www.wisbuild.org
September/October 2009
The Three Tenets of
Aging in Place Builder Profile Custom Kreations
Education, Classification and Satisfaction
Shopping Smart
for Insurance
Delivered to you as a benefit of membership
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www.wisbuild.org
features
September/October 2009 Volume 26 • Issue 5
Development Council.......................................................... 8 Patrick Stevens, WBA Director of Development Council and Regulatory Affairs, discusses the impact of your voice.
Aging in Place.................................................................... 10 Learn the three tenets of aging in place: education, classification and satisfaction.
Builder Profile.................................................................... 12 Steve and Pat Huben of Custom Kreations
departments
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President’s Perspective................................................................................. 4 Investment or Expense? Government Affairs....................................................................................... 6 Wisconsin State Budget: What Could Have Been Local Happenings.......................................................................................... 9 Photos and details of WBA local association events around the state. Member Advantage..................................................................................... 14 Are You Shopping Smart? News & Events.............................................................................................. 15
12 Mission Statement
A professional trade association, WBA advances the housing industry for members and consumers through government involvement, education and promotion.
Wisconsin Badger Builder, (ISSN 004-232) is a bi-monthly publication of the Wisconsin shelter industry. It is the official publication of the Wisconsin Builders Association® (WBA) and is published by WBA, 4868 High Crossing Blvd., Madison, WI 53704. Periodicals postage paid at Madison, WI 53701 and additional mailing offices. All advertising is subject to acceptance by the Wisconsin Badger Builder editorial review committee. The publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or service offered. The contents of all material available in this publication are copyrighted by WBA unless otherwise indicated. All rights are reserved by WBA, and content may not be reproduced, disseminated, published or transferred in any form or by any means except with the prior written permission of the Wisconsin Builders Association®. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Wisconsin Badger Builder, 4868 High Crossing Blvd., Madison, WI 53704.
Vision Statement
Affordable, innovative and environmentally conscious homes accessible to all.
Motto
“Dedicated to preserving and promoting the American Dream”
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Subscriptions available through membership in the Wisconsin Builders Association®.
Wisconsin Badger Builder • September/October 2009 • www.wisbuild.org
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Senior Officers 2009 President: Doug Scott, Janesville (South Central WI)
Investment or Expense?
President Elect: Jim Kubasta, Oshkosh (Winnebago) Treasurer: Don Esposito, Madison (Madison Area) Secretary: Gary Roehrig, New Holstein (Mid-Shores) Immediate Past President: Jason Steen, Osseo (Chippewa Valley) Associate Vice President: Julie Meyer, Racine (Racine-Kenosha) Associate Advisor to the Senior Officers: John Anderson, Appleton (Winnebago)
Area Vice-Presidents 2009 Southeast Area Mark Benkowski (Metropolitan) Darryl Spang (Racine – Kenosha) Northwest Area Clint Doege (Heart of the North) Monica Sommerfeldt Lewis (Chippewa Valley) Southwest Area Tom Thompson (La Crosse Area) Steve Treu (La Crosse Area) Northeast Area Mark Bootz (Brown Co.) Scott Browne (Brown Co.) South Area Brian McKee (Madison Area) Greg Schaffer (Madison Area) East Central Area Ed Schmidt (Valley) Stan Martenson (Valley) North Area Pam Jewell (Golden Sands) Mike Richie (Wausau Area) East Shore Area Sean Kelly (Mid-Shores) Gary Roehrig (Mid-Shores) State Representative to NAHB Wayne Foster (Metropolitan) 4
President’s by Doug Scott, WBA President hat is the difference between an investment and an expense? Webster’s defines an investment as “the outlay of money for income or profit” and an expense as “something expended to secure a benefit or bring about a result.” While there is not a line where one of these words is on one side and one on the other, we can all agree that our business will benefit with more income or profit. In writing a check to our local builders association each year, we are making an investment in our business. We are expecting that investment to help our business now and in the future to make that profit so our business can prosper. Right now, many businesses in our industry have the goal of just staying in business. This is the most difficult time our industry has faced since the 1930s and we sometimes must make some difficult decisions in our business to achieve this goal. One of the decisions we should not agonize over is our association dues. If we are in this business, we should support our industry. I know the dues amount is not insignificant. However, each of us must be smart enough to know how to get a good return on our investment. This return could quite easily exceed the investment simply by participating in the NAHB “Member Advantage” program or a similar program at the local level. The return could also be realized by business contacts made from participating in our locals’ parade of homes, home shows or other networking activities. Perhaps even the contacts we make through being involved in a committee will increase our return on our investment. Even if a business really thinks they receive no tangible return on their dues investment from the above methods, the intangible return they receive from being a member who contributes to our local, state and national organizations to create a better (or prevent a worse) business environment for our industry provides a
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perspective
While business may be difficult now, we do expect to prosper in the future and know that what happens today in our state and national government will influence that level of prosperity. good return. If we are in this business, we should not leave it up to others to pay for this critical work in government affairs. Most of our members understand this and believe it. I think a friendly reminder never hurts, and you reminding your fellow members who don’t take time to read Badger Builder may lessen their agonizing as well. Our association and industry needs your continued support, especially during these most challenging times. While the recent activities of our government affairs team and the state budget are discussed elsewhere in this issue, I do want to discuss a critical local function to support this team. Our Building a Better Wisconsin PAC and Builders Direct Fund provide the financial resources to support candidates and our elected officials in Wisconsin and nationally that can help our industry and business prosper. While business may be difficult now, we do expect to prosper in the future and know that what happens today in our state and national government will influence that level of prosperity. Many locals have silent auctions and other fundraisers this fall. Please support these activities. We need every local to meet their local fundraising goal this year in supporting our PAC. Don’t leave it to another individual or local to support this important activity. It’s a good investment and the return will be realized for years to come. X
Wisconsin Badger Builder • September/October 2009 • www.wisbuild.org
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Wisconsin State Budget: What Could Have Been
WBA Staff
4868 High Crossing Blvd., Madison, WI 53704 • (888) 285-9066 Director of Political & Government Affairs, Interim Staff Manager Brad Boycks, ext. 16 bboycks@wisbuild.org Director of Development Council Pat Stevens, ext. 22 pstevens@wisbuild.org Director of Membership Services Jane Witt, ext. 17 jwitt@wisbuild.org Director of Communications Annie Rubens, ext. 19 arubens@wisbuild.org Director of Accounting Services Kathy Johnsen, ext. 12 kjohnsen@wisbuild.org Accounting Assistant Mark Nelson, ext. 25 mnelson@wisbuild.org Administrative Assistant Kimberly Fay, ext. 10 kfay@wisbuild.org
WBA Insurance Services Chief Operating Officer Karl Johnson, ext. 23 kjohnson@wisbuild.org Sales & Service Associate Megan Taylor, ext. 24 mtaylor@wisbuild.org
Published by
Publisher............................ Kevin Naughton Supervising Editor............ Jennifer McDermitt Graphic Designer...................... Jason Gabel Advertising Sales Manager........ Brenda Poe Advertising Sales........................Jeff Pinwar
(800) 935-1592, ext. 118 jpinwar@printcomm.com
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Government by Brad Boycks, WBA Director of Government and Political Affairs n Monday, June 29, Governor James Doyle signed the 20092010 state budget into law and released a list of vetoes he issued from the conference committee budget that passed both houses of the legislature. This is the first time the Wisconsin budget has been completed before July 1 since 1977. The final version of the budget received the support of all of the Democrats in the legislature except for Senator Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa), and Representatives Bob Ziegelbauer (D-Manitowoc) and Peggy Krusick (D-Milwaukee). Independent Jeff Wood of Chippewa Falls also voted in favor of the state budget. All Republican members of the Senate and Assembly present to vote on the final version of the budget voted in opposition. A number of provisions that WBA had been tracking were ultimately deleted from the budget during the process and were substantial policy victories for WBA members. This was a very painful budget for legislative Democrats to craft and for Governor Doyle to ultimately sign into law. From the perspective of WBA, this budget was much more about stopping detrimental policy items from becoming law than advocating for positive changes to current law. Since February, WBA Government Affairs staff have been tracking the various versions of the state budget and asking members to contact their legislators on certain policy items. In total, there were five different versions of the budget that were considered during this process: Governor Doyle’s initial proposal, the one passed by the Joint Committee on Finance, the budget passed by the Assembly, the one passed by the Senate, and ultimately the conference committee budget that was passed by both houses and ultimately
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Since February, WBA Government Affairs staff have been tracking the various versions of the state budget and asking members to contact their legislators on certain policy items. signed (with vetoes) by the governor in late June. Enclosed are summaries of the top three items that the WBA Government Affairs staff with the help of WBA members, local executive officers and government affairs staff were able to prevent from becoming law.
1 Percent Withholding Originally, this provision was added by the Joint Committee on Finance and modified by the Assembly, and would have required only those in the construction industry to withhold 1 percent of payments made when using form 1099 by contractors to independent contractors and single members LLCs. We asked Governor Doyle for a veto of this provision once the legislature completed their work on the budget. Governor Doyle honored our request and vetoed this provision from the state budget. In his veto, Governor Doyle remarked, “I am vetoing this provision because it is unduly burdensome on employers and the legislative intent of this provision is unclear.”
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We thank Governor Doyle for his veto of the 1 percent withholding provision from the state budget.
Changes to Agricultural Use Value WBA members and government affairs staff successfully lobbied against a provision added in the Senate version of the state budget that would have greatly increased the property taxes developers pay on land they own that is in agricultural use, but platted or zoned for residential, commercial or industrial use. Rather than being valued for tax purposes as agricultural property, this land would be taxed at its highest and best use. While impacts vary depending on property values and mill rates, one developer reports, for example, his assessed value would increase 90 times. This has been an issue on the agenda of Senator Russ Decker (D-Schofield), senate majority leader, for some time. We worked extensively with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau and others to get this provision pulled out. Efforts included radio ads, extensive lobbying and alerting members to contact their legislative representatives. Thank you to all who made contacts on this important issue! This energized the development community more than any other issue in recent memory, and your efforts paid off! We would like to thank Governor Doyle and his staff for the help they provided on this issue in addition to Senator Kathleen Vienhout (D-Alma) for her help in getting this removed from the budget. While we won the battle, the war is not over. This issue will likely be coming back soon, and this will be a topic for further discussion at WBA Development Council meetings.
Changes to Wisconsin Liability Law Victory can finally be claimed on attempts to make radical changes to Wisconsin liability laws. The Conference Committee version of the state budget ultimately signed by Governor Doyle had no changes to current liability laws in Wisconsin, which were largely passed in the mid-1990s. Development Council Staff Pat Stevens serves on the leadership team of the Wisconsin Civil Justice Council,
which is the coalition that fought against these changes. The proposed budget changes would have: • Required someone as little as 1 percent at fault to pay 100 percent of the damages • Combined the fault of all defendants to allow a more at-fault plaintiff to sue • Excluded parties most at fault in order to fabricate elevated fault levels to manipulate the joint and several liability calculation
• Forced reluctant courts to instruct the jury in a way that would skew judgments to maximize awards. This improbable victory of removing each of these provisions in their entirety was the result of the grassroots lobbying by WBA members and the actions of a diverse coalition of groups working together on this topic since the governor first introduced his original version of the budget this past winter. X
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Wisconsin Badger Builder • September/October 2009 • www.wisbuild.org
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The Impact of Your Voice by Patrick Stevens, WBA Director of Development Council and Regulatory Affairs he Development Council was extremely active in the state budget process that recently concluded in Madison. In the course of this process, we spent a lot of effort fighting policies that would ultimately impact residential development as well as housing costs and affordability. While we were successful in defeating and/or modifying a number of these proposals, some provisions of concern became law. This certainly reinforces the continued need to build relationships with and educate legislators about the real-world impact of their actions in regard to the shelter industry and homeowners. Some of the key policies we worked on included:
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Change in Definition of Agricultural Land for Property Tax Purposes The Development Council successfully lobbied against a provision that was added in the Senate version of the state budget that would have greatly increased the property taxes developers pay on land they own that is in agricultural use but platted or zoned for residential, commercial or industrial use. Rather than being valued for tax purposes as agricultural property, this land would be taxed at its highest and best use. If enacted, this proposal would have increased the property taxes paid on these properties by millions of dollars. This is a great example of a policy item that was slipped into the budget at the end of the process, with no chance for public hearing or input, which would have had negative consequences on a number of fronts. The negative consequences of this proposal were also acknowledged by the agricultural community. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau, who was a great partner in fighting this proposal, recognized that this would not only impact land that is likely to be developed in the future, but also land owned by farmers that was zoned, for example, as rural residential. Moreover, it ignored the fact that much of the land that is being held for future development is rented by farmers (about one-third of Wisconsin’s agricultural land is leased). As carrying costs on lands go up, rents would likely have increased as well.
Farmland Preservation (Working Lands Initiative) The state budget also contained a major initiative to preserve farmland. While we were successful in obtaining some important changes to this proposal, one item that remained in the final budget that we opposed was a new farmland “conversion penalty.” This penalty equates to three times the Department of Revenue assessed value/acre, or an amount identified in the zoning ordinance, whichever is greater. This penalty would apply to land that was rezoned out of “exclusive agriculture” or lands that are released from a farmland preservation agreement, effective Jan. 1, 2010. The DOR assessed value varies by county, but the statewide average DOR assessed value for 2009 is $270. Based on this average, the new 8
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penalty would be $810/acre. This penalty would be in addition to the tax penalty that is paid when farmland is converted to nonfarm use. Unfortunately this is another proposal targeted at making it more expensive to develop land. Insofar as these costs are paid by a developer, these penalties will impact housing costs and affordability. Another likely scenario is that the seller (likely a farmer) will be paying this penalty, or see a decrease in the value of land that may be converted to a nonagricultural use because of the requirement to pay this penalty.
Prevailing Wage Requirements Infrastructure Turned Over Under Development Another major debate wrapped up in the state budget, and a top priority for labor groups, related to when prevailing wages have to be paid on a construction project. We were successful in obtaining significant improvements to portions of the prevailing wage proposal, such as those relating to private projects that receive public funding. However, one item that was added late in the Joint Finance Committee process, again without the benefit of a hearing or public input, would require prevailing wages to be paid on most infrastructures built pursuant to a development agreement and turned over to the local government. Even though these projects are 100-percent privately funded, these would be considered “public works projects” and therefore subject to prevailing wage provisions. This change largely codifies some decisions by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development that apply prevailing wage requirements in these circumstances under the law as it existed prior to the enactment of the state budget. While labor unions contend otherwise, this proposal will increase labor costs for installing this infrastructure in some areas of the state. These increased costs will ultimately be reflected in housing costs and impact affordability. So what can be done to get legislators to focus on issues of concern to homeowners and the housing industry? One obvious answer is to educate policy makers about the impact of their decisions. As costs associated with providing housing increase, housing costs increase, and the recovery of the housing market is made more difficult. In addition to understanding the impact of their decisions, legislators need to be made to care about this impact. Your WBA team can make policy arguments, send out legislative alerts, and talk about facts such as each new house built creates over three jobs, or that each house generates over $89,000 in federal, state and local government revenues. What really helps drive the point home, however, is when people from their district call their legislators and let them know
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how a specific proposal will impact them. Politicians generally recognize that if they ignore constituents, they do so at their own peril. That is why we greatly appreciate the contacts you made with your legislators during the state budget deliberations. The agricultural land issue discussed above is an excellent example of how influential your voice can be. As we go forward, please consider providing support (financial or otherwise) to those running for public office who support the housing industry and your views. The best-case scenario is to get legislators elected who support a pro-housing agenda. Also, build a relationship with your legislators, so the first time you contact them is not when you have a problem. When you do contact them, be as specific as you can about why you care the issue for which you are calling or writing, and how the proposal will impact you and the legislator’s district. Also, do not be shy about calling back, reiterating your position and trying to get a commitment from your legislator to support your position. You can impact the process and make a difference! X
Local Happenings
St. Croix Valley HBA 4th Annual Fishing Tournament
Heart of the North BA Heart of the North BA members installed split rail fence and informational signs & kiosk (built by member Pat Mattmiller of Dobiehill Timberworks) for Rice Lake’s National Lumbering Hall of Fame site.
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Valley HBA Megan Lindsey, VHBA director of member services, measuring fish at Walleye-rama.
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BCHBA Home Plan Contest, rewarding the work of area high school students.
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Doug Scott (Windsor Building Systems, LLC/Amwood Homes Inc.), Abe Degnan (Degnan Design Builders, Inc.), Dianna Roberts (Degnan Design Builders, Inc.) and Honorary MABA Member Len Linzmeier enjoy the atmosphere at the Brew, Brats and the Builders Association event.
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The Three Tenets of
Aging in Place
Education, Classification and Satisfaction by Jennifer McDermitt veryone has heard that the three rules of real estate are location, location, location. While location can play a role in the aging-in-place market, there are three more important rules that, if followed, can give builders or remodelers the knowledge they need to successfully serve this growing market: education, classification and satisfaction. The aging-in-place market is a unique one, which means it is vital for builders and remodelers to gain as much knowledge as they can about the needs of today’s seniors. This market is also diverse, and by classifying which group your customer falls into, you can present them with the right options. Finally, after learning all you can about the market and identifying which level your customer falls into, you will inevitably end up with a satisfied customer, which is the goal of every builder and remodeler. So what is aging in place? In plain English, aging-in-place means living in one’s home safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age, income or ability level. It means the pleasure of remaining in a familiar environment throughout one’s maturing years, and the ability to enjoy the familiar daily rituals and the special events that enrich all our lives. It means the reassurance of being able to call a house a home for a lifetime. Steve Wurzer of Wurzer Builders Inc. in Osseo said he started building aging in place to stay competitive. “I didn’t want to eliminate potential buyers on the spec condos I was building, and I noticed other developers building with universal design elements,” he said. Wurzer recently sold three homes built for aging in place during the Chippewa Valley HBA’s Parade of Homes. “Many people didn’t even notice the home was for aging in place; they just knew it was beautiful and well designed. That’s the key to this market,” he said. The AARP’s landmark study “Fixing to Stay” was a wakeup call to the residential remodeling and building industry. The results of the study sent two messages loud and clear: • Americans prefer to remain in their homes as they mature, rather than seek assisted living and other arrangements. • Older consumers want a reliable means of identifying the professionals they can trust to remodel their homes.
15 years. About 80 percent of all Americans 55 years or older currently own their own homes, making it the highest rate of homeownership of any age group in the country. Members of this population group also tend to be healthier and wealthier than previous generations of similar age, and expect their homes to reflect their active, independent and upscale lifestyles. Tim Webco of Webco Inc. in Janesville has been in the market for more than 10 years, and he says today’s senior is much more educated. “They know what they want, and the economy has driven many of them to think seriously about staying in their homes longer. Many of them have experienced dramatic changes in their asset portfolios, so they are looking at their options,” he said. How big is aging in place? • Eighty-nine percent of people 50+ wish to remain in their own homes indefinitely (AARP). • Seventy-five percent of remodelers have seen an increase in requests for aging in place work (NAHB). • Sixty percent of remodelers already perform aging in place work (NAHB). • Over half of all 55+ households rate their current home a 9 or 10 out of 10 (American Housing Survey). • The aging population is the number two issue to affect the remodeling industry over the next five years, only behind the availability of skilled labor (NAHB). As stated before, survey results show that seniors not only want to stay in their homes, but they want qualified, educated builders and remodelers to equip their homes with the necessary design features to make that possible. That’s why NAHB, in partnership with AARP and the NAHB Research Center, developed the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) program — the leading national educational designation designed to teach professionals how to modify homes for aging in place. The three-day training program equips graduates with the technical, customer service and marketing skills required to effectively service the burgeoning market for aging-in-place home modifications. CAPS training participants learn the mechanics and nuances of effective assessment of clients’ needs and integrating myriad considerations into unified, aesthetically pleasing, functional solutions.
Education Key to Understanding Senior Market
Classifying Customers Helps Direct Dialogue
It’s no secret that the senior market is a growing one. Millions of the Baby Boom generation will turn 55 years old this year and millions more will cross this significant threshold in the next
One of the key components to the CAPS program is learning the different levels and classifications of the senior housing market. The first, and probably most common level, involves
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clients who do not have any current loss of abilities or physical issues but are nearing the age where considerations should be made for the future. Some are open about the possibility of future physical limitations and want to design their home to age with them. Others are less comfortable with discussing that possibility since they have no real immediate needs. The CAPS program teaches you how to talk to both types of customers and help them find ways to inexpensively modify their homes so that they can stay there as long as possible. “In the CAPS training, we learned to say things like, ‘When your mother comes to visit’ to get them thinking about aging in place without making it directly about them. I was amazed at how well that works,” said Bill Binn of Wyntree Construction in Lake Geneva. The CAPS program recommends looking at the shape of the corridors, master closet spaces, and most importantly, master bathroom. Builders and remodelers should consider adequate turning radiuses, doorway widths, access to shelves or cabinets, cabinet configurations for rolling in under counter space, roll-in shower design, and hardware designs. On the exterior, the approach to the main entry doors is a major factor just for basic access. The other levels to consider for aging in place are those clients who already are experiencing some physical issues, whether they are hearing or vision impaired or have dexterity issues. Finally, there is the client who has experienced a traumatic event and needs immediate modifications. These two types of customers are somewhat easier for builders and remodelers to talk to, since they have immediate needs; however, the CAPS program helps you understand your customer’s point of view in some very unique ways. “They actually put Vaseline on sunglasses and had us walk around and try to do some common tasks,” said Binn. “Then, we put a sock on our hand with a baseball in the end and tried getting things out of drawers. Simulating these physical disabilities really gives you a different point of view and helps you get in the mindset of how to make their lives easier.”
Giving Them What They Want, What They Need Once you’ve educated yourself about this market and classified your customers’ level of needs, you are ready to give them the home of their dreams. Through simple design modifications and relatively inexpensive products, builders and remodelers can create or modify their customers’ homes to be safe, livable spaces that will sustain them for years to come. Monica Sommerfeldt Lewis is owner of Archer Lion, which specializes in windows, doors and exterior products and has a division — Your Ageless Home — dedicated to aging in place. Lewis earned her CAPS designation this spring, and she says the most challenging part of aging in place is overcoming the stereotype of how the home will look. “The resale value of these homes is very good when they are well designed,” she said. Here are some of the features of an aging-in-place home: • A master bedroom and bath on the first floor • A low or no-threshold entrance to the home with an overhang • Lever-style door handles • No change in levels on the main floor
• Bright lighting in all areas, especially places like stairways • A low-maintenance exterior • Non-slip flooring at the main entryway • An open floor plan, especially in the kitchen/dining area • Handrails at all steps Some techniques CAPS-trained professionals use include: • Lighting from multiple directions — reduces glare and shadows • Light sockets with more than one bulb — redundancy in case one bulb burns out • Stacking closets for a future elevator shaft • Contrasting colors for depth perception — use a different color counter (or edging around the counter) than the floor, staining the edge of the stairs a darker color than the rest of the steps • Convenience shelf at an entry way to place your grocery bag while getting your keys Angie Corn, a design consultant with Marling Home Works in Janesville, earned her CAPS designation to help create a showroom for her company that specifically demonstrates agingin-place design and products. “Marling recognized this as a growing market, and we wanted to create a place for homeowners, builders and remodelers to go to get ideas for their homes,” said Corn. “Some of the simplest modifications, like color contrasting on transitions, can make the biggest difference in allowing people to stay in their homes.” Demographic trends indicate that homeowners who plan to stay in their homes as they get older instead of making other housing accommodations are one of the fastest growing segments of the residential remodeling market. Many of these households can be expected to call on remodelers to adapt their homes to their changing needs and lifestyles in order to maintain their independence. Wurzer said, “If you are building spec homes without these features, you are essentially eliminating a huge part of the market for no reason. People of all ages love the design and features, and it can be relatively inexpensive, so it is foolish not to consider universal design and aging in place when building a home.” X
Wisconsin Badger Builder • September/October 2009 • www.wisbuild.org
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Builder profile
Custom Kreations Truly a Hands-On Builder
by Marie Grogitsky teve Huben, of Custom Kreations in Seymour, firmly believes his success has come through the way he does business and the company’s commitment to a quality product, open communication and building a relationship with his customers. “We are a hands-on builder. We do all the finish woodwork on the inside and most of the exterior work,” said Huben. “You’ll find the same guy painting that did your trim work. We build a relationship with our customers, and are there with them through the entire process.” That relationship continues long after a client’s home is complete. Huben said the company sends a bi-monthly newsletter out to every customer for which they’ve done work or project bid. “I would say that 75 to 85 percent of our business is repeat or referral business,” said Huben. “We work hard to stay in touch with our customers and treat them as part of the Custom Kreations family.”
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First a Cabinetmaker, Next a Builder Custom Kreations Inc. has been providing their clients with superior products and service since 1986. Huben explained that he first went to work in the field for a cabinetmaker after high school. He worked for several cabinetmakers before he ended up buying the equipment from one of them and starting his own cabinetmaking company. That work progressed into remodeling, and, eventually, homebuilding. “We started doing more and more remodeling, and homebuilding was a natural progression.” Huben never strayed far from the cabinetmaking industry. Custom Kreations includes a cabinet division, which builds all of the cabinetry for their new homes and remodeling projects. “We have gotten numerous jobs because of the cabinet end of the business,” said Huben. “We can easily match up trim during a refurbishing project. Our custom cabinets are a large part of what we do.”
All in the Family Today, Custom Kreations is a family affair. Steve’s brother Pat is co-owner, running jobs in the field. Pat’s wife Sandy does some of the final cleaning on projects. His dad Al can also be found helping out, and his wife Lisa helps runs day-to-day operations. She is also a Certified Aging in Place Specialist 12
(CAPS). Teenage sons Austin and Tyler can be found working summers for the company and five-year-old daughter Shaylee spends occasional time with mom in the office. “I just like the general atmosphere of the business. I like the creative end, the customers and working with family.” The company’s business is primarily custom-built homes ranging in size from 1,900 to 3,000 square feet. Over the past two years, the remodeling end of the business has grown, and today accounts for 50-60 percent of the company’s business. Huben credits much of his success to the good, qualified employees the business has. Currently, there are six full-time employees in the building/remodeling division and seven who work in the cabinet end of the business. “Through the years, we have formed a team comprised of some of the most respected and talented professionals in the area,” he said.
Committed to Improvement Custom Kreations Inc. is committed to continual self-improvement. “We believe in expanding our knowledge in areas such as the housing industry, our community and our own personal self,” he said. Huben has been a member of the Brown County Home Builders Association for 12 years. He currently serves as secretary and has been on the state board of directors for several years. “We belong to and serve on several committees in our local, state and national home builders associations.” Huben said he truly believes that the more the company learns, the more it has to offer its customers. “You may want to remodel or build a new home. Either way, we are dedicated to serving you with the utmost care and respect.” X
Business Quick Facts • Years in Business: 23 years • Local Association: Brown County • Awards: Leap Award, Spike Club and Energy Star certified • Three Tools You Wouldn’t Go to the Jobsite Without: Tape measure, notepad and hand shake • Web site: www.customkreationsinc.com
Wisconsin Badger Builder • September/October 2009 • www.wisbuild.org
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Wisconsin Badger Builder • September/October 2009 • www.wisbuild.org
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Are You Shopping Smart?
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Member by Karl Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, WBA Insurance Services n past Badger Builder columns I have shown you examples on how to cut the costs of your health care and health insurance. In this issue, I’m going to ask you to look beyond the cost of health insurance and look for the value in the insurance plans you buy. Here are some different aspects of a health insurance plan to look for when you shop.
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Customer Service The value of customer service always goes unnoticed until there are service issues. Here are some characteristics of a reliable customer service department for which to look. Availability and Location — Is the customer service or member services department readily available? Is the customer service or member services department located in Wisconsin or even in the United States? This may seem like a silly thing to think about, but when you have a major claim issue, wouldn’t it be nice to know that when you call you will be getting local service? Speed — How long are you on hold before someone helps you? Don’t be afraid to have your agent find out the average call wait times for the insurance companies you are reviewing. Also, check on how long it takes to answer your questions. Friendly — When you have an issue with a claim or a billing issue, do the customer service reps treat you well? I don’t know anyone that has called customer service to tell them everything is good to go, so if you are calling customer service, it is because there is an issue with a claim or maybe a billing question. The last thing you need or want is a rude customer service rep. Have your agent find out the customer service approval numbers — most insurance companies do surveys and have these numbers available. If the numbers are not available, that could be a sign. Results — Do they get the job done right, the first time every time?
Web Tools We live in an Internet world today. Is your insurance company keeping pace with the times? Here are a few Web tools to look for that add value to your health insurance plan. Access to Claims — Do you get access to your claims information, and is this information secure on the Web? Some of us work late or don’t read our mail until the kids are in bed. So if you get a bill or have questions on a claim, customer service may not be open at 9:30 at night. Having access to check the status of a claim in a secure online site at a time and place that is convenient for you is a great tool. Order Material — Can you order your member booklets or ID cards online? 14
Advantage
Information — Does your insurance company have access to quality and safety data collected by governmental and nongovernmental organizations such as the Leapfrog group to help you make a more informed provider and care choices that lead to safer outcomes? Look for companies that may have a tool like WebMD to help you, the customer, better understand medical conditions and treatment options.
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Wellness Programs
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Wellness programs are a hot topic today and for good reason. Wellness programs lower health care costs, reduce absenteeism which in turn increases productivity, reduce workers comp claims, increase morale and loyalty, and much, much more. Look for discounts to health clubs, weight management centers and other wellness resources. This is just a short list of features that can add value to your health insurance, but it’s a very important list. Getting value in your plan is a must. As a society, when we shop for a car, we don’t just buy the cheapest car out there. We shop for cost and value. A new car will cost you in the range of $16,000 to $24,000 paid over a three- to five-year period. Right now, according to the New America Foundation, the average cost of health insurance for a family is $13,000 a year, paid in one year. So why wouldn’t you put the time and effort into finding the right plan with the right cost and added value? If you feel you don’t have the time to do all this research, let your member-owned insurance agency, WBA Insurance Services, assist you in your search. Every value-added benefit discussed in this article is already being offered to you through your member-only health plan available through WPS Heath Insurance and Arise Health Plan. Not only can WBA Insurance Services offer you great value with your member-only health plans, but we can also offer quality health plans with all the same value-added benefits through companies like Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin (the #8 rated HMO in the nation), Humana, HumanaOne, United Health Care, Anthem, Dean Health Care and Unity Health Insurance. For more information on the information in this article, please contact Karl Johnson, chief operating officer, WBA Insurance Services at (888) 678-3015 ext. 23 or by e-mail at kjohnson@ wisbuild.org. WBA Insurance Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Wisconsin Builders Association® created more than 15 years ago to not only provide quality insurance programs to the members of the WBA, but also to provide the largest form of non-dues revenue for the WBA. X
Wisconsin Badger Builder • September/October 2009 • www.wisbuild.org
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Lakela
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Local Association
Parade of Homes/Home Show
Golf Outing/ BBW
Other Events
Education
Brown County
Fall Showcase of New Homes September 19-20 & September 24-27, 2009
Dec 3, 2009 Installation, SC Grand Banquet, DePere
Monthly “Associate Angle” seminars. Continuing Ed offered at some GMMs
Central Wisconsin
September 11-13, 2009
Nov. 10, 2009 40th Anniversary Celebration
Continuing Ed offered during some GMM’s
Chippewa Valley
BBW: Sept. 8, 2009 PAC live & silent auction
Oct. 13, 2009 Installation, TBD. Dec. 4, 2009 Christmas Party
See calendar at www.cvhomebuilders.com
Door County
Sept. 10, 2009 with PAC Auction Idelwild Golf Course, Sturgeon Bay
Dec. 10, 2009 Installation, TBD
Continuing Ed offered during some GMM’s
HBA of Fond du Lac & Dodge Counties
August 28, 2009, Camelot
Golden Sands
HS: Feb. 20-21, 2010
Monthly Sept. 16, 2009 Installation & Awards Banquet, TBD
BBW: April 20, 2010
Headwaters Heart of the North
Sept. 19-20 & 26-27, 2009
Nov. 14, 2009 Installation, Elks Club, Rice Lake • Aug. 22, 2009 Softball Tourney
Continuing Ed offered during some GMM’s
La Crosse Area
HS: March 12-14, 2010
Sept. 14, 2009 Building Materials Auction
Lunch n’ Learns Aug. 27, Oct. 29, 2009 Education Days: March 26, Nov. 4, 2009
HS: March 5-7, 2010
Oct. 5, 2009 Silent Auction, Dec 8, 2009, Installation, Rex’s Innkeeper, Waunakee
Lakeland Madison Area
Lunch ‘n Learn last Tues. of month
Manitowoc County
See calendar at www.maba.org Awake to Learn seminars the 2nd Wed. of month
Metropolitan
Aug. 22-Sept. 13, 2009 Spring Tour of Homes & Condos April 18-May 3, 2009 • HS: Jan 7-10, 2010 Home Builders Expo
Dec. 9, 2009 Installation, TBD
Mid-Shores
Oct. 2-4, 2009
Sept. 16, 2009 Trap Shoot, Dec. 4, 2009 Installation, Millhome Supper Club
Commerce Approved 12-Hour Course DVD available. $130 for HBA members, $225 for nonmembers at MBAonline.org.
Mid-Wisconsin August 13, 2009 Golf & BBW fundraiser
Northland Area Racine-Kenosha
Sept. 12-13, 16 & 19-20, 2009
Sheboygan County
Sept. 11-13 & 18-20, 2009
South Central Wisconsin
Sept. 12-13 & 16-20, 2009
Nov. GMM Installation August Volleyball Tournament Dec. 10, 2009 Installation
Monthly Monthly
BBW: Oct. 27, 2009 Silent Auction
Dec. 2009 Parade of Lights, Dec 8, 2009 Installation
South Western Wisconsin St. Croix Valley
Fall Tour of Homes Sept. 12-13, 19-20, 26-27 & Oct. 3-4, 2009 • HS: March 2010
Aug. 25, 2009 30th Anniversary Celebration. Dec. 15, 2009 Installation, Ready Randy’s, New Richmond
Aug. 13, 2009 What’s In It For Me? City Limits, Hudson
Valley
Aug. 16-17 & 19-23, 2009 • HS: Oct. 2-4, 2009
Sept 1, 2009 Installation, TBD
Various -- visit vhba.com for schedule
See calendar at whba.net
Wausau Area Winnebago
HS: March 12-14, 2010
BBW: Oct. 14, 2009 Silent Auction
Sept. 9, 2009 Installation, Robbins Restaurant, Oshkosh
Wolf River
HS: April 9-11, 2010, Shawano
August 11, 2009 Golden Sands Golf Course
Oct. 13, 2009 Installation, Golden Sands Golf Course
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rev. 6/19/09
Advertise Your Business in Wisconsin Badger Builder
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Call Jeff Pinwar: (800) 935-1592, x118 Wisconsin Badger Builder • September/October 2009 • www.wisbuild.org
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Underground tanks are long-lasting, easily maintained, and environmentally friendly.
Community tanks serve small and large developments.
They’re non-toxic to soil and water.
Propane is clean, efficient, and environmentally friendly, which makes it a popular choice for many green builders. And since propane tanks can be installed under ground, it’s a hit with homeowners, too. All that’s visible above ground is a small dome for refilling, testing and servicing. From the furnace to the cooktop to the water heater to outdoor living areas, propane is a reliable choice for homeowners off the natural gas main. Dig deeper at buildwithpropane.com.
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