׉?ׁB!בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://ezqQhLnspGL2sVR6dUpMF-qB-Q5oHVk6R67xpiUbPno`׉ 7cassandra://tiHaFDCvPuRbQPE-nLKtkc5nTSM3mvQiElGlbLv7Xyc͏`s׉ 7cassandra://QF_SJ5P-E7MwxM1Mugycovx8_eoP98A3D5FcEkZLvW03`׉ 7cassandra://55iVSILVq9x8OTiLD_yVZ_U-ynhCIZjuJxUBNMPjvXkV͠]W-Y7U6]ט(u׈׈EW-Y7U6]׉EApril 2016 General Membership Meeting at Bender Building Hope Foundation Scholarship Application Deadline April 30, 2016 • CERIOS Home Improvement & Painting LLC • Eastern Inc. Steel Contracting 2016 June 1, 2016 Trumbull Marriott 6pm - 9pm • Fairfield County Bank • Gault Energy • HSL Building Company, LLC • Luis Borba Construction LLC • Marc Sterling General Contractors • Webster Bank ׉ 7cassandra://QF_SJ5P-E7MwxM1Mugycovx8_eoP98A3D5FcEkZLvW03`W-Y7U6]W-Y7U6](בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://AM853HNAPebHix6yqNdG_B-5CzdLgfyW5Y3GaAQWL7ky`iq׉ 7cassandra://1tG90JtYAs7TtoOwgv8-zY9ILGxDAuXV2lca6tATyPUt`׉ 7cassandra://nhgciFGxmP8dVvSb_Me2po7J4nppQjv58NNMrtdWFa8L`׉ 7cassandra://kkhPXAw6RxZ1-PXQDTi7sA5BJ9uRekkIhRZhJ_vExDE 0͠ W-Z7U6]נW-Y7U6]9׉Hhttp://www.interstatelumber.comGׁ ׁ rנW-Y7U6]1ā79׉Hhttps://www.bankatunited.com/Gׁ ׁ rנW-Y7U6]x@9׉HKhttp://mailto:hbra%40buildfairfieldcounty.com?subject=Newsletter%20FeedbackGׁ ׁ rנW-Y7U6]yV9׉H-http://http://www.%20buildfairfieldcounty.comGׁ ׁ rנW-Y7U6]ہ9׉Hhttp://www.ringsend.comGׁ ׁ rנW-Y7U6]̵9׉Hhttp://www.ehbuilders.com/Gׁ ׁ rנW-Y7U6],̂9׉H http://www.ridgefieldsupply.com/Gׁ ׁ rנW-Y7U6]̸U9׉H!http://www.dimatteoinsurance.com/Gׁ ׁ rנW-Y7U6]/̐9׉H"http://http://acadiainsurance.com/Gׁ ׁ rנW-Y7U6]\ȁ9׉H http://www.interstatelumber.com/Gׁ ׁ rנW-Y7U6]̹9̰9׉Hhttp://hocongas.comGׁ ׁ rנW-d7U6^[̼9ׁHhttp://buildfairfieldcounty.comׁ ׁ ЈנW-d7U6^tE9ׁH$mailto:hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E2016 Annual Sponsors ׉ 7cassandra://nhgciFGxmP8dVvSb_Me2po7J4nppQjv58NNMrtdWFa8L`W-Z7U6]׉EHBRA Board of Directors 2015-16 Officers President Sr. Vice-President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer Immediate Past President Peter Battaglio Max Bender Steve Berko Ken DeLeo Gary Fanali John Hertz Alex Shook Michael Wood Joanne Carroll Jerry Effren Peter Fusaro Andrew La Sala Jr. John Murren Michael Palumbo Nick Yanicelli Peter Gaboriault Bear Paw Builders Chris Steiner Steiner, Inc. Anthony DeRosa DeRosa Builders Michael Church William Pitt Sotheby’s Kim DiMatteo The DiMatteo Group Maureen Hanley-Bellitto United Bank 2015-16 Directors Hocon Gas Bender Supply FourSquare Build & Design Doherty & DeLeo City Carting Hertz Construction Pella Commercial Wood Builders Life Directors JMC Resources The Greyrock Companies Preferred Builders Cannondale Building & Design Murren-Kane Construction ERI Building & Design Susquehanna Enterprises HBRA Staff Gina Calabro Executive Officer Deanna Hiller Executive Assistant HBRA of Fairfield County 2228 Black Rock Turnpike Suite 307 Fairfield, CT 06825 203-335-7008 hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com www. buildfairfieldcounty.com Want to advertise? Contact the office for more information and rates. March 2016 | HBRA of Fairfield County | 3 20-21 Page: 6-8 9 10 13 14 15 16-18 March General Membership Meeting New Members Associate Spotlight What’s Happening at the Fairfield County HBRA HBRA Builder Day at the Capitol The Building Institute & HBRA Builder News: Zero-Energy Homes Keep Looking to Go Mainstream Drones Take Flight in Record Numbers Safeguard Your Reputation, Avoid Online Embarrassment Rising Compliance Costs Are Problematic for Home Builders HBRA Training OSHA 10 Regular Features Page: 4 5 21-23 11 11 12 12 19 19 Back Cover Executive Officers Message Upcoming Events Member Benefits Sponsors/Advertisers 2 Please visit our Sponsors Ridgefield Supply Hocon Gas United Bank East Haven Builders Supply Interstate+Lakeland Lumber The DiMatteo Group Ring’s End Inside this issue... W-Z7U6]W-Z7U6](בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://DHJkomSIZ3d1OV8V_VVIiX4eBdGZcArnFXHeYviZOtM`iq׉ 7cassandra://9izoSdhq6eq2EmzZ1ZdQBBeuVKonRhWwr0rl3sUjs2M݂`׉ 7cassandra://8COQtX3yX9EvBjf-htsCR3G17E90EdnUcWy5odoMYmkB`׉ 7cassandra://jBVpm37w5hTp95JpWtWuPpViEoAYCcJVKzhKeXaA_XE͠ W-[7U6]ØנW-Z7U6]̏9׉Hihttp://buildfairfieldcounty.com/events-2/#!event/2016/5/4/general-membership-meeting-at-connecticut-stoneGׁ ׁ rנW-Z7U6]̏9׉HKhttp://buildfairfieldcounty.com/events-2/#!event/2016/5/12/osha-10-trainingGׁ ׁ rנW-Z7U6]ف̏9׉HMhttp://buildfairfieldcounty.com/events-2/#!event/2016/6/1/hbra-annual-meetingGׁ ׁ rנW-Z7U6]̏9׉Hbhttp://buildfairfieldcounty.com/events-2/#!event/2016/7/20/2016-fairfield-county-hbra-golf-classicGׁ ׁ rנW-Z7U6]9׉H6http://mailto:gina%40buildfairfieldcounty.com?subject=Gׁ ׁ rנW-Z7U6]`9׉HXhttp://mailto:hbra%40buildfairfieldcounty.com?subject=Meetings%20and%20Events%20QuestionGׁ ׁ rנW-Z7U6]V̖$9׉Hbhttp://buildfairfieldcounty.com/events-2/#!event/2016/7/20/2016-fairfield-county-hbra-golf-classicGׁ ׁ rנW-d7U6^ g9ׁH$mailto:hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EA Message from the Executive Officer Dear HBRA Members, Mid March & the beginning of April were non-stop with a variety of events that included educational seminars: “Business Succession Planning,” “How to Grow your Business: Building Solid Relationships,” and “Contracts, Arbitration, Mediation & Dispute Resolution.” The Builders Day at the Capitol at the end of March - a well-attended event from all around the state. The April General Membership Meeting at Bender NEW showroom in Norwalk where we had a record number of attendees - over 140! See pages 6-8 for photos of the evening. And a joint discussion with the Builders & Realty Institute - over 20 HBRA members and guests attended, to hear builders from Fairfield and Westchester speak about the the state of affairs in both counties. See page 15 for photos. All around, the HBRA office and members have been busy! The next General Membership Meeting is an important one as we once again honor the Fairfield County Building Officials and present the Building Official of the Year. Be sure to register for the event that will be held May 4th at Clarke in South Norwalk. See page13 for details. The Building Hope Scholarship deadline is April 31st. Two four-year scholarships will be awarded, one for merit and one for financial need. All Thanks to the Fairfield County HBRA Panel: Michael Murphy, Murphy Brothers Contracting, Arnold Karp, Karp Associates, Andrew La Sala Jr., Cannondale Building & Design, and Chris Wright, Wright Building Company. 4 | HBRA of Fairfield County | April 2016 Gina Calabro gina@buildfairfieldcounty.com HBRA members, employees of members, and the dependents of employees are eligible to apply. The OSHA 10 class is filling up fast for May 12th & 13th - the limit is 40 - so register quickly if you need to get your OSHA 10 card! As always, if you have any questions, please call the office or email us at hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com! Best, ׉ 7cassandra://8COQtX3yX9EvBjf-htsCR3G17E90EdnUcWy5odoMYmkB`W-[7U6]׉EMay 4, 2016 June1, 2016 General Membership Meeting Building Official Night Clarke Distributors Norwalk 6:00pm - 9:00pm $20 - Members $40 - Non Members Click Here to Register May12 & 13, 2016 OSHA 10 MUST ATTEND BOTH DAYS Rings End Educational Facility 160 Avon Street, Stratford, CT 7:45am - 2:00PM $25 - Members $50 - Non Members Click Here to Register HBRA ANNUAL MEETING Trumbull Marriott 160 Avon Street, Trumbull, CT 6:00pm - 9:00pm $80 - Members/ Members Guests $120 - Non Members Click Here to Register July 20, 2016 HBRA Golf Outing Whitney Farms Golf Course 175 Shelton Road (Rt 110) Lunch, Cocktails, Dinner, Raffles, and Awards. 10:30am - 6:00pm $200/Golfer $800/Foursome (includes bonus items) $60/Dinner Only Click Here to Register Contact the HBRA Office with any questions at hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com 2016 HBRAGolf Classic - July 20th Presented by Rings End Whitney Farms Golf Course, 175 Shelton Road (Rt110) in Monroe CT. • 10:30am Registration • 11:30am Lunch • 12:30pm Shotgun Start CLICK HERE to Register To Golf Lunch, Cocktails, Dinner, Raffles, and Awards. $200/Golfer $800/Foursome (includes bonus items) $60/Dinner Only April 2016 | HBRA of Fairfield County |5 W-[7U6]ŁW-[7U6]ā(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://RqXt8gVdEzmz_NyfmODmo0KvtV2rmhrcRgzXg7F54m4N`iq׉ 7cassandra://L7KA0v_Kiev5SZ8Qr7SeFDyuj5USc4JdOWObp2w3osc1`׉ 7cassandra://0GowWGuP7LLzB8MQS9gxV8-zgsS4HKOi8rfbZ_3Sz5QZ`׉ 7cassandra://5POXbUTAID0bWADURnw4EsRiSMTvIrIQRqRk4KP0Bvg&͠ W-_7U6]ȒנW-[7U6]Ɓ9׉H@http://www.houzz.com/pro/jonathansloane/david-sloane-photographyGׁ ׁ rנW-[7U6]ǁ 9׉H#http://www.buildfairfieldcounty.comGׁ ׁ r׉E|What’s Happening at the HBRA Fairfield April General Membership Meeting Attendance Record! Over 140 members and guests attended the April 6th General Membership Meeting hosted by Bender at their new showroom in Norwalk. It was an evening of excepional food, drink, and networking topped off with raffle drawings. Lora Mazurak from Shoreline Painting won the Kohler Moxie Speaker Showerhead. We did not have a membership raffle winner so the prize will be $750 at the May 4th meeting. Three new members were introduced to the group that evening: Emilia Ferri from Emilia Ferri Architecture + Design, LLC - Dedicated to developing and implementing innovative design solutions. Marc Hanley from Marc Sterling General Contractors - Custom home builder focusing on fine craftsmanship, and attention to detail. Lora Mazurak from Shoreline Painting & Drywall, Inc., A professional house painting contractor serving all of Fairfield County. Special thanks to Max and Nina Bender for hosting the event. Photos courtesy of David Sloane Photography More photos at www.buildfairfieldcounty.com on the Photo Gallery. 6 | HBRA of Fairfield County | April 2016 ׉ 7cassandra://0GowWGuP7LLzB8MQS9gxV8-zgsS4HKOi8rfbZ_3Sz5QZ`W-_7U6]׉EVPhotos courtesy of David Sloane Photography April 2016 | HBRA of Fairfield County | 7 W-_7U6]ʁW-_7U6]Ɂ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://lGdAbP5Yl0pZLpEITliYA7iv31p6a3PqI-3k6xpcZLM`iq׉ 7cassandra://IXjdkQV-BfEmpWp38NhJ3qydQtJwmyUbZWCpIqTfn0Q`׉ 7cassandra://LgZVuEPWhp7W8mwt3by2AoXMIjUFvUcPIolxyIPflHET`׉ 7cassandra://3pmaaojJf-2fi_IIMVwNk-9ksAxMyqA_Lmv_uIUlLm0h͠ W-`7U6]͓נW-_7U6]ˁ %9׉H-http://http://www.buildfairfieldcounty.com%20Gׁ ׁ rנW-_7U6]́9׉H#http://www.buildfairfieldcounty.comGׁ ׁ rנW-e7U6^,9ׁH#http://www.buildfairfieldcounty.comׁ ׁ Ј׉EPhotos courtesy of David Sloane Photography More photos at www.buildfairfieldcounty.com Photo Gallery. 8 | HBRA of Fairfield County | April 2016 ׉ 7cassandra://LgZVuEPWhp7W8mwt3by2AoXMIjUFvUcPIolxyIPflHET`W-`7U6]׉EWelcome to the the newest members of HBRA of Fairfield County! Go to www.buildfairfieldcounty.com for their contact info. Member: Cesar Rios CERIOS Home Improvement & Painting LLC Full service, high quality, professional painting company. HSL Building Company, LLC Member: Erno Z Bacso Member: Chris Taroli Eastern Inc. Steel Contracting We specialize in fabrication projects requiring an additional level of service. Luis Borba Construction LLC Member: Luis Borba Fairfield County Bank Members: Virginia Turnbull GailAnn Ouillette Gault Energy Placing energy conservation at the forefront of all we do. Member: Meredith Donaher Member: Joanne O’Mara Since 1871 we’ve served the needs of residents & businesses in Fairfield County. Marc Sterling General Contractors Custom home builder focusing on fine craftsmanship, and attention to detail. Member: Marc Hankey Webster Bank 80+ years -The relationships we’ve built with our customers are what matter most. March 2016 | April of Fairfield County | 9 W-`7U6]ρW-`7U6]΁(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://lnjEm79W8Al8rWaKjDlQyQTEGIv3zF2HPhZjvHaQ7KI*`iq׉ 7cassandra://EN9Czn3AAmao6xe7KlmmWIlcoYH_BopegM58uoUBy5o"`׉ 7cassandra://3KS23iCSWRkLDdm6_srTS8EZkH7pCKbsj7dmkbs_uy8Y:`׉ 7cassandra://zIqLsCnkF9pnD3aYC3dHH1dqutlIg_XsvG7_sHrXy9I G͠ W-`7U6]ҖנW-`7U6]Ё!F9׉HFhttp://mailto:christina%40ridgefieldsupply.com?subject=Katz%20RoadshowGׁ ׁ rנW-`7U6]с d9׉Hhttp://hocongas.comGׁ ׁ rנW-e7U6^) w؁9ׁHhttp://www.hocongas.comׁ ׁ ЈנW-e7U6^( 9ׁHmailto:pbattaglio@hocongas.comׁ ׁ ЈנW-e7U6^'49ׁHhttp://bitly.com/KRׁ ׁ ЈנW-e7U6^& 9ׁH%mailto:christina@ridgefieldsupply.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E March “Associate Spotlight of the Week” Rich Cunninham For over 40 years, Ed’s Garage Doors has been welcoming people home with sales, installation and service of the finest custom and semicustom architectural style overhead doors in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. See over 30 full-size doors on display in our showroom at 136 Water Street in Norwalk. 203.847.1284 www.edsgaragedoors.com Tom Whitaker Mr. ShowerDoor (www.mrshowerdoor.com) began in the early 1980’s with the concept of manufacturing and assembling our own products in order to improve delivery time and reduce backorders and errors. Integrating the latest advances in design, we hold four patents in the industry. Tel: 800.633.3667 Joyce Sardo C. Read Smith Read started his insurance career with Since 1905, Fordham Marble has been fabricators and installers of Marble and Granite. Innovations Fordham has pioneered helped shape the face of the modern stone fabricating business. Opened in 1990, the Stamford Showroom has grown to 10,000 square feet. Our staff knows the trends & materials, their knowledge is at your disposal to save you time and money. Contact Joyce Sardo at 203-348-5088 or Joyce@fordhammarble.com Check us out at www.fordhammarble.com a local agency called Pierson & Smith in 1989. Located in Stamford, the agency was a full service insurance agency providing Property & Casualty Insurance for both personal and commercial customers. First Niagara Bank purchased the agency in 2011 and as a result of the acquisition, additional resources were added making First Niagara one of the leading independent insurance brokers in the region that represents the Home Builders Program endorsed by Acadia Insurance. First Niagara also represents additional insurance companies that write home builders not only in Connecticut but also New York. You can contact Read at 203-854-3425 or Read.Smith@fnrm.com Joe Passero With 95 years of industry experience, Klaffs has firmly established itself as the ultimate resource for home design products, as well as unmatched product knowledge and guidance. Our unique “showroom” stores were created with a simple vision in mind; to help our customers visualize and explore new possibilities. Klaffs offers the largest selection of world-renowned bath, lighting and other home design products...all under one roof. Contact Joe Passaro at 203-866-1603 or jpassero@klaffs.com Check us out at www.klaffs.com 10 | HBRA of Fairfield County | April 2016 Cecy Gillen Cecy Gillen Designs, llc is a small interior design firm located in Norwalk CT. With close to 3 decades of experience in the Construction and Home Improvement field, she now dedicates herself to what she loves most - the Interior design of Residential Homes. Her imaginative design has earned her awards with the BBB of Connecticut and the most recent “Woman of the year 2015” from the National Professional Women of CT. For further inquiries please contact cecygillendesigns@gmail. com or visit at www.cecygillendesigns.com ׉ 7cassandra://3KS23iCSWRkLDdm6_srTS8EZkH7pCKbsj7dmkbs_uy8Y:`W-`7U6]׉EdFINISH CARPENTRY CLINICS WITH GARY KATZ RSVP TODAY! Friday, September 16 7:30am-2:30pm Ridgefield Supply 29 Prospect St. Ridgefield, CT 06877 MASTER YOUR CRAFT If you believe in quality craftsmanship, don’t miss this FREE event! Christina McFarland • 203-438-2626 x 216 • christina@ridgefieldsupply.com or online: http://bitly.com/KR-Ridgefield Propane and Natural Gas Products! Connecticut’s largest family owned Propane company with over 350,000 gallons of storage, HOCON GAS has a reputation for delivering propane energy and industry expertise for more than 60 years! Pete “Propane Pete” Battaglio with over 33 years of experience Sr. Regional Sales Manager Hocon Gas, Inc. • 6 Armstrong Road Shelton, CT 06484 Office: 203.402.7800 • Fax: 203.944.0300 Cell: 203.343.2199 Email: pbattaglio@hocongas.com www.hocongas.com NORWALK 33 Rockland Rd. (203) 853-1500 WATERBURY 20 Railroad Hill St. (203) 754-7601 GUILFORD 736 Boston Post Rd. (203) 458-2790 DANBURY 86 Payne Rd. (203) 744-4000 TORRINGTON 2407 Winsted Rd. (860) 626-0900 Copyright © Hocon • HOD#726-30 April 2016 | HBRA of Fairfield County | 11 W-`7U6]ԁW-`7U6]Ӂ(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://_w9vu2EembADTY8aUEnKNvDx9nR5is4eJXnTooJmo6o`iq׉ 7cassandra://0gNDF7b-Nw8wcbcpleHIkdsehcDj3sL-mcHApeqfAaI`׉ 7cassandra://LF1umzp-05rLRuDL5f21nrMY3OsPaLRsBmQzJfnZCN8I1`׉ 7cassandra://chmTMI0Xbx_JULb8Xh118oIe38I9GlHTR-EDPuK9DLwJ24͠ W-a7U6]ۗנW-`7U6]Ձ99{9׉Hhttp://bankatunited.comGׁ ׁ rנW-`7U6]ց4?9׉Hhttp://www.ehbuilders.comGׁ ׁ rנW-`7U6]ׁ$aY9׉Hihttp://buildfairfieldcounty.com/events-2/#!event/2016/5/4/general-membership-meeting-at-connecticut-stoneGׁ ׁ rנW-`7U6]؁k9׉Huhttp://nebula.wsimg.com/f1cb02faa65c76ee99a73127be0ffb70?AccessKeyId=7CEDD188BBCDA125E2D8&disposition=0&alloworigin=1Gׁ ׁ rנW-`7U6]فZ/9׉HQhttp://mailto:info%40buildinghopefoundation.org?subject=BHF%20Scholarship%20AwardGׁ ׁ rנW-`7U6]ځ9׉HQhttp://mailto:info%40buildinghopefoundation.org?subject=BHF%20Scholarship%20AwardGׁ ׁ rנW-e7U6^% 9ׁH!http://buildinghopefoundation.orgׁ ׁ Ј׉EMEET THE MOST POWERFUL BUSINESS PARTNERS IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY. Kathryn A. Eren, VP, Cash Management Officer; Lisa Stuard, AVP Commercial Loan Administrator; Maureen Hanley-Bellitto, SVP, Commercial Team Leader; Gregory Pastor, Jr. VP, Commercial Banking Officer; Kim Karl, VP, Commercial Banking Officer; Deep community roots. Unrivaled market knowledge. Unmatched customer service. When a bank builds its commercial banking team around the values that truly make a difference in helping your business and community grow and prosper, that’s more than banking. That’s changing the way you bank. Talk to us today. Visit bankatunited.com/commercial Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender ANNOUNCING the arrival of our new 8-story BOOMTRUCK CONNECTICUT - East Haven - Manchester - Newtown SANDY HOOK - 2 Turnberry Lane - 203-426-0030 NEW YORK - Millwood • Mold / Mildew Resistant Board • Fire Rated Board • ½” Light Weight Board • Exterior Sheathing • Metal Studs • Acoustical Ceiling Tile 12 | HBRA of Fairfield County | April 2016 ׉ 7cassandra://LF1umzp-05rLRuDL5f21nrMY3OsPaLRsBmQzJfnZCN8I1`W-a7U6]׉EWhat’s Happening at the HBRA Fairfield The Building Hope Foundation Scholarship Awards Application Deadline April 30th Each year the Building Hope Foundation conducts a scholarship competition for the Home Builder and Remodelers Association of Fairfield County. Members, employees of member companies, and members of employee’s immediate family are eligible to apply for a scholarship award. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2016. The scholarships will be awarded at the HBRA Annual Meeting on June 1st. CLICK HERE to download the Building Hope Foundation Application. Please contact the HBRA office with any questions, (203) 335-7008 or email: info@ buildinghopefoundation.org Don’t Forget to Register! The May 4th General Membership Meeting at Clarke, South Norwalk Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Fairfield County’s building official of the year The May General Membership meeting will be held in Norwalk at the Clarke Distributors showroom from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Join us for food, drink and prizes, plus the Building Official of the Year Award & the Membership Raffle! The winning name pulled- John Koziol of RCCM Inc, was not in attendance so the raffle is now at $750! All active members names are in the drawing - you have to be present to win! 64 South Main Street, So. Norwalk, CT 06854 Click Here to REGISTER or contact the HBRA office at 203-335-7008 April 2016 | HBRA of Fairfield County | 13 W-a7U6]݁W-a7U6]܁(בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://KpfZ_jSHn7ftHWgNFXBkM9qU4erqYe1x1B_0c6harsE)`iq׉ 7cassandra://G4AGP1sN951V1p77RckWZBcwVTv4D_xKztl-ZdDoT7A`׉ 7cassandra://PYoLy_M5pAeAYw_hppB676tQzi4LGGehSG7aORAZs4wR`׉ 7cassandra://VAw56dd6oU3X4RZ_GVi3KGCx9uIZGD6eWHgKvyxRrCg͠ W-a7U6]ߑנW-a7U6]ށȁ̴ 9׉Hhttp://www.hbact.org/Gׁ ׁ r׉ErThanks to all of the Fairfield County HBRA members who joined us for the Builder Day at the Capitol. Special thanks to Representative Gail Lavielle, Senator Scott Franz, and Senator Bob Duff for speaking with our group. For Up-to-date informationon HBRA Legislative efforts, please visit the HBRA CT website at www.hbract.org. April 2016 | HBRA of Fairfield County | 14 ׉ 7cassandra://PYoLy_M5pAeAYw_hppB676tQzi4LGGehSG7aORAZs4wR`W-a7U6]׉EThe Building & Realty Institute and HBRA of Fairfield County Thanks to Albert Annunziata, Executive Director of the Weschester County Building & Realty Institute for inviting the HBRA of Fairfield County to participate at the April 14th meeting: Challenges and Obstacles to Home Building in Westchester and Fairfield Counties, A Comparative Look Special thanks to our HBRA Panel Members: • Andrew La Sala Jr., Cannondale Building & Design • Arnold Karp, Karp Associates • Michael Murphy, Murphy Brothers Contracting Inc • Chris Wright, Wright Building Company l-r: Michael Murphy, Arnold Karp, Albert Annunziata, Gina Calabro, Ed Plotkin, Andrew La Sala, Jr., Chris Wright, Kenneth Finger, Eric Abraham, Eric Messer April 2016 | HBRA of Fairfield County | 15 W-a7U6]W-a7U6](בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://2-g0K0giKMVLPMRwFZb6b9wlFltUFUR03Ac5zPhkOPk`iq׉ 7cassandra://iv7hdP9Yb9hEAWk26HPwhxqs1jYOfQk5yGdayr8l78M'`׉ 7cassandra://aIgT3vzFcxMSg6Sib7pbNDmqB1_6fICIH8eG-Cdpt34J`׉ 7cassandra://Fac9KxHu_QGUkEH6B-vE5_MEAceNo5K2tfIhKie9MM8HU͠ W-a7U6]׉E PBuilder News Zero-Energy Homes Keep Looking to Go Mainstream NAHB Somewhere there’s a long list of expectations and Despite price points that continue to deter many would-be buyers, nearly 6,200 housing units in the United States and Canada have been classified as zero-energy ready or better, according to a recent report released by the Net-Zero Energy Coalition (NZEC). NZEC defines “zero-energy ready” as a home that can supply at least 90% of the its annual energy demand. NAHB supports voluntary energy-efficiency guidelines that exceed mandatory requirements if they can be shown to enhance the home’s value and repay initial costs through savings in net operating costs over a reasonable period of time. The second-most concentrated region of zeroenergy ready homes is in the Northeast — an area not exactly well known for its sunshine, but booming with interest in renewable energy. Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York together tallied 783 zero-energy-ready (or better) units. Achieving true net-zero status is still a major feat, as evidenced by the figures in NZEC’s report. Of all the residential units inventoried, just 528 of them (9%) were deemed zero-energy units (those that supply 100-109% of the home’s annual energy demand). Four percent of the units were classified as “net producers” capable of supplying 110% or more of the home’s energy demand. A snap shot of the data is also available in this inventory infographic. NAHB recognizes that energy efficiency is in the best interest of the nation’s economy, environment, security and energy independence. It continues to work with government at all levels and with private industries to remove regulatory and institutional barriers to such innovation. Drones Take Flight in Record Numbers NAHB While many retailers remain focused on the novelty of someday using drones to deliver packages, thousands of leaders in other industries have found much more practical and less gimmicky ways to benefit from these unmanned aerial vehicles. An aerial view of a A drone’s-eye-view of a home built by RMB Building & Design, courtesy of photographer Jeff Wenzel. Legally flying a drone for commercial purposes — even if not charging a fee for the service — requires what is known as a Section 333 Exemption from the FAA. At the start of 2015, only seven such exemptions had been authorized. But less than a year later, NAHBNow reported that the number had quickly grown to about 2,100. 16 | HBRA of Fairfield County | April 2016 Within the last four months, that number of authorized, commercial drone operators has skyrocketed to more than 4,500. And the number keeps rising almost every day. In fact, the FAA has been so inundated with requests, that it posted an advisory on its website to notify applicants of potential processing delays “due to the high volume of Section 333 petitions received…” The intent — or as the FAA puts it, “mission” — of these drone operators ranges from wildlife surveys, to search-and-rescue training, to closed-set filming for commercials and movies. But the most common missions listed include photography and videography of construction sites, real estate and infrastructure designs. Almost half (46%) of the buildings that made NZEC’s list are located in California, where sunny skies and statewide zero-energy initiatives are key drivers to big market growth. ׉ 7cassandra://aIgT3vzFcxMSg6Sib7pbNDmqB1_6fICIH8eG-Cdpt34J`W-a7U6]׉ESafeguard Your Reputation, Avoid Online Embarrassment NAHB It takes several years to build a strong reputation, but just seconds for it to crumble. Though the Internet opens countless growth opportunities for businesses, it also provides an audience to anyone with an opinion. Remodelers and home builders who neglect to continually monitor their online reputation are putting their business at serious risk. Google Consumer Surveys found that when making a big purchase, more than 67% of consumers say their decisions are influenced by online reviews. If they discover several negative reviews about a company, its products or services, they’re likely to take their business elsewhere. Reputation monitoring firms like ReviewTrackers, ReputationDefender and Status Labs are growing rapidly. But investing in their services won’t likely produce a big enough return for smaller businesses that can typically get the job done themselves. It’s much easier to keep tabs on what people are saying about you online when you know how and where to look. And by approaching each issue with calm professionalism, you can turn even a nasty review into a potential lead generator. Where to Start Google yourself. In other words, perform an online search for your business to see what results come up. This should be done regularly, so save yourself some time and set up a Google Alert to receive email notifications whenever your company name is mentioned online. Then, determine which sites your customers are most likely to use (some of the most common include Angie’s List, Houzz and Yelp) and regularly set aside time to check them at least once a week. The Better Business Bureau is another great resource that allows you to read and respond to consumer reviews. Never fight fire with fire Getting into an argument online with a reviewer rarely ends well, even if the complaint is totally inaccurate. Keep in mind the reviewer has nothing to lose, but your business could experience significant, long-term consequences. However, no response can be just as damaging as an argumentative response. Rather than immediately going on the defensive, consider posting a concise apology or an April 2016 | HBRA of Fairfield County | 17 acknowledgement of the customer’s concerns and your willingness to work toward a resolution. Potential clients who see your composed response will be more assured of your professionalism and commitment to customer service. Make it more personal Do not think the conversation is confined to websites, text messages or emails. Always follow up your online response with a more personal conversation either face to face or by phone. Smaller companies – especially in the remodeling and home building industries – can more easily identify and directly contact their dissatisfied clients, than can larger companies that serve thousands of consumers. Amplify the positive reviews Not all of your reviews will be negative (hopefully), but unfortunately, the positive reviews get far less attention. That’s why it’s critical to emphasize each positive review even if it means simply posting “Thank you!” as your response. It shows you’re in tune with your clients and appreciate their feedback. Share positive reviews as often as possible on social media, your website and other marketing materials. The cost of doing business Despite even your best efforts, many clients will feel the need to express their discontent online. Setting the client’s expectations as early as possible is the best way to help ensure client satisfaction and strengthen your bottom line. W-a7U6]W-a7U6](בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://h4hMdZE-TnUsuR9FtXx39jVOUR6oR-b12rpAPnX6juA`iq׉ 7cassandra://JymiJqgF1P8fFZDYlBbqnzWpNj_l0LZ64eyuHMwxnPg`׉ 7cassandra://OFV9u7SZxaLdDWJTRjzM7Icd8sS2azzcKsoWe5rMPWIPi`׉ 7cassandra://lVSwaXX-cs48-LRM-UwyhgqBMSaLq2TGk-S3ntRLyi8 +!h͠ W-b7U6]נW-a7U6]>9A9׉Hhttp://interstatelumber.comGׁ ׁ rנW-a7U6]m9׉Hhttp://dimatteogrp.comGׁ ׁ rנW-a7U6]"ˁD9׉HGhttp://mailto:hbra%40buildfairfieldcounty.com?subject=HBRA%20NewsletterGׁ ׁ rנW-e7U6^. ȁ9ׁHhttp://www.dimatteogrp.comׁ ׁ ЈנW-e7U6^- @_9ׁHhttp://InterstateLumber.comׁ ׁ Ј׉E -Builder News Rising Compliance Costs Are Problematic for Home Builders DSNews Home builders have hit a roadblock. The rampedup regulatory environment has made it difficult for builders to produce affordable homes. Regulations put in place to protect the environment and to shore up local city finances are holding back affordable home building, according to a report by Jody Kahn, SVP of John Burns Real Estate Consulting. “Now, more than ever, the demand for affordable entry-level housing will need to be met by the resale market, since new homes have become permanently more expensive to build,” Kahn stated. In a survey of more than 100 home building executives across the U.S., John Burns determined what new home construction costs have come into play that did not exist 10 years ago and which markets have been affected most by regulation. Builders identified local issues with compliance in the Florida, Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, Texas, Southwest, California, and Northwest markets. John Burns’ National Issues Mentioned Over and Over by Home Builders: • $5,000+ per house erosion control costs. Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) compliance costs, even in areas that rarely get rain, can now total $5,000+ per home plus fines for noncompliance. Many builders hire newly formed companies to plan, sandbag, sweep, monitor, photograph, and clean up the entire development every day, regardless of the weather forecast. • $2,500+ energy code costs. Several builders in hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com 18 | HBRA of Fairfield County | April 2016 Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and California cited $8,000 or more per house in new energy code costs. • $750+ mortgage documentation and closing costs. While we expect the cost to comply with new mortgage documentation requirements to exceed $750 per home, one builder noted that the new TRID mortgage compliance rules alone have added at least that much. • $5,000+ fire sprinkler costs. In at least 7 markets that we could identify, builders mentioned new requirements to install sprinklers in townhomes, as well as in single-family homes, at a cost of $5,000–$10,000 per home. • Understaffed jurisdiction offices. Many planning and permit offices continue to operate with reduced staffing from the bottom of the housing correction, causing costly delays in plan approvals, building permits, and inspections. • Utility company delays. Builders across the country complain of much longer than usual delays and rising costs associated with connecting electric, gas, phone, and cable services to new communities. “While virtually all of these costs appear to come with positive consequences for the environment, neighborhoods, or city finances, they also make it quite difficult for builders to build entry-level homes and, consequently, for the home construction market to recover to normal volume levels,”Kahn stated. “Rising construction costs push new home prices higher and out of the reach of many prospective buyers. Increasingly, home builders have been forced to serve only the more affluent home buyers.” ׉ 7cassandra://OFV9u7SZxaLdDWJTRjzM7Icd8sS2azzcKsoWe5rMPWIPi`W-b7U6]׉EThe brand trusted by more builders than any other Locations in Greenwich, Stamford, Bethel, Newtown CT & Shrub Oak, NY Call Us at 1-888-499-8889 or visit InterstateLumber.com Look no further for an insurance agent who can work with you to design an insurance portfolio just right for your business. If you engage in construction or remodeling of one or two family residences in CT then I want to talk to you. Our construction insurance program includes: • General Liability • • • Property Business Auto Inland Marine • Workers Compensation • Umbrella • Builders Risk Kim Marie DiMatteo, CIC, MWCA I have been in the construction insurance business since 1992. I know the markets, the products, and what’s right for you. Call me today to schedule a convenient appointment. 79 Bridgeport Ave, Shelton, CT 06484 | 203.924.5429 | www.dimatteogrp.com April 2016 | HBRA of Fairfield County | 19 W-b7U6]W-b7U6](בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://khYbi3WdDVTCE_Hkw6tAGyu5AqkJoDrx3sO1QLI0dwIp[`iq׉ 7cassandra://R0q3mO_vG94Dwyf2gjw-Z4RIdrSPaljbFKsoUbpGzG4v`׉ 7cassandra://ajJDFzTgtJ2Gjnmt5LLqk168Gyv0Or_ReUsbhklEjyACb`׉ 7cassandra://Kpd_KCgTHzriLuxKYacJnOnDCDc3MrC5gSSFDsb_53k.*.͠ W-c7U6]נW-b7U6]_z̔9׉Hhttp://www.mynpp.comGׁ ׁ rנW-b7U6]̵%9׉HKhttp://buildfairfieldcounty.com/events-2/#!event/2016/5/12/osha-10-trainingGׁ ׁ rנW-b7U6]̠̒9׉Hhttp://dimatteogrp.comGׁ ׁ rנW-b7U6]J<G̤9׉Hhttp://ringsend.comGׁ ׁ rנW-e7U6^ 9ׁH mailto:customerservice@mynpp.comׁ ׁ ЈנW-e7U6^[̘9ׁHhttp://www.mynpp.comׁ ׁ Ј׉ESeminars and Training Register Online or call the HBRA office at 203-335-7008 OSHA 10 Hour Construction Thursday, May 12 & Friday, May 13, 2016* 7:45am-2:00pm Rings End Educational Facility 160 Avon Street, Stratford, CT OSHA is coming to FINE you! Get ahead of them & learn what you need to know for your business and your employees. The OSHA 10hour construction training course is designed for anyone in the construction industry. Upon completion, participants will receive an OSHA construction safety and health 10-hour course completion card from the Departement of Labor. HBRA Members: $25.00 NARI Members: $25.00 Non-Members: $50.00 *Must attend both dates in order to receive OSHA card-per federal regulation. Continental Breakfast & Lunch included both days. Payment must be received by May 10th to reserve your spot. Walk-Ins will not be accepted at this course due to limited seating. Sponsored by: 20| HBRA of Fairfield County | April 2016 ׉ 7cassandra://ajJDFzTgtJ2Gjnmt5LLqk168Gyv0Or_ReUsbhklEjyACb`W-c7U6]׉EMember Benefits HBRA of Fairfield County and the National Purchasing Partners (NPP) have teamed up to offer discount pricing on things you need from companies you trust. NPP negotiates the rates and makes them available to Fairfield County members. Products include Verizon Wireless services, Expedia, Best Buy, and Office Depot to name a few. How to sign-up Visit www.mynpp.com, select Company, then Construction, then Residential. Select HB&RA - Home Builders and Remodelers Associations from the dropdown menu, complete the enrollment and START SAVING! Access top-tier pricing from one of the nation’s leading single-source suppliers of industrial gases, welding supplies, and safety equipment. Airgas USA, LLC offers NPP members exclusive pricing on a variety items commonly used in your industry. GETTING SET UP IS EASY Click “Get Started” below to set up your Airgas account with NPP pricing. You will need your NPP Member ID An Airgas representative will contact you within 7 business days. Once you have an account, you will have immediate access to discounted pricing on Airgas items. For questions, please contact customerservice@mynpp.com or 800.810.3909. April 2016 | HBRA of Fairfield County | 21 W-c7U6]W-c7U6](בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://FtNIuCuOe84cOhSUgAmtvOBBj95N_lckV-yesS4WAQA'_`iq׉ 7cassandra://YFyeUyo3G2Eefjy07RP0C8Ov6ot3dQEw497CWtI7rBM`׉ 7cassandra://o8rjInTTDX_ykP0IQ8WgOkqs5tbDHO4IphEK_ErVqU0G`׉ 7cassandra://a8nx778HmMTrh3QdG08Pfd-vmL-9V9E70TkNY0D3RO0 ͠ W-d7U6]נW-c7U6]h*9׉Hhttp://www.savewithups.com/NAHBGׁ ׁ rנW-c7U6]ǁ9׉H&http://www.eMemberBenefits.com/NAHB%20Gׁ ׁ rנW-c7U6]݁a9׉H&http://www.eMemberBenefits.com/NAHB%20Gׁ ׁ rנW-c7U6]̓9׉Hhttp://www.nahb.org/ma.Gׁ ׁ rנW-c7U6])Zg9׉Hhttp://mynpp.comGׁ ׁ rנW-c7U6]r̢9׉Hhttp://bbfb.com/psf/npp%20Gׁ ׁ rנW-c7U6]A̜9׉H;http://mailto:npp%40bestbuy.com?subject=Financing%20OptionsGׁ ׁ rנW-c7U6]`q̔9׉Hhttp://www.mynpp.comGׁ ׁ rנW-e7U6^4 ̓9ׁHhttp://www.nahb.org/ma.ׁ ׁ ЈנW-e7U6^3 d.9ׁHhttp://www.savewithups.com/NAHBׁ ׁ Ј׉E'Member Benefits TURN ANYTIME INTO TECH TIME WITH NO PAYMENTS FOR 120 DAYS SMART, EASY FINANCING FOR THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY Get the latest technology without the upfront cost. Finance your Best Buy For Business™ purchase today and take advantage of the latest hardware, software and services without a single payment for 120 days. Plus, as an NPP member you have access to top-tier pricing. Leasing benefits include: • Simple one-page application • Quick turnaround • 100% financing includes delivery, installation, software, services and more • Flexible terms from 12 to 72 months • Standard and build-your-own billing • Exceptional service and support from people who know business technology Go to mynpp.com and sign in or register to get your Member ID Then go to: bbfb.com/psf/npp You will need the following information to set up an account: Your NPP Member ID Registration Code: GvAX9B3V User ID: Create Your Own If you are interested in learning more about financing options or can’t find what you are looking for, contact npp@bestbuy.com. How to register: Visit www.mynpp.com, select Company, then Construction, then Residential. Select HB&RA - Home Builders and Remodelers Associations from the dropdown menu, complete the enrollment and START SAVING! 22 | HBRA of Fairfield County | April 2016 ׉ 7cassandra://o8rjInTTDX_ykP0IQ8WgOkqs5tbDHO4IphEK_ErVqU0G`W-d7U6]׉E Members Save with the UPS Shipping Program The UPS Savings Program is available for NAHB members! Make the most of your membership and take advantage of some of the most competitive rates available on shipping services with UPS. Whether you need your documents or packages to arrive the next day or are looking for the most affordable shipping option, UPS understands the importance of reliability, speed and cost. See how UPS discounts can help your bottom line: • Up to 36% on UPS Air letters including UPS Next Day Air®* • Up to 32% on UPS Air packages (1 lb.+)* • Up to 34% on UPS International imports and exports • Up to 24% on UPS Ground shipments • Savings begin at 70% on UPS Freight® shipments over 150 lbs. You can receive these discounts even if you already have a UPS account. Plus, the more you ship, the more you can save with UPS. To enroll and start saving, visit www.savewithups.com/NAHB or call 1-800-MEMBERS (800-636-2377), M-F, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. ET. *Discounts exclude UPS Express Critical® and UPS Next Day Air® Early A.M.® National Association of Home Builders Establishes New Affinity Program with G&K Services for Uniforms and Facility Services NAHB is pleased to announce the launch of their newest member benefit program with G&K Services. A leader in uniform rental for more than 100 years, G&K Services enhances your company’s image and safety by consistently providing superior customer service and high-quality work apparel. In addition to first class uniforms, G&K Services can provide companies with a full array of facility services including cleaning supplies, microfiber cleaning cloths, mat services, mop services, work towels, lockers, first-aid supplies, and much more. Home builders face an array of work-related and environmental conditions and ensuring employees are prepared for the situation, while maintaining a professional presence, is one of the keys to a successful business. Whether it’s alleviating heat stress with superior ventilation and mesh technology, protecting workers with flameresistant and arc-rated apparel, or simply providing professional clothing that shows people you are a leading builder in the industry, G&K Services has the uniform solutions builders need at exclusive member pricing. With this program, you can expect a free site assessment, a cost comparison and set up for new customers. In addition, members will receive up to 20% off standard pricing*, a single point of contact for their account, 24/7 customer support, and options for safety, flame-resistant and high-visibility apparel. To learn more, members can visit www.eMemberBenefits. com/NAHB or call a G&K National Account Specialist at (713) 9676214 to request a quote or free site assessment. *20% discounts and no cost setup are for new G&K customers. Existing G&K customers may be eligible for discounts upon expiration of their current agreement term. NAHB Member Advantage gives members an easy way to reduce expenses, maximize profits and increase efficiency. NAHB offers exclusive discounts on a variety of products and services that can benefit your business, employees and family. For the most up-to-date information as well as detailed information on how to access the savings, please visit www.nahb.org/ma. April 2016 | HBRA of Fairfield County | 23 W-d7U6]W-d7U6](בCט(u׉׉ 7cassandra://0ir7U0LAaTIUNfyuFmVpVqREwaDe-JUKYxcAvkmM6tw$`׉ 7cassandra://bKlTa9Xdclq3SL2A-pH1dSnTniy1UTxCkRik1Epj6SQu`s׉ 7cassandra://oJPabIJdaKGhm_iehcGPRWLqHq6Wrr-Z33JMnG69tfg)`׉ 7cassandra://xsYFKmvQgQBQTGHdY-wI0PhBJP-zg3LV9UfS6gVe3UY͠]W-d7U6]נW-d7U6]79׉Hhttp://ringsend.comGׁ ׁ r׉ERingsEnd.com Lumber Building Materials Millwork Kitchens Hardware Paint Mouldings Design & Decor ´ Since 1902 we have been helping you REbuild, REfine,REinforce and REfresh homes. We offer the highest quality building materials, knowledgeable Sales Associates, and dedicated educational programs. Our job is to make your job a success. Count on Ring’s End. The new model in home REmodeling. ׉ 7cassandra://oJPabIJdaKGhm_iehcGPRWLqHq6Wrr-Z33JMnG69tfg)`W-d7U6]׈EW-d7U6^W-d7U6](,April 2016 NewsletterW-*.*f 8