T H E E - M AG A Z I N E O F T H E H B R A O F FA I R F I E L D CO U N TY - S E PT E M B E R 2 0 1 9
UPCOMING
FEATURES
MEMBER BENEFITS
Fire Pit Party and Economic Update Axe Throwing November GMM
GMM at the Beach PWB Meeting
mynpp.com NAHB Benefits
Building Connections is a monthly digital magazine produced and published by the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Fairfield County. Inside you will find the latest association news, legislative updates, upcoming events, and featured articles about the industry.
FEATURES
QUICK LINKS
8
Letter From the HBRA President
Upcoming Events New Members HBRA News Builder News NAHB News Member Discounts
10
Find Us On Social Media
HBRA Award Announcements
9
GMM At the Beach and Event Photos
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hbra@buildfairfieldcounty.com www.buildfairfieldcounty.com
PWB Selects New Committee Chair
Editorial Staff Jackie Bertolone Executive Officer Sarah Iannarone Membership & Events Coordinator Clare Michalak Marketing & Graphics Coordinator
2019 VIP PARTNERS HOME BUILDERS AND REMODELERS ASSOCIATION OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY
2018-19 OFFICERS
ELITE
President Anthony DeRosa DeRosa Builders
Sr. Vice-President Kim DiMatteo DiMatteo Insurance
Vice President John Hertz
Hertz Construction
Secretary Rob Michaud
DIAMOND
The Michaud Group
Immediate Past President Chris Steiner Steiner, Inc.
2018-19 DIRECTORS Propane Pete Battaglio Hocon Gas
TITANIUM
Max Bender Bender Supply
Steve Berko
Four Square Build & Design
Michael Church
William Pitt Sotheby’s
Ken DeLeo
Doherty & DeLeo
PLATINUM
Brian Kurtz
Interstate Lumber
Steve LoParco
LoParco Associates, Inc.
Steven Roth
Elevator Service Company
Alex Shook
Pella Commercial
Michael Wood
GOLD
Wood Builders
LIFE DIRECTORS Joanne Carroll JMC Resources
Michael Palumbo ERI Building & Design
Jerry Effren The Greyrock Companies
Peter Gaboriault Bear Paw Builders
Gary Fanali City Carting
Terrence Beaty William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty
Peter Fusaro Preferred Builders
MEDIA
Thank you to the following VIP Associate Members for their support in 2019. Due to their generosity the Association greatly benefits - from developing new events and educational opportunities for the membership, to keeping our lights on!
ME SSAGE F ROM THE EXECUTIVE OF F ICER
Dear Members, I hope you plan to join us next week for the Fire Pit Party on the patio at Shorehaven Golf Club, followed by an update from national leadership on the economy and housing in the US and Connecticut. We are looking forward to another great event with you all. As always, I hope you will take a few minutes to read through this month’s edition of Building Connections to learn about what events and educational opportunities are coming up, read national and local stories and reports, and see the new members who have joined since last month’s edition was published. Our growing membership is now at 523 with nearly 100 new members joining this year. Please be sure to keep our online membership directory in mind whenever you are looking for a business: www.buildfairfieldcounty.com/directory. As always, if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me at jackie@buildfairfieldcounty.com. See you next week, Jackie L. Bertolone
2019
523 TOTAL MEMBERS
111 NEW MEMBERS
78
NEW BUSINESSES
SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 5
The event will begin with a fire pit party on the patio overlooking the golf course with various food stations and then guests will go inside for a presentation on major issues facing our industry from the the leadership of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Join us to welcome national leadership to Fairfield County! Speakers: Greg Ugalde, Chairman of NAHB & President of T&M Building Company Dr. Robert Dietz, National Economist and leading expert on housing in the U.S. Member $55 General Admission $75 Includes food and 1 drink ticket
REGISTER SUPPORTING SPONSORS
BUILDER SPONSORS OF THE VIP RECEPTION
6 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
Event Details: 5:30 - 6:30 VIP Reception 6:00 - 7:30 Fire Pit Party 7:30 - 8:30 NAHB Presentation 8:30 - 9:00 Coffee & Cookies
U P COMING EVENTS
10.1 10.2 10.8
Career Fair
Committee Meetings
October 1, 2019 JM Wright Technical High School Click Here to Register
Program Committee October 8, 2019
Fall GMM with NAHB
Membership Committee October 16, 2019
Fire Pit Party & Economic Update October 2, 2019 Shorehaven Golf Club Click Here to Register
Associates Council October 7, 2019
PWB October 17, 2019
Build Your Business With Instagram October 8, 2019 Black Bridge Motors Click Here to RSVP
OSHA10
10.10 10.16 10.24
11.6
October 10-11, 2019 Rings End Educational Facility Click Here To Register
HBRA Axe Throwing October 16, 2019 Bridgeport Blue Ox Axe Throwing Click Here To Register
Idea House Tour October 24, 2019 KARP & This Old House Click Here To Register
November GMM November 6, 2019 Haynes Materials Save the Date
SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 7
Congratulations Builder of the Year: Steve LoParco, LoParco Associates Remodeler of the Year: Michael Wood, Wood Builders Associate of the Year: Lisa Bancroft, Fairfield County Bank Business of the Year: Will Contento, Huber Engineered Woods Supplier of the Year: Alex Shook & Kerry Brunn, Pella Windows & Doors Member of the Year: Rich Cunningham, Eds Garage Door New Members of the Year: Kevin Polcer, Polcer Home Improvement & Candace Pereira, Ava Hunter, & Rina Dimarte, Chloe Winston Lighting Design Volunteer of the Year: Suzanne Stillwell, Jade Marketing Solutions John P. Rowins Meritorious Service Award: Kim DiMatteo, DiMatteo Insurance President’s Choice Award: Chris Steiner, Steiner, Inc. HBRA Hall of Fame Inductee: Elio Vetrini, County TV & Appliance
8 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
ME SSAGE F ROM THE HBRA P RESID ENT
Dear Members, Thank you for your continued membership with our growing association. With over 90 new members just this year and selling out our events, I am thrilled to see the enthusiasm and new faces at our meetings. Many of our members have recently requested opportunities for events with informative speakers and we are offering a great opportunity on October 2 at Shorehaven Golf Club in Norwalk. I encourage you to join us--especially if you are a builder. As members of our association, you are also a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Their mission is to protect the American Dream of housing opportunities for all, while working to achieve professional success for its members who build communities, create jobs and strengthen our economy. NAHB’s Chief Economist, Dr. Robert Dietz, will be presenting at our October 2 event as well as NAHB’s Chairman, Greg Ugalde, who will report on the efforts made on your behalf in Washington, DC and around the country. NAHB is the leading voice on housing in the nation--whether it’s testimony in Congress, meetings with the US Treasury Secretary or at the White House--these national leaders are working every day to support us. I hope to see you on October 2nd. Sincerely,
Anthony DeRosa President, HBRA of Fairfield County
SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 9
HBRA EVENTS
September GMM at the Beach On September 4th the HBRA held its GMM at the Beach, presented by Pella, which began after a crazy flash flood and lightning storms. It passed through just in time to leave a beautiful rainbow in its wake to welcome guests to the pavilion at Fairfield Beach. We had 205 guests register to attend the event and 186 who braved the storms and 95 traffic to enjoy a beautiful night with HBRA members and guests. This year, instead of the traditional Clambake, attendees enjoyed a wonderful menu prepared by the Chef & Owner of Match SoNo and 10 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
SPONSORS
Match Burger Lobster in Westport. Two lucky guests won gift cards to go visit their restaurants. This event would not have been possible without the support of our wonderful event sponsors, our VIP Partners and enthusiastic members who make every event not only fun, but also meaningful and productive. Thank you to all who came! Photos by: O & CO Media Click here for more photos
RAW BAR
HBRA EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 11
HBRA EVENTS
12 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
DON’T JUST INVEST IN WINDOWS, INVEST IN THE CONTRACTOR. ANDERSEN DID. Even the best windows don’t perform well if they’re not installed properly. Andersen Certified Contractors are trained by ® Andersen to install Andersen windows and patio doors. In fact, Andersen is so confident in their contractors, they offer a 2-year installation limited warranty.* When you’re ready to replace, Andersen contractors are here to help. You’ll not only be choosing someone certified by Andersen, you’ll be choosing the window company ranked #1 in quality and the one most trusted and recommended by trade professionals.** *See Andersen certified contractor limited warranty for details. **Based on 2016 survey of trade contractors. “Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation. ©2018 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved.
For more information, visit andersenwindows.com
29 Prospect Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877-0519
203-438-2626 www.ridgefieldsupply.com
HBRA EVENTS
Professional Women in Building Council New Committee Chair Named At the September 19th Professional Women in Building Council monthly meeting, Anthony DeRosa, the HBRA Board of Directors President, announced the 2020 Chair of the PWB. Congratulations to Stephanie Rapp who will begin her term as Chair in January! Joe Marotta of Everest Marble welcomed members and gave some background information on their business and beautiful showroom. Guests also joined Joe for a tour to members following the meeting. During this month’s meeting, instead of a presentation, the group participated in a open forum so PWB members could hear what is going on in the industry and what trends they are seeing in the field. It provided for a great conversation and market update in the area. The PWB’s next meeting is the Annual Meeting and will be held on October 17th at 10:00 at Hayvn in Darien. For more information on the PWB please visit the website. www. buildfairfieldcounty.com/ pwb Women of the Year Nominations accepted untill Friday September 27, 2019. Click here to submit your nomination. 14 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
2019 Idea House Tour October 24, 2019
4 Main Street New Canaan CT 06840 5:30-8:00PM
This Old HouseÂŽ has teamed up with award-winning building firm KARP to build the THIS OLD HOUSE 2019 IDEA HOUSE in a classic-meets-contemporary home located in the coveted historic district of downtown New Canaan, Connecticut. KARP and This Old House invite HBRA and AIA members to tour the home.
Join us to celebrate the members who contributed to this project: * Members of both HBRA & AIA
Accurate Lock & Hardware Bender Plumbing Supplies* Big Guy Garage Doors CAH Architecture and Design Closet & Storage Concepts Circa Lighting County TV & Appliances Inc.* Everest Marble
RSVP as an HBRA Member
Frangione Engineering LLC Garage Living* J Geiger Shading* Hogue ID Iconic Modern Home Interstate + Lakeland Lumber Corp. Magna Steel Sales Inc. New England Stair Company Inc.
RSVP as an AIA Member
AIA members are eligible for 1 CE credit SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 15
HBRA NEW S
Birgit Anich Wins Big! Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) Triple Awards Winner Birgit just came back from the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) Convention in Las Vegas where she was awarded 2 national awards and 1 North American award and was also named as Top 75 Most Influential People in the Staging Industry. It takes a lot of passion, dedication, hard work, team work, innovation and leadership in the industry for being awarded these most prestigious awards in the staging industry. The Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) is the trade organization for the Real Estate Staging and Redesign Industry. There are over 420 home stagers from all over North America, Europe and Japan who gathered to further their knowledge about the home staging industry and running a successful staging business. Birgit took home 3 awards in total. She won Luxury Vacant Stager of the Year in the US, Vacant Stager of the Year in the US and Professional Stager of the Year in North America. Read More
IT’S NOT A TREND. IT’S A REVOLUTION. Visit ZIPRevolution.com to learn how easy it is to make the switch.
© 2017-2019 Huber Engineered Woods LLC. ZIP System, the accompanying ZIP System logo and design are trademarks of Huber Engineered Woods LLC. Huber Engineered Woods’ ZIP System® products are covered by various patents. Please see ZIPSystem.com/patents for details. HUB 81860 REV 1/19
16 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
HBRA NEW S
CT Developers Forum Six members from the HBRA of Fairfield County joined together with other members from around the state of CT for a Developers Forum on September 12 at Bin 100 in Milford. Ryan Drajewicz, Chief of Staff to Governor Lamont and Lisa Tepper-Bates, the Senior Director of Housing and Transit Orientated Development were the guest speakers for the evening. The To learn more about the developers forum click here: : https://hbact. conversation was centered org/CTDevelopersForum around the Governor’s plans for transportation and ways to stimulate the economy. An in depth question and answer session from members provided a good discussion which is hopefully the first of many.
B E A U T Y. ELEGANCE. STRENGTH. Our Aluminum Doors Will Surprise You. Ed’s Garage Doors offers a broad selection of aluminum doors that are the perfect complement to your home. Visit our showroom to see many exclusive aluminum doors on display, and talk with a design expert about our countless in-stock and custom options.
Showroom Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Evenings: Sunday:
By appointment Closed 136 Water Street, Norwalk, CT 06854 203-847-1284 edsgaragedoors.com
®
SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 17
BUILDERS AND ARCHITECTS: YOU ARE INVITED
WELL Designed Lighting Controls (AIA, USGBC) Credits: AIA Program #WL001(1.0 LU) USGBC Approved #0920016605 (1.0 GBCI CE Hours) The WELL Building Standard understands the importance of lighting and controls toward improving the builtenvironment for people. This session reviews the WELL Building Standard v1 and shows how proper lighting, daylighting, and controls contribute to WELL certification. Join Audio Video Systems Inc. for a CEU course on WELL Designed Lighting Controls, presented by Jeff Dean of Lutron Electronics Co. Following the course, attendees are invited to stay and network, enjoy beer, wine and lite snacks, and tour KLAR Studio’s showroom.
October 29, 2019 | 4:00 p.m. KLAR Studio Windows+Doors 241 Westport Avenue Norwalk, CT 06855
Click Here To Register
What is the WELL Building Standard? • A performance-based system that measures the impact of the built environment on human health and well-being. • Provides a model for design and construction in integrating health features into the built environment. • Grounded in a body of research and has been peer reviewed by medical experts, designers and building industry practitioners. Learning Objectives • By reviewing the WELL Building Standard v1, you will be able to explain its purpose and structure. • After analyzing the Light Features 53-63 of the WELL Building Standard v1, you will be able to describe the requirements to meet each of the features. • By comparing the LEED v4 and WELL Building Standard v1, you will be able to identify key lighting related overlaps among the two building rating systems. • Through examination of a real world WELL Platinum Certified project, you will be able to describe how the project achieved most of the Light Features in the WELL Building Standard v1 Light Concept Area.
H B RA MEMBER EVENTS
Boshka Interiors Event
Tablescape Event
October 3, 2019 1723 Post Road East Westport, CT 5:00 - 7:00 PM
October 32, 2019 County TV & Appliance 5:30-8:00 p.m. Click Here to RSVP
RSVP to Kerie@boshkainteriors.com
AKDO’s Factory Outlet Sale October 18-19, 2019 at 1435 State Street Bridgeport, CT 06605 October 18th, 9AM-5PM & October 19th, 9AM-1PM Click here for more information. AKDO’s Factory Outlet Sale is back!
SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 19
AXE THROWING October 16
| 6-8:30 PM | Blue Ox Axe Throwing
Join the HBRA of Fairfield County for a brand new event
- Axe ThrowinG!
Try hitting the target or participate in tournament style axe throwing games for those who want to compete! Beginners will be guided through the process. Food, some refreshments & fun networking with builders & associates. Corn hole, jenga & card games also available.
1558 Barnum Avenue | Bridgeport $40 Members
$55 General Admission CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Table Sponsors: Add a little bit of body text
WWW.BUILDFAIRFIELDCOUTY.COM
20 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
| 203-335-7008
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BESTBEST SERVICE SERVICE AT THE AT GUARANTEED THE GUARANTEED BESTBEST PRICE PRICE In-Store In-Store And Online And Online
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27702770 Summer Summer Street Street • Stamford, • Stamford, CT 06905 CT 06905 • 203-327-2630 • 203-327-2630 STORE HOURS: STORE HOURS: MON & THURS: MON & THURS: 9AM-9PM 9AM-9PM | TUES, WED, | TUES, FRI WED, & SAT: FRI9AM-6PM & SAT: 9AM-6PM | SUN: 11AM-5PM | SUN: 11AM-5PM
SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 21
NEW MEMBERS
Keith J. Manca Building Company, LLC Keith Manca
The Keith J. Manca Building Company specializes in elegant, upscale residential construction services for discriminating homeowners. Our integrated approach incorporates aggressive construction project management, cutting-edge and timetested construction methods and experienced craftsmanship... READ MORE
Drains Unlimited Mirek Kozlowski
With a sleek minimalist design, Drains Unlimited linear drains are the perfect choice for any luxury shower installation. With a wide array of styles, sizes, and custom configurations to choose from, Drains Unlimited drains blend into their surroundings to preserve your shower’s natural beauty.... READ MORE
Grayson De Vere Design Julia Grayson
Grayson De Vere is the fresh luxury interior design firm dedicated to providing inspirationally sourced and internationally sought-after Interior Elements as well as offering a full range of bespoke Interior Design Services, Project Management and Luxury Staging.... READ MORE
J & M Construction and Son, LLC Joseph Theriault
For over 30 years, J&M Construction & Son has worked with homeowners on new home design, custom construction and complete project management for New Home and Renovation projects to homeowners throughout Fairfield County. From a Custom-built New Home to Additions, Renovations, and Restorations, J&M Construction partners with its clients throughout the building process, transforming their dreams and ideas into homes that meet the needs of growing families, downsizers, and empty-nesters alike... READ MORE
Brenton Point Wealth Advisors Larry Rollins, CFP®
Larry Rollins is a Private Wealth Advisor for Brenton Point Wealth Advisors, located in the Westport, CT office. Larry most recently served as Vice President and Financial Consultant for Fidelity Investments in their Private Client Group, out of their Greenwich, CT. From 2011-2017 he received the President’s Circle Award five times, which recognizes the top 5% of Fidelity’s financial consultants nationally**. READ MORE
22 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
NEW MEMBERS
White’s Plumbing Supplies Inc. Jason White
Our story began in 1923, when Samuel White, our grandfather, decided to purchase a hardware store on Grand Avenue in New Haven. Sam became a well-known entrepreneur in that New Haven neighborhood while growing his successful business. Samuel and his son, Paul, our dad, relocated the hardware business to Legion Avenue almost ten years later.... READ MORE
Universal Tile & Marble, LLC Sylwia Kozlowski
Whether you’re looking for ceramic, porcelain, marble, granite, or tumbled stone design ideas, Universal Tile & Marble, has what you need. We’ve been importing fine European ceramic and porcelain tiles for more than two decades. Customers from around Fairfield and Litchfield County have put their trust in us for the best pieces of marble, granite, limestone, and glass for their remodeling projects.... READ MORE
VanBrodt Estates, LLC Susan Vanech
Through my passion of remodeling homes, I found a new love in real estate. I enjoy helping both property owners and prospective buyers navigate today’s market and maximize their opportunity.The abundance of experience I gained in completing transactions that involve the efforts of architects, builders, inspectors, appraisers, colleagues and town departments ... READ MORE
Inspired Closets Matthew Gothers
Life is hectic. Inspired Closets Brookfield can help. We design and install custom closets and storage solutions for all areas of your home. We create beautiful and functional solutions to better organize your closets, pantry, garage, home office, laundry room, entertainment center, and entryway. We also offer murphy beds and wine cellars. Each project is designed to maximize every inch of usable space while ever mindful of your personal style.... READ MORE
Welcome New Affiliates Christina Theriault
J & M Construction and Son, LLC
Christopher Alvarez
D.A.S. Custom Builders, LLC
Matt Decola
O. and Co. Media
Kelly Howard
Stephanie Rapp Interiors
Joseph Antonios Jarret Coleman U.S. Bank
Jeff McCluskey
Marvin Windows and Doors / A.W. Hastings & Company, LLC SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 23
Because you need the solution before the problem. Your business is one that deserves to be protected, and our job is to minimize risk.
TOOFER.COM
Tooher-Ferraris’ Home Builders Specialty Program has been supporting and protecting the reputations of builders and contractors for over 85 years. From general contractor construction liability and workers compensation, to commercial automobile insurance, subcontractor risk transfer, and OSHA compliance assistance, our high-touch service is delivered with honesty, integrity, and dependability.
43 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897
1.800.899.0093
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 25
BUILD ER NEW S
The Macroeconomics Of The Labor Shortage The No. 1 business issue for home builders, remodelers, and land developers continues to be access to skilled labor. According to NAHB analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, as of April of this year there were 404,000 open construction sector positions. Not only is this level of unfilled jobs in the construction industry at a post–Great Recession high, the current estimate is the highest ever reading for this data series, which runs back two decades. The tracking of the construction sector open rate clearly shows that after a brief pause during 2017, the intensity of the labor shortage among builders grew more intense during 2018 and 2019. In fact, as a share of industry employment, for the past two years the open rate has been above the peak rate registered during the building boom. While the construction sector was one of the first sectors to recognize the challenges with attracting and retaining skilled labor, the labor shortage is a broad-based economic concern. For example, the current total count of open, unfilled positions exceeds the number of unemployed individuals in the United States. As of April 2019, there were 7.4 million open jobs. In contrast, there were only 5.9 million unemployed. The industry challenges of the shortage are well understood: higher costs, project delays, and lower output. Solving the challenge will take industry-wide efforts, through national organizations (such as the NAHB and the Home Builders Institute) as well as local builder and industry associations. However, consider the macroeconomic perspective. One of the reasons the Federal Reserve had been projecting a series of rate hikes during 2019 was that standard economic theory indicates that a tight labor market should raise wages and ultimately produce inflation. While producers—and certainly builders—report higher labor costs, inflation remains relatively tame. In April 2019, the year-over-year gain in core PCE (personal consumption expenditures), the central bank’s preferred measure of inflation, was only 1.6%. This is well below the Fed’s target rate of 2%. What is missing? Productivity or gains for output per worker. Weakness in labor productivity (the “skilled” element) has been notable since the Great Recession. For example, during the 1990s, productivity gains averaged 2.2% per year. During the 2000–2007 period, productivity growth improved on an average basis to 2.7%. Since the recession, productivity gains through 2018 averaged only 1.3%. Read More
26 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
The U.S. construction industry is facing ‘a uniquely post-Great Recession experience’ Since the Great Recession, the U.S. has seen a major shortage of workers in the construction industry. “The labor shortage, specifically in the residential construction side, has been kind of a uniquely post-Great Recession experience,” Rob Dietz, Chief Economist at the National Association of Home Builders, told Yahoo Finance. The construction industry lost approximately 1.5 million jobs during the financial crisis, according to FRED data. The industry has not yet gained back those jobs, with Dietz describing it as a “sluggish process.” “The JOLTS data says we’re short about 350,000 workers,” he said. “The skilled labor shortage has gotten progressively more challenging as this lengthy growth cycle has continued. The impacts of it are … how long it takes for an individual homeowner to access a remodel, or how long that project will take. Those duration times have gone up.” Read More
B U I L DConnecticut E R N E W S Home Builders & Remodelers Program
AN INSURANCE PROGRAM CUSTOM DESIGNED FOR YOUR BUSINESS Acadia Insurance is proud to be the endorsed property and casualty insurance carrier for the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Connecticut. As a leading provider of insurance for contractors throughout New England, Acadia Insurance understands the insurance and service needs of contractors from small to large. With a local office in Rocky Hill, Acadia Insurance has professionals that handle underwriting, claim, loss control and premium audit for its Connecticut customers. Acadia is working with a select number of its Independent Agents in offering this program to Connecticut’s Home Builders and Remodelers.
The Right Policy for Your Business Acadia Insurance offers qualifying contractors a full array of necessary coverages including property, general liability, workers’ compensation, business automobile and umbrella. In addition, we can provide builders’ risk coverage, installation floater and equipment coverage.
✓ We have designed special coverage options just for home builders: Liability Coverage Enhancements:
Property Coverage Enhancements:
• Waiver of subrogation clause
• Coverage for newly acquired property
• Limited pollution coverage
• Coverage for property while in-transit
• Extended property damage coverage
• Debris removal coverage
✓ Acadia Insurance can craft the coverage you need to operate your business. For a full listing of coverages and how they apply to an individual home builder, please see an Acadia Insurance agent who is equipped to analyze your current insurance program and provide you with recommendations.
SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 27
BUILD ER NEW S
The U.S. isn’t building enough houses - and that’s not changing anytime soon Home-building activity has never fully recovered from the last recession. Real-estate website Zillow ZG, -2.25% and research firm Pulsenomics conducted a survey of more than 100 economists, real-estate experts and investment strategists to gauge their expectations regarding the U.S. real-estate market. A 54% majority of those experts said they don’t expect new-home construction to reach an annual rate of 1 million units until 2022 or later. And that has implications for buyers. “Without new homes to meet population growth and replace an aging housing stock, home buying is expected to move further out of reach,” Skylar Olsen, Zillow’s director of economic research, said in the report. Since 1959, single-family housing starts have occurred at an average seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1 million homes. In 2006, just before the recession, housing starts hit an all-time high pace of 1.8 million units. Read More
Want to trade in your home? Zillow tries a model most often used by car dealers Zillow ZG, -0.50% wants to make buying a new home and selling an existing one as easy as trading in a car. The real-estate listing website has inked partnerships with multiple home builders that will allow home buyers who buy a newly constructed home from one of the builders to sell their current house directly to Zillow’s iBuying arm, Zillow Offers. This program will only be available in the markets where Zillow Offers operates. By mid-2020, Zillow expects to have launched Zillow Offers in 26 cities across the U.S. Right now it’s available in Phoenix, Atlanta and Dallas, among many cities. People who take advantage of this option will have the ability to choose an extended closing time, between seven days and eight months. This feature was designed to make it easier for buyers as they manage overseeing the construction of a new home while still living in their old one. Zillow said it also eliminates the possibility of needing to move twice or carry two mortgages simultaneously. Z, -0.79%
How Telecommuting Has Changed Real Estate As wireless technology changes how and where people do their jobs, giving many the freedom to work remotely at least part of the time, so too is it changing their thinking around real estate. Remote workers still represent a minority of the work force. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of last year, about 24 percent of employed persons worked at least part of the time at home; among those with advanced degrees, it was 42 percent. Nevertheless, as the numbers have grown, some in the real estate industry are wondering about the long-term impact, said Zach Aarons, a co-founder of MetaProp, a New York City venture capital firm focused on real estate technology. Some investors in New York real estate see a potential threat if remote workers start to exit the city for less expensive locations, he said. The looming question is: “Do people live in the city because they like the community, or just because it’s convenient to their job?”
There are some major caveats for home buyers. When Zillow buys a home, the company said it aims “to present an offer that reflects the current market value” of the property.
Brad Hargreaves, the founder and chief executive of Common, which operates co-living communities in urban markets, said that while he believed the trend away from daily in-office work would continue, he didn’t believe it would result in an exodus out of major cities.
Read More
Read More
28 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
BUILD ER NEW S
Single-Family Permits Decline in July Over the first seven months of 2019, the total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date (YTD) nationwide reached 496,726. On a year-over-year (YoY) basis, this is a 4.7% decline over the July 2018 level of 521,438. Year-to-date ending in July, single-family permits reported declines in all four regions. The Midwest, Northeast, South, and the West declined by 8.7%, 1.6%, 2.8%, and 7.7% respectively, compared to the same time period in 2018. The Southern region had the highest growth in multifamily (9.0%) while the West recorded a decline in multifamily permits growth (-0.8%) during the last 12 months as housing affordability concerns reduce production of both single-family and multifamily residences. Between July 2018 YTD and July 2019 YTD, 13 states and the District of Columbia saw growth in single-family permits issued while 37 states registered a decline. Read More
Share of New Homes with Fireplaces Drops to Record Low Only 41 percent of single-family homes started in 2018 included fireplaces, according to NAHB tabulation of recently released data from the Survey of Construction (produced by the U.S. Census Bureau with partial funding from HUD). This percentage is the lowest on record since NAHB began tabulating the data in a consistent fashion in 2001. Since 2015, the share of single-family homes with fireplaces has been declining steadily, setting a new post-2001 record low each of the past three years. Read More
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SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 29
MEMBER BENEFIT 2020 Member Directory Keep an eye on your inboxes. The 2020 member directory listing forms will be released soon!
30 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
We are seeking developers and builders who are involved with—past, present or future—transit oriented development in Fairfield County. The Governor has established a new task force which will bring together leading regional stakeholders from the public and private sectors with decision makers from key state agencies to identify and facilitate targeted TOD projects that can deliver equitable economic growth and sustainability to the region. The goal is to help streamline public–private development partnerships for strategic TOD projects in Fairfield County by working collaboratively across sectors and state agencies to mitigate barriers to development and bring innovative national models to the region. Our state CEO, Jim Perras, will be a member of this taskforce and is seeking your input. We will schedule a roundtable soon but please contact Jackie if you are interested in participating at jackie@ buildfairfieldcounty.com .
OSHA10 CONSTRUCTION
October 10 - 11. 2019 8:00am-2:00pm
Ring’s End Educational Facility | Stratford, CT HBRA Members: $35.00 Non-Members: $75.00 *Must attend both dates in order to receive OSHA card-per federal regulation. Continental Breakfast & Lunch included both days.
Click Here to Register SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 31
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NAHB Chairman Puts A Spotlight On Housing Affordability Home builders and buyers alike are asking the same question today: What can be done to make housing more affordable? Builders are constrained by factors that drive up the cost of building a home and over which they have little control. The most pressing of these include a lack of skilled labor, excessive regulatory costs, and an increase in materials prices. When builders can’t build affordable homes, buyers can’t afford desirable homes. And, the fact of the matter is that a generational divide is only exacerbating the impact of less affordable new construction: baby boomers are choosing to stay in their homes longer. This means that the next largest generation of home buyers, millennials, have limited options in their quest to achieve homeownership, and the dream of owning a home (and getting out of their parents’ basement) is moving that much farther out of reach. Two of the nation’s leading experts in housing policy, the NAHB and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), collaborated to create a space where ideas and solutions to the problem of housing affordability could be discussed, and the Innovative Housing Showcase was born. The vision for the show—which was located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.—was to bring together industry experts, government officials, and the public to collaborate on housing issues and corresponding solutions. I believe we achieved exactly that. For five days in early June, exhibitors from each corner of the housing industry displayed their products, which included full-sized homes and new building technologies, in the nation’s figurative front yard. Every exhibitor brought innovative solutions to the table, from a modified shipping container home to a trenchless digger. The sentiment was clear: the future of housing is already here, and forward-looking innovation has the potential to enable the home building industry to keep pace with economic and demographic shifts while keeping the dream of homeownership and affordable housing alive for all Americans. During the event, HUD Secretary Ben Carson and I spoke about the need for policy reform. Additionally, we heard from Federal Emergency Management Agency acting administrator Pete Gaynor, who emphasized the need for housing that is resilient and can withstand the impacts of a natural disaster. And Federal Housing Finance Agency director Mark Calabria spoke on the need for comprehensive housing finance reform. Read More
32 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
NAHB Statement: Congress Must Act on Administration’s Housing Finance Reform Plan NAHB Chairman Greg Ugalde issued the following statement in response to today’s Senate Banking Committee hearing on the Administration’s housing finance reform plans: “The Trump administration has put forward a plan for housing finance reform, with both administrative and legislative recommendations. Now, with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac 11 years in conservatorship, it is long past time for Congress to act. For a healthy economy, all in the housing sector need to have confidence that their liquidity needs will be met. Only Congress can provide certainty to the housing finance system through durable housing finance reform, free from the whims of administration personnel changes. Failure to act by Congress surrenders reform to the federal agencies and risks postponing much needed changes for years to come. The National Association of Home Builders stands ready to work with Congress, the administration and other stakeholders in the effort to achieve meaningful reform.” Read More
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NAHB and EPA Leadership Address Key Issues Affecting Housing Affordability While in Washington, D.C., for the Transitional Board of Directors meeting, NAHB’s Senior Officers met with Andrew Wheeler, Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to discuss NAHB’s continued collaboration with the Agency on key issues impacting the home building industry. NAHB Chairman Greg Ugalde applauded the President’s and the EPA’s efforts to reduce regulatory burdens, including the Executive Order on Eliminating Barriers to Affordable Housing to help address the larger goal of housing affordability. He also noted other areas for continued efforts and collaboration, including finalizing the repeal and replacement of the expansive definition of the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) definition, simplifying the NPDES stormwater regulations, improving the wetlands permitting process, and revisiting the lead-based paint programs impacting remodeling projects. “NAHB would like to explore opportunities to reduce the regulatory burdens under these programs so that developers, builders and remodelers can focus on what they do best providing needed housing for American families,” Ugalde stated. Read More
Statement from NAHB Chairman Greg Ugalde on Repeal of ObamaEra WOTUS Rule Greg Ugalde, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Torrington, Conn., today issued the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency rescinded the 2015 waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule: “NAHB commends the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for repealing the 2015 WOTUS rule that vastly expanded federal overreach over water and land use by regulating man-made ditches and isolated ponds on private property. Read More
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Keys to Success From Today’s Female Industry Voluntary, MarketDriven Solutions Best Business Owners Approach to Boost According to American Express’ “The 2018 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report,” as of 2018, women own more than 12.3 million Energy Efficiency firms, employing 9.2 million people and generating $1.8 trillion in sales. One of the biggest areas of growth for women-owned businesses from 2007 to 2018: construction.
So what does it take to be a female business owner in the home building industry? We asked several home building industry leaders about their experiences. These women — NAHB leaders in the Professional Women in Building Council, NAHB Remodelers Council, National Sales and Marketing Committee, and the 55+ Housing Industry Council — share how they continue to innovate and expand, and their advice for women pursuing careers in this field: What inspired you to start or own a business in the residential construction industry? Sherry Pruitt: I have always loved building things since I was a child. My dad always encouraged me to use tools and try new things. Read More
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress today that it wants to work as a partner with officials at all levels of government to encourage energy efficiency, but also stressed that it is urgent that housing affordability is not jeopardized in the process. Testifying on behalf of NAHB before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Arn McIntyre, a green builder from Grand Rapids, Mich., urged Congress to promote voluntary, market-driven and viable green building initiatives. Read More
Financing some of the top builders in Fairfield County.
People you trust, service you expect, and products to fit your financial needs. • Construction Financing • Commercial Mortgages • Term Loans • Revolving Lines of Credit
877.431.7431 • www.fairfieldcountybank.com 34 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
NMLS ID #516624
EQUAL HOUSING
LENDER
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MI LLENNIAL INSIG HTS
Capitalizing on the millennial migration: Op-Ed The Countertops and The millennial generation is the echo of the baby boomer generation Colors Millennials and is the largest and most influential generation since the baby Want in Their Kitchens boomers. The millennial generation is generally defined as being born between 1980 and 1999, meaning that they are currently between 20 and 39 years of age. They make up more than 35 percent of the workforce in New York City as of 2018. That number is expected to grow.
It became evident in 2009-2010 that the New York City suburbs of Fairfield and Westchester counties were missing the demographic shift as millennials poured out of colleges and universities into the big cities as well as university cities to make their mark on the world. Austin, New York City, Palo Alto, Boston, Pittsburgh, Chicago as well as many others were perfectly positioned to attract this wide-eyed millennial generation to live, play and work. In an effort to attract and retain human capital, corporations have expanded their presence in these cities and have gone out of their way to improve the unique work-experience that millennials seek. With corporations focused almost solely on these cities for expansion, the workforce population in these cities has ballooned while the suburbs of Fairfield and Westchester counties have failed to recapture the jobs lost in the last Great Recession, much less enjoy the growth that these other cities have enjoyed. What’s next? With the maturation of the millennial population, despite the delaying of family formation, the millennial generation is starting to embark on the next migration. These young professionals will be forming families and will be forced from a space and economic basis to leave the city and search out a new suburban life. The new suburban lifestyle will be different than the baby boomers’ way of life. The baby boomers used to cry out “not in my backyard” (NIMBY) when there was urban influence. The millennial generation is wondering, “What do you mean not in my backyard? I want things in my backyard!” Successful communities that will be attractive to millennials will be close to transportation hubs such as airports and train stations, will be smaller in scale and on smaller more communal lots in areas that are amenity-rich — having community pools, golf courses, beaches, shopping, recreation areas and transportation. In short, they will gravitate toward a suburban amenity-rich lifestyle. The good news for Westchester and Fairfield counties is that their inherent strength is that they are ideal for raising families.
A recent survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders highlights the preferred kitchen colors and features among recent and prospective Millennial home buyers (defined as those born after 1980). In general, Millennials share similar cabinet color preferences with older generations. For example, there is less than a 10 percentage point gap between Millennials and Seniors who prefer white kitchen cabinets. However, generational preferences diverge somewhat when it comes to darker colors: 18 percent of Millennials and 19 percent of Gen X’ers prefer dark brown compared to just 9 percent of Boomers and 7 percent of Seniors. Fourteen percent of Millennials prefer black cabinets, compared to 8 percent of Gen X’ers, and only 2 percent each of Boomers and Seniors. Figure 2 shows kitchen appliance color preferences by generation. Most Millennials – 64 percent – prefer a stainless-steel color for their kitchen appliances while significantly smaller shares prefer black (22 percent) and white (12 percent). Read More
Westchester and Fairfield counties have some of the best public-school systems in the world, transportation systems that are good, but need work, great beaches, recreational facilities, access to New York City and a full four-season climate. Read More
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? ADVICE COLUMNS
DEAR SALES COACH Dear Sales Coach, I have sales reps who are always complaining about their commissions. Every commission check they are mad and assume the commission check is wrong. Then they are so unmotivated that the rest of their day, and definitely the rest of my day is ruined. How do I fix this? We usually change sales compensation plans once a year but it’s as if the sales representative don’t know how much they are being paid or what they are being paid on. What do you suggest? Pat J. Dear Pat, If your sales compensation program is based on anything other than a fair and equitable alignment with your corporate growth strategy, it might be like a shallow foundation built on sand. Shifts in the market can send undervalued people running to new and seemingly more solid ground where better opportunity is perceived. Sales compensation mistakes are among the costliest to sales organizations and they can be difficult to recover from. There are generally four major areas where owners & managers make critical mistakes in determining sales compensation plans. Let’s examine how to avoid them. 1. Compensation plans must align with corporate strategy. 2. Sales job description and roles must be clear.
Ed Schultek
3. Are you paying too much or too little? 4. Use quotas properly. Remember the value of a strong and disciplined sales force and the revenue leverage that even one or two “A players” can mean to your company. Make sure to offer strategic compensation plans that pay your people right, so you’ll keep them on your team! -Ed
36 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
Ed began Sandler/PEAK with focus on medium and small size firms to Corporate organizations who must lift their Management and Sales competency to Win, improve their ability to lead others to change their future, and position themselves as the Trusted Advisor to their Clients above all others.
Have a sales question? Email Ed at ed.schultek@sandler.com.
connecticut cottages & gardens
+ february 2019
COTTAGESGARDENS.COM | FEBRUARY 2019
HOBI AWARDS
KITCHEN
ISSUE
cottagesgardens.com
THE
STATE NEW S
Op-Ed by Jim Perras, CEO of HBRA of Connecticut As seen in the CT Mirror. “Missing middle” can offer more housing choices How can Connecticut promote economic development, do more to keep its college graduates from leaving and generally improve our quality of life, all at the same time? The answer involves creating more diversity in housing. We could begin by reforming state and municipal land-use laws, regulations and practices to encourage increased development of “missing middle” housing, which has become scarcer in Connecticut as demand increases. “Missing middle” housing is defined as, “A range of multi-unit or clustered housing types — compatible in scale with detached single-family homes — that help meet the growing demand for walkable urban living.” Types of missing middle housing include duplexes, townhouses, carriage houses, fourplexes, multiplex, live/work, bungalow court and courtyard apartments. Increased development of “missing middle” housing is a nationwide effort supported by the AARP, the National Association of Home Builders, the Urban Land Institute and other civicminded organizations. Across the country, various states are exploring new ways to address housing affordability issues. This year, for example, Oregon passed a law that allows all middle housing types to be built on lots zoned for single-family detached homes in cities with a population of 25,000 or more. The new law also allows duplexes to be built on lots zoned for single-family detached homes in towns with populations greater than 10,000 but less than 25,000. The law does not prohibit construction of single-family homes, but it allows for more affordable housing options where they didn’t exist before. Read More
Click here to follow along with our legislative alerts
38 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
Connecticut’s new sexual harassment laws go into effect on October 1, 2019 There are significant changes in the law regarding the training and notice that employers are required to provide. Under the new law, all employers with 3 or more employees must provide sexual harassment training to all employees. (Employers with fewer than 3 employees are required to provide training to all supervisory employees.) In addition, all employers with 3 or more employees must send a copy of their sexual harassment policy to all employees via email, under a subject line that says “Sexual Harassment Policy.” There are additional changes in the law that broaden the rights, procedures and remedies that are available to employees who believe they have been sexually harassed. In light of these new laws, employers are strongly encouraged to make sure that they have an appropriate sexual harassment policy in place and to plan the required trainings for their employees. If the HBRA were to host a sexual harassment training to help you and your employees complete this new requirement please let us know how many employees you would send. Please include also the time of day that works best. Email hbra@buildfairifeldcounty.com.
11:30 – 2:00 (Participant luncheon and Career & College Fair Followed by the CTEAC Meetings!)
A great opportunity to speak with future employees!
Make important connections!
Spread the word and invite your colleagues to join us as well!
SAVE THE
DATE:
10 / 1 / 2019 WRIGHT TECH CAREER & COLLEGE FAIR
Volunteers Needed From The Following Professions For Our Fair: Carpentry, Information Systems Technology, Culinary, Hospitality, Electrical, Plumbing, Health Technology, Digital Media and Automotive.
Please RSVP for the Luncheon and Fair to Dean of Students Justin Cosell at 203-674-5846 Or email justin.cosell@ct.gov
J. M. WRIGHT TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL 120 Bridge Street Stamford, CT 06905 http://wright.cttech.org/index.html
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!
SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 39
$ ME MB E R REBATES & D ISCOUNTS
Visit https://mynpp.com/association/hbra-offairfield-county to view all deals
40 HBRA of Fairfield County | SEPTEMBER 2019
$ ME MB E R REBATES & D ISCOUNTS
“Roberta goes above and beyond selling advertising. She stays in touch with us regarding editorial opportunities, invites us to high quality networking events, and makes email introductions between us and potential partners.”
—Kristen Sullivan, Gatehouse Partners
Contact Associate Publisher, Roberta Mancuso to learn how New England Home Connecticut can help generate business for your company. rmancuso@nehomemag.com | 203.530.9593
nehomemag.com SEPTEMBER 2019 | HBRA of Fairfield County 41
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