December Newsletter

Asheville HBA Bringing Professionalism to Our Industry www.AshevilleHBA.com

DECEMBERChristmas Gala

Join us as we celebrate 2009!

Biltmore Estate, LioncrestDecember 11

7:30 pm*Heavy hors d’ourves and

festive beverages.See page 15 for more details!

Upcoming Events

December 1New Member Orientation

AHBA Office3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

December 8 -9NCHBA 4th Quarter Board

MeetingRaleigh, NC

January 19 - 22International Builders Show

Las Vegas

January 28Annual GMM

Check your weekly briefings!

Home Buyer Tax Credit, New NOL Rules Signed Into LawIn a major victory for NAHB that will boost the fl edgling housing recovery and help struggling busi-ness owners nationwide, Congress last week approved legislation that will extend the fi rst-time home buyer tax credit beyond its Nov. 30 deadline and expand it to a wider group of home buyers. The bill also provides relief to cash-strapped home builders by providing broader tax benefi ts for businesses with net operating losses (NOLs).

The legislation, which was signed into law by President Obama on Nov. 6, will extend the $8,000 credit for fi rst-time home buyers for sales contracts entered into by April 30, 2010 and closed on by June 30. It has been expanded to include a new $6,500 credit for owners of existing homes who are purchasing a new principal residence. Existing home owners can claim the $6,500 tax credit if they have been residing in their principal residence for fi ve consecutive years out of the last eight.

In more good news, the income eligibility limits to claim the full credit amount for both groups of home buyers have been raised from $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpay-ers fi ling a joint return to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples.

NAHB’s consumer-oriented Web site, www.FederalHousingTaxCredit.com, provides complete de-tails on the enhanced home buyer tax credit.

NAHB has launched a set of resources at www.nahb.org/taxcreditresources to help association members understand and promote the new tax credit.

For NOLs, the new law will allow all businesses — regardless of size — with operating losses in 2008 or 2009, not both, to claim refunds on taxes paid up to fi ve years ago. Businesses can offset 100% of taxable income with NOLs carried back in years one through four and offset 50% of income in year fi ve. Small businesses with less than $15 million in gross receipts would be able to claim a fi ve-year carryback for 2008 losses under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and for 2009 losses under the new law. The new net operating loss rules will throw a lifeline to struggling businesses, allowing them to continue making payrolls, paying business loans and otherwise keep their doors open until the economic recovery takes hold.

Lawmakers Signal Last Action on Home Buyer Tax CreditEven as Congress neared completion last week on legislation to extend and enhance the home buyer tax credit, proponents of the tax credit made it perfectly clear that the extension would have a limited shelf life and not be extended again when it expires next year.

Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), a long-time champion of the home buyer tax credit, said: “This is the last extension of the home buyer tax credit. Tax credits like this only work by creating the sense of urgency to take advantage of it, and to bring the market back.”

On the fl oor of the Senate, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said that, “It’s important that this tax credit does not become a permanent fi xture in the tax code. Our amendment would end the credit on April 30 of next year. This extension would get us through the winter — traditionally the worst season for real estate. Our amendment would jump-start the housing market as it enters the summer months of 2010.” Baucus added that the seven-month extension of the tax credit would be “long enough to encourage home buyers to buy homes, but it’s short enough to remain fi scally responsible.”

On Nov. 5, the House approved the legislation by a vote of 403 to 12, less than 24 hours after it sailed through the Senate by a unanimous 98 to 0 vote. Prior to the congressional votes, NAHB sent letters to leaders in each chamber designating passage as a “key vote” due to its importance to the housing industry. In addition, NAHB issued a Legislative Alert earlier last week urging associa-tion members to call their senators and representatives immediately and tell them to support the tax credit and NOL carryback because they will preserve and create jobs, stabilize the housing market and provide critical stimulus to the nation’s economy. [ continued on page 5 ]

June 08

A monthly publication of the Asheville Home Builders Association

December 09

What is Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certifi cation?C2C certifi cation is for products that meet the standards of the MBDC (McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry), a product and process design fi rm. The goal is to identify products that use “environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material reutilization, such as recycling or

composting; the use of renewable energy and energy effi ciency; effi cient use of water, and maximum water quality associated with production; and instituting strate-gies for social responsibility.” This methodology is based off of the work done by William Mc-Donough and Dr. Michael Braungart. The core of the methodology is to create a “closed loop” cycle (cradle to cradle) for products instead of a cradle-to-grave straight shot where products only have one life.

There are Basic, Silver, Gold or Platinum rankings. The rankings are achieved by their own requirements for each level.

You can see a list of their certifi ed products on their website, http://www.c2ccertifi ed.com/.

This information was provided by the Western North Carolina Green Building Council. For more information about the WNCGBC or their Energy Star or HealthyBuilt Homes Programs, contact the AHBA at 299-7001 or by email at [email protected]

DECEMBER

Calendar

2 | Asheville HBA Bringing Professionalism to our Industry

Thomas McClain, PresidentHome Sweet Home

Richard Soderquist, 1st Vice PresidentBuilder MembershipSoderquist Construction Co.

Stuart Ray, 2nd Vice PresidentBuilder MembershipJS Ray & Associates

Greg Spicer, Vice PresidentAssociate MembershipMATH Insurance Service

Herb Freeman, TreasurerHerbert C. Freeman, CPA, P.C.

Jill Jones, SecretaryWestall Chandley

Sean Sullivan, Immediate Past PresidentLiving Stone Construction, Inc.

Josh Abrams, moreSPACEplace

James Bound, Greencraft, Inc.

Jim Demos, Demos Builders

Don Thompson, Thompson & Rhodes BuildersDuane Liming, Pioneer Construction and Development

Chris Lyman, McGuire, Wood & Bissette Construction Law TeamSteve Royster, Bass & Royster Builders

2009 AHBA Board of Directors

AHBA StaffExecutive Offi cerCaroline Purcell [email protected]

Director of Marketing and CommunicationsKC [email protected]

Offi ce HoursMonday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pmPhone: 828-299-7001Fax: 828-299-7008Email: [email protected]

www.AshevilleHBA.com

MeetingsProfessional Women in Building Tuesday, December 1 @ 12 pm*Hi-Tech Systems Showroom

Tuesday, January 5 @ 8:30 am*AHBA Offi ce

Board of Directors MeetingDecember 3 @ 3:00 pm

Parade of Homes CommitteeWrap Up Meeting TBD

Events

EducationWNC Green Building Council: HealthyBuilt Home OrientationNC Arboretum: 100 Frederick Law Olmstead Way Asheville, NC 28806Tuesday, December 8th from 12:30pm to 4:30pm Statewide green builder program for residential building professionals administered by the WNC Green Building Council in partnership with the NC Solar Center.

This event is required orientation to the NC HBH program for all builders who wish to build NC HealthyBuilt Homes

The link to register is: http://www.wncgbc.org/events/calendarDetail.php?id=623

Q & A: WNC Green Building Council

Christmas GalaFriday, December 11 6:30 pm- SPIKE Reception*Special invitation only7:30 pm-General MembershipBiltmore Estate, Lioncrest*Free for members, $65 for guestsMust RSVP!

New Member OrientationDecember 13:00 pm - 4:00 pm*AHBA Offi ce

NCHBA 4th Quarter Board MeetingDecember 8 - 9*Raleigh

International Builders ShowJanuary 19 - 22*Las Vegas

Annual General Membership MeetingThursday, January 28*Check your weekly briefi ng for updates!

www.AshevilleHBA.com |3

[ presidentʼs message ]

President’s Message by Thomas McClain2009- How Will This Year Go Down in History?

All I can say is WOW! What a year it has been! The good news is that we made it through one of the toughest years in our industry, both here in western North Carolina as well as in our nation.Looking back at the past year, we have much to be thankful for here at the Asheville Home Builders Association. We just completed the most successful membership drive in the AHBA history. Almost 50 new members signed up during our two-day membership drive. Even after the drive was over, we had additional new members continue to sign up. This is a direct result of all the hard work of our volunteers! This means we will end 2009 with our membership total near the 2008 membership total.

Given the year’s challenges, this is a truly amazing feat. We just completed the Table-Top Expo at the new building at the WNC AG Center and we are looking forward to our 1st annual Home & Garden Expo next Spring at the same location. I want to thank everyone who came out and participated. When we take the time to communicate with each other and share ideas and projects, we all benefi t.As we enter 2010 – the New Year – it appears our industry is on the road to recovery and of course that will mean new jobs com-ing to our area and the need for new homes will again be on the upswing. As the recovery unfolds, we must continue to support each other and do business with members. Since this is my last letter as President of the AHBA, I want to take this opportunity to thank each of our members for your loyalty and for your support and dedication to your association. Without you none of this is possible. Take the time to become involved and make the most of your membership. If you are involved, continue your involve-ment. If you are not actively participating, get plugged in, join one of our committees and make 2010 even better than this year. There is always room to grow. I look forward to watching the AHBA become the best local HBA in the country.Support your fellow members and let’s make our AHBA the best association and network it can be.

[ builders tips ]


Builders’ Tip: A More Stable and Handy Step StoolI’ve been a remodeler and a handyman for more than 20 years, and in that time I’ve really come to appreciate the simple perfection of the little step stool I built. I made it out of scrap lumber, but the thing I like best about it is its stability. Because the sides are tapered, the stool is a lot harder to tip over than one with straight sides.

At 14 inches high, it’s not only tall enough for me to use it to reach the top of a wall in a room with 8-foot ceiling heights, it also slips easily enough between stud walls framed on 16-inch centers.

To protect fl oors and add even more stability, I wrapped its feet made with 2x2 lumber with rubber shoes made with an inner tube.

The stool also doubles as a small workbench — providing me with a stable platform for sawing, cutting, painting and hammering.

And at the end of the day, I can fl ip the stool over and use it as an open box to carry my tools and supplies back to my truck.

— Mike Niemeyer, Lawrenceburg, Ind.Tips & Techniques provided by Fine Homebuilding. ©2009 The Taunton Press

NAHB Member Advantage Updates[ builder issues ]


Omaha Steaks®: The Perfect Holiday GiftSave 10% every time you shop online for Omaha Steaks®. As soon as items are placed in your shopping cart, the 10% discount is ap-plied. As an added bonus, your 10% member discount can be com-bined with any special found on this Web site, offering an even greater savings. Feel free to browse our shopping categories. Omaha Steaks also offers salmon, tuna, and seafood specials, along with great side dishes and desserts.

Omaha Steaks plays a very important role for companies across the country – as employee safety and sales incentives, to extend appre-ciation to a valued business partner or client, as employee gifts at holiday time, and as a gift to a new customer.

This holiday season, chances are that a lot of new home buyers and remodeling clients will be receiving a package from Omaha Steaks as a token of appreciation from our members.

But Omaha Steaks is not just for special occasions. So set the ta-ble, get ready to fi re up the grill (or oven broiler) and click on Omaha Steaks special NAHB web page at http://www.osincentives.com/serv-let/redirect?fromUri=/promo/nahb.

Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension[ continued from page 1 ]Federation-Wide Effort Leads to SuccessImmediately following congressional passage, NAHB Chairman Joe Robson sent a memo to the entire federation citing the importance of this legislation to the housing industry and how NAHB was instru-mental in helping to get the bill passed. The communiqué was also delivered to the Executive Offi cers via the PRx Exchange. Addition-ally, NAHB issued a press release applauding Congress on extending and enhancing the home buyer tax credit.

“This legislation is the result of months of determined effort by the entire NAHB federation,” said Robson, who noted that the associa-tion’s grassroots membership fi rst banded together this summer in a “Revive Housing, Restore America” campaign calling on Congress to focus on housing in order to create jobs and provide the impetus for a full-scaled economic recovery.

The home buyer tax credit and NOL provisions were the two legisla-tive priorities in that campaign. The NAHB leadership continues to work with Congress and various organizations in Washington to urge regulators to adopt policies that will restore the fl ow of credit builders need to fi nish projects in the pipeline and begin new ones and end faulty appraisals.

Robson said that NAHB has been “working tirelessly” to build upon the small gains the industry has seen in the marketplace in recent months and has been in continuous contact with the House and Senate.

“During key stages of the campaign, we activated our grassroots net-work to meet with their lawmakers when they were in their home dis-tricts and to visit them on Capitol Hill,” he said. “We have inundated congressional offi ces with e-mails and phone calls urging senators and representatives from both parties to extend and expand the home buyer tax credit to create jobs, spur home sales, reduce foreclosures, stabilize home values and push housing and the economy to higher ground.”

Robson noted that NAHB had joined with the National Association of Realtors® and Mortgage Bankers Association in the past few months to help get the vital housing legislation across the fi nish line.

This article was reprinted with permission from the NAHB. For more information on the legislation, call the AHBA at 299-7001.

Fair Appraisals Are a Priority for NAHBIn round two of NAHB’s appraisal summit in the National Housing Center in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 3, participants honed in on what can be done to enable builders, lenders and real estate agents to provide appraisers with information they should know in determining the value of a home.

Following up on the meeting — which assembled leaders from ma-jor appraisal, lending and housing agencies and federal housing and banking regulators — NAHB will be moving ahead to clarify how build-ers and others can communicate with appraisers under the Home Val-uation Code of Conduct (HVCC) that went into effect last spring.

The appraisal issue has emerged as one of the top priorities for NAHB leaders as the housing industry struggles to gain momentum and gather suffi cient strength to create jobs and support a strong rebound in the nation’s economy.

At the center of the problem, some appraisers have been using fore-closure and other distressed sales as comparables for appraisals without making proper value adjustments for differences in the qual-ity and condition of the new homes they are assessing. Properties involved in distressed sales often are in poor condition due to neglect or deliberate damage.

In the fi rst meeting of the appraisal summit on Sept. 21, participants noted that there have been “unintended consequences” from the HVCC, including a perception that interested parties are not permitted to communicate with the appraiser. A good answer to this particular issue, summit participants heard, can be found in sets of Frequently Asked Questions individually issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to clarify what the code of conduct requires and allows. Both of their FAQs state that interested parties are permitted to communicate with the appraiser to provide information relevant to the appraiser.

The intent of the HVCC is to come to an accurate result, participants were told. As long as the result is not to improperly infl uence the ap-praiser, then providing information is appropriate if it helps achieve an accurate valuation.

Another concern for NAHB members is appraisers who have been com-ing from outside the area to appraise properties in local markets they don’t adequately know. The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter where they come from if they don’t know the area in which they are working.

The concern over out-of-town appraisers is part of a larger concern ensuring that appraisers are qualifi ed and experienced, a matter of major importance that took up much of the discussion at the summit.

There is also a need for creating a process that would enable builders and others to receive a second appraisal when the initial appraisal is wrong. There is currently no consistent process for appealing or questioning the results of an appraisal.

At their fi rst meeting, summit participants discussed the possibility of following the example of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Loan Guaranty Pro-gram, which has established a process that requires an appraiser to contact the lender for additional information if it appears the appraised value of a home will not be suffi cient.

Unfortunately, broader application of the VA reconsideration process is limited because of the unique structure of that program and the direct relationship between the VA and the appraisers assigned to handle valuations on VA transactions.

The HVCC does not prohibit lenders from requesting a reconsideration of an appraisal in order to correct errors, such as miscalculated square footage or the wrong number of bedrooms. But many lenders don’t un-derstand this. Lenders frequently won’t take on any additional informa-tion, and people around the country feel there is no appeals process.

This article was reprinted with permission from NAHB, www.nahb.org.

Share your accomplishments, awards, and announcements with fellow members. Send your news to [email protected] and we will be glad to include it in the newsletter!


New NAHB Brand Means Goodbye to the MA LogoNAHB recently launched a new brand! As a part of this new initiative, we will begin to phase out the use of the Member Advantage logo. As we approach 2010, all communication materials and the web site will no longer include the MA logo and will feature only the NAHB mark. We are in the process of updating the member advantage ads and web ban-ners that are currently on www.NAHB.org/matoolkit and we appreciate your patience as we make these adjustments. Now more than ever our members see the value in the discounts on these products and ser-vices! Please contact the AHBA with any questions- 299-7001!

Asheville Radio Group offers Non-Profi t RatesAsheville Radio Group (65.5, 98.1, 105.9, ESPN Radio) is offering a special to the AHBA! Any of our members who sign up for advertisingwith ARG will receive the non-profi t rate for advertising when they add “Proud Member of the Asheville Home Builders Association. Visit ashevillehba.com for details” to the end of their advertisement. That is a 33% savings off the regular price! Also, for each company that signs up, the AHBA will receive 5 free commercials! What a kick-back for the AHBA! If you are interested in this great way to gain exposure for your company, please contact the AHBA Offi ce at 299-7001 or contact Mu rphy Funkhouser at ARG at [email protected]. Thank you ARG for promoting our motto of “Doing Business with Members!” ProBuild Takes on Two New Hires

ProBuild is pleased to announce two new hires. Mike Dunlap and Scott Lewis will be two excellent additions to the sales team. With their com-bined years of experience, these two gentlemen will help ProBuild serve the building community of Western North Carolina with outstanding building products backed with expert service and technical expertise.

Tax Credit Resources Updated to Drive Home SalesWith the extension and expansion of the home buyer tax credit signed into law by President Obama on Nov. 6, NAHB updated its compre-hensive online resources to help the federation promote the two tax credits- an extended $8,000 fi rst-time home buyer tax credit and a new $6,500 repeat buyer tax credit- immediately to consumers.

The resources are located at www.nahb.org/taxcreditmaterials and in-clude materials to help members promote the credit to home buyers.

Members can download ready-to-use promotional materials such as a consumer fl yer, radio spot scripts, Web banner ads, and print ads for consumer audiences from the NAHB Web site and most materials can be customized with the member’s contact information.

Talking points and a fact sheet are also available to help leaders and members of home builders associations talk to the local media about the two home buyer tax credits.

Members can direct consumers to the popular tax credit video, which was updated to refl ect the new credits, and changes to the consumer brochure “Opportunity Knocks” will be completed and available online soon.Most of the resources are accessible only to NAHB members, and you must be logged in to www.nahb.org to view them.

more SPACE place Wins 4th Chamber Award On Thursday October 29th, more SPACE place received the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Sky High Growth Award. more SPACE place was honored to receive this award for 4 consecutive years. The award honors small businesses that have experienced outstanding growth in sales and/or employment over the last several years.

more SPACE place helps homeowners maximize space and reduce clutter with a full collection of Murphy beds, custom closets, home of-fi ces, entertainment centers and organization systems.

[ member news ]


Parade of Playhomes Fundraiser Brings in Big Dollars for United Way of ABCOn October 29th, AHBA members and United Way supporters gathered at the Asheville Mall for a special auction event raising money for United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County. Our members built 5 children’s playhouses that were on display for two weeks at the Asheville Mall before the live auction. Over 50 attendees watched the auction and bid on the playhome of their child’s dreams.

Each of these unique homes were auctioned to the highest bidder, with varying prices collectively raising over $11,000 for United Way! The competition among the bidders was strong and the home prices shot up quickly. With details on the homes including stone fronts and cedar shakes, a live green roof, two stories, and much more, who wouldn’t want to bid on one of these special playhomes?

Thank you to all of our dedicated members who built these homes, aided in the delivery, the setup/takedown, and attended the auction. This is a great way to give back to our community!

Special thanks to the following companies who constructed playhomes for the Parade of Playhomes!Advantage Development Company and Handicraft HomesBiltmore Farms Homes and Christopher Fox BuildersWestall ChandleyBuchanan Construction, LLCand the AHBA Board of DirectorsThank you to 84 Lumber who helped deliver the playhomes to their new owners!

Special thanks to the companies listed below whose donations of material and labor helped make this fundraiser possible!Herbert C. Freeman, CPA, P.C.Home Sweet HomeJS Ray & AssociatesPioneer ConstructionTucker Materials, Inc.Carolina Colortones 84 LumberWestall Chandley Living Stone Construction Mountain Window & Door Bassett BuildersJay’s Roofi ng Greencraft, Inc.Soderquist Construction Co.LowesProBuildHolcombe PaintingSherwin WilliamsHouse ElectricWright’s StoneworksCook & BoardmanNorandex AACMcClung Roofi ngJack GorovoyDave & Lisa CaudleJim & Andrea HaxbyBuilders First SourceOscar MaganaWayne AshtonDennis WhiteButler Farm EnterprisesJames Gearhart

[ member news ]


Two-Day Membership Drive Brings in 49 New AHBA MembersThe AHBA Membership Committee held a two-day membership drive on November 11 and 12 which quickly became the most success-ful AHBA Membership Drive ever! Forty AHBA volunteers separated into six teams in order to recruit area professionals who would benefi t from an AHBA membership.

The drive began with a fun party at the Holiday Inn where the teams picked their team names and began razzing each other as to who would recruit the most. Each team then came to the offi ce for two hours over the next two days to call area homebuilding profession-als in order to explain the many benefi ts of AHBA membership. At the end of the second day, the results were tallied and the drive was complete. Then, to celebrate our success, all the team members and new AHBA members were invited to attend a wrap-up party at Wild Wings where snacks and drinks were on us!

The AHBA provided exciting prizes for those who recruited the most new members, including $350 cash, movie tickets, gas cards, restaurant gift cards, books, and much more! The winners were announced at the AHBA Table Top on November 19.

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this a successful event for the AHBA. We are proud of the 49 new members of the Association and hope you will begin using them for your business needs!

Special thanks to the following participants in the drive:Team 1: Mighty Membership MarauderCo-Captains: Thomas McClain, Home Sweet Home & Judy Dinelle, 84 LumberTeam Members: Greg Spicer, Math Insurance Services; Rick Cooper, McNutt Service Group; Mark Sluder, Mountain Window & Door Gallery; Rob Fisher, Brand Vaughan Lumber Company; Eric Redden, 84 Lumber; Guy Campbell, Carolina Colortones; Kevin Abercrombie, Home Sweet Home

Team 2: MADDOG2020Co-Captains: Sean Sullivan, Living Stone Construction & Jill Jones, Westall ChandleyTeam Members: Brad Rice, Bellwether Builders; Terry Walton, Westall Chandley; Barry King, Westall Chandley; Cindy Hipps, Westall Chandley; Don Thompson, Thompson-Rhodes Builders; Herb Freeman, Herbert C Freeman CPA PC; Brian Burpeau, West End Cabinets

Team 3: Talk Is CheapCo-Captains: Steve Wallin, Western Carolina Home Place & Skip Brewer, Walnut Cove BuildersTeam Members: Robbie Vaughn, Building Environmental Solutions; Kris Wilson, A-American Electric; Tom Rich, Rich Builders; Darrie Earley, Home Environments

Team 4: Out of TownCo-Captains: J Kohen, Concrete Specialties Inc. & Meredith Johnson, 2-10 Home Buyers WarrantyTeam Members: Brenda Dunlap, Sears Commercial; Maria Aponte, Hi-Tech Integrated Systems; Shawn Busby, Jennings Builders Supply

Team 5: MemberizersCo-Captains: James Bound, Greencraft Inc. & Jim Demos, Demos Builders, Inc.Team Members: Josh Abrams, moreSPACEplace; Rich Kubica, K-Wall Poured Walls LLC; Barbara Cerridwen, Spacemakers; Ryan Mclellan, Copperwood Builders; Jan Coleman, J Coleman Waterproofi ng; Georg Efi rd, A2Z Plumbing; Murphy Funkhouser, Asheville Radio Group

Team 6: AHBA JanitorsTeam Members: Chad Golden, Solar Energy Systems and the AHBA Staff

Congratulations to our prize winners:Top Recruiter: Herb Freeman, Herbert C. Freeman, CPA, PCTop Recruiting Team: MADDOG2020Most Inspiration Team Leader: Jill Jones, Westall ChandleyLeast Recruiting Team (yes they get a prize too!): Out of Town

[ member news ]


Drive Incentives from Local CompaniesThe newest members of the AHBA, those who joined during our two-day Membership Drive, received special offers from local companies. In addition to all the great AHBA membership benefi ts, new members also received a wheel rotation and computer balance, 1000 color busi-ness cards, an hour of tax consultation, a month free gym membership, a 4-hour NCBI education course through the AHBA, and a closet ac-cessory package. Those who recruited were also given the chance to win great prizes from AHBA members for each member they recruited: t-shirts, hats, gift certifi cates and more! Special thanks to the com-panies below who donated prizes or provided incentives to aid in our recruiting efforts.

First Annual Home & Garden Expo in 2010We are pleased to announce the AHBA will host the fi rst Annual Asheville Home Builders Association Home & Garden Expo on May 1 & 2, 2010. This is the result of years of planning by the AHBA Associates Commit-tee, chaired by Richard Soderquist of Soderquist Construction Co., as we transition our existing Table Top Expo to a full consumer show open to both our membership and the general public.

This is an exciting opportunity for the AHBA and our members to have an industry specifi c show produced exclusively by our members, for our members.

The show will be held at the WNC Agricultural Center off Airport Road, in their new 30,000 square foot facility. This location has excellent park-ing, all one-level fl ooring, 6 large loading doors around the building, and heating and air conditioning. This new facility will accommodate over 130 booths that will vary in size with options for prominent placement, with room for expansion as the Expo grows in future years.

We will unveil the Expo as an industry specifi c show, geared toward pro-moting the products and services of our membership to include: build-ers, landscapers, building supplies, fi replaces, hot tubs/pools, windows, garage doors, lighting, architects, etc. For a complete list of applicable vendors, please visit the AHBA website at www.ashevillehba.com and select the category drop down menu on the directory page.

Although the Expo will be open to the public for May 1 & 2, on the evening of April 30, the AHBA will host a private Builder Preview Event to give our general membership a sneak peek at the products and ser-vices our members have on display.

The Builder Preview Event will be free for our members, but the two days open to the public will be a ticketed event. Tickets will be available in advance at a discounted rate through the AHBA and various other community businesses.

Sponsorship opportunities for the AHBA Home & Garden Expo are available at various commitment levels, including but not limited to me-dia sponsorship and corporate sponsorships. If your company is inter-ested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities in the Expo, please email [email protected].

Information on booth registration is available now at the AHBA Offi ce. AHBA Members who sign up for a booth by December 31, 2010 will receive a 10% discount on the size booth of their choice. A non-refund-able deposit payment is expected at time of reservation. Please contact the AHBA in order to reserve a booth.

The AHBA looks forward to the fi rst annual Asheville Home Builders Association Home & Garden Expo as an opportunity to showcase our members as experts in the homebuilding industry. As the community’s homebuilding resource since 1966, the AHBA is proud to serve our membership and the residents of western North Carolina.

The Asheville Home Builders Association’s

Saltzman said that CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum traveled last week to meet with the Chinese vice minister and stress concern over the issue.

“They talked about the need for drywall manufacturers to take a fair and just response to the issue,” she said. They did not, however, se-cure a promise from the Chinese to be held accountable for the dam-age caused by drywall that is found to be harmful.

Home Owners Still on HoldHome owners hoping the government will fund remediation of their homes will have to continue to wait, according to Warren Friedman of HUD.

“We are still evaluating the problem right now, and that is a precursor to developing remediation strategies,” he said. The agency wants to make sure the direct source of the problem is identifi ed fi rst, and it hopes to implement more effi cient, less-costly methods of remedia-tion than complete to-the-studs renovations that can cost thousands of dollars.

Friedman recommended that home owners who have vacated their homes due to suspected Chinese drywall contamination and are in fi nancial distress should contact their lenders to work out a loan miti-gation plan.

Congressional and White House offi cials have been asked to consider legislation and other means to help families affected by the issue.

The CPSC has conducted more than 800 direct telephone interviews with affected home owners, and received nearly 1,900 reports from concerned consumers in 30 states. Consumers who suspect their homes contain defective drywall are urged to contact the CPSC at 800-638-2772.

A statement issued by the participating agencies recommends the following steps to improve indoor air quality and reduce exposure to substances that may cause health concerns:

Open windows to let in fresh air• Lower inside home temperatures as much as possible• Run air conditioners and dehumidifi ers• Do not smoke indoors•

Further Results ExpectedData from a 50-home air sampling study is still being evaluated, with results expected in November. The methodology was adjusted to re-fl ect learning outcomes from the initial 10-home study. A preliminary engineering analysis of potential electrical and fi re safety issues re-lated to corrosion is also expected at that time.

For more information, go to www.nahb.org/chinesedrywall.

This article was reprinted with permission from NAHB. For more infor-mation, visit www.nahb.org.

[ member news: marketing ]


Releasing its initial fi ndings on Oct. 29, a multi-agency government task force was unable to establish a conclusive link between Chinese-made drywall and adverse health symptoms in home owners or cor-rosive effects on components of their homes.

Although preliminary results showed that the Chinese drywall con-tained elemental sulfur as well as higher concentrations of strontium than non-Chinese drywall, neither chemical was present in suffi cient levels to pose a radiological health risk.

“We did not fi nd levels of chemicals that suggested an imminent health hazard,” said David Krause, state toxicologist for the Florida Depart-ment of Health. He said the levels were consistent with the reported symptoms of eye irritation, however.

Multiple Agencies, TacticsAgencies participating in the study include the U.S. Consumer Prod-uct Safety Commission (CPSC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop-ment HUD), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR), along with a number of state health departments.

The groups have been working together since early spring to investi-gate and analyze how Chinese-made drywall entered the U.S., where it was used, what chemicals are in it and how it may be affecting hu-man health and electrical and fi re safety components in homes.

A Web site, www.drywallresponse.gov, has been established to share agency fi ndings and address consumer concerns about defective dry-wall.

Scott Wolfson of the CPSC said that more than $3.5 million has been spent on the issue over the past fi ve months, and that the study is the largest investigation in CPSC history. “All resources are being brought to bear at this point,” he said.

Formaldehyde DiscoveredMore than 1,200 air samples were collected and analyzed from 10 homes in Florida and Louisiana in order to help develop a federal and state indoor air testing protocol, according to Jim Woolford of the EPA. The tests found detectable concentrations of two irritant compounds — acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. The compounds were found in homes built using Chinese drywall as well as those with non-Chinese drywall, however.

“Formaldehyde concentrations of this level are not unusual for new homes,” Woolford said. The levels were also higher in homes in which the air conditioners had not been in use for some time.

Elevated levels of formaldehyde were also discovered in FEMA trail-ers provided to Hurricane Katrina victims, who were immediately relo-cated because the presence of the chemical should have been dissi-pated under normal living conditions. The test case homes, however, were tightly constructed and unoccupied. New boards commonly emit non-toxic levels of the chemical, he said.

Border PatrolLori Saltzman of the CPSC said the agency is partnering with the De-partment of Homeland Security to stop drywall imports from China.

“We are working with port authorities to make sure Chinese drywall doesn’t come into the U.S.,” she said. “Additionally, notices have been sent to warehouses where the drywall is being stored letting them know of the investigation.”

No Chinese drywall has been imported into the U.S. this year, she added.

Saltzman said that CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum traveled last week to meet with the Chinese vice minister and stress concern over

Early Findings Inconclusive on Chinese Drywall Hazards

In the Know...2009 Committees and CouncilsActivities CommitteeDuane Liming and Nathan Lawrence- Co-ChairsBe sure to join us on December 11 at the Lioncrest at the Biltmore Estate for our annual Christmas Gala. The business portion of the Gala will be greatly reduced and heavy hors d’ouevres will increase the amount of time for socializing. Social Function will be playing mu-sic for dancing, so mark your calendars for some Christmas cheer on Friday, December 11! See page 15 for details.

The committee has had a lot of fun this year planning the golf tourna-ments and the AHBA picnic! The Christmas party will be the culmina-tion of a lot of hard work from this committee and will be a great way to end the year with a bang! Join us in 2010 if you’d like to help plan AHBA events.

Education CommitteeThe AHBA has the last NCBI course offered through the AHBA in 2009 on November 10. The courses were held at the AHBA offi ce and were a huge benefi t to the builders and associates who attended. The AHBA Education program- the Asheville Home Builders Institute- offered two 4 hour courses each quarter in 2009. New this year, the AHBA hopes to expand the program and have even greater value for our members in 2010. The program was given a STARS award from NCHBA this year. Thanks to everyone who participated in this program this year!

Legislative CommitteeGreg Spicer-ChairThis month the Legislative Committee will be attending the City Man-ager’s Development Forum. This Forum provides an opportunity to learn about current development trends, regulatory updates and man-agement incentives with the City of Asheville’s development services departments. We will also tour the City’s new One Stop Shop Devel-opment Services Center. This month on the National level the $8,000 fi rst-time home buyer tax credit and a new $6500 repeat home buyer tax credit has been passed. There are a number of resources posted at nahb.org/taxcreditmaterials. These include materials to help mem-bers promote the credit to potential home buyers and download ready to use promotional materials. On the State level this year, of the 1,333 bills introduced this session 316 directly affect the construction indus-try. I am always impressed to see the State Governmental Affairs staff at work and hope everyone realizes the extreme value of your Build-PAC contributions to help keep the building industry alive. Your local Legislative Committee has continued to make a strong presence and build a valuable relationship with our local elected offi cials.

Membership CommitteeThe Membership Committee recently held the most successful mem-bership drive in AHBA history, recruiting 49 new members to the As-sociation! Over 40 volunteers came to two parties and two hours at the offi ce for recruiting and won great prizes! We are so proud of our members who stepped up to enlist other area professionals who will benefi t from membership in our organization. We are looking forward to a 2010 with a great membership team ready to recruit new mem-bers and provide great benefi ts to help with retention! Join us in 2010 if you are interested in being a part of this great committee!

Parade of Homes CommitteeJosh Abrams & Steve Royster- Co-ChairsWith 2009 quickly coming to an end it is hard to believe that another Pa-rade of Homes has come to an end. Even with all of the challenges in today’s world, the 2009 Parade of Homes was a success for all! Build-ers witnessed great traffi c in their homes, Associate members were able to sell product and the Association presented itself in the com-munity in a very professional manner. Although October is still many months away, plans are underway for next year’s Parade of Homes. If you have always wanted to get involved in a committee, now is the time to contact the offi ce for an application for the 2010 Parade of Homes Committee. Thanks you to everyone involved who helped to contribute to this year’s success!

Professional Women in Building CouncilGina Kidder – Secretary/TreasurerAt our November 3rd meeting the PWB held elections for the 2010 of-fi cer positions. We are pleased to announce our new board members:Chairman – Amanda Ballew, more SPACE placeVice Chairman – Maria Aponte, Hi-Tech Integrated SystemsSecretary/Treasurer – Gina Kidder, Core Installations Director – Jenny Brunet, Cool Mountain Construction

The PWB would like to take this opportunity to thank the 2009 board of directors for all their hard work and dedication. We elected Judy Dinelle, our past Chairman, to represent us at the Women’s Council Delegate at the IBS meeting Jan 18, 2010. The PWB had an out-standing 2nd year with a long list of accomplishments and we should all be proud of our endeavors.

As a reminder everyone is welcome to join and if you are interested in being a part of the PWB Council please contact Gina Kidder with Core Installations at [email protected]. Next meeting date:January 5 – 8:30am @ AHBA

[ member news ]



[ member news ]- Pending Members -

**Allegra Print & ImagingMike Powell191 Charlotte StreetAsheville, NC 28801828-253-6886Printing, SignageSPIKE: Maria Aponte

**Allora, LLCJennifer Jeffries201 River Place Ste 501Greenville, SC 29601864-458-8176Builder, Land DeveloperSPIKE: Skip Brewer

**AMC, Inc.Rob Sadler133 Thompson StreetAsheville, NC 28803828-252-6161Ironwork. Wrought Iron & WeldingSPIKE: Rich Kubica

**Amp ElectricJason Hamilton356 Flat Creek Rd.Black Mountain, NC 28711828-318-5217Electrical ContractorsSPIKE: Sean Sulllivan

**Angel’s StuccoJose A. Rodriguez3 Lynnbrook DriveArden, NC 28704828-551-5939StuccoSPIKE: Greg Spicer

**Asheville Ford, LLC.Bob SlebonickPO Box 1490Asheville, NC 28802828-253-2731Auto & Truck Dealer, Auto & Truck RepairSPIKE: Rich Kubica

**B&L Distribution Company of NCScott T. Ibbotson190 Continuum DriveFletcher, NC 28732828-209-5000Brick,Stone, Masonry, Sand Suppliers, StuccoSPIKE: Skip Brewer

**Best Built, Inc.James Alan Best4879 Crabtree Mountain Rd.Clyde, NC 28721828-506-943Commercial Construction, Green BuilderSPIKE: Judy Dinelle

**Brookstone Builders, LLCRichard KingPO Box 1105Black Mountain, NC 28711828-230-7972BuilderSPIKE: Brian Burpeau

**Carlton DesignBuild, Inc.Rob CarltonPO Box 7466Asheville, NC 28802828-212-6297Single Family -SpecSingle Family TowhnhousesSPIKE: Herb Freeman

**Carolina Cornerstone Construction, Inc.Scott L. MacAlister357B Depot StAsheville, NC 28801828-251-9067General Contractor, Green BuilderSPIKE: Rich Kubica

**Carolina Native NurseryBill Jones1126 Prices Creek Rd.Burnsville, NC 28714828-684-1471Landscape MaterialsLandscape,Lawn & Garden

**Clearwater Well Dwelling, IncJeff MoorePO Box 71Hot Springs, NC 28743828-622-7241Wells & Well DrillingSPIKE: Steve Wallin

**Custom Granite & Marble, IncGeorge Douglas16A Piney Park RdAsheville, NC 28806808-255-1855Marble, Stone, Granite & TileSPIKE: Kevin Abercrombie

**D & H ConstructionA. Houston Sullivan34 Raleigh RoadAsheville, NC 28803828-335-9180Carpenters, FramingFraming ContractorSPIKE: Kevin Abercrombie

**David WallDavid Wall71 Garden CircleAsheville, NC 28806828-215-4200Real Estate Sales & MaketingSPIKE: Terry Walton

**DRA Living, Inc.David Rand900 Hendersonville Rd, Ste 301Asheville, NC 28803828-274-4699Modular HomesSPIKE: Herb Freeman

**Dwell/EcoHouse Realty Inc.Jack Bebber135 Cherry St.Asheville, NC 28801828-254-3334SPIKE: Jill Jones

**Home EnvironmentsDarrie Earley1070 Tunnel Rd.Asheville, NC 28805828-768-1167Carpet & Floor CoveringsCeramic TileSPIKE: Steve Wallin

**Interiors By Donna CoudesDonna Coudes2 Town Square Blvd Suite 246Asheville, NC 28803828-651-8811Decorating & Interior DesignSPIKE: Sean Cashin

**Jethro’s Johnnies, Inc.Jeff Moore15020 NC Hwy 209Hot Springs, NC 28943828-622-9407Portable ToilesSPIKE: Steve Wallin

**JSS Homes, LLCDan Arrowood16 Yorkshire CtCandler, NC 28715828-251-1958BuilderSPIKE: Judy Dinelle

**K2 Irrigation Services, Inc.Kevin McRaePO Box 698Enka, NC 28728828-633-0536Landscape ContractorsLandscape, Lawn & GardenSPIKE: Josh Abrams

**Ken Wilson Ford, Inc.Earl WhelessPO Box 869Canton, NC 28716828-648-2318Auto & Truck Dealer, Auto & Truck RepairSPIKE: Brian Burpeau

**Keystone Kitchen & BathDavid Gardner1170 South Main St.Waynesville, NC 28786828-452-4931CabinetsCountertopsSPIKE: Erin Spicher

**Medlock & Associates Engineering, PAJohn Squires53 Asheland Ave., Suite 101Asheville, NC 28801828-232-4448Engineers, House Plans & DesignSPIKE: Jill Jones

**MJO Industries, IncMark Olander5 Summersweet LaneAsheville, NC 28803828-712-1688BuilderResidental Remodeling - BuilderSPIKE: Rich Kubica

**Mountain Paint & Decorating, IncTed Hughes110 Merrimon AveAsheville, NC 28801828-258-5385Decorating & Interior DesignPaint SuppliersSPIKE: Herb Freeman

**Mountain Showcase GroupNick Dionne211 Sugarloaf RdHendersonville, NC 28792828-545-2831Cabinets, Kitchen & BathSPIKE: Katie Rice

**Nemec Construction, LLCChris NemecPO Box 300Swannanoa, NC 28778828-686-0621Green Builder, Solar HomesSPIKE: Brenda Dunlap

**New South Construction SupplyJey Yates9 N Kings RdGreenville, SC 29621864-269-7007Handscape ProductsWaterproofi ng SuppliesSPIKE: Jay Koehn

**Preferred Properties of Asheville, Inc.Laura Livaudais39 Woodfi n St.Asheville, NC 28801828-712-5445Real Estate Sales & MaketingSPIKE: Jill Jones

**Profi les In WoodDawson Spano76 Parker DriveMaggie Valley, NC 28751828-734-4482BuilderSPIKE: Judy Dinelle

**Red River, Inc.Mary Duffy800 E. Fairview Rd., Suite 274Asheville, NC 28803828-298-9309SPIKE: Brenda Dunlap

**Robert J. Deutsch, P.A.Tikkun A.S. Gottschalk75 North Market StreetAsheville, NC 28801828-251-0600AttorneysSPIKE: Jill Jones

**RockStar Marble & GraniteMatt Olofson6 Fairview Rd.Asheville, NC 28803828-505-2137CountertopsMarble, Stone, Granite & TileSPIKE: Sean Sullivan


[ member news ]

- New Members -

*Pending New Member Orientation Sherwin Williams CoTerri Kilmer1068 Patton Ave.Asheville, NC 28805Painting and Wallcovering suppliersDecorating & Interior Design

Mueller Roofi ngKristopher Joseph Mueller7 Pine Ridge RdAsheville, NC 28804Roofi ng ContractorSPIKE: Greg Spicer

To educate and engage new members within the association, we have a New Member Orientation. AHBA Members are required to attend the one hour New Member Orientation as the fi nal step in the application process.

PLEASE READIn compliance with our Bylaws and the policies which have been put in place by our Board of Directors and the Membership Com-mittee, Association procedure is to have new member applica-tions approved by the Board of Directors and by the General Membership. Please look at the list of Prospective Members. If you know of any compelling reason that any applicant should not be considered for membership, please contact any AHBA staff member at 828-299-7001 or email your comments to the AHBA at [email protected]. All information given to the AHBA is held strictly confi dential.

- Pending Members Continued -**Tri-County SolutionsJon Hill44 Buck Shoals Rd., Suite F-1Arden, NC 28704828-687-2654PrintingSignageSPIKE: Rich Kubica

**Valley Glass and MirrorMonte HensleyPO Box 182Black Mountain, NC 28711828-215-9410Glass & Mirror ProductsCustom Shower DoorsSPIKE: Brian Burpeau

**Alderman Custom Homes, LLCBill HankePO Box 1548Weaverville, NC 28787 828-380-1788Commercial RemodelingGreen BuilderSPIKE: Brenda Dunlap

**Viridis Building ElementsAndy Sluder825-C Merrimon Ave. #381Asheville, NC 28804828-400-7922Building Materials: Home CentersConcrete, Specialty/DecorativeSPIKE: Jim Demos

**WNC Health InsuranceMichael BreslinPO Box 2287Skyland, NC 28776828-681-8223SPIKE: Herb Freeman

Binswanger Glass Co.David Pritchard1194 Hendersonville Rd.Asheville, NC 28803828-277-7599Glass & Mirror ProductsDoors: Exterior & InteriorSPIKE: Barbara Cerridwen

First Restoration Services of AshevilleShawn Silliman173 Rutledge RdFletcher, NC 28732828-684-1582Repairs - Storm Damage/Building DefectsWater/Fire DamageSPIKE: Josh Abrams

Hagemeyer North AmericaLee Harris155 Jacob Holm WayCandler, NC 28715828-255-2401Safety ProductsSPIKE: Thomas McClain

**Scenic Wolf Development, LLCRick Bussey1915 Wolf Ridge Rd.Mars Hill, NC 28754828-689-3600BuilderSPIKE: Chad Golden

**Solarnomics (CM Wilson, Inc.)Chris WilsonPO Box 1270Mars Hill, NC 28754828-230-6238Electrical Contractors, Solar EnergySPIKE: Herb Freeman

**SoWachaWant Screen PrintingTracy Owens20 Maple StreetFletcher, NC 28732828-243-2482Advertising & SpecialtiesSignageSPIKE: Josh Abrams

**Swannanoa Carpet CityDon Robinson2407 US Hwy. 70Swannanoa, NC 28778828-686-7356Stairs & Stair PartsFlooring & Floor coveringsSPIKE: Brian Burpeau

**The Palmer GroupBobby JonesTwo Town Sqare, Ste 200Asheville, NC 28803828-713-3929InsuranceSPIKE: Herb Freeman

**Thomas and Company AccountingRhulon Todd Fowler20 Harrison StreetAsheville, NC 28801828-776-8633accounting/tax preparationsSPIKE: Terry Walton

ISS TechnologiesDave Heath22 Business Park CircleArden, NC 28704828-684-4248Structured WiringTelephone & CommunicationsSPIKE: Tom Rich

North Carolina Farm BureauPatrick CusackPO Box 6955Asheville, NC 28816828-259-3883InsuranceSPIKE: Thomas McClain

Willow Creek Homes LLCJeff Wagner1852 Brevard RdArden, NC 28704828-650-6532BuilderResidential Remodeling - BuilderSPIKE: Robbie Vaughan

WNC Ceramic Tile Inc.J.T. Barber508 Swannanoa River Rd.Asheville, NC 28805828-298-3251Marble, Stone, Granite & TileSPIKE: Sean Sullivan

** Denotes a pending member who joined during the AHBA’s Fall Membership Drive, November 11 & 12, 2009.


[ member news ]

- Sorry to See You Go! -The AHBA is sorry to see the companies below drop their AHBA memberships. If you know these past members, or do business with them, give them a call and help us get them back to the AHBA!

Target Builders Inc.Builder

Crest Mountain Condominiums, LLCReal Estate

Innovative Housing, LLC.Associate Member

Pinnacle Builders Western North Carolina Inc.Associate Member

Asheville Area Construction, Inc.Builder

Hammerhead Construction, Inc.Builder

Asheville Elevator Company, Inc.Kevin MathisPO Box 5863Asheville, NC 28813(828) 274-3633Elevators/Platform and Stair Lifts

Belco Electric Co.Milton BurrisPO Box 969Old Fort, NC 28762(828) 582-4663Electrical ContractorsElectrical Suppliers

Briarwood Construction IncSteve RogersPO Box 770Arden, NC 28704-0770(828) 684-6916General Contractor

Carolina Mountain Roofi ng & CoCharles PattersonPO Box 325Candler, NC 28715-0325(828) 665-3091Roofi ng ContractorsSheet Metal Fabricators

Fairview Door Sales CoRobert McBrayerPO Box 190Fairview, NC 28730-0190(828) 628-2369Garage Doors

Forest Millwork, Inc.Tom Bader93 Thompson StAsheville, NC 28803-2330(828) 251-5264Millwork, Moldings; DoorsCabinets Griffi n Waste Services, LLCChad Griffi n402 Old Leicester HighwayAsheville, NC 28806(828) 281-4549Waste Disposal

Haywood ApplianceKeith ArnoldPO Box 1079Clyde, NC 28721(828) 627-0001Appliance Suppliers

High Country HomesNancy Padgett9 Meadow Brook DrFletcher, NC 28732(828) 628-1771Custom BuilderGreen Builder

Holloway Plastering/StuccoTim HollowayPO Box 159Tuxedo, NC 28784-0159(828) 779-5262Stucco

Hutton Vincent Williamson McLean Insurance GroupEdward NewsomePO Box 20Asheville, NC 28802-0020(828) 253-2371Insurance

Mountain Home SystemsChad Helmuth16 Westminster DriveAsheville, NC 28804(828) 777-0657Alarm & Security SystemsStructured WiringP. H. Construction, Inc.Patrick Hunt88 Dearview StreetAsheville, NC 28806-4557(828) 776-0886Builder

Pella Window & Door CoJorg Ronke3 Design Ave Unit 103Fletcher, NC 28732-7824(828) 684-3389Window ProductsWindows

Pioneer Construction & Development, Inc.*Nathan Lawrence/Affi liate133 Thompson St Unit FAsheville, NC 28803-1458(828) 254-1536BuilderGreen Builder

Quality Comfort Heating & Cooling, LLCMikheil Lebed38 Cane Brook Dr.Leicester, NC 28748(828) 255-4659Heating & Air-Conditioning Contractors

Showcase ExteriorsMaria Horton618 Rose Hill RdAsheville, NC 28803-8545(828) 298-1700Remodeling Services

Southern Concrete MaterialsDave DavisPO Box 5395Asheville, NC 28813(704) 692-6517Concrete Suppliers

Stills Stone CoDon StillsPO Box 39Fairview, NC 28730-0039(704) 628-3455

The Colorful PalateTara LettsP.O. Box 1054Asheville, NC 28802(828) 242-3352Caterer

Westall-Chandley IncJill JonesPO Box 5755Asheville, NC 28813-5755(828) 253-5331Building Materials: Home Centers

- Renewing Members -

AHB

A N ATIONThe AHBA will have the annual Christmas Gala at the Lioncrest at the Biltmore Estate this year. What has traditionally been a sit-down dinner, will now be a cocktail party brimming with festive drinks and heavy hors’ d’ourves.

The evening will begin at 6:30 pm with a private party for our top SPIKE’s, 2009 Foundation Club Members, and Board of Directors, and will offi cially open for the General Membership at 7:30 pm. We will have an hour of networking and refreshments before the band begins and shifts the party atmosphere into a danc-ing mood. The band, A Social Function, is well-known in Asheville for their extreme talent and wide variety of musical selections.

Tickets for all AHBA members, including Affi liates, are FREE to attend this magical evening at the Biltmore Estate. Spouses and guests of AHBA Members are $65, with an RSVP required for everyone attending. Dress will be cocktail attire, please feel free to come in your holiday best!

We look forward to spending the evening with our members, as we celebrate the closure of another wonderful year with the best homebuilding professionals in Western North Carolina! Mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss this enchanting event at the Biltmore Estate!


[ AHBA Nation ]

Name/Title: Herb FreemanBusiness Name: Herbert C. Freeman, CPA, PCMember for 8 years!

How did your company get started?I started in public accounting 14 years ago and became involved in the AHBA 8 years ago. Prior to becoming a CPA I worked in the construction industry and felt I needed to continue my involvement with the industry after becoming a CPA.What makes your company unique?Being a small CPA fi rm has unique challenges but we have been able to overcome these hurdles through qual-ity procedures and practices, we also have created alliances with others in the industry to meet the needs of our clients. In addition, our billing practices allow us to serve our clients on a proactive basis versus reactive therefore eliminating many problems or potential issues.What has been your greatest business success?My greatest business success was creating a business model that does not consume my personal life. My family life is extremely important to me and I will not allow my business to consume all of my time and energy. Creating a

quality balance between work and personal life allows me to enjoy owning a business, serving my clients, and being a husband and father.What do you like about doing business in Asheville?Asheville has such a variety of business and people, it allows you an opportunity serve a broad base of clients but at the same time it is small enough to know people in the community.What kind of business does your business attract?Our business looks for clients who appreciate and value the service we provide and want to build a long-term relationship. We are not in the business of just preparing tax returns but becoming an advisor that is available all year. The type of clients we have range from the single col-lege student to companies with revenue in excess of $10M. Each client is made to feel as if they are my best client because without them my business would not be successful.

How does your business positively contribute to the Asheville Community?I like to think we contribute to the community by offering a quality service at a very reasonable price. In addition, we provide accounting services to some very needed organizations such as Asheville Pregnancy Support Services and Experiencing God Through Missions.

Phone: 828-684-4501 Location: 10D Herman Ave Ext, Asheville 28803; P.O. Box 2170 Skyland, 28776

AHBA Nation Member Spotlightaa

Christmas Gala to be Party of the Year at Biltmore’s Lioncrest

2008 AHBA Christmas Gala

[ inside this issue ]Calendar ........................ 2

Committee Update .......... 3

Builders Issues .............. 4-5

Member News ........... 6-14

AHBA Nation ................ 15

Asheville Home Builders AssociationPO Box 9722Asheville, NC 28815

Contact us today for details on becoming a Home Advantage builder.progress-energy.com/CarolinasHA or 1.800.327.8704

The benefits of Home Advantage are easy to graspGet a competitive advantage in today’s market. With Home Advantage from Progress Energy, you can stand out when you build ENERGY STAR® certified homes that are 15 percent more energy efficient than standard homes. You’ll also receive valuable cash incentives starting at $400 per home.

Plus, each home you build to Home Advantage standards comes with a 5 percent Progress Energy homeowner discount for the lifetime of the home.

home advantage

©2009 Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc.

Blueprints is an award-winning publication!2008 STARS Award (NCHBA)2008 Association Excellence Award (NAHB)

Documents

December Newsletter