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NEWSBUILDER |
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ATTENTION:
Beginning in 2009, the NewsBuilder will be published quarterly.
The next issue of the NewsBuilder will be published on or around January 1, 2009. |
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CALENDAR AND
EVENT LINKS |
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Board of Directors 7:30 am
December 24-26, 2008
Holiday - Office Closed
Happy Holidays!
December 30-31, 2008
Holiday - Office Closed
Happy New Year!
January 7, 2009
HBAGTA Strategic Planning Meeting 7:30 am
January 9, 2009
Deadline for Advertising in the 2009 Membership Directory
January 12, 2009
General Membership Meeting - Parade of Homes Kick-Off
January 20 - 23, 2009
January 29-30, 2009
NAHB Course - Green Building for Building Professionals
January 31, 2009
NAHB Course - Business Management for Building Professionals
February 5, 2009
MAHB Remodelers Conference - Clare, Michigan
February 7, 2009
NAHB Course - Financial Management
February 18, 2009
PREP - Professional Remodelers Experience Profile
February 19, 2009
BAR - Builder Assessment Review
February 27, 2009
NAHB Course - Customer Service
February 28, 2009
NAHB Course - Project Management
February 14 & 15, 2009
March 11 & 12, 2009
Midwest Builders ShowMarch 19 & 20, 2009NAHB Course - Green Building for Building Professionals March 21, 2009NAHB Course - Business Management for Building Professionals
May 8 - 10, 2008
June 20 - 28, 2009
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SUPERFLEET DISCOUNT AVAILABLE THROUGH DECEMBER 2008!
Sign up today and benefit from the first ever .10 per gallon for the first 90 days discount, for NEW applicants only promotion, using SuperFleet!!!
Apply for the SuperFleet card now thru December 2008 for the 10˘ offer.
Fax in the
accompanying application
today to:
( 616) 836-7398
or call Brian Porter
(517) 490-2018
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Dear Colleague:
This has been a tough year. And, we know that you've got very limited resources. But we also know that in order to make it through the most challenging housing market we've ever experienced, you'll need every weapon in your arsenal. You won't have that unless you have the most up to date knowledge on the latest products available, as well as access to the experts who have lived through similar times and prospered. Quite simply, the 2009 International Builders' Show® is where you need to be.
In that vein, we've done everything we can to make the show more affordable to attend.
Register now and start making plans to take advantage of all that IBS has to offer or visit:
www.buildersshow.com to learn more about the largest annual light construction show in the world.
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NAHB members can combine the GM $500 Private Offer with GM's Red Tag Event for even bigger savings through Jan. 2.
Visit the NAHB Member Advantage Web page for complete details. |
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Homeownership is the American dream, and this new brochure from NAHB describes the many unprecedented opportunities home buyers have in today's housing market. How much money could you save in federal income taxes by buying a home? |
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Visit the FIX HOUSING FIRST WEBSITE - and learn about their plan for a housing stimulus.
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CHRISTMAS DISCOUNTS
Looking for discounts on quality Christmas Gifts? Don't forget to check your Member Advantage Discounts out at:
And more...
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ARE YOU LINKED IN?
Join HBAGTA Members on the Professional Networking Site - "Linked In"
If you already have an account on Linked In, join the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area, Inc. "GROUP" to post notices and network with other Association members.
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Greetings! ,
On behalf of the Association Staff and Board of Directors, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you for helping to make this a successful year for the Home Builders Association of the Grand Traverse Area. Past President, Scott Duensing outlined our many accomplishments in his "State of the Association" address at our December General Membership Meeting. Together we achieved so much this year!
We continue to count on your support and participation to accomplish all that we do to represent not only our members but our industry, as well. As we move forward into the new year, we remain positive about the direction the Association is going. Take pride in your HBAGTA membership, and, remember "Do Business with a Member".
Happy Holidays!
Together, we are building a stronger association!
Kathy Maisonville
Executive Officer
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MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS
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In tough economic times, the instinct of most business owners is to cut back on their marketing to save money. However, evidence shows that a recessionary time can be a great time to grow your business.
Here is proof:
A study done by McGraw-Hill Reseach found that companies that maintained (or increased) their marketing throughout the 1981-82 recession saw an average sales growth of 275% over the next five years! Those companies who cut their marketing saw a much smaller sales growth of 19% over the next five years.
Which company do you want to be andwhere do you want to be in 5 years?
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BE RECOGNIZED AS AN INDUSTRY LEADER! |
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 DO YOU STAND OUT AMONGST THE CROWD?
ARE YOU RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN YOUR INDUSTRY?
ADVERTISE IN THE 2009 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY! This publication is an easy to use resource for consumers and HBA members. It is distributed at the 2009 Home Builders EXPO to thousands of consumers and throughout the year to our local community and beyond.
WHO WILL GET THE CALL?
The business who is recognized as a leader in their industry!
DON'T MISS THIS CHANCE!
An HBAGTA representative will be calling your business soon to give you the opportunity to be recognized as an industry leader.
Or download the contract & return by fax to
(231) 946-1051
Every advertiser (any size) will receive a free web site link on the HBAGTAWeb Site - a $50 Value! |
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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.... |
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...START YOUR ENGINES!
IT'S TIME TO REV UP YOUR REVENUE THROUGH THE 2009 HOME BUILDERS EXPO!
The 2009 EXPO will be held on February 14 & 15 at
Traverse City East Middle School.
LET'S PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND GET YOUR BUSINESS BACK INTO THE RACE!
Booth rentals are available to members of any State or National Home Builders Association in good standing.
Rates are held at $7 per square foot until January 1!
DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
or call (231) 946-2305 or (800) 422-5166
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2009 NORTHERN HOME & GARDEN HOME SHOW ISSUE |
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Northern Home & Cottage 2009 Home Show issue (February/March) features the Home Show Hot List - a fun look at the latest home building and renovation products designed to pique buyers' interest and guide shoppers though the Show to get all the details. This issue is delivered mid-January and features editorial about who, what, where and when the region's two largest home shows happen.
Special Home Show Exhibitor Package - special feature on the Virtual Home Show on MyNorth.com.
To learn more about advertising in this special issue, contact Jan Chapman, Advertising Director at (231) 941-6538 or
(800) 678-3419 or email sales@traversemagazine.com. |
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2009 PARADE OF HOMES & DEVELOPMENTS |
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EVERYBODY LOVES A PARADE!
Join us for the 2009 Parade of Homes and Developments
June 20 - 28, 2009
Contracts are now available to participate, if you would like to receive one, contact the HBAGTA office at:
(231) 946-2305 or (800) 422-5166
COME JOIN THE PARADE!
PARADE OF HOMES KICK-OFF
We will kick off the Parade of Homes at the January 12th General Membership Meeting. Table Tops will be available for $50 each. If your business would like to display your product or service, contact the Association Office. Space is limited - reserve yours today! |
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SPENDING PATTERNS OF HOME BUYERS
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 Home buying typically generates a wave of activity as people who
purchase homes spend money on improving their homes, installing new
appliances, buying furnishings, and other items. Buying and moving into
a home is one of the most important financial decisions households
make. It is therefore not surprising that NAHB's analysis shows that a
home purchase triggers a series of additional spending on appliances,
furnishings, and remodeling activities that exceed typical spending
levels of non-moving owners and persist for two years after moving.
Specifically, the NAHB analysis shows that during the first two years
after closing on the house a typical buyer of a new single-family
detached home tends to spend on average $7,400 more than a similar home
owner who does not move, including $4,900 in the first year after
purchase. Likewise, a buyer of an existing single-family detached home
tends to spend about $4,000 more than a similar non-moving home owner,
including $3,600 during the first year.
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PROSECUTERS "PASS" ON UNLICENSED BUILDERS
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By Rob Whims, Smith & Johnson Attorneys
First Vice President, HBAGTA
I took an informal survey of the local
(Leelanau/Antrim/Grand Traverse Counties) prosecutors' offices in regards to
how aggressively they might pursue unlicensed builders. I was particularly concerned about whether or
not the local counties would prosecute unlicensed builders in the absence of a
complaint from a homeowner. Under this
scenario, a licensed builder would be the one to begin the complaint and/or
file the police report. The gist of the
responses was that unless the homeowner themselves initiated the call, the
prosecutors offices were not interested in handling these types of cases.
Besides the
disturbing aspect of the lack of enthusiasm to protect licensed builders, there
is more that is troubling. Each licensed
builder is charged a regulatory fee in order to prosecute unlicensed
builders. That money being charged to us
is apparently floating in an unused "slush fund" somewhere in the State of Michigan. Per our own Roger
Papineau, MAHB is seeking the return of that money to the
builders since the State appears to have failed to set up an appropriate and
effective enforcement mechanism. We will
advise our members as we learn more.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2009
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The 2009 Professional Development Calendar is getting set and ready to serve your educational needs.
For those members who are looking for the required Continuing Education courses for the State of Michigan, rest assured these courses will be on our calendar as soon as they are available!
- January 29 & 30: NAHB - Green Building for Building Professionals
- January 31: NAHB Business Management for Building Professionals
- February 7: NAHB Financial Management
- February 18: PREP - Professional Remodelers Experience Profile
- February 19: BAR - Builder Assessment Review
- February 27: NAHB Customer Service
- February 28: Project Management
- March 6: NAHB CAPS I
- March 7: NAHB CAPS II
- March 19 & 20: Green Building for Building Professionals
- March 21: Business Management for Building Professionals
More information will be posted on the HBAGTA Website.
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DEAR SANTA |
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Dear Santa,
We've been very good this year and aren't asking for much. However, if there are any Elves who might be available after your busy Christmas rush, we could use their help and possible donations for our HBA office.
1.) New small sink upstairs installed.
2.) An office safe.
3.) A lateral file cabinet.
4.) Nice framed artwork especially northern Michigan scenes or any related to the housing industry.
Your Friends,
kathy, Jenny & Judy
PS We hope you like the milk and cookies we leave for you.
Please let us know by calling 946-2305 or emailing mailbox@hbagta.com. |
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