Canadian Home Builders' Association - Calgary Region

Shortages and costs cited as problems

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:28:21 GMT

It comes as no surprise that the most critical concerns for new home builders in Alberta revolves around two things: lots and government charges.

Rising serviced lot prices are the number one concern of Alberta builders who completed the recent Pulse Survey. In fact, that’s a critical problem across Canada, where close to one-third of builders say it’s the top worry – and that goes up to 40 per cent in Ontario.

Close on its heels, the potential requirement for residential fire sprinklers was the next most onerous problem in Alberta, according to the survey conducted by CHBA with assistance from CMHC and Natural Resources Canada. A full 20 per cent of respondents in the province said it was a critical problem.

Rising development charges, more onerous municipal approvals and standards, and more onerous building code requirements together were cited by 50 per cent of the respondents as concerns across the province.

New home builders across the province are planning modest shifts in the upcoming year toward targeting the semi-custom home buyer market, according to the survey results.

For renovators across Canada, work in the underground economy continues to be the most pressing concern. More than half of renovators in Alberta reported activity is higher than 12 months ago, and 89 per cent expect stable or even higher activity to come. The average project reported by renovators here was $150,000 and took 12 weeks to complete.

The survey was tabulated and analyzed by Altus Group Economic Consulting late last year and earlier this year.

Options to avoid your upcoming labour crisis

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:25:18 GMT

With an active spring for the housing market, the woes of worker shortages are at the forefront of concerns for many companies.

The Alberta government has forecast there will be 114,000 more jobs than people available to fill them in coming years. The issue of growing labour shortages is not specific to the residential industry in Alberta, but since so many trades are involved in homebuilding, the industry will definitely feel the impact. That is a major reason CHBA – Alberta recently joined a new group aimed at helping to find a solution. In late 2011 the Alberta Coalition for Action on Labour Shortages was formed and joined by 19 business associations and groups dedicated to encouraging federal and provincial governments to address the labour shortage. “Joining this coalition ensures that our voice for our industry is heard as a part of the larger and louder Alberta voice on this issue,” says Sandra Young, CHBA – Alberta president.

Federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney shared with CHBA - Alberta members at a recent luncheon hosted by the provincial association the plan to introduce a skilled trades-people immigration stream. The system will reduce the current seven-year waiting time for skilled immigrates to a few months. “Overall we are happy that the federal government is finally addressing this issue. The announcements made by the minister however, we feel are only a start to addressing this complex issue,” says Young.

Part of the skilled labour shortages can be alleviated with our own students – and homebuilder associations across the country are working to show them the opportunities that are available to them. As an example, the recent monthly dinner meeting of CHBA – Calgary Region featured the students from high schools and from SAIT Polytechnic who were winners of the recent Student House Competition, an annual event put on by CHBA – Calgary Region. Winners of the competition were given scholarships to further their study.

“There are many misconceptions among young people about careers in the trades. I believe as an industry we need to continue to educate students about the opportunities they may have working as a trade in Alberta,” says Young.
Some educational institutions have already noted the need to promote the trades as a viable career choice for students.
“When I talk to the students about career exploration, many have expressed an interest in the trades,” says Gale Molle, career advisor with Springbank High School. “Many students are unaware of the many opportunities for careers in the building trades.”
For that reason, the school is arranging a career fair September 26th and is hoping to get some representatives from the residential construction industry to take part in it. “Students who might be thinking about a career in certain areas of interest actually do make decisions after attending career fairs.”

A better foundation solution

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:22:04 GMT

The May 31^st builder breakfast is about a new application of a centuries’ old technology that can help homebuilders.

The breakfast will cover information on screw piles, a solution for better foundations that has been around for nearly 200 years and has grown and evolved over the past few years. Screw piles offer benefits over competing foundation systems that can greatly benefit any job site.

“Screw piles can provide a better foundation solution in some circumstances, depending on ground condition, accelerated scheduling and concerns where increased loading may be achieved through the utilization of screw piles,” says Charlie Street, inside sales at Almita Piling.

Screw piles are being used in a variety of settings including oil & gas, power transmission and distribution and construction. “A lot has been invested into research and development to advance screw pile design and their reliability,” says Street – an investment that has lead to numerous advantages.

Screw piles have the ability to be installed year round, even in frozen conditions. They boast a speedy installation a single stage installation. Screw piles can also be installed where high water tables exist without having to dewater in order to complete installation. “It is expected over time that screw piles will be used in more applications, such as bridges with dynamic loadings. As more testing is being done on screw piles, we are proving their viability for numerous applications,” he says.

To learn more about screw piles and their application in the residential construction industry register for the next builder breakfast. The breakfast will take place May 31st at the Glenmore Inn. Registration is at 6:30 a.m. and the event runs until 8:30 a.m. Breakfast will be served. To register click here.

Watch Your Sales Rock

Thu, 10 May 2012 17:41:19 GMT

The Rock Your Sales Rally has made its mark on Calgary, and we expect quite the positive selling season for the more than 300 attendees. The three Rock and Roll presenters straight from the lights of Las Vegas hit attendees with a high-energy, fast-paced seminar packed with hard-hitting and practical ideas.

First to take the stage was the entrepreneurial selling rock star, Melinda Brody, who helped attendees to understand how to connect with their buyers and become unstoppable in closing sales. Brody shared some vital tips with the audience including the importance of establishing a meaningful connection with your buyers; how to deal with fear in the selling process; and the importance of asking for mini agreements along the way. Make yourself stand out; come up with a unique statement about yourself, she said. “I am the only salesperson who does _____.”

Next up was the eMarketing Rock Star and digital diva, Meredith Oliver, who presented information on how to turn online clicks into secured sales – a skill becoming increasingly important as social media and online presence shine in the current economy. Oliver left attendees with numerous tips and tricks to having a meaningful online presence, the importance of relativity and recognizing your consumer’s ability to obtain a large amount of information online. Some vital statistics show the importance of your online presence such as 87% of new home buyers start their search online. All of the available information on the internet leaves a consumer intrigued about your product but confused by all of the designs and products they have seen, Oliver said. A sales person is the trusted advisor to help the consumer make decisions after they have already had a chance to online shop for numerous products, both yours and your competitors.

Lastly John A. Palumbo, the closing Rock Star, left attendees with the valuable knowledge of how to become a master closer. Palumbo’s key to persuading the consumer to buy is to literally step into their position by actually planting your feet in the position of a previous customer giving a testimonial. Eye contact is another important tip. It allows you to recognize the subconscious signals that a customer is serious and enthused by the purchase. The priming effect is another way to help sales, says Palumbo: when walking through a home, detail the quality behind the features, (e.g. ‘Floors like these are usually only seen in million dollar homes,’) but don’t tell the price of the house until you are asked. That way, the features will shine through, creating desire for the customer and showing the value of the house.

The three rock stars boast a considerable amount of experience including professional speaking, the creation of WOW Communications, the evaluation of more than 20,000 salespeople, closing over $1 billion dollars of real estate, creating expertise DVDs and CDs, and publishing numerous internationally-recognized books. The Calgary stop is the most recent of a sold out tour for the three sales training experts from the U.S.

For more information on any of the speakers check out their website. Click here.

Thanks to all of the attendees and good luck on your upcoming sales season!

More opportunities for growth and recognition for members

Thu, 10 May 2012 17:36:28 GMT

Alberta Awards of Excellence in Housing
CHBA - Alberta is now accepting entries for the Alberta Awards of Excellence in Housing, provincial housing awards that honour top builders and renovators. This is a great opportunity for members to be honoured for their dedication to excellence and it is a great marketing tool for members to set themselves apart from the competition.
This year companies can submit up to three entries per category. Online submissions will be accepted until June 1, 2012. All the information is available online.
The awards are part of BUILD 2012, the annual conference of the CHBA – Alberta that takes place Sept. 20th to 23rd at the Jasper Park Lodge. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the popular event and registration has already begun at the same online website.

Safety Leadership Awards
The CHBA – Alberta Safety Leadership Awards recognize builder and general members for their dedication to safety. Our members have many great safety programs already in place and now it’s time to demonstrate it province wide. This year four awards will be presented to those companies that have found an innovative approach to their safety programs and whose staff excels in safety. Submissions will be accepted until Friday, June 1, 2012. Get started by reviewing the submission guidelines and complete your application online.

UDI – Alberta Conference
The annual event this year features keynote speaker Rex Murphy, sure to delight the audience with his wit and wisdom about the political scene in Canada. A full day of speakers that are industry leaders and topics that include economic forecasts follows. The event takes place May 23rd at the Telus Convention Centre with a gala reception May 22nd at Teatro to open the event. Register here.

National and provincial news

Thu, 10 May 2012 17:25:46 GMT

The recent federal budget
CHBA has reacted to the latest budget put down by the federal government in a positive way.
Calling it a budget that supports stability in housing markets and sets out a strategic approach to investment in Canada’s economic competitiveness, CHBA President Ron Olson said: “This is a practical budget that sets the stage for future economic renewal, while delivering worthwhile measures today. We’re pleased that Minister Flaherty resisted calls to tighten amortization and down payment rules. This type of intervention would have prevented thousands of first-time buyers from pursuing their dream of homeownership.”

Skilled worker shortages
CHBA President Ron Olson also applauded plans for immigration reform and training for skilled jobs, noted in the federal budget. “We have urged the government to address the growing shortage of skilled people required to build and renovate homes. We’re pleased that the budget tackles this issue.”
Since then, CHBA – Alberta has joined with provincial businesses and organizations that form the Alberta Coalition for Action on Labour Shortages.
Recent announcements from federal Minister of Immigration Jason Kenney and Minister of Human Resources Diane Finley appear to indicate that the efforts of (this group) are working, says CHBA – Alberta CEO Jim Rivait. “Since CHBA - Alberta began participating in this group, the federal government made multiple announcements of changes regarding labour. Most recently, they introduced changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program that allows fast-tracking of some applications. This change aligns with ACALS’ goals.”

The provincial election
“It was certainly an interesting election,” says Jim Rivait, CEO of CHBA – Alberta. But the work has just begun.
“While the Tories have a significant majority, we have a different political landscape and there are 39 new MLAs now. Over the next six months, we will be focusing on developing relationships with the new MLAs and strengthening our relationship with those who have been re-elected.
“With so many new people, it will provide an opportunity for us to share our ideas with many taking a fresh look at the issues. As well, they will be anxious to learn and we can be a great help to them.
“There will be a more substantial Opposition, which we haven’t had to deal with in the past, and they will have an important role to play. We will be developing a respectful strategy to engage Opposition members without feeding into the politically-partisan debates. With the re-election of the Tories, the legislative agenda will be much the same and we will continue to advance our agenda. But with some new folks, I will be pushing government to re-visit the owner-builder exemption for mandatory new home warranty.
We will be focusing on strengthening partnerships with like-minded organizations. In the past week, I met with UDI Wood Buffalo, Canadian Institute for Plumbing and Heating and will be meeting with UDI Cold Lake next week. My intention is to open the door, so that we can work together on issues and not deliver inconsistent messages. We have joined the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association as an affiliate member and will use that as an opportunity to meet regularly and provide information on issues and resolutions impacting residential builders.

Radon levels in homes
Health Canada has published the results of the second and final year of its survey of radon levels in Canadian houses. The summary report is available here. The findings show that on average, 7% of houses have levels of radon above which Health Canada recommends action to reduce radon levels.
As previously advised, builders should inform their customers to test for radon, both in new houses and those undergoing renovation, particularly in those areas with a higher incidence of radon.
The Homeowner Protection Centre, a consumer advocacy group in Toronto, has recently released a report that contains a number of recommendations that would affect the industry if adopted. Check www.homeownerprotection.ca.

First Universal Design Show Home to Open in Calgary

Wed, 02 May 2012 21:52:05 GMT

As of May 10th accessible housing for those with mobility or other special needs will be easier to find in new homes, thanks to a Calgary builder.

After meeting with the Accessible Housing Society of Calgary to discuss future regulation changes, Stepper Custom Homes learned that no-one was currently building new homes with an accessibility focus, says Dave Hooge, president of Stepper Custom Homes.

Defined as a dwelling designed to allow easier access for physically-disabled or vision-impaired persons, accessible housing meets the needs of a specific segment of purchasers who have had little choice in the new housing market – until now.

Accessible plans with options for refinement for all areas of the city will be offered by Stepper Custom Homes in order to meet the needs of Calgarians. An accessibility-focused show home and sales centre will be operational in the Copperfield show home parade. “Accessible housing choices are important in that they meet the needs of a large segment of Calgarians whose needs may not be being met at this time. This includes not only those requiring accessibility themselves, but those who have friends and family they would like to have as guests in their house, or those looking to move into a home in which they would like to stay through their later years with the ability to address potential mobility needs,” says Hooge.

Some universal design principals include wider doorframes to allow for wheelchair access, lower countertops to facilitate wheelchair height and lever handles on doors to help those with arthritis. The home is designed to be barrier free.

The city’s first accessible show home is part of the latest Copperfield parade, and the grand opening takes place May 10th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 70 Copperpond Heath S.E. The executive director from Accessible Housing Calgary and Ward 12 Alderman Shane Keating will speak at 4:30 p.m.

Spring Selling Season Heating Up

Wed, 02 May 2012 21:46:59 GMT

By all accounts, spring has arrived to the real estate industry in and around Calgary.
While the CMHC starts for April haven’t yet been released, signs of strong activity have already been reported in several areas – and CREB’s numbers for last month are encouraging as well.
A total of 2,200 overall residential MLS sales in the city in April was up 26.07 per cent from the same month last year, while the average sale price of $429,388 increased by 1.95 per cent from April 2011.
And the high end is hot. Seven condos on the MLS market have been sold for more than $1 million so far this year, according to CREB.
On the new side, activity has been brisk as well. One condo on 26th Avenue S.W., for example, has just reported a record sale price for one of its units - $8.3 million. The River by 26th Avenue River Investments Inc. has had four sales over $1 million and has sold 14 of its 38 units.
Todd Hirsch, senior economist with ATB Financial in Calgary, reported in a recent Calgary Herald article that the trend is expected. "The economy is doing well. There are a lot of Calgarians who are making incomes they've never seen before and I think a lot of that is driving the desire for bigger homes, for luxury homes," said Hirsch. "They've got the income and the wealth now to do it. It's all part of the booming economy."
The single-family market supply is tightening, says CREB, with months of supply dropping below three months. “While the balance between demand and supply in the single-family market has shifted towards sellers’ territory, there are several components that make today’s market different from five years ago,” says Bob Jablonski, president of CREB. “The main difference is there is still significant supply for consumers in surrounding towns and the condominium market in the city, and the new-home builders do have the ability to absorb some of the excess demand.”
In March single-family residential starts were up close to 70 per cent over the same period last year, according to CMHC. Builders are saying traffic has been strong, and they have seen buyers return to higher-end homes, according to another Calgary Herald article. Click here.
Watch for updated Market Trends report for April here in the near future.

New Communities Unveiled

Wed, 02 May 2012 21:42:46 GMT

Two new communities have recently been announced, although one is in its infancy and groundbreaking isn’t expected to take place until 2014.
Hotchkiss is the newest community, named in honour of one of the city’s most generous philanthropists, Harley Hotchkiss, who died in June of last year. Hotchkiss was one of the Calgary Flames’ owners and has given to many worthwhile causes over the years, such as the Hotchkiss Brain Institute.
Hotchkiss is a Hopewell Residential Communities’ neighbourhood that is directly east of their existing Copperfield development in the city’s southeast quadrant. It will be adjacent to Ralph Klein Park.
By completion, the area will have 1,500 dwellings, both single-family and multi-family units. The area consists of 85 hectares.
For more information, check the website www.hotchkisscalgary.com.
The other area is in the north central sector of the city, adjacent to Sage Hill just west of Symons Valley Road N.W. on 144th Avenue. Nolan Hill is a United Communities’ development that is already under construction with a new show home parade scheduled to open May 12th.
The 162-hectare community includes 39 hectares of green space and will eventually be home to 2,000 housing units.
Builders are Shane, Sterling, Trico, Morrison, Avi, and Greenboro Style. Twelve new show homes, six without garages and six front-drive, attached-garage product, are in the new parade with prices from $300,000 for the laned homes and from the $380,000s for the larger homes.
For more information, check the website www.nolanhillunited.com.

Get ready to Rock and Roll your way to sales success

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 15:01:02 GMT

Just in time for the heated spring selling season, CHBA – Calgary Region presents Rock Your Sales Rally on Wednesday, May 9^th from 9 a.m. to noon at the University Theatre, U of C campus.

Just what does it take to be a great salesperson? Well, to start with, it helps to have the right product to sell – one that people want to buy; one that is quality, innovative, new, and different.

Then it takes the right time – a time when people have confidence in the world around them; a time when they need what you have to offer.
Once that’s settled, it’s all about the person presenting the sale. That’s why it’s the perfect time for the Rock Your Sales Rally, the high-energy, jam-packed session designed to ignite your sales after several challenging market cycles. Today’s economy requires talented, bold and fearless performers who are READY TO ROCK THEIR SALES.

The headliners, Meredith Oliver, John A. Palumbo and Melinda Brody, are three of the top sales training experts in the U.S. and they have sold out in every city where they’ve brought their high-powered rally.

The sales rally is perfect for new home sales personnel, as well as anyone involved in sales and marketing in the residential construction industry in any capacity.

The session counts towards 2012 PHBI continuing education requirements for PHBI Accredited Master Home Builders.
Oliver, who has written several books on sales techniques, offers these tips to Rock Your Sales to the next level:

Profiling Your Customer:

"Identify your ideal customer or audience. If you understand what your customers are looking for, then you can easily connect with them online. Online marketing allows you to actively select which ads and pages to market to your audience.
Collect demographic data like age, gender, ethnicity, household income, household size, occupation, location, etc.
Collect psychographics like ideals, achievements, self-expressions and motivations to connect with your customers’ daily lives. Psychographics help determine why your customers buy from you and not just who your customers are.”

For more gems and nuggets of information, register now for the May 9th rally. Deadline is Friday, May 4th. Click here.

The key to success

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:15:32 GMT

The May 2^nd dinner meeting is fast approaching – and there is good reason to be excited. The dinner has two great reasons for CHBA – Calgary Region members to register early.

Hayley Wickenheiser, four-time Olympic medalist for women’s hockey will share with members her views on the secrets to success and what it takes to be the best at what you do. “It takes teamwork and a willingness to work with a variety of people and to listen to your coach even when you don’t’ always agree,” says Wickenheiser. “When you achieve something you set out for, it’s not like you think ’that’s it’. Then you start thinking, ‘what other goals can I set and work towards?’” Hayley’s presentation is sure to be memorable and relatable to all members for both their professional and personal lives, and will work as a great motivator to lead into the upcoming Rock Your Sales Rally.

Wickenheiser, an Olympian with numerous championships under her belt dating back to 1991 and as recent as this year, has been named one of the top 25 toughest athletes in the world by Sports Illustrated – and who better to learn perseverance and success from than the very best at it?
The May dinner meeting will also include the presentation of winners for the annual Student House Design Competition. A number of projects will be on display and some of the high school and SAIT students will be present, making this a great networking opportunity for members pursuing student hires.

Reception takes place at 5 p.m. with the dinner following at 6 p.m. at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre. Click Here to register.

Showcasing work of RenoMark™ and CHBA – Calgary Region infill builders

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:13:17 GMT

Spring Renomark™ and Infill Tour Map
Click Here

The 2012 RenoMark™ Renovation & CHBA – Calgary Region Infill Tour is coming up quickly – and it is offering customers a new experience this year. Infill builders will now be included in the tour allowing customers to experience firsthand a variety of building styles.

The tour features 10 homes from all sectors of the city, allowing customers to view an assortment of trends and hot items in the renovation and infill markets.

“At the same time we modernize a home, it is really about breathing new life into a tired home,” says Dave Ruhr, one of the leading renovators on the tour. “Renovating gives people the opportunity to revitalize their home to their lifestyle” says the construction manager of Gemini Group. Gemini Group has been participating in the Reno Tour for five years. “The tour is an opportunity for customers to see the quality of our work and also for us to talk to them and explain our process.” Homes from six different renovators are featured on the tour.

Infill builders are excited to be involved the renowned tour for the first time. The infill market is a great way to make use of existing spaces close to the downtown core, providing an alternative to suburb living. Homes from three infill builders are featured on the tour, with one builder showing two homes.

“The public is given an opportunity to interact one-on-one with renovators and builders to better understand their products, company vision, systems, and quality,” says Donna Moore, CEO of CHBA – Calgary Region. And it couldn’t come at a better time, she says. Sixty per cent of Albertans are expecting a tax refund this season – and over 10% of those will use the money towards home renovations; another 10% plus will use the money for a mortgage or down payment, according to a recent Daily Economic Comment Bulletin from ATB Financial. This opportunity for the general public to see firsthand the quality work done by members is a truly unique experience allowing consumers to sample the products they may want to invest in.

The tour takes place April 28th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is a self-guided tour free to the public.
Click Here for a map of the homes included on the tour.

Please no early birds as these are private residences.

2011 SAM Awards Winners Announced

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 05:40:05 GMT

Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Calgary Region is pleased to announce the list of winners for the 2011 SAM Awards.

The SAM Awards, now in its 25th year, celebrate innovation and excellence in the Calgary and area’s residential construction industry. The Gala was held Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Telus Convention Centre with more than 1,600 people in attendance and a record number of submissions (745) from members vying for 59 awards.

Leading the award winners was Jayman MasterBUILT, the Grand SAM Builder of the Year. Click here for list of winners …Jayman was one of the first Builder of Year winners when the SAMs were introduced in the late 1980s, winning in 1988, and then going on to take seven awards over the next eight years. The builder unseats Morrison Homes, the previous winner for the last 10 consecutive years.

The top five awards – the Grand SAMs – went to: Jayman MasterBUILT, Builder of the Year; Canterra Custom Homes, Builder of Merit; Bucci Developments Ltd., Multi-Family Builder of the Year; Ultimate Renovations, Renovator of the Year; and PHI Systems Inc., Partner of the Year.

The awards for the 2012 J.D. Power & Associates Builder of Excellence for Production Builders in Calgary, showcasing single-family builders who turned over 50 or more homes between July 2010 and October 2011, were: Cedarglen Homes, Mattamy Homes Calgary Ltd. and Morrison Homes (Calgary).

The awards for the 2012 PHBI New Home Buyers’ Choice Builders of Excellence for Non-Production Builders in Calgary, showcasing single-family builders who turned over less than 50 homes in the same time period, were: Crystal Creek Homes Inc., Kingsmith Homes, Loreck Homes Ltd., and Truman Homes 1995 Inc.

These awards are the direct result of detailed surveys sent out to customers who bought homes during that period.

“We are thrilled to be able to recognize a larger number of Alberta’s new-home builders for their outstanding customer satisfaction. These awards reflect the opinion of Alberta new-home buyers and we believe in the value of providing this knowledge to each local market,” says John Kozole, president and CEO of The Professional Home Builders Institute of Alberta.

Overall, the competition this year for all SAM categories was extremely tight, says Shane Wenzel, chairman of the SAM awards committee. “The awards were hard-fought and the winners and finalists are, truly, the best-of-the-best that the residential construction industry in the Calgary region has to offer.”

The judging process for all but the customer choice segment is detailed, with points awarded for each entry judged by peers within the industry. The top five in each category receive additional placement points that help determine the Grand SAM winners, plus companies must enter a set number of categories in order to qualify and must win in at least one of those categories. All results are authenticated by an outside firm.

“Congratulations to all the Grand SAM winners,” says Wendy Going, vice-chairman of the SAMs. “It’s great to see some new companies on the podium, as well as some who have won in the past. They are truly deserving of the recognition.”

In addition to the J.D. Power & Associates and PHBI awards, the following SAM Awards categories were given out, with the number of awards in brackets: Advertising & Marketing Awards (8), Developer Awards (4), Industry Achievement Awards (1), Multi-Family Awards (10), New Home Awards (15), Partner Awards (3), Renovator Awards (7), Sales Achievement Awards (4), Sales & Information Centre Awards (2), and the GRAND SAM Awards (5). GRAND SAM Awards are presented to the Builders (Builder of the Year, Multi-Family Builder of the Year and Builder of Merit), Renovator and Partner that have demonstrated a superior achievement in design, sales, advertising and/or service.

Ask your candidates these questions before you vote

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:36:39 GMT

Labour shortages, the review of the Municipal Government Act, changes to building and fire codes, and the proposed mandatory warranty for new homes were all cited as issues the CHBA – Alberta has prioritized, said Sandra Young, president of the provincial association, at a recent CHBA – Calgary Region dinner meeting.

These and more will be the focus the provincial organization wants members to key on when voting in the upcoming election.

“As the Alberta economy recovers, there are many challenges and priorities for CHBA – Alberta in 2012,” says Young.

And it starts with who forms the next government as of April 23.

Ask your candidates in your jurisdiction where their party stands on these issues:

Mandatory New Home Warranty. This initiative, which the current government was to introduce this year, has now been pushed back because of the election. “We support a mandatory new home warranty, but there is a loophole that is still problematic,” says Young. “We do not support any exemptions to the program, such as an owner/builder exemption, as this would compromise the consumer protection intent of the initiative.”
Fire issues. CHBA – Alberta wants to see a consistent interpretation of the fire code through the various jurisdictions, and CHBA – Alberta continues to support consumer choice for installation of fire sprinklers in single-family homes, rather than prescriptive rules.
Building Code. “Codes, as with all regulation, should be a policy tool of last resort,” says CHBA – Alberta in its Alberta Report released March 26th. “Codes impact affordability as multiple changes come from multiple codes and standards. The onus should be on the regulator or proponent of change to prove the need for regulation, not on the industry to disprove the need for regulation.”
Energy Efficiency. Consumer demand should drive energy efficiency initiatives, and any changes to codes must be attainable, supportable, economically-sustainable, and desired by the consumer.
Construction and demolition waste. A voluntary program that emphasizes taking advantage of existing infrastructure and gathers statistics efficiently is the best option, says the provincial organization; otherwise, involve the home building industry if legislated.
Municipal Government Act. Housing affordability must be protected in any new arrangement with municipalities, says CHBA – Alberta. Any changes in taxation powers (i.e. to cities) should be limited to those collected equitably, and should be accompanied by reductions in provincial taxation where applicable. Taxation and fee powers already granted to municipalities (such as development charges) should be examined to ensure there is no duplicate taxation powers or excessive powers to tax a specific group of people.
Housing affordability. All policy decisions that impact the home building industry should have affordability and choice as anchors. The most important way government can do that is by reducing and eliminating government-imposed costs that directly impact home buyers. Requiring new home buyers to take on more household debt has negative short- and long-term impacts.
Labour market challenges. Attracting skilled labour through a combined federal, provincial and industry effort needs to be a priority – this is a primary challenge to affordability. The present labour pool will not meet the recovering Alberta economy. CHBA – Alberta advocates making changes to the point system for Federal Skilled Worker Program, expanding opportunities to transition more temporary foreign workers to permanent immigrants, changing the National Occupation Codes to reflect needs and more skilled, positions, and reforming the Temporary Foreign Worker process to increase efficiency.
Worker safety. Employer initiatives and a worker-ticketing program are two strategies that would improve worksite safety. Sharing of information and statistical data between industry and government will highlight successes and clearly indicate areas where improvements can be made.
Seniors’ housing. CHBA – Alberta has proposed a new code classification for seniors’ housing that would increase the options available to builders. Offering consumer choice at competitive rates in inclusive and inter-generational communities is a key.
Intervening in the market through caps on seniors’ housing does not allow builders to supply market housing, and the inefficient and costly provincial grant system is then required. This should be changed.

Life Will Never be the Same

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:47:12 GMT

Safety on the jobsite is a critical issue – and it is strictly enforced for good reason. It is crucial to maintain a safe environment when working on a job site in order to protect every person on the worksite. Life will never be the same if there is an injury or loss of an employee – and it would be devastating if it was an accident that could be prevented.

Unfortunately, even with safety practices, accidents, including some fatalities, do occur. April 28th has been designated as the Day of Mourning through the Workers Day of Mourning Act of 1991. “The Act recognized the two-fold purpose for having this annual event,” says Ronald Waters, media coordinator, National Day of Mourning Committee – Calgary. “Of course, there is the remembrance of the fallen worker(s). That loss is felt by family and colleagues, and by the communities where they reside.”

The Day of Mourning also gives everyone the opportunity to commit to providing a safe working environment.

The event will take place April 28th at 11:00 a.m. at # 201, 292060 Wagon Wheel Link, Rocky View, AB. It will feature speakers from the City of Calgary, Occupational Health and Safety, the Day of Mourning committee, and Rev. Rita Cattell.

The 2011 Annual Report issued by the Workers Compensation Board of Alberta posted an average of 2,597 injuries reported on a weekly basis, a slight improvement from the 2010 statistics (2,696).

“In many cases there is sufficient legislation to protect workers, but there is a need for all to understand that commitment to a safe workplace leads to everyone leaving that workplace to enjoy their families and their lives,” says Waters. “(This is as) much a day to remember the dead as it is a call to protect the living.

“There are 123 Albertan families that shared a loss in 2011.”

This event is open to all who wish to attend and participation is encouraged by Paul De Rosa, superintendent, Albi Homes, and CHBA – Calgary Region Safety Committee member.

Take the Balzac turnoff and travel east three kilometres on SR 566, turn right, then turn right at the next corner, drive into the property and park on the west side of the building. The ACSA entrance is on the west side of the building.

For more information visit www.cssecalgary.com/naosh-week-2012 or contact Ronald Waters at Ronald_d_waters@hotmail.com or 403-686-4994.

Congratulations to all finalists and good luck at the SAM Awards Gala!

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:43:15 GMT

This Saturday is the biggest day of the year – and the biggest day in the 25-year history of our SAM Awards Gala.

More than 1,600 people are dusting off the tuxedos and shopping for just the right pair of stilettos to show off that new outfit at the Telus Convention Centre. The event starts at 5 p.m. and it is guaranteed to be a fitting tribute to the 59 award winners.

The gala itself will be a visual and musical extravaganza hosted by Tara Slone from Breakfast Television, CityTV. Entertainment is by Groove Academy and Underground Circus, with founders originally part of Cirque du Soleil.

A total of 745 entries were submitted this year for the awards – a record – and competition was stiff. As a reminder, Click here for a list of all the finalists.

SAM Awards will be given out in the following categories (the number of awards in each category follows in brackets): Advertising & Marketing Awards (8), Developer Awards (4), Industry Achievement Awards (1), Multi-Family Awards (10), New Home Awards (15), Partner Awards (3), Renovator Awards (7), Sales Achievement Awards (4), Sales & Information Centre Awards (2), and the GRAND SAM Awards (5). GRAND SAM Awards are presented to the Builders (Builder of the Year, Builder of Merit and Multi-family Builder of the Year), Renovator and Partner that have demonstrated a superior achievement in design, sales, advertising and/or service.

Congratulations to all finalists and good luck.

Federal Budget has Support of CHBA

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:41:17 GMT

Many of the measures in the federal budget released late last week have met with the approval of Canadian Home Builders’ Association.

The budget supports stability in housing markets and sets out a strategic approach to investment in Canada’s economic competitiveness, says Ron Olson, president of CHBA, adding that the budget points out that the home building industry plays a significant role in the economy and the well-being of Canadians.

“This is a practical budget that sets the stage for future economic renewal, while delivering worthwhile measures today,” says Olson.

“We’re pleased that Minister (Jim) Flaherty resisted calls to tighten amortization and down payment rules. This type of intervention would have prevented thousands of first-time buyers pursuing their dream of homeownership. Market stability is essential, and more regulation could threaten every Canadian who owns a home.”

Thanks in part to federal policy, the industry creates hundreds of thousands of jobs and more than $100 billion in economic activity annually.
Some of the other points in the budget that have the support of CHBA include:

Budget plans for immigration reform and training for skilled jobs. “We have urged the government to address the growing shortage of skilled people required to build and renovate homes. We’re pleased that the budget tackles this issue.”
The commitment to support training for skilled people is far-sighted. It will help young people to take up careers and participate fully in Canada’s economic renewal, Olson says.
Plans to direct federal research and development investments toward areas of innovation and commercial application. The CHBA has worked closely with the federal government on applying research to new homes, making Canada a world leader in energy efficiency, Olson says. The recently announced next generation of the R-2000 Standard, ENERGY STAR for Homes and the new EnerGuide Rating System are all examples of collaboration between the industry and the federal government to bring the benefits of research to home owners.
“There is much more to be accomplished, particularly in relation to improving the environmental performance of existing homes,” he said.
New initiatives for pension reform. While CHBA supports these, many Canadians have seen their retirement savings eroded, some drastically, through no fault of their own. As a result, their housing choices for retirement have been jeopardized. “We support plans to accelerate enhanced pension options.”
The commitment to work with the provinces toward a strategic, long-term infrastructure plan. At present, many municipalities are financing community infrastructure by transferring the costs into the mortgages of new home buyers, amounting to more than $5 billion a year.
“This is not only unfair, but irresponsible.”
While low interest rates mean mortgages have become cheaper, escalating government-imposed costs continue to push up the price of a new home.
“In some communities single-family homes are becoming the exclusive domain of upper income earners. Yet research shows a strong majority still aspire to owning a single-family home, particularly young families just starting out,” Olson says. “It will be critical to ensure that federal investment actually improves housing affordability and choice, as one of its objectives. It’s an opportunity to restore fiscal integrity at the municipal level and fairness for younger generations.”

While generally supportive of the budget, CHBA says it passed up an opportunity to crack down on the underground economy. “Illegal contracting creates problems for consumers, costs jobs and income, undermines our efforts to support a professional industry, and costs governments billions of dollars annually in lost revenue. The government must work with us more aggressively on this front.”

The CHBA president says he looked forward to the government building on the measures outlined in the budget for regulatory reform. Red tape and costs are imposed on housing in a silo-like fashion by all levels of government.

“We need to get rid of the territorial ambitions and insularity of government departments, and eliminate those regulations that have unintended consequences and increase housing costs unnecessarily. We welcome federal leadership to date on regulatory reform.”

The federal government has not addressed measures to restore fairness in the application of the GST to new homes – another missed opportunity in the budget.

“While we didn’t expect housing tax measures in this budget, the GST treatment of new homes and home renovations is long overdue and must be addressed.”

Changing the GST new home buyer rebate thresholds – never adjusted since the tax was introduced in 1991 – and implementing a permanent 2.5 per cent home renovation tax rebate “are the single most important steps that the government could take to protect housing affordability and choice.”

A future free of utility bill worries

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:26:33 GMT

Sustainable building is becoming increasingly popular offering benefits to consumers that will serve them well into the future – and at the same time, helping create a more sustainable Canada for everyone.

Many Calgary residential construction companies have taken that task to heart. Most recently Landmark Homes began the construction of their first net-zero home – the first of 27 the company will build in Cranston, making it the first net-zero community in Calgary. The home was put together in a matter of hours on March 5th through the use of panelized production building.

“There is a need in the market place for sustainably-built homes right now and we know that making homes more energy efficient is the inevitable direction of all residential construction,” says Stuart Wen, marketing coordinator, Landmark Homes.

“Landmark net-zero homes generate clean energy using a solar photovoltaic system that will generate enough energy to meet the homes annual electricity needs,” says David Wright, area manager, Landmark Homes. This is one of numerous sustainable features incorporated to the benefit of the environment and the consumer. The building envelope of the home includes numerous additional sustainable features, such as “triple-pane windows, increased levels of insulation, Kohler low-flow faucets and showerheads, and Energy Star appliances which reduce water and energy waste by 33%,” Wright says. By 2015 Landmark hopes to achieve a net-zero energy standard, at no extra cost to the consumer.

Landmark isn’t the first to introduce net-zero homes to the Calgary area, nor is it the first to offer innovative green building technologies and products here.

As an example, Avalon Master Builder has built several net-zero homes, the latest in conjunction with SAIT Polytechnic, and it has a mandate to build every one of its homes as net zero by 2015 with no additional cost to its buyers.

Jayman MasterBUILT, meanwhile, brought the concept for a Built Green program to Canada, a hybrid of R-2000 and another green building program in the U.S. Today, many builders here and in other jurisdictions have adopted the technology and offer it to their homebuyers.
Sterling Homes, too, built a small community of solar-energized homes in Drake Landing that continue to win accolades and awards for environmental stewardship.

On the development side, Currie Barracks is one of the first communities designed to LEED – ND (Leadership in Environmental and Engineering Design for Neighbourhood Development) standards.

“Overall, the net-zero home will reduce the cost of homeownership significantly by lowering utility bills up to 80-90 per cent. The home's greenhouse gas emissions are also lowered by about seven tonnes annually due to its energy efficiency,” says Wen. The home utilizes features that land the homes a Built Green Platinum status.

Most CHBA – Calgary Region members have green initiatives in their building practices. Visit individual builder websites for more details or visit www.builtgreencanada.ca to learn about that program.

For more information on Landmark’s sustainable building efforts, Click Here.

Spring RenoMark™ Renovation Tour opens up to CHBA – Calgary Region infill builders, too

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:14:32 GMT

A sure sign of spring has arrived. It’s time for the annual Spring Renovation Tour – and this time, there’s even more excitement to offer prospective buyers.

The self-guided, free tour of homes takes place Saturday, April 28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be open to not only RenoMark™ renovators, but infill builders as well for the first time. This is an unprecedented opportunity for CHBA – Calgary Region members who build in the inner city to showcase their product to a wide range of people.

The event not only showcases the homes, but it is a perfect forum to talk about a company’s vision, workmanship and design skills in a one-on-one interaction with potential new clients.

We already have several renovators signed up for this value-added chance to promote their company, but there are a limited few spots left for either renovators or infill builders. Deadline to register is Friday, April 6.

A maximum of two homes per company is allowed. The tour spot will include advertising support in print and online in various venues, radio advertising, flyers delivered to households surrounding project sites, and coverage through CHBA – Calgary Region’s Profile magazine and social media sites.

Click here for details and registration.

We’re winners!

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:41:42 GMT

A huge note of congratulations to everyone who took home some hardware at the Canadian Home Builders’ Association conference in Quebec recently.

CHBA – Calgary Region: We were honoured, ourselves, to win a prestigious award for our work with the Calgary Home Builders Foundation and our latest project, YWCA Mary Dover House . We won the Community Service Award – an award that is given out to the local association that contributes to the betterment of the way of life of people in their community with worthwhile projects – projects that support and strengthen communities and demonstrate a commitment of the industry to building a better country through community development and services. For more information on this project, click here.

Marty Hope: The recently-retired Calgary Herald reporter was awarded the Maple Leaf Award – the highest honour given out to a non-builder member of the association at the industry leader awards that recognize people in the various local organizations across the country. Reporting on the new homes and new condos in Calgary for more than two decades, Hope was nominated by CHBA – Calgary Region in this category, where the nominees were those deemed to have made an outstanding contribution at the national level. Hope covered many of the national issues the CHBA was involved in, including its lobbying efforts with the federal government on numerous issues, such as its impact on housing affordability.

Watermark Development LP: The company took the Marketing Excellence Award in the national SAM awards. This award goes to a member whose single project (its new development, Watermark at Bearspaw) combines the best overall achievements in marketing based on a cumulative score attained in at least four market award categories. The developer had been a finalist in five categories and also won the Project Signage and Logo SAM award. The company’s marketing is done by Applied Communication.

Special Mentions: Congrats as well to Rick Gratton, senior development manager with Brookfield Homes, member of the Alberta housing and technical committee at CHBA – Alberta and on their board, who won the William M. McCance Award for excellence in the technical area. John Hrynkow, CHBA – Edmonton (and past-president of CHBA – Alberta) took the Beaver Award, the top honour given to a builder member. The Grand SAM award, the top award, went to Geranium Homes of Markham, Ontario.

Still on the National Front

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:35:30 GMT

The CHBA annual conference included the inaugural address of its new president, Ron Olson, a builder from Saskatoon – a hard-hitting message to governments that their actions are compromising affordability of housing.

Here are some excerpts of his message:

Governments today are guilty of “silo-thinking,” he said. “No attention is given to the cumulative costs involved for home purchasers and there is no capacity in place to set priorities.”
Government-imposed costs are key factors in escalating home prices. “We are in a historically-low interest rate environment – mortgages are cheaper, but houses are not. Confusing lower interest rates with improving housing affordability is a fundamental error – one that can lead to economic calamity in the future.”
“Single-family homes are becoming the exclusive domain of upper-income Canadians, despite evidence that the vast majority of Canadians aspire to homeownership.”
He likened Canada’s political system to the European crisis, in some respects. “In the Greek case we call it a sovereign debt crisis. Here in Canada, it’s called an infrastructure deficit. But it’s really the same thing. We haven’t been paying for what things cost.”
In many cases, costs of operating and maintaining Canada’s cities are not matched by sound financial planning and responsible use of revenue sources, he says. Instead of financing through property taxes and broad-based user fees, municipalities increasingly transfer budget shortfalls to new homebuyers through development-related fees, levies and charges. “At the municipal level, the transfer of community infrastructure costs alone into the mortgages of new homebuyers amounts to more than $5 billion each year.”
His top priority will be to be involved in a long-term infrastructure plan that the federal minister of transport, infrastructure and communities has already initiated.

CHBA – Calgary Region Hosts Special CHBA – Alberta Update Luncheon

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:26:45 GMT

You’ll get the first look at the changes to the National Building Code that will affect the way homes are built at the special CHBA – Calgary Region luncheon at the Glenmore Inn April 4th. “We now have something concrete to look at,” says Joan Maissoneuve, manager of technical affairs, CHBA – Alberta. “It’s the first glimpse of the actual requirements of the changes.”

Changes that she will talk about revolve around energy efficiency in homes and small buildings. These include insulation values. “We will go over what needs to be done to meet the new code, particularly in walls because of HIRF,” Maissoneuve says. “In particular, we’ll talk about such things as whether or not you will need an HRV or not. Tall walls are a monkey wrench because they need more framing and as a result of the size you can’t get very good insulation values.”

Options for wall insulation, such as exterior wall sheathing, will be discussed, as well as any other outstanding issues. “I’ll be able to give everyone a heads-up as to what to expect once the new code changes are implemented.”

In addition to Maissoneuve, the keynote speaker will be CHBA – Alberta President Sandra Young, who will outline the many items the provincial association is working with on behalf of its members. These include the new alliance with several major businesses in the province to lobby the governments to make it easier to attract workers.

The 19-member Alberta Coalition for Action on Labour Shortages includes representatives from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the Alberta Federation of Independent Business.

The special April 4 luncheon goes from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and deadline to register is Monday, April 2nd. Click here to register.

Get ready to Rock Your Sales

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:13:25 GMT

CHBA – Calgary Region is bringing you a hard-hitting Rock Your Sales seminar at the University Theatre, U of Calgary, on Wednesday, May 9 – and it will change the way your team does business.

The Rock Your Sales Rally is a high-energy and fast-paced program by three experts in the art of motivating your team to maximize sales.
Meredith Oliver, Melinda Brody and John A. Palumbo have sold out in every city they’ve been in with their Rock Star entrepreneurial seminar series.
Oliver, known as The Digital Diva, teaches salespeople and business owners how to click. She is a professional speaker, author and founder of Creating
WOW Communications, a full-service web marketing and sales training firm. She is published author of two books, Click Power and The Fan Factor.
Brody is president of Melinda Brody and Company, Inc. and has worked for 25 years in the building industry evaluating and motivating sales teams with real-world seminars.

Palumbo is an international author and speaker. Since 1985, he has presented hundreds of dynamic, visionary speeches on the science of sales. He has closed over one billion dollars in real estate sales. He is author of five books, including The Closing Numbers, Close and Grow Rich, Selling at the Bottom of the Market, What’s Your Sales DNA? and 37 Closing Rules to Live (or Die) By.

The program is loaded with selling solutions for prospecting, building relationships on- and off-line, and closing the deal. Ideal for all sales professionals, this course analyzes the logic behind customer objections, reveals the secrets used by master closers, and teaches a systematic approach to presenting that minimizes objections in order to maximize sales.

The Rock Your Sales Rally will count towards 2012 PHBI continuing education requirements for PHBI Accredited Master Home Builders.

To register, click here.
For more information, click here.

Consumer Confidence Returning Slowly

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:07:03 GMT

A national housing story this week reported that housing sales and prices were up across the country last week, led by Calgary and Toronto, according to statistics released by the Canadian Real Estate Association.

February prices in Calgary are up 2.53% over last year. “This improvement does reflect the positive indicators in the market, but it is also important to note that prices continue to remain below peak levels,” says Ann Marie Lurie, chief economist at Calgary Real Estate Board.

“While price growth is expected, it is expected to remain at a pace that is in line with wage growth. This, combined with no immediate increase in interest rates, indicates the affordability in the city will likely remain unchanged over the near term.”

It is in no way a reason to think we’re about to climb that fragile boom bubble again, says Bob Jablonski, Calgary Real Estate Board president. “It’s a balanced market – nice and stable. Sales have improved, but pricing is not approaching anything like we saw at the peak in 2007 and 2008. We predicted prices would be up on average two per cent by year end, and it’s trending on that course now.”

The resale market in Calgary is benefiting from a number of improving factors in our economy, says Richard Cho, senior market analyst with CMHC.
“Calgary has experienced an encouraging amount of full-time job creation, mortgage rates are historically low and migrants continue to see Calgary as a place of opportunity.”

Cho agrees with CREB’s assessment: “Resale prices in Calgary have started to trend higher as the demand-supply balance improves,” but at a slow pace. “For the year we are forecasting sales and the average price in Calgary to modestly increase from 2011 levels.

"Mortgage rates are forecast to stay relatively flat for 2012 and as such, average monthly carrying costs are not expected to see any large changes this year."

Meanwhile the market is showing signs of a traditional spring and picking up steam, says Jablonski. “Inventory is slowly starting to grow. Activity is good and people are feeling confident.”

There have even been cases of multiple offers on some properties, he says. “Not many, but there is always a market for well-priced listings, and when the buyers see the value, they will bid on it and yes, they will even compete.”

Help to understand the thinking behind the MDP

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:59:17 GMT

A series of Municipal Development Plan (MDP) e-Learning videos are now available to the public on The City’s Youtube channel. Here’s a link to the playlist. There are 19 videos in total and some have been used with various stakeholder groups at workshops and events.

The goal was to create an instructive and engaging video series that would inform viewers about Calgary’s new planning direction, as well as inspire people to imagine the possibilities of building a great city by improving the quality of community planning, urban design, roads, street design, and natural areas. The video series was initially created to help civic employees better understand the policies of the MDP and apply them to their daily work, but once they were used for some community workshops, it became clear that there was a much larger audience for them.