Tax Bill Keeps Energy Credits in 2011
EcoHome
“Homeowners looking to make upgrades on Uncle Sam’s penny have another year to do so, thanks to an extension of the home energy-efficiency improvement tax credits.”

Housing market perks up as economy strengthens
Washington Post
“The housing market is showing surprising signs of improvement in recent months, as the broader economy strengthens slightly heading into 2011.”

NAHB study: Small builders rule the housing market
Professional Builder
“Small home builders are the mainstay of the nation’s housing industry, including a sizable number of self-employed mom-and-pop operations, according to a new study by economists at the National Association of Home Builders.”

“These remodelers may earn a wage for what they do, but is there any profit earned to compensate them for the risks they take in owning and running a company? If the business is not earning a profit the business is not professional. If you offer free plans and estimates, are you truly a professional or are you an amateur hoping to be discovered? If you think you have to do free plans and estimates because so many other remodelers do, either learn how to get paid for these services or work to eliminate the amateurs.”

Interesting idea. Now in this tough economy and housing market, sometimes if you are not making money it’s because there is not a lot of business to go around. But maybe offering freebies to potential clients isn’t necessarily the best way to go about things.

As always, a strategic look at business practices is needed: Do your initial free offerings bear fruit in the form of new and repeat business?

The blogger, Shawn McCadden, also makes the point that true building professionals know and follow building codes and adhere to safety practices. They get permits, care about the safety of their workers and follow laws for payroll and taxes.

What do you think about this? Do you agree with McCadden’s definition of a professional? What are some other things that make a builder or remodeler a true professional. Strategic planning? Marketing? Customer service?

Please leave a comment here or check out Integrity’s Facebook page for some more thoughts.

Image courtesy of Saginaw Future on Flickr

New Lead Paint Regulations: Do They Go Too Far?
DIY Life
Writer Kathy Price-Robinson raises the question, “Is a new lead safety law for professional renovators too much government? Or just enough?”

On Home Sales, Curb Your Enthusiasm
WSJ.com Developments blog
“Sales of homes entered into contract jumped by the largest margin in more than eight years, Weiss Research notes, with broad-based regional strength. The excitement is understandable. Housing has been so bad for so long that it’s easy to get giddy over a great statistic. But, while this is good news, proceed with caution.”

Tech coalition to Obama: Set home energy info free
CNet.com Green Tech blog
“A group of consumer technology companies, including Google, General Electric, and Intel, on Monday urged President Obama to create policies that give consumers better access to home energy information. In a letter, 47 companies and nongovernmental organizations said that making detailed data on electricity and fuel use available to consumers is a key step toward meeting national energy and environmental goals.”

The Home-Buyer Tax Credit Countdowns Begin
WSJ.com Developments blog
“Time is almost up on the federal home-buyer tax credit, the government’s gift of up to $8,000, crafted to jump-start a stalled housing market. Just about six weeks remain for buyers to get those contracts inked. Home builder Lennar has a bright countdown on its Web site. “TIME IS RUNNING OUT,” warns KB Home (yes, it is in all caps), which is tracking the expiration to the millisecond. …
In honor of the countdown, here are six things to keep in mind:”

How Economic Downturn Can be a Driving Force for Sustainability
Inhabitat
“The world is currently experiencing an economic downturn or recession, but by examining The Great Depression in the 1920-30’s, one may find clues as to what lies ahead for the future of design. Like The Great Depression, this recession began with a market crash, affected almost every country, caused personal income and interest rates to drop and unemployment rates to soar. However the past is filled with examples of successful, efficient designs that flourished during trying times.”

Are Tough Appraisal Rules Holding Back Housing?
WSJ.com Developments blog
“Our story on Page One today takes a look at how folks who want to build or buy homes with unusual materials are having a lot of trouble getting financing because underwriting standards are much tighter today. The problem: homes made of tires or houses caved into mountainsides don’t have any comparable sales. Without “comps,” banks won’t lend.

Even home buyers living in regular homes might be more familiar with these struggles. Appraisals have emerged as a big obstacle for homeowners of all types during the housing downturn because with fewer transactions and rapid fluctuations in prices, putting a value on homes is more difficult. In some markets, prices are falling so fast that lenders won’t accept comparable sales that are more than three months old. And reeling from rising losses, lenders have urged appraisers to be conservative.”