Signs of Improvement for Remodeling are Just in Time for Remodeling Month

May is Remodeling Month. Did you know that NAHB and other sources are predicting growth in home remodeling expenditures in 2011 and 2012?

According to NAHB, Americans spent $116 billion on improvements to owner-occupied homes in 2010. In addition, NAHB is forecasting that number to increase to $131 billion by 2012 as the housing market recovers from the recession.

Locally, attendee research from our own Southern Home & Garden Show revealed that 17.7 percent of the Spring home show audience has plans for a major remodel within the next 12 months and another 40.2 percent are planning minor home improvements over the next year.

Meals on Wheels News

Did you know that the HBA of Greenville has been a partner with Meals on Wheels since 1971? The HBA's relationship with Meals on Wheels was started by the HBA's Womens' Auxiliary, a group organized primarily by the wives of the Home Builders at that time. Since 1971 the HBA has supported Meals on Wheels with contributions and by sponsoring one and sometimes multiple routes.

Today the HBA continues to sponsor a route each Tuesday. Our regular volunteers are:

• John Bumstead, Piedmont Natural Gas
• Chuck Childress, BB&T
• Jerry Fay, Milestone Construction
• Michael Galloway, Galloway Custom Homes
• Scott Presley, Greer State Bank
• Dan Rawls, Dan Rawls Company
• Brad Thompson, First Choice Custom Homes
• Cindy Thompson, First Choice Custom Homes
• Tom Ward, Home Team Pest Defense

Think you may want to help out? Our volunteers generally take the route about once every four to six weeks. It takes about two to three hours to pick up the meals at the Meals on Wheels office and distribute them to about 10 grateful recipients. If you are new to Meals on Wheels, you will need to participate in a short orientation session.

If you are willing to help the HBA with the Meals on Wheels route, please click here and indicate the dates you think you can take a route. Simply type in your name and select the date or dates that you can volunteer for the route. We are currently scheduling the route from June through August.

Honorable Mention
This week your HBA of Greenville had the honor of helping Meals on Wheels recognize its volunteers as a sponsor of the 2011 Volunteer Recognition Celebration.

At the celebration one of our dedicated members, BB&T, was honored as the 2011 Corporate Partner of the Year by Meals on Wheels. If you know someone at BB&T, please congratulate them on this important honor.

Your HBA of Greenville is proud of its 40-year involvement with Meals on Wheels. In fact, some of our volunteers have gone on to take routes of their own. Please help us continue this important community service project by volunteering.

GBS Lumber announces future plans

GBS Lumber Inc. a 39-year-old construction supply business headquartered in Greenville County, has expanded its product and service offerings throughout Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina.

GBS plans to invest $1 million to upgrade showrooms and hire 15 people.

Additionally, the company has named Robert J. Barreto as CEO.

Read the rest of the story at GSA Business by clicking here.

Learn How Green Building Offers Growth Market For Remodelers

On April 28 HBA Remodelers can learn more about "Selling to the Green Client" at the Remodelers Forum at the HBA of Greenville office, sponsored by Advanced Renovations. The speaker is Kathy Vass of Vass Markets Inc.

• What: HBA Remodelers Forum
• Topic: Selling to the Green Client
  
• When: Thursday, April 28, 8:30 a.m.
• Where: HBA of Greenville Office
• Speaker: Kathy Vass, Vass Markets
• Sponsor: Advanced Renovations
  

Click here to register for the HBA of Greenville Remodelers Forum.

The U.S. home remodeling industry is poised for growth in 2011, with NAHB predicting as much as a 20 percent increase in spending for home improvement projects. Studies show that in the next five years, the focus of remodeling spending will shift from upper-end discretionary projects to replacements and systems upgrades. With energy costs on the rise and consumers becoming increasingly aware of the need to conserve resources, green remodeling is providing remodeling business opportunities ranging from insulation upgrades to whole-house renovation projects.

Most of the nation’s 125 million homes were built before today’s high efficiency materials, appliances and construction techniques were incorporated into new homes. As homeowners look toward remodeling, they are considering and asking for products such as low-e windows, Energy Star® rated appliances, upgraded insulation and other green products.

Click here to register for the HBA of Greenville Remodelers Forum.

2011 HBA of Greenville Golf Tournament Sponsored by Piedmont Natural Gas

Please see a list of the rest of our generous sponsors at the end of this article.

Join us as we put down the hammers and house plans for the day and pick up your favorite club.

The Home Builders Association of Greenville is excited to announce its annual Golf Tournament will be held on Thursday, June 9th at Verdae Greens Golf Club.

The HBA Golf Tournament is a great chance for Associate members to mix and mingle with Builder members—and of course, to just enjoy a day of friendly competition out on the golf course.

• Shotgun start: 1:30p.m.
• Captain’s Choice Format

Awards and cookout dinner at the Embassy Suites Terrace to follow.



Click here to register for the 2011 Home Builders Association Golf Tournament, Sponsored by Piedmont Natural Gas.

Heirloom Stair and Iron Receives Three National Awards

Heirloom Stair & Iron Inc. has won three awards for outstanding craftsmanship in an international competition sponsored by the National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association (NOMMA). The event was open to more than 700 member firms throughout the United States and in 12 foreign countries.

Heirloom Stair & Iron Inc. received the following awards:

• GOLD- Exterior Railings & Fences
• BRONZE- Interior Railings - Forged
• BRONZE- Furniture & Accessory Fabrication – Forged

The presentation was made at a banquet in New Orleans, LA, on March 19 during NOMMA's 53rd annual conference. The Ernest Wiemann Top Job Awards Competition is an annual contest that recognizes outstanding work in the ornamental and miscellaneous metals industry.

To learn more about Heirloom Stair & Iron, Inc., click here.

Call for Nominations for Board of Directors of HBA of Greenville

To: Members of the HBA of Greenville

The Nominating Committee of the HBA of Greenville has begun work on nominations to the HBA of Greenville Board of Directors for 2012. In addition, there is currently a vacancy on the Board of Directors for a Builder member. The following are the positions for which nominations are being sought:

• Builder Member (currently vacant), term expires December 31, 2013 (must be a Builder member or an Affiliate member of a Builder member company)
• Builder Member (2), term expires December 31, 2014 (must be a Builder member or an Affiliate member of a Builder member company)
• Associate Member (2), term expires December 31, 2014 (must be an Associate member or an Affiliate member of an Associate member company)
• Vice President (1), term expries December 31, 2012 (must be a Builder member or an Affiliate member of a Builder member company; must be willing to rise to the position of President in 2014)
• Associate Vice President (1), term expires December 31, 2012 (must be an Associate member or an Affiliate member of an Associate member company)

Election of the Builder member of the Board of Directors, which position is currently vacant, is planned for the Board of Directors meeting on May 17 and will take office immediately. The person elected to this position will stand for reelection by the full membership for the remainder of his or her term at the association's annual meeting in November.

The remainder of the positions will stand for election by the full membership at the association's annual meeting in November and take office on January 1, 2012.

If you are interested in serving in any of the positions above, please indicate your interest by sending an email to Michael Dey, Executive Vice President.

The 2011 Nominating Committee is as follows:

• Tom Dillard, CGP, Chair
• Wayne Moore, Vice Chair
• Hal Dillard
• Robert Markel, CGR
• Eric Hedrick
• Michael Cox
• Tom Ward