Keep in mind that less expensive does not necessarily mean better! 9
Fall is my favorite time of the year. The days are becoming cooler and the leaves start to turn colors. Fall is also a great time to start thinking of the home improvement and remodeling projects we’ve put off all summer. The 3rd Annual CVHBA Fall Home Remodeling Expo will take place on Saturday, October 5th at the Eau Claire County Expo Center. This will be a great opportunity to discover new and money saving ideas. Exhibitors will be presenting the best in interior and exterior décor and home renovation. Concrete to roofing – flooring to lighting – cabinets to paint color - the - the CVHBA Fall Remodeling Expo has all your projects covered. It is also a great time to meet local contractors for your next home or business project. This year, we’ve added “How To” sessions and seminars throughout the day and a special activity for the kids: our “What Home Means to Me” coloring contest. Entries will be framed and showcased at the CVHBA Builders Crossing office building on Jeffers Road as part of a very special ongoing art exhibit. This will also be the day that we draw the winning raffle ticket for the Backyard Dream House giveaway. Tickets are still available at various locations in the Chippewa Valley including the CVHBA office and cost $5 each. Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the Boy Scouts of the Chippewa Valley and the CVHBA Scholarship program. This has been a fun project and we are looking forward to presenting it to its new “homeowner”. Specials thanks to our generous sponsors and the MyNextHome Contracting team for making this project come to life!
Jennifer Johnson, NAC FD Executive Office Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association Upcoming Events: Fall Remodeling Expo, October 5, 2013 Children’s Museum Exhibit Ribbon Cutting, November 18, 2013 Home & Garden Show, February 21-23, 2014 10
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Insist On Your Incentives! Don’t lose valuable incentive dollars on your next building or remodeling project
Most people have some type of plan before they build or • remodel. It simply makes the process go much smoother for the home owner as well as the builder. However, what many people forget to include in their plan
Energy Star Home or Touchstone Energy Home Program
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ENERGY STAR appliances
•
Lighting
is to take advantage of valuable dollars through incentives • and federal tax credits. Whether you call them incentives or • rebates, in the short term you can receive money back for
Water heaters Heating and cooling systems.
taking energy efficient measures to produce a much more Make the most of the deadlines comfortable home. In the long term, you can save money Don’t forget to check out the deadlines. Some incentives
on your monthly energy bill. If you don’t check into these are available through specific deadlines. Other incentives, incentives, you could be missing out on some big bucks! such as those for ENERGY STAR homes, require periodic And, the key is to contact your electric utility BEFORE you inspections by qualified professionals throughout the begin the project. building process. For example, through the Touchstone Important money incentives are available through Focus On Energy and probably your local electric utility, including energy cooperatives. Builders and home owners who work together to access incentives and make plans for more comfortable energy efficient homes will reap the most benefits. Incentives may be available for the following, depending on where you live and who your utility is:
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Energy Home Program for electric co-op members, a home must also meet specific guidelines for thermal and performance standards. Homes built to these standards provide the home owner with a more comfortable home plus lower energy costs, healthier indoor air quality, improved building durability and increased market value. With home buyers increasingly interested in green building, energy efficiency is the place to begin.
What can you get out of all this? •
Incentive dollars in your pocket
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A home built to be comfortable, durable and energy efficient for your family
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Federal tax credits for those who qualify
How do you get started? 1. Contact your electric utility BEFORE you start your project. 2. Ask for information about current energy savings and money incentives or rebates. 3. Visit www.focusonenergy.com to find out about more incentives. 4. Make sure you involve your builder and home owner in the incentives discussion from the beginning.
Remember, with any project, the better the plan, the better the outcome. This holds true for building or remodeling a home that is expected to serve you and your family comfortably for years to come. We wish you good fortune with your next building project as you check out what incentives you qualify for.
Contributed by Mary Kay Brevig Manager-Communications & Public Relations Eau Claire Energy Cooperative www.ecec.com
BEFORE you build or remodel, include incentives in your plan. That means money in your pocket. Go to Focus on Energy at www.focusonenergy.com or contact your local energy utility. 15
What You Should Know About Hiring a Remodeler 2013 CVHBA Remodelers Showcase, C&E Wurzer Builders, LLC
With the ongoing challenging economy, many families
sources can also help you find a remodeler who specializes
are choosing to remodel their homes to fit their changing
in a specific type of remodeling if you need it, such as a
needs, rather than selling their home and buying another
Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) to help modify
one. Your home is likely your largest investment, and
your home to better suit you as you age, or a Certified
even simple remodels can cost hundreds or thousands of
Green Remodeler (CGM) to make your home more
dollars, so you want to make sure you find a contractor
energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
you can trust. Here are some important considerations to ensure you
neighbors, coworkers, and others who have had remodeling
make the right decisions when you find, evaluate and hire
work done. Or, ask local independent trade contractors,
a remodeler.
building materials suppliers, architects, engineers, home
The best place to start is the Directory of Professional Remodelers at www.nahb.org/remodelersdirectory or
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You should also ask for referrals from friends, family,
inspectors, lenders and insurance professionals for recommendations.
contact the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association.
There are also websites where consumers leave comments
A professional remodeler will uphold the highest
about their experiences with local businesses, such as www.
professional and ethical standards in the industry. These
yelp.com, www.angieslist.com and www.kudzu.com. But
be careful about these sources of information, you have no
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ages of homes in the area, and what sort of issues could
way of knowing who left the comment or if they were honest.
arise?
Once you have a list of potential home remodelers for your project, do research to verify that they are appropriately
What is their working knowledge of the many types and
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Do they arrange for the building permit? (The person
licensed and have a good business track record. Look them
who obtains the permit is the contractor of record and
up with your local or state and local building inspectors.
therefore liable for the work).
Verify that the remodeler has the appropriate licenses and registrations, and see if they have received any complaints
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work, and a detailed contract that spells out the work
about the remodeler and if so, were those complaints
that will and will not be performed, protects both of you,
resolved satisfactorily?
provides a fair payment schedule contract and complies with local, state, and federal laws?
When you begin meeting with remodelers, you want to find out information such as: •
How long have they been in business in your community? Can they provide references from customers and suppliers they work with?
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Do they carry insurance that protects you from claims
Do they provide a written estimate before beginning the
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Do they offer a warranty? What is covered under the warranty and for how long?
For more detailed checklists for finding, evaluating and working with a remodeler, as well as other information about remodeling your home, go to www.nahb.org/remodeling.
arising from property damage or job site injuries? Ask for a copy of the insurance certificates.
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2650 Western Avenue Eau Claire, WI 54703
715.552.3225
Your premier plumbing & lighting showroom 18
PrePare
for
Winter By Doing outDoor
Maintenance chores this fall Although the fall season has just begun, winter is just around the corner! Take the necessary steps now to ensure your home and lawn can hold up to another cold, wet season. LAWN AND LANDSCAPE CARE •
Reseed and fertilize. Fall is a great time for new grass seed to take root, so consider reseeding in selected areas of your lawn. Reseeding also helps keep weeds from growing in the spring. Fertilize your lawn with a high-nitrogen fertilizer to encourage root growth. Look for a lawn fertilizer labeled “winterizing”.
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Aerate your lawn. Overtime your lawn can become compacted, which hinders grass growth. Aerating - or breaking up the soil surface by poking holes into the ground - reduces thatch, loosens up compacted soils and paves the way for water and nutrients to reach the roots of your grass. There are different tools you can use to properly aerate your lawn, including selfpropelled units, lawn mower attachments, and hand or foot powered plugging tools which can be rented or purchased at your local hardware or home supply store.
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foundation, basement and crawl spaces. Consider installing “gutter guards”, which will prevent debris from entering the gutter and direct the flow of water away from the house and into the ground. •
Inspect your roof. To help prevent expensive emergency repairs, look for damaged or loose shingles, gaps in the flashing where the roofing and the siding meet vents and flues, and loose or damaged mortar around the chimney. If you see any signs of damage, call a professional to repair the damage.
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Inspect your home’s exterior walls. To prevent leaks or drafts, look for possible weatherrelated damage, like cracks and loose or crumbling mortar. Wood trim and siding can suffer from deteriorating paint or become loose. Windowsills may be cracked, split or decayed.
Taking the time to tackle these chores now will save you an even larger hassle doing repair work once winter has come and gone. For more home maintenance tips, contact the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association at (715) 835-2526 or visit www.cvhomebuilders.com.
Trim your trees and remove dead branches. High winds or heavy snows can cause weak trees or branches to break and cause damage to property or person. Look for large dead branches in trees, cavities or rotten wood along trunks or major branches, mushrooms at the base of trees, cracks or splits in trunks, and leaves that prematurely develop unusual color or size.
HOME EXTERIOR TASKS •
Maintain your gutters. Remove all debris from your gutters so water can properly drain. This minimizes standing water and slows the freeze/thaw expansion process that occurs in cold weather. Clogged gutters can damage landscaping, lawn and shrubbery, walls,
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715.832.6338
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The Chippewa Valley home Builders assoCiaTion
Fall Home Remodeling Expo Saturday OctOber 5th, 2013
9 am - 4 pm eau claire cOunty expO center 5530 Fairview drive
chippewa valley hOme builderS aSSOciatiOn 4319 Jeffers road, suiTe 200 eau Claire, wi 54703
The best ideas for inside and outside your home. From windows to window coverings, additions to paint colors,
this show has it all!
Fall showcases a beautiful change in season and is a great time to consider remodeling and home improvement projects. THE CVHBA Fall Home Remodeling Expo offers a unique opportunity to meet face to face with the experts. More than 40 exhibitors will be presenting the best ideas in exterior and interior home renovation. From concrete to roofing - flooring to lighting - cabinets to paint colors - discover new ideas and gather money saving tips. This is an excellent time to meet local contractors for your home or business project. Featuring: educational seminars, children’s activities and more!
One Day Only! $5 Tickets at the Door
bring a non-perishable food item to receive $1 off your admission!
12 years and under are free
ALSO FEATURING THE BACKYARD DREAM HOUSE GIVEAWAY! For additional information visit www.cvhomebuilders.com or call (715) 835-2526 www.facebook.com/cvhba
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Ready Your Hearth for the Holidays The holidays are just around the corner, and fireplaces
a messy and time-consuming job. Professional chimney
across the nation will be glowing with warmth and
cleaners, or chimney sweeps, have the right tools to clean
light. Whether you’re expecting a visit from Santa or are
your chimney quickly and efficiently, and can also detect
just planning to spend a few cozy nights in front of the
any needed repairs that you might miss. You can find a
crackling flames, now is a good time to make sure that
certified chimney sweep at www.csia.org.
your fireplace and chimney are safe and operational throughout the holiday season.
If you don’t already have one, install a chimney cap. Chimney caps not only serve to keep out birds and small
First, thoroughly clean your chimney, which should be
animals that may try to nest in your chimney, but also
done once a year. In order to vent safely, chimney flues
help to prevent water from getting in. Caps also prevent
must be clean, unblocked and intact. Flammable residue
sparks from flying out onto your roof or into surrounding
in the flues can lead to fires in the chimney, and cracks
greenery - potentially igniting a fire.
or gaps in the flue can decrease the draft required both for combustion and to carry toxic gases away from your home.
To keep your chimney as clean as possible throughout the season, select well-seasoned firewood. Non-seasoned (or green) wood tends to smoke more and burn less efficiently,
A chimney cleaning should include the removal
and can leave significantly more resin and soot in your
of accumulated - and highly flammable - creosote.
chimney.
Eliminating soot buildup is also paramount since as little as a quarter inch of soot can result in a significant difference in your chimney’s performance. While it’s possible for you to clean your own chimney, it’s
Also, make sure to check your chimney damper to ensure that it seals tightly when it is closed, or you may be allowing heated air from your home to seep out through the chimney when it is not in use. What if you have a gas fireplace? While these units may seem maintenance-free, owners of gas fireplaces aren’t entirely off the hook. If you own a gas fireplace, you should gear up for the winter by making sure both the burner and pilot assembly are clean - a professional chimney sweep can also help you with that. Take these steps to ensure that the time you spend around your fireplace this holiday season is safe and enjoyable! For more home maintenance tips, contact the CVHBA.
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Want to advertise here?
Contact Kristen Hartzel at the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association 877-677-8340
715-835-4968 www.johnsonrolloffservice.com
Haul Away & Disposal Services • Remodeling • Roofing / Tear Off • Demolition • General Clean Out • New Construction • Cardboard & • Fire / Water Damage Wood Recycling
to get started! Kristen Hartzel Communications Manager marketing@cvhomebuilders.com (715) 835-2526, ext. 202
Serving Chippewa, Dunn, Pepin, Rusk, Jackson & Eau Claire Counties
chiPPeWa Valley hoMe BuilDers association
2013 suMMer eVents at-a-glance BEST OF SHOW Parade of Homes
Remodelers Showcase,August 24-25
Winners by Category
Five Homes, Two Days, Estimated Attendance of 400!
June 8-15
Category 1 (Twin Home/Condo) C&M Properties & Construction Category 2 (under $200,000) Richard Lien Homebuilder Category 3 ($225,000-$250,000) Steen Construction Category 4 ($275,000-$375,000) C&M Properties & Construction Category 5 ($400,000-$490,000) JW Custom Homes Category 6 ($500,000 & above) C&M Properties & Construction
Featuring: C&E Wurzer Builders, Maas
Builders, Peterson Custom Homes, R. Tews Construction & Design, & WoodWright Construction!
R. Tews Construction & Design, 2013 Remodeler’s Showcase
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Backyard Dream House Giveaway! Teaming up with the Boy Scouts and MyNextHome Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association has long been involved in helping to build a better community in the Chippewa Valley. Now, CVHBA is teaming up with the Boy Scouts of America and MyNextHome Contracting to build a 10ft by 12ft ultimate backyard playhouse that will be raffled off in October at the CVHBA Fall Remodeling Expo. Funds raised for this project will benefit the Boy Scouts. This larger than life dream home has been inspired by the popular film and book, The Hobbit. Glen Mills has been a real estate developer at MyNextHome for the past ten years and is a member of the CVHBA. CVHBA hopes that the skills the Boy Scouts will learn by helping to build the dream home will help with their future endeavors and ultimately improve the Chippewa Valley community. The rustic outside and classically finished inside
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dream house measures 10x12 and includes materials donated by Arrow Building Center in Chippewa Falls, the construction expertise of MyNextHome Contracting, stained glass created by Christina Hull, a grass roof courtesy of Down To Earth Garden Garden Center, custom writing desk by Eau Claire Woodworks, metal work by TeamJohnsonOffRoad and others will come together to make this an amazing Backyard Dream House. The Dream House will be raffled off at $5 per ticket in the hopes of raising $50,000 for the Boy Scouts. The drawing will be held on October 5th, 2013 at 3:00 PM at the Fall Remodeling Expo at the Eau Claire County Expo Center. Visit www.cvhomebuilders.com or contact the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association at (715) 835-2526 for more information.
For more information and a photo gallery of the building process, visit www.backyarddreamhouse.com
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