Nationwide Study Says Customers Value Business Quality Over Job Cost When Choosing Contractors
When choosing a construction firm, customers say that trust and integrity are more influential than the price of the bid, according to a newly released Intuit Construction Business Solutions study.

Conducted by independent research firm Decipher, the study surveyed more than 500 customers of commercial and residential construction firms. The results were announced at the 2004 International Builders' Show.

Personality and professionalism also count. More than 80% of respondents cited these characteristics as important factors in selecting a firm. These qualities, along with trade skill sets, contribute to a contractor's reputation and can mean the difference between success and failure when dealing with customers. When asked how they had heard about the firms they hired, more than 75% of respondents from each group favored word-of-mouth over telephone directory and Web research.

"The message for contractors is clear: company integrity is as critical to the success of a construction business as the cost of the job and the quality of the finished product," said Carol Novello, president of Intuit Construction Business Solutions. "The study shows that it is just as important to have the right business management skill set and processes as it is to have the ability to lay a foundation and finish a job."

Customer satisfaction ratings:

The Intuit study found that contractors are generally succeeding in keeping their customers happy. The survey revealed:

• 94% of businesses would recommend their construction firm
• 84% of home owners said they would recommend their contractor
• Approximately 60% of those commercial and residential customers trust the firms with which they hired/do business  

Commercial and residential customers also agreed on their main reasons for dissatisfaction. A total of 56% of residential and 40% of commercial customers cited job quality as their primary reason for dissatisfaction. Other key factors included low productivity and efficiency, and both groups felt that construction firms need to do a better job communicating with them. 

Help Build This Year’s Family Build Home for a Mother of Three

NAHB is looking for a few good men and women to help build this year’s Family Build home for a mother of three who works as a school security officer in Washington, D.C. Family Build, in conjunction with DC Habitat for Humanity, will be conducted from April 24-29 during the NAHB Spring Board of Directors meeting, and members and their spouses are encouraged to help for as many days as they can. This is the second year that NAHB has conducted Family Build.

The NAHB Women's Council encourages your participation in the Family Build during any of the days it's being conducted.  However, the NAHB Women's Council has designated Tuesday, April 27, as a Women's Council Family Build day. Come and join your fellow council members if you plan to be in Washington that day.

Last year, the Seniors Officers’ wives, several area members and their spouses, a past NAHB CEO, Women's Council members and Home Builders Institute Job Corps students helped build four homes in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Forest Glen, including a home for the Ovalles family, who helped build their own home.

NAHB will provide transportation to and from the job site, lunch and t-shirts. No building experience is required. There will be tasks for all job levels, building skills and abilities.

For more information or to volunteer, click here or contact Shari Smith at 800-368-5242 x8308. [return to top]

NAHB Women's Council Spring Board Meeting Schedule

April 27–May 2

Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.

Women’s Council meetings begin on Thursday, April 29 and are open to all Women’s Council members and prospects. Please be sure to attend Working Groups on Thursday and the Board of Trustees on Friday as well as any other meetings that interest you. And don’t forget to stop by the Women’s Council Hospitality Headquarters in room Lanai 156 for snacks and refreshments.

Make Housing a Priority in Congress
Mark your calendars and sign up for the most important grassroots lobbying event of the year — NAHB’s 2004 Legislative Conference on Wednesday, April 28, in Washington, D.C.

The conference kicks off the NAHB Spring Board of Directors meeting and is your opportunity, along with fellow members, to: 

• Meet with your senators and representatives on Capitol Hill
• Lobby on crucial housing legislation
• Take a stand on issues affecting your bottom line

The daylong event will start with a morning briefing, followed by visits to congressional offices and ending with a reception and feedback session.

For information or assistance in scheduling meetings with your representative or senators, contact an NAHB Congressional Representative at 800-368-5242 x8470.

For information or to register online, visit the Legislative Conference page on the NAHB Web site. [return to top]

'Celebrity Washington:' Who They Are, Why They’re Famous, and How They Live.
While attending Spring Board, be sure not to miss the Women's Council General Electric Women's Luncheon on Thursday, April 29, freaturing an extreamly entertaining guest speaker. 

Jan Pottker, writer and public speaker, is the author of seven books, with her eighth to be published in Spring 2004. She will speak on “Celebrity Washington:”  Who They Are, Why They’re Famous, and How They Live.

She and her work have been profiled on a number of television shows, including CBS’s 60 Minutes, NBC’s Inside Edition, ABC’s Working Women, CNBC and CNN. She has lectured for the Smithsonian and for Washington D.C.’s Corcoran Gallery of Art. She has been a frequent lecturer for the Elderhostel program and spoken to more than 80 business, professional, and social groups, receiving rave reviews. Pottker also conducts unique Celebrity Georgetown Walking Tours in Washington D.C. Pottker has seen her books widely reviewed by such magazine and newspapers as People, The New York Times, Fortune and USA Today. 

Please feel free to bring a guest. You'll be happy you came. [return to top]

NAHB Women’s Council Board of Trustees Installed

The 2004 NAHB Women’s Council Board of Trustees where installed during the 2004 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas on January 20.  The 2004 Trustees are as follows:

Chairman                             Joanne Theunissen (MI) — pictured

Vice Chairman                    Lisa Forsman (NV)

Region A Trustee                Mary Giordano (RI)

Regional B Trustee            Nicole Goolsby (NC)

Region C Trustee               Diane Willenbring (MN)

Region D Trustee               Pam Weaver (LA)

Region E Trustee                Lisa Forsman (NV)

Area 1 Trustee                     Linda Kolaski (RI)

Area 4 Trustee                     Kathy Craven Snodgrass (NC)

Area 6 Trustee                     Nancy Freeman (KY)

Area 7 Trustee                     Laurie Kinnebrew (AL)

Area 8 Trustee                     Jeannie Williams (AR)

Area 9 Trustee                     Sue Bailey (MI)

Area 10 Trustee                   Polly Marean (IA)

Area 11 Trustee                   Mary Gleason (NE)

Area 12 Trustee                   Zelda Cuevas (TX)

Area 13 Trustee                   Diane Wilcox (UT)

Area 14 Trustee                   Roberta Colmer (CA)

Lee Terry Named NAHB Associate of the Year

One of our own…Lee Terry of Lee Terry & Associates in San Mateo, CA was recently named the 2003 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Associate of the Year. The award is NAHB’s highest honor to an associate member in recognition of exemplary association service, industry accomplishments, and civic responsibility. NAHB President C. Kent Conine presented the award to Terry at the Board of Directors meeting on January 21 during The International Builders’ ShowÔ in Las Vegas.

For more information on the NAHB Associate of the Year Award, contact Betty Thweatt at 800-368-5242 x8246. [return to top]

We Need Your Help to Continue and Grow the Hope Bettilyon Scholarship Fund

The Hope S. Bettilyon Memorial Scholarship Fund of the Women's Council assists high school, technical school, college and university students pursuing careers in building-related fields.

Your contributions to the Hope Bettilyon Fund enable the NAHB Women's Council to distribute scholarships to councils and members. Recipient councils and individuals choose the students in their areas and present the scholarships at their events.

These scholarships help you to continue your participation in community service, assist students, and build a future labor source for the housing industry. But . . .

We need your help to continue and grow the scholarship program. 

The Hope Bettilyon Scholarship Fund is distributing more scholarships than your contributions currently can cover.  Please consider giving an individual contribution to Hope Bettilyon. Your contribution may honor your Council, recognize a special event, remember a loved one, or express support for the program. Acknowledgments of contributions in the name of individuals will be sent to the person you designate.

Look for the next issue of Building Women magazine scuduled to mail April 15. You'll find enclosed within the pages of Building Women a contribution envelope. Your support will come back to you many times over because you will know that you've given back to your industry. Thank you for Investing in youth and supporting the growth of the building industry. 

For more information or to make a contribution, contact pbeane@nahb.com or call 800-360-5242 x8433. [return to top]

HomeAid America is Spreading a Program of Hope
The NAHB Women's Council and HomeAid America are working towards a partnership to spread hope across the country. 

HomeAid is currently working with the NAHB Women's Council on a national partnership that willsupport the HomeAid mission and build on the long charitable history of the Women's Council.  This partnership is currently being piloted at two HomeAid Chapters: Sacramento and Northern California. Where the results have been incredible utilizing the resources and volunteer talent of the Women's Council, these two pilot partnerships have raised cash, donations and materials for several homeless shelter projects in their areas. The Women's Council partner programs have also raised awareness by successfully spearheading programs during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. These programs have generated donations and media attention that have been critical to the success of HomeAid projects.

As HomeAid continues to grow and expand across the country, leaders of both organizations will be focusing on how a Women's Council national partnership will benefit both organizations and strengthen the positive impact they have on communities nationwide.

Be sure to read more about HomeAid America in the next issue of Building Women magazine schedule to be mailed April 15.

For more information please contact Robin Keesal at HomeAid America via email rkeesal@homeaid.org or Carmel Nayman at cnayman@nahb.com. [return to top]

Existing Home Sales Remain Near Record Pace Despite January Decline
Sales of existing single-family homes in January were down 5.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.04 million units, the National Association of Realtors® reported last week, but remained close to record levels.

The pace of January 2004 home resales was 2% above the sales rate of January 2003, the association reported.

“We have to keep in mind that the level of home-sales activity over the last six months has been the strongest on record,” said David Lereah, NAR’s chief economist.

Lereah said that resales in January were the sixth highest ever and exceeded the total forecast for this year. “We can expect month-to-month ups and downs, but the long-term trend is for home sales to stay close to record territory this year,” he added.

The median existing-home price was $168,700 in January, up 5.4% from a year earlier.

Sales fell 13.2% in the Midwest, 12.5% in the Northeast and 5.7% in the West. They were up 2% in the South, which accounted for about 41% of all the single-family homes resold in the country in January. [return to top]

May is National Home Remodeling Month
One in every eight people in the United States is considered an “older” American, according to government statistics. During the month of May, National Home Remodeling Month, the National Association of Home Builders Remodelors™ Council will join the U.S. Administration on Aging in celebrating its Older Americans Month by saluting the more than 35 million people who, as they get older, want to age in place.

Throughout May, be sure to take advantage of the opportunities surrounding National Remodeling Month to help publicize the industry and emphasize to homeowners the importance of hiring qualified, professional remodelers. Contact your local council to find out about plans for the month and join this important campaign.

The National Remodelors™ Council has downloadable material to help promote National Remodeling Month including proclamations, public service announcements, press releases and articles. Visit the Remodelors Council section at www.nahb.org/remodelingmonth  for more information [return to top]

Member Advantage: Save 15% on Payroll Processing with Paychex®
NAHB members save 15% on payroll processing charges and 401(k) and Section 125 set up fees with Paychex.  In addition to employee payroll checks and statements, Paychex produces accounting records and management reports, tax payment notices, and payroll tax returns.

Call 800-729-2439 for complete details. Identify yourself as an NAHB member and use Member Advantage code 5685.

To order online and for details on more than a dozen other money-saving Member Advantage discount programs click here.

Go to www.nahb.org to explore the numerous advantages associated with membership in your local, state and national home builders association. [return to top]