News & Updates

Flooding from Florence

With hurricane season in full swing and other severe winter weather around the corner, home owners may find it necessary to call in professionals to help repair damage to their homes. It’s an unfortunate fact of life that after a natural or man-made disaster, there are people who will try to profit from a community’s misfortune.

But a fly-by-night contractor is one disaster you can prevent if you follow a few steps to ensure you hire a reputable professional.

For most Americans, like me, home ownership is the epitome of the American dream. Even before those days prior to the writing of the United States Constitution, home ownership was revered as a luxury, held by only a select few.  Home ownership also bore the testimony of man’s ability to provide shelter to his family, protection from often feared wildlife, and a safe refuge for raising strong children. “Home sweet home” is more than just a colloquial expression in today’s world, it is reality, transcending from the days of old. In fact, “at times [the framers of the Constitution] insisted that the right to acquire and possess private property was in some ways the most important of individual rights,” says David Upham, University of Dallas.

TOP NORTH CAROLINA HOME BUILDERS AND MARKETING
PROFESSIONALS HONORED AT STARS AWARDS

The North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA) recognized the outstanding performance of home building professionals throughout the state at the annual STARS Awards Gala on Wednesday, September 14, at the Omni Charlotte Hotel.  Held in conjunction with the 21st Century Building Expo & Conference, the STARS Awards saluted builders, associates, realtors, media and advertising professionals for their excellence and contributions to the home building industry.

Best HBA Parade of Homes Marketing Effort
Small/Medium HBA:
Johnston County BIA
Executive Officer: Sherry Pinney Phillips
Local President: Ashley Lee

KS Bank, a local Smithfield icon, was named among the top 1% most extraordinary banks in the United States by the Institute for Extraordinary Banking™.

KS Bank was recognized with the Institute's Banky® Award for their commitment to strong community banking.  This recognition is given to the top 60 out of 6,000 community banks across the country.

"We are honored to be recognized as an extraordinary bank by The Institute for Extraordinary Banking", said Harold Keen, KS Bank President/CEO.  "This award recognizes financially sound, highly effective, community-focused banks and we are proud to be among such an elite group of community banks!"

The Extraordinary Banking™ Awards exist to highlight the vital, yet often overlooked, role that local community banks play in our economy.  Consumers use the Grammys to guide their music purchases, the Emmys lead them to the best of television, and the Tonys highlight outstanding live theater...

Most contractors have experienced a code change cycle at some point during their career. Code cycle occurs and “the way we’ve done it for 30 years” is no longer acceptable. So, contractors adapt to the new code only to experience a code change again 3 years later. Sometimes code changes back to the way it was in the prior cycle. Subsequently and effective in June 2013 the NC General Assembly approved a bill that would allow a 6 year cycle, drastically slashing the number of cycles during the average 30 year career by half. Excited about that? Before you celebrate, take time to review the 200+ pages of amendments to the current 2012 NC codes. Electricians aren’t so fortunate, the 2014 Electrical code became effective April 1, 2016 and is still on a 3 year cycle.

On May 24th the 2nd Annual Trivia Night - Builders vs Realtors - competition was held and $2,945 was raised for the Boys and Girls Club of Johnston County!  Great fun and friendly competition was had by all!!  Oh - and the JCBIA is the current champs!!! 

The Boys and Girls Club of Johnston County is a community-based organization that provides young people with a fun, safe and constructive after-school environment. Clubs offer programs and services to build character and strengthen life skills. Clubs are open to all youth ages 6-18 and have a special focus on children and teens from challenging or disadvantaged circumstances.  Clubs reach out to children in need, giving them support, guidance and hope for the future. Dues are kept low and the do not turn kids away because of an inability to pay.

There will be a rematch in 2017 so start brushing up on your trivia!!

Sherry

JCBIA builder members are invited to join a Green Home Builders of the Triangle (GHBT) meeting hosted by Stock, at no cost to you, to learn more about GHBT and the benefits of joining GHBT.   The National Leader in NAHB/Home Innovation Research Labs NGBC provides Green Certifications as well as the leading advisor to this NGBD HIRL program.  GHBT just completed its extremely popular annual Green Home tour of the Triangle. The Green Home Builders of the Triangle is a joint program of the HBA of Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties and the HBA of Raleigh-Wake County and open to other local HBA members as well.  GHBT’s green building program was launched in 2006 with the primary purpose of promoting building techniques and materials that produce homes which consume less energy and other resources, facilitate better indoor air quality, and provide a more durable product requiring less maintenance. We certify homes to the rigorous requirements of the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard™ (NGBS) – the only residential green building rating system approved by ANSI as an American National Standard. The NGBS provides practices for the design and construction of all types of green residential buildings, renovations, and land developments.

JCBIA member, Paragon Building Group, selected to join the Southern Living Custom Builder Program. The Southern Living Custom Builder Program is a network of more than 100 of the South’s top custom home builders brought together by the magazine. This invitation-only program selects custom builders acclaimed for their detailed craftsmanship, excellence in customer service, financial stability, and use of quality building materials in their homes. Before members are selected, southern Living checks homeowner and business references, and conducts a site visit to ensure they are selecting a builder that will deliver a quality custom home, and the customer service you expect.

The one constant in the home building industry is change.  New products, changing technology, and evolving legal and building code laws are just a few of the industry’s elements that require constant vigilance and training.

The NC Builder Institute (NCBI) is here to provide you with the tools you will need to stay ahead of your competition.  With flexible course hours, up-to-date materials and cutting edge technology, we are here to help you succeed in your business.

“WE ARE BACK!!!”  The housing market in our area is back. Lots are being developed, houses are being built and homes are being sold….. and doesn’t it seem GREAT??

Congratulations! to long time member, Jarman Homes, on celebrating 15 years in business!  Neil and Joy Jarman started in the building industry in 2000 building their first house in the Tralee Subdivision.  Over the years they have built specs and custom homes in subdivisions throughout Johnston County.  They are multi-year Parade of Homes Awards winners, and are still going strong today.  During Neil's term on the Board of Directors, he has been honored with Member of The Year, Builder of The Year and also served as JCBIA President in 2010.  In 2015 Jarman Homes was awarded the Best of Houzz Award in Design!!  Neil and Joy Jarman reside in Clayton with their 3 growing boys.

Members like Jarman Homes bring character and integrity to the JCBIA and lend stability to the Industry. Their unwavering support over the years has helped make the JCBIA the Association it is today!

Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual Christmas Dinner.   It was a fun time and gave us the opportunity to catch up with those we don‘t see often.

We have many exciting projects coming up in 2016.  As a member of the JCBIA we hope you will take the time to participate in these projects.  Most of the time work is involved, but we manage to squeeze in some good times.

I was going through emails the other week and came upon another of the many surveys put out by Hanley Wood Products or the NAHB Research Center.  I’m sure many of you see and perhaps participate in these surveys.  If you don’t, some of them send you $10 or $20 for your time.  The survey of particular interest was inquiring about a builders’ familiarity with building a home to “fortified standards”.  I only made it about 5 questions in when the survey stated that my responses led to the end of the survey.  Apparently, I concluded, that I didn’t have enough knowledge about a “fortified” home or good enough answers about how I was going to up sell this system to my homeowners at a varying cost depending on the level of protection.  So I decided to do a little research.

Four years ago, Kelly Dowless wasn’t too concerned when her legs grew weak. At age 31, the schoolteacher was puzzled, but the pain was minimal.
“I thought they’d give me some medication and I’d go home,” she said. The diagnosis, however, was serious. A rare neurological disorder called transverse myelitis was damaging her spinal cord. Her condition began to worsen almost by the minute. By that same afternoon, Dowless was paralyzed from the chest down.

Todd & Scarboro Insurance Agency has been a member for several years and has always been a great supporter of the JCBIA!  I want to thank them for throwing another successful and well-attended Oyster Roast!  The oysters and shrimp were enjoyed by all!!

My name is Michael Gay and I am with Wasteaway, Inc. and this is my first year on the Board of Directors for the Johnston County Building Industry Association.  Each director is responsible for a committee so for 2015 I chaired our annual golf committee.  This is one of our biggest fundraisers during the year and is great time to network and meet other builders and associates that are a part of this great Association.  Its a fun day on the golf course with colleagues and friends where breakfast and lunch is provided and awards are given out to the top two teams in each flight along with longest drive and closest to pin.

The North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA) received notice last week that the association ranks as the TOP association governmental affairs program in North Carolina in Southern Political Report Magazine. See: North Carolina's top Governmental Affairs Association Award.

The ranking was based on a survey conducted of other lobbyists and reviewed for accuracy by "top lawyers and lobbyists." The rankings also included those of associations in the 13 Southern states and no other state home builders association was among the 5 associations ranked in each of those states.

"This is a fitting tribute to our current legislative team and the record of excellence which NCHBA has built over the past 26 years," said Mike Carpenter, NCHBA Executive Vice President & General Counsel.

We know that in today’s competitive marketplace, customers have many choices. Our continued reputation as one of the top flooring and remodeling retailers rests with each and every customer and our commitment after the sale. When you choose us to serve you then you can rest assured that you made the best choice.  We stand behind our quality service and we want to let you know that we are here if you need us. -  Adam Raynor

As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, you know the season will soon change.  Kids are back in school and the housing industry is booming!  It's been an awesome summer!!  Since Fall is just around the corner, why not go ahead and make plans to get your house ready for the 22nd Annual Parade of Homes.  It will be here before you know it.

Judging for the 2016 Parade of Homes will be Thursday April 7th and you will want to be ready.  Open House Weekends will be April 16,23,30.  Go ahead and mark your calendars NOW!!!  We look forward to seeing your entry in the Spring!

Heather Hall
JCBIA Secretary
Parade of Homes Committee Chair

Hold on to your hat, the mortgage market is about to experience a huge change.  Effective October 1, some of the regulations related to how consumers are informed of the expenses related to mortgage loans are about to have big revision.