What does it take to be a home builder?

What does it really take to build a house? Today’s new homes reflect changing market preferences and integrate elaborate designs and consumer desires into the floor plans and construction of the homes. And, successful home builders have the knowledge, organizational skills and drive to build them. A home builder must understand the home’s complex systems; pay close attention to detail; and coordinate a team of various contractors to build and sell a quality product.

Above all, a home builder is a manager who guides dozens of skilled artisans and professionals. Home builder’s must know enough about each contractor’s trade in order to determine whether the contractor has done quality work. Like a CEO, a home builder relies on a number of workers to get a job done right.

Home builders serve as liaisons with their communities and local government officials. They research and study local building codes to determine what can be built in a given location. In most localities, building codes govern building, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, electrical systems, and fire safety. The home builder then oversees the entire construction process.

A home builder also plays the role of inspector. Throughout the construction phase, the local building department checks the construction site to search for code violations. But the professional home builder scours each construction site long before and after the officials show up to make certain each home meets both code and warranty guidelines.

One goal drives the professional home builder—a satisfied customer. Home builders discuss the construction process and building schedule with their customers. They also plan times when the homebuyers can tour the building site and ask questions about the status of their new home.

All in all, builders must wear many hats before homebuyers will have places to hang theirs.

Building a Dream Home Twice In 2005, St. Jude approached the local television station, Channel 6 and asked for their participation in the “Dream Home” giveaway! It was then that GLHBA Member Mayberry Homes became a part of the program. Bob Schroeder states, “We were happy to do it, it was a great cause and something we really felt strongly was worth the effort and time and money to put into it.”

St. Jude shares the financial burden families may face when combating a serious illness. No family is ever faced with the challenge of trying to pay for treatments which are left uncovered by their insurance program. In addition, families without insurance coverage will find financial assistance through St. Jude. No child will be left untreated due to lack of adequate insurance. The project undertaken by Bob Schroeder is one of the ways St. Jude finances its assistance. Bob explains, “They rely on goodwill contributions in different forms to fund their programs…they are doing research on illnesses that no one else will do because it’s not economically feasible.” Mayberry Homes took on this project not once, but twice! They have done an amazing job of raising money for St. Jude's Children Hospital.

For their efforts, Mayberry Homes received a special award, “Volunteer of the Year,” from St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Mayberry Homes raised over $500,000 each year for the Children’s Hospital.

GLHBA Member Named Remodelor of the Year Consecutively, Magnotta Builders and Remodelers LLC of Lansing, Michigan was chosen to receive a Chrysalis Award as the Michigan Remodeler of the Year for 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 making this the fourth consecutive year they have won this award. The eleventh annual Chrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence.

Each year one remodeler is selected by the judges as the Chrysalis Remodeler of the Year in their state. Criteria for Remodeler of the Year are based on the company's relationships with their customers, their contributions to professionalism in the remodeling industry and their contributions to the community.

GLHBA Member builds affordable homes, receives award Abbey Homes was the winner of the 2006 Innovation in Workforce Housing Award from the National Association of Home Builders for their East Village development. The National Association of Home Builders recognized five developers, including Abbey Homes, who have overcome market and regulatory challenges to build high quality workforce housing. Workforce housing is housing that “is considered affordable to police officers, teachers, firefighters and nurses, as well as the millions of men and women who work in the retail and service industries.”

Hawk Island In May 2004, volunteers from the GLHBA membership joined many others in the community at Hawk Island Park, located just off of Cavanaugh in Lansing. Together, an elaborate playground was constructed. Members broke into small groups, working on everything from hammering and sawing, to painting and digging, to assist with construction of the new 12,000 square foot playground. Members also donated trees to provide much needed shade to future park goers.

Playhouse for Angel House In March 2005, volunteers from the GLHBA membership built three playhouses. Two of the houses were raffled off at the Annual Spring Home Show, with proceeds from the sale of tickets going directly to Angel House, a division of Child & Family Services. The third house, was donated to Angel House for the children housed there. In addition, one of the winners of the raffle donated their playhouse to the Ronald McDonald House in Lansing.

WoodCreek Elementary The Community Service Committee traveled to Woodcreek Elementary in the Lansing Public School District, to meet with 40 3 rd grade students from Mrs. Smith’s & Mrs. Patrick’s class. Mark Voss, Sabrina Shultz, Jennifer Johnson and Cindy Kosloski talked with the kids about the importance of tree’s utilizing resources from the NAHB’s Homes of Our Own program.

The kids watched a video and then had an opportunity to ask questions. They were all very eager to learn and excited about the presentation.

After the question and answer session, everyone ventured outside to watch the 8ft Evergreen donated by Jack Barkley of Ayles Tree Service be planted on their playground. Ayles driver, Ken Julson, found his audience much more attentive and excited than most, even offering Ken a round of applause when the tree was set in the ground.

During the preceding week they kids had studied different areas of the playground to determine the best place to plant the tree to provide it with maximum space to grow, adequate sunlight and utilization of the oxygen it will give off.

Wanger Home Build Project Francis and Arlene Wanger from Mason, MI have committed their lives to raising special needs children who they have adopted. They currently have 11 children, 7 of whom live at home with special needs ranging from physical to mental handicaps, hearing and speech impairments, to those who are wheelchair bound. All nine people currently live in a home that is less than 1,000 square feet built in 1922 that is unable to meet the family’s daily living needs and suffers from many necessary repairs.

The GLHBA Foundation decided to take on the project of building the Wangers a new home. Members of GLHBA and the community have made this project a reality.

The Wanger’s saw their newly constructed home completed, decorated and furnished, for the first time on December 19 th at 8:30 am. A handicap accessible 1,600 sq. foot ranch, their new home will be able to meet the daily living needs of this large, compassionate, and generous family who have already given so much to their community.