IBS early bird discount extended to September 15

Those who snooze, typically lose. But if you happened to “hit the snooze button” on August registration — and the savings that came with it — for the 2018 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS), do not despair.

Organizers have decided to extend those incredible August deals to all who register by September 15. That means there is still time for HBA members to obtain a free expo pass (non-members save 50%) and save $100 on a full registration. Additionally, spouse registration is free before the September 15 deadline.

Savings like these can certainly help make the typical burdens of traveling seem much less onerous. Plus, registrants can rest assured that IBS 2018 will be well worth the effort.

Don’t miss your opportunity to save before the September 15 deadline. Register today at BuildersShow.com.

Clemson Wins Again!

Clemson Football may have won the National Championship, but the Clemson Construction Sciences team brought home an award as well. The National Association of Home Builders Residential Construction Management Competition Team from Clemson University recently competed in the Construction Sciences Competition. With the help and guidance of some of our members, the team won 8th place overall out of 35 teams at the competition in Orlando this January. The judges were impressed with the level of detail in the proposal and how organized the team was in their presentation. Thank you to our Home Builders Association members who helped critique and guide the students before the competition, and congratulations again to the students, our future partners in the building industry!

The PWB Is Offering IBS Travel Grants to Its Members

The Professional Women in Building Council is offering its members a chance to apply for a travel grant to attend the International Builders' Show in January, taking place in Orlando, FL. If you are a member of the Professional Women in Building Council and would like to attend IBS in January, please email Abbey for more details on the program and how to apply for the grant.

Builders Get a Free Floor Pass to IBS Thanks to Progress Lighting

As a guest of Progress Lighting, builders have the chance to walk the show floor at the industry's biggest event. The 2017 International Builders' Show will once again co-locate with The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show for the fourth annual Design & Construction Week™, giving you access to two shows in one!

Your free 3-Day Floor Pass will admit you to the exhibit halls of both shows in Orlando. Take the first step and submit your free 3-day Exhibits Only Registration, compliments of Progress Lighting.

The International Builders' Show is produced by the National Association of Home Builders. This year's event will take place January 10-12 in Orlando, FL and is open to all. Regular registration can be found here.

Register for the International Builders' Show Now and Save

The National Association of Home Builders International Builders' Show® is the largest annual light construction show in the world, attracting more than 60,000 visitors from more than 100 countries every year. The industry's premier event gives you the tools you need to gain the competitive edge by connecting you with key business partners, improving your expertise and allowing you to experience the latest products from top manufacturers and suppliers first-hand.

Click here to learn more and register.

If you register in August, you will save up to $175 on your various passes. See below for details:

INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS' SHOW EXPO PASS [Save 50%]
Explore the products and services of more than 1,400 top industry suppliers on the IBS exhibit floor and meet with business partners to get your questions answered.

Member – FREE                [Increases to $50 on 9/1]
Non-Members – $50          [Increases to $100 on 9/1]


INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS' SHOW FULL REGISTRATION [Save $100]
Explore the products and services of more than 1,400 top industry suppliers on the International Builders' Show exhibit floor and choose from 130+ International Builders' Show education sessions covering 8 industry tracks to strengthen your knowledge and improve your business. PLUS, enjoy a year of streaming access to ALL recorded sessions with International Builders' Show Education On Demand and learn at your own pace!

Member – $275                           [Increases to $375 on 9/1]
Non-Members – $400                 [Increases to $500 on 9/1]


SPOUSE REGISTRATION [Save $25]
All spouse registrations receive the same access to International Builders' Show as the primary registrant.

Bring your spouse for FREE in August!        [Increases to $25 on 9/1]

Positive Outlook for Housing Market

A firming economy, solid job growth, rising consumer confidence, higher household formations and pent-up demand are helping to bring buyers back into the marketplace, and these factors will bode well for housing in 2016, according to economists speaking at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas.

“There are a number of positive indicators that provide solid evidence this will be a good year for housing and the economy,” said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe.

Private sector job growth has been averaging 240,000 per month over the past two years, GDP growth is expected to climb slightly above last year’s level and consumer confidence is nearly back to its pre-recession peak, Crowe noted.

Builders report their top concerns in 2016 include the cost and availability of developed lots and labor, federal environmental regulations and policies that are making it more expensive and difficult to build homes, and building materials prices.

Solid Gains for Single-Family Production
NAHB is forecasting 1.26 million total housing starts in 2016, up 13.4% from a projected 1.11 million starts in 2015.

Single-family production is expected to reach 840,000 units this year, an 18 percent increase from a projected tally of 711,000 units in 2015. Using the 2000-2003 period as a healthy benchmark when single-family starts averaged 1.34 million units on an annual basis, Crowe said the ongoing housing recovery will see single-family starts steadily climb from 55% of normal production at the end of the third quarter of 2015 all the way up to 87% of normal by the end of 2017.

On the multifamily side, NAHB is anticipating 417,000 starts in 2016, up 5% from an expected total of 397,000 units last year.

Meanwhile, residential remodeling activity is expected to register a 1.1% gain this year over 2015.

A Bright Regional Outlook – With One Exception
Delving below the national numbers, David Berson, chief economist at Nationwide Insurance, said that most regional housing markets look healthy.

Labor market conditions, a key driver of housing demand, are strong in many metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) – supporting faster household formations and boosting local housing activity through rising incomes. These factors indicate that most of the 400 local housing markets “should see sustained growth in the coming year,” Berson said.

With the unemployment rate declining in 90 percent of the MSAs over the past year, Berson said that the housing fundamentals are the strongest in over a decade, a trend supported by the labor market, demographics and consumer preference to own.

However, Berson noted that many MSAs with strong ties to energy exploration and production in states including Louisiana, Texas, Wyoming and South Dakota are expected to see limited housing expansion in the near term, as low oil prices are reducing employment.

Mortgage Rates: From ‘Cheap’ to Low
Frank Nothaft, chief economist of CoreLogic, foresees solid fundamentals for housing in 2016. With 30-year fixed-rate mortgages running at or below 4% during the past year, Nothaft called them “cheap.” He said mortgage rates are expected to gradually rise one-quarter to one-half a percentage point this year up to 4.5%, going from “cheap to low.”

Nothaft added that overall home sales will rise 4-5 percent in 2016, led by a 13 percent gain for new home sales, with sales volume and growth strongest in the South and West. “There is stronger growth in households, population and demand for new housing” in these regions, he said.

Nationwide home prices this year will increase about 4-5% above last year’s level and are projected to reach the 2006 peak by mid-2017, Nothaft said. Tight mortgage credit for consumers is expected to ease slowly this year, but remain relatively tight compared to 15-20 years ago.

MORE from IBS: Explore Buyer Preferences and Sales Success

In the last five years there has been a dramatic shift in what customers expect from their home shopping experience. That is why it is so important that your online and onsite sales programs work hand-in-hand. If you’re interested in learning more about how to do this, the 2016 International Builders’ Show is your one-stop-shop for all things sales and marketing.

This year, the show is offering several in-depth, three-hour intensive education sessions that dig deep into specific sales and marketing niches. For example, the session From Online to Onsite: Mapping Out Sales Success in 2016 & Beyond 

provides insight on how to build a sales machine that is 300% more effective when sales and marketing roles are united. During this session, participants get an in-depth look at the strategies used to build cohesive online and onsite programs. They’ll also learn how to create a structured online sales program that results in higher prospect engagement and increased appointments.

Another key session, Who (Really) Are Your Buyers? Leveraging Demographics & Personalities to Deliver What Buyers Crave, provides a deeper understanding of consumer science in home buying. Because no two people are exactly alike — we all act, think and communicate in unique ways — it can be a challenge when it comes to making a sale. This session gives builders key insight into consumer behavior and how that translates into more sales.

Don’t miss out on these opportunities to discover how to take your sales to an entirely new level. A real understanding of the people who will be living in your homes, can make a significant difference in your business.

IBS Has Exciting Opportunities for Young Professionals

The NAHB's International Builders' Show (IBS) is coming to Las Vegas in January, so buy your tickets today! If you are a Young Professional who is unsure of what benefit IBS will have for you, read on to see the opportunities at this year's show.

As the number of young professionals attending the Builders’ Show continues to grow, so does the education and events specially tailored to give up-and-coming industry professionals the tools they need to refine their skills, make new connections and have some fun!

Innovative Education
Explore cutting-edge innovations in technology, building materials, products and even financing through an exciting contemporary learning format in the NEW Innovation Hub. Attendees will also become the innovative resource behind developing topics being discussed in some “crowdsourced” sessions. Several sessions on various topics will be held inside the Innovation Hub during the three days of the show.

Residential Construction Management Competition
This competition is one of the highlights of the Builders’ Show and gives students the opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom via the completion of a management project/proposal to a real construction company.
Proposals are submitted to a group of construction company executives who act as judges and students will defend their proposals to the judges in front of an audience. This is a great opportunity to watch students display their knowledge and skills. The competition takes place Monday and Tuesday, with the awards ceremony from 5-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan 20.

Under-40 Panel Discussion & Mixer
Professional Builder magazine editors will lead a sure-to-be-lively panel discussion featuring some of the industry’s under-40 rising stars. During this session, the panel will reveal some of their challenges and accomplishments, as well as their thoughts about how the industry can attract more young people. Grab a beer and listen to the panel on Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 3:45-5 p.m.

Young Professionals After-Hours Party
One of the best ways to grow professionally is by meeting and networking with other industry professionals. The under-40 crowd will come together to enjoy incredible entertainment, an open bar and late night munchies, at the Foxtail Nightclub in SLS Las Vegas – one of the hottest new hotels on the strip — from 8-10 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Get complete descriptions and see additional young professional opportunities at IBS.

Be Pro-Active for a Green Appraisal

When it comes to getting an accurate appraisal for a high-performance home, it’s easier and more practical to take the right steps up front than to try to get a low appraisal revised after the fact.

Appraisal expert Sandra Adromatis, a featured speaker at the High Performance Building Zone during the recent International Builders’ Show, offered advice for securing an accurate appraisal of a high-performance home.

First and most important is documentation, especially of features behind the walls and other items that aren’t immediately obvious.

A good place to start is by taking a close look at the Appraisal Institute’s Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum. This is particularly important if the home is built to a nationally recognized program like theICC-700 National Green Building Standard or includes additional high-performance features that should be documented within the appraisal.

Filling out the addendum and providing it to the appraiser will help ensure that the house’s important features are noted and valued appropriately. In a move that will further facilitate the process, the Home Innovation Research Labs, which certifies homes to the National Green Building Standard, recently announced that it will provide a copy of the addendum noting some pertinent features of the property with green certifications.

In broad terms, the addendum addresses insulation, the home’s envelope, water efficiency, windows, daylighting, appliances, the HVAC system and the home’s energy rating.

The form also allows appraisers to document indoor air quality measures, projected utility costs, the home’s HERS rating, solar capabilities, the walk score, access to public transportation, orientation on the site and landscaping.

Providing detailed information to the appraiser about any of these features will go a long way toward securing an accurate appraisal. Even more helpful will be any comparison you can provide between your product and building the same house to the prevailing local code, especially regarding energy use and costs.

To ensure an accurate appraisal, it’s equally important that the appraiser be experienced in evaluating green and energy-efficient homes. Again, the Appraisal Institute is a good place to start. If you navigate to the left side of its Find an Appraiser page, you can search for someone in your area who has passed the courses necessary to be listed on the institute’s professional development program registry for the valuation of sustainable residential buildings.

That’s good information to share with the lender, who will ultimately be responsible for hiring the appraiser.

Remember also to select a lender well-versed in high-performance construction. Also consider adding a contract clause to require the lender to hire an appraiser qualified to evaluate green homes.

Another option: Establish relationships with lenders who understand the value of green and are committed to ensuring appropriate appraisals on such properties.

The best place to start when looking for such a lender? Put the networking power of your HBA to work and ask other members for recommendations.

Click here for more information on contract language.

Avoid These Deal-Breaking Mistakes

At a Jan. 22 International Builders’ Show seminar in Las Vegas, John Palumbo, CEO of The Sterling Group based in Jacksonville, Fla., provided several strategies to help builders to seal the deal more often than not by demonstrating the biggest and most common negotiation deal breakers:

No Differentiation. Most small builders are not doing research that shows why they are better than their competitors, said Palumbo. “If you do what everyone else is doing, you are missing sales.” One example he cited that makes a community stand out is a food truck that comes three days a week to serve the local residents.

Negotiating With Your Customers. “Consumers don’t like ‘aggressive’ salespeople but they love ‘assertive’ salespeople,” said Palumbo. The most successful are those who use information, charm and the power of persuasion to maximize sales. Make the customer feel like they made the right choice in their home purchase without being talked into it.

Treating All Sales the Same. Salespeople who sound automated and like they are reciting from a script come off as insincere to the customer. The most successful, he said, are “unsalespersons” who are spontaneous, casual, authentic and relaxed and who use their own words and stories. They are able to observe, uncover and predict their prospect’s behavior, thereby evoking emotion and communicating more effectively.

Not Using Third-Party Endorsements. Companies that properly use third-party endorsements can increase their sales by 25% to 30%, said Palumbo. When it comes to the bottom line, customers who have seen written correspondence, videos and social media endorsements are better positioned to buy your products with less negotiating and feel as though they have not been persuaded at all.

To make the endorsement process easy, ask a satisfied customer for a few short words or sentences on why they were happy with their home purchase and then write it up yourself and get it signed off by the customer.

Not Hypnotizing the Customer. Customers don’t want to be informed, they have already done their homework on the Internet. They want to be guided and given a reason to feel good about their purchase so that when they go home at night, they are thrilled about the decision they made earlier in the day with you.

Quitting too Soon. “Call me if you have any questions, here’s my card, let me grab a brochure.” These are all examples of salespeople who quit too soon and never make it across the finish line. Don’t throw in the towel on your next customer so soon. Do not let “feeling pushy” stop you from making one more call or letting your customer walk out the door without a contract in hand.

Being a Good Listener. The ability to interpret what you hear from the customer is vital. Most deal breakers occur because of a disconnect between what the customer is actually saying and what the salesperson thinks they are saying. By honing in on the customer’s needs and desires, you can use that information to initiate a solid purchase decision.

Strategies for Selling Green

According to Michelle Desiderio, most buyers interested in high-performance homes are motivated not so much by energy efficiency, but rather by personal interest in making the world a better place to live.

Desiderio, who serves as vice president of innovation services for Home Innovation Labs in Upper Marlboro, Md., spoke at the 2015 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas about strategies to sell high-performance homes, including which audiences to target.

“You want to make sure you’re really speaking to things that motivate them,” she said. “If you’re only selling energy efficiency, you’re missing the big picture, and even alienating the young buyers.”

For Millennials especially, a message about saving money is a little offensive. “They’ll choose a high-performance builder simply because it’s the right thing to do, not just to save money,” she said.

Desiderio said that today’s high-performance home buyer is looking for a sustainable lifestyle that is healthier, efficient and better for the world at large. And 61% of builders say customers will pay more for a home that meets these criteria.

There are four groups of buyers that are particularly inclined to purchases high-performance homes:

The Persuadable Middle, a.k.a. The Mainstream Consumer
Desiderio pointed to research which showed that 16% of consumers are super green and “out to save the earth,” while another 18% have completely rejected the idea. This leaves 66% of consumers in the middle, most of whom have “good, green intentions,” she said. “They worry that they’re being excluded from the green movement a little bit. So make it real for them with what motivates them, like lower operating costs and walkable communities,” she said.

Women
Women lean green across all areas of the country, income levels and ethnicities. In many households, women are the primary breadwinner and decision maker for the home. “They are interested in the health and safety of the family, not so much what they’ll save on energy bills. And they’re willing to pay a little bit more for the things that will make their house healthier and better for the family,” Desiderio said.

Millennials
This group of home buyers really cares about the environment and the world. They’re socially responsible, globally-oriented, environmentally conscious savers, who are renting and living in green apartments right now. Ninety-three percent of them expect to own a home and don’t want their parents’ home. But they do want a tech-equipped home that is both good for the environment and their wallets.

Aspirationals
“Granite and green will win over this new group of home buyers,” Desiderio said. They are focused on style, social status and sustainability, and desire construction and design that lends to less consumption in trendy ways.

The best overall strategy in catering to these groups, Desiderio said, is to demonstrate that the home is a better product and better value for the consumer, and that sustainability is about better quality of life.

Jenn Nowalk, director of sales and marketing for Homes by Dickerson, which sells high-performance green certified custom homes, provided some tactics, stressing the importance of educating staff and making sure they attain green designations.

“It provides proof to consumers that the company and its employees are experts in green and that your homes meet certain criteria,” she said.

Nowalk also recommends spending time building up your online presence so that consumers, who are spending an increasingly large amount of time shopping online, can see that you are a leader in high-performance home building.

“Blog or tweet pictures of your finished and unfinished homes. Use Pinterest; especially to attract women. It gives people the ability to go and dream,” she said. Infographics are another fun and fairly simple way to show consumers what interior and structural features to look for in your homes.

All of Dickerson’s homes display signs that showcase the builder’s name, designations and any certifications that are underway for the property, she said. In addition, each home also has small touch points inside and out, driving home important messages.

For example, Dickerson uses prominent vinyl wall decals that peel on and off to highlight certain features and provide key talking points to customers.

Participating in local green-related events also helps them get in front of consumers and demonstrate how they are experts in the field.

For Homes by Dickerson, the effort has paid off tremendously. In 2014, the company closed 96 homes at an average sales price of $510,610, leading to revenues of about $48.5 million.

Engaging Realtors is also a key step in reaching green consumers. Annette Bubak, a green-designated Realtor and regional builder sales manager at SolarCity, said that only 3-5% of high-performance homes are properly identified as such within local Multiple Listing Services.

Because agents really depend on builders to provide signage and information, videos and other marketing materials to sell their homes, she said its critical that builders add comments to their listings highlighting the benefits; upload their homes’ certificates; and provide professional-quality images.

Members Save $ on your IBS registration in September

September is the only chance for members to take advantage of the best pricing on registration to the building industry’s biggest event! And this year, an IBS expo pass also gives access to the four other exhibit floors of Design & Construction Week™ – KBIS, IWCE, Las Vegas Market and TISE.

Top 4 reasons to register in September:

1. FREE IBS expo pass – See more than 500,000 net square feet of exhibits and 1,300 manufacturers and suppliers of the latest and most in-demand products and services.
2. Save $100 off IBS full registration – IBS education is in demand! The number of attendees getting full registrations (with access to all education sessions) has grown 40% over the past two years and speaker ratings are at an all-time high! With more than 100+ education sessions in 10 tracks attendees are sure to gain the knowledge to improve their business.
3. HBA housing block – Take advantage of great hotel properties at discounted rates and complimentary shuttle service to/from the Las Vegas Convention Center.
4. Spouse registration – Registration for spouses is FREE during the month of September!

Register at BuildersShow.com/september

Gabriel Builders Recognized For Customer Satisfaction

Gabriel Builders Wins 2014 Builder Partnerships Achievement Award in Customer Satisfaction

Gabriel Builders received a National award at the 2014 International Builders Show in Las Vegas.  Gabriel Builders has achieved the level of: Distinction in Customer Satisfaction from Woodland, O’Brien & Scott, and Builder Partnerships.

Gabriel Builders scored enough points on the process evaluation and referral rates to qualify for the Builder Partnerships Achievement Award in Customer Satisfaction. This year’s applicants were evaluated based on three criteria, willingness to refer, the customer experience, and the referral rate.

The Willingness to Refer was the hurdle to qualify for the review process. Once builders cleared the 88 percent required Willingness to Refer rate, they were then evaluated on the other criteria which required an in-depth review of processes and documentation.

"We are honored to be recognized by Builder Partnerships for an Achievement Award in Customer Satisfaction," says Gus Rubio, president of Gabriel Builders. " We work hard, everyday, to produce some of the highest referral rates from our customers in the industry. We are blessed to work with wonderful clients who enjoy our exacting standards for production."

Gus Rubio is a member of the Board of Directors of your Home Builders Association.

Congratulations to all the employees at Gabriel that made this happen 

Did you miss the International Builders Show?

Yes?  You don't have to completely miss out.  Watch excerpts from IBS TV by clicking here.

NAHB International Builders' Show

The NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) is the largest annual light construction show in the world, and this year, attendees will have access to the exhibit floors of two of the biggest tradeshows for design and construction professionals! Join us for IBS February 4-6, 2014 in Las Vegas!

Enjoy a free 3-day exhibit pass, courtesy of 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty. IBS will be co-located with The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, launching the first annual Design & Construction Week and you won't want to miss it!

Click here to register for your free pass. For more information about the NAHB International Builders' Show, click here.

Building a Quality Home Does not Always Equal Running a Sound Business

During the 2013 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, Tom Stephani, MIRM, president of Custom Construction Concepts Inc. based in Crystal Lake, Ill., outlined the following 10 business mistakes builders typically make and how to avoid them:

1. Fail to see a collapse coming. All markets are local, and they all go through an up-and-down cycle, Stephani said. He said builders need to keep tabs of warning signs by monitoring the number of starts in their area, being prudent with their specs and examining fluctuations in the cost of land.

2. Don’t ask for help. Too often, builders stubbornly cling to the notion that they have all the answers and that the competition is their enemy, said Stephani. The best way for builders to find answers to improve their business is to become actively involved in their local and national builders associations. Some of the benefits of membership include advocacy, education, networking and joint marketing resources, he said. “Through NAHB, I have a network of hundreds of people I’ve met over the past years,” said Stephani. “That knowledge sharing is immense. The 20 Clubs provide that opportunity as well.”

3. Alienate Realtors. The purpose of Realtors is to sell home, and builders are being penny wise and pound foolish when they try to work around them and avoid the commission fee because Realtors will often bypass the builder’s properties when showing prospective clients homes to sell. Stephani said it is wise to use Realtors because they are professional at marketing and sales, provide better access to pre-qualified clients and can help to manage client expectations.

4. Fail to set realistic expectations. To remedy this, Stephani said that the builder must make it clear to their clients that they are in charge of the project. The customer must make selections on time, be able to afford what they want, and must not attempt to supervise subcontractors or suppliers. The builder must communicate to the client that changes to the job require time and money, that delays during construction are common and that workers will not necessarily be on the job eight hours every day. “Let the client know there could be bumps in the road but that they will be happy in their home when they move in,” he said.

5. Ignore customer service. Those who ignore this item because there is no money in it, or because they are too busy, do so at their own peril. Good customer service is essential, Stephani said, and the best way to provide it is to see issues from the customer’s perspective. Builders who have a willingness to exceed customer expectations and to do what is promised often reap great rewards through word-of-mouth referrals.

6. Fail to price for profit. Builders often fail to price their homes properly due to competition, market conditions, inaccurate appraisals and pressure from Realtors. As a result, their cash flow becomes critical and they try to compensate by increasing volume. To fix this problem, Stephani suggests that builders better manage their specs, tighten financial controls and reporting, and develop a pricing approach based not just on cost but also on location.

7. Don’t update the business plan. “If you don’t put a plan in writing it can guarantee you won’t reach your goals,” he said. Builders should update their business plans on an annual basis, he added.

8. Fail to manage conflict effectively. Too often, builders do not recognize the emotional state of owners during construction and are not committed to win-win agreements with them, Stephani said. Most builder/client conflicts arise from disagreements about what was promised and what was delivered. Clear and concise wording of the contract; a complete set of plans and specifications; and good documentation of all communication are essential.

9. Don’t manage design and budget. Too often, builders fail to properly manage their clients’ expectations, fail to control the architect and let clients take control over their subcontractors and suppliers. Builders need to be up front with their clients, let them know what to expect during the building process and work in tandem with the architect.

10. Take on the client from hell. A true client from hell often displays wild mood swings; obsesses over minor details; invites conflict; demands perfection but is not willing to pay for it; creates problems for subcontractors and employees; berates, belittles and badmouths the builder; refuses to pay until sued; and is never happy. To avoid this situation, Stephani recommends that builders go with their gut feeling when interviewing a client, evaluate their personalities and traits, take note of their occupation and observe whether a husband and wife are openly arguing – which can be a warning sign.

Source: National Sales and Marketing Council eNews

NAHB's International Builders Show- Las Vegas, Nevada

The International Builders Show is coming up, January 22-24, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The IBS 2013 is the world's largest annual light construction show. It offers hundreds of seminars, exhibits, and special events that allow for learning and net-working. On-line registration is now open, to register click here,you can also book hotel accommodations at special discounted rates by going to the  main page. South Carolina has been assigned the Venetian/Palazzo for $199 plus tax, but keep in mind this is a first-come, first-serve basis so make your reservations ASAP.
And as their website states"What you learn in Vegas wont stay in Vegas!"

IBS: Special Session with Fed Chairman Ben Bernake Planned

Attendees of the 2012 International Builders Show (IBS) will have the exclusive opportunity to hear Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke deliver remarks during a special session at the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) board of directors meeting on Friday, February 10 at 12:30 pm.

The event, held in the Valencia Ballroom of the Orange County Convention Center, will have limited general seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.

WHEN:
Friday, Feb. 10, 2012
2:30 p.m. ET

WHERE:
Orange County Convention Center
Valencia Ballroom
Orlando, Fla.

TO ATTEND:
The special session with Chairman Bernanke is open to all registered attendees of the 2012 International Builders Show; however seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register for IBS, please visit www.BuildersShow.com/Register.

IBS Education Seminars Announced for Orlando

The premier trade show for Home Builders, the International Builders Show (IBS), returns to Orland January 12-15. The show will feature many education offerings that will help you earn the professional designations you want to earn.

Full conference registration includes these courses:

• Advanced Green Building: Building Science
• Advanced Green Building: Project Management
• Building Your Team of Experts (National Kitchen and Bath Association course)
• Business Accounting and Job Cost
• Business Management for Building Professionals
• Construction Contracts and Law
• Customer Service
• Design/Build Solutions for Aging and Accessibility (CAPS II)
• Designing for the Active Adult
• Estimating
• Green Building for Building Professionals
• Marketing & Communications Strategies for Aging and Accessibility (CAPS I)
• Marketing Strategies, Plans and Budgets (IRM II)
• Marketing to the Active Adult
• Negotiating Skills
• Project Management
• Understanding Housing Markets and Consumers (IRM I)

The courses are offered January 8-11 in Orlando, FL.

To download the IBS Education Guide, click here.

NAHB offers $25 off IBS registration in October

From now through October 31st, NAHB members and non members alike can save $25 off registration for the 2011 NAHB International Builders’ Show. This discount can be used for both exhibits only and full registrations*. That means an NAHB member purchasing an exhibits only pass will pay just $25!

When registering enter and activate Promo Code: TNAH25 on the Registration page.

*Offer valid for all paid registration options with the exception of exhibitor, student, faculty and spouse registration. Good for new registrants who register online between October 20—October 31, 2010.

To register for the International Builders Show, click here.