Do you ever outgrow report cards?

The day before Christmas both our boys got their progress reports.  We also have a sign on the wall at the holidays that reads "Dear Santa, define good."  Lucky for them, they both had all A's so Santa made a trip to our house after all.  Apparently the lost science homework made its way into school in the nick of time.

In today's mail we received a Customer Satisfaction Survey from one of our customers.  After a couple of months in their home, or in this case, camp, each of our customers receives this in the mail along with a self addressed stamped envelope.  It's not designed for us to pat ourselves on the back, though that feels good from time to time, but it is a snapshot of what went well and areas that we could improve for next time.

It asks about our client's experience from the beginning to end and asks about honesty- a huge thing for me, helpfulness, knowledge and more.

We really appreciate the time it takes our customers to fill it out and we look at each one carefully because we should always strive to do better next time- even when it went well.  Without change and improvement even the best companies can eventually falter so each of us involved talks about the "report card" and the opportunities for the next time.

Wishing you each a happy new year!

It was time for a facelift!

I am just so excited!  I spent much of the week adding, modifying and deleting information from our company website.

It's funny that what felt so perfect at one point in time, now felt outdated.  So I spent some time on other websites figuring out what I liked or disliked about them, talked to customers, and my colleagues about what should be on mine- and while it will always be a work in progress, I think we have it!

I sent off the new tabs for my wizard designer to work on.  We added information on project management and separated out our house plans from the models we have on site.  And made a space for "getting started" which remains blank, but that is my next project!!

So take a peek at the new and improved http://www.plattsburghhousing.com/ and please tell me what you think.  I really do welcome your suggestions!

Best wishes to you and yours for the holidays and may all your dreams come true in the new year!

In with the new

We have made the final changes to our new chalet plan, and are now trying to figure out if we are best served with a winter or early spring set to have our new model come in. 

A sneak preview... we are just bursting at the seams to share it with you!

We have decided to borrow from the Craftsman styling of the 30s and 40s.  Classic, simple lines, but elegant in its own right.

It will have a beautiful lofted living room and dining room which will feature a
beautiful wall of windows to see the mountains, a lake or stream- whatever you desire!

And we are pleased that we worked and worked the plan and were able to encorporate a formal foyer with great guest closet in the entry.

The floorplan design will be posted on the website soon, and is available now by request.  We can't wait to show you more!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

All I could think today in the pouring rain, was "what if this were snow?!"  Boy would we have some snow!  We are feverishly finishing the last of the projects and busy coodinating projects for the upcoming year.  We know that you have a lot on your plate this time of year, but if you are organized and your gifts are purchased and your decorations are out- we have time for you!

It is actually a really relaxing time of year for you to come in, from our perspective.  We have heat in our model homes so it will be comfortable to visit, and there aren't the distractions from the phones and walk- in clients are there is at other times of the year.

So by all means, come in!  We are excited to show you homes on clearance as well as the design for the new cape chalet model.

After the wind storm today, I hope our beautiful decorations are still up.  And if they fare well, I will post pictures of are hard work tomorrow!  Not quite "Christmas Vacation" quality decorations but I still think it looks nice!

Speaking of "Christmas Vacation" we have started our annual Christmas movie extravaganza at home with the boys.  We vote and watch "Elf," "A Christmas Story" and others- some even on VHS tapes we've had them that long!

We hope that you have a relaxing holiday season surrounded by your family and friends.  Our best from our home to yours!

A time to give thanks

We are enjoying a couple of days in Saratoga with Eric's sister and her family.  Carlin is now just over a year and it is fun to watch the boys dote on her, and then she just beams in delight.  She is now in love with her cats and her books which is great as they were all the books the boys grew up with- now we get to enjoy them all over again with her.

So we have much to be thankful this year- a great family, a rewarding career, and we are looking forward to see what the new year brings.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

A blast from the past

I was tying up a few last loose ends after this years Halloween Festival today.  I got all the last checks that came in over to the Ronald McDonald House today.  Everyone who commited to help this year paid, woo hoo!  It is always uncomfortable to make that call after the fact.  Is  wrote our "letter to the editor" and boxed the last of the goodies up for next year.  As I was putting away my notes from this year, I looked through my files from past years and found some fun old articles.

So we are offically at over $37,500- not too bad for a small business and small staff but with BIG heart and ambition!  All that money was sure to do some good and I have been humbled by all the stories I have heard of families using the House.  Glad we can do our part to help.

This year, both my boths helped with the event.  They helped blow up balloons and other things before hand at our house in the evenings, but this year they staffed a house for me as well.  Actually it was an RV as we were down a couple of models- apparently, they now want to buy it :)  It was a thing of beauty.  I'm just not sure I want to commit to camping every weekend- that's a blog for another day.

But after a long day, we were in the car on the way home and I said to the boys, "Thanks again for your help today.  I really appreciated all your help."  I was half expecting to hear, "Oh yeah?  Then run me through Starbucks..." But instead Jacob said, "You're welcome, Mom.  I had a great time."  That warmed my heart.  I hope that I am instilling in them the importance of community service and helping those who are less fortunate then ourselves.

In closing, attached is the photo from the paper written the first year of the event.  Jacob is just a baby and Josh was in preschool.  Not sure what was up with my hair, but I'm going to pretend it was windy out.   Wow-blink your eye and 11 years pass!

Ghosts and goblins welcome

We are working at a fever pitch to get ready for this weekend's Halloween Festival.  For those of you who don't know the history, we started the event 11 years ago when our sons were 4 and an infant.  There were no events for little kids in the area and given the community like setting of our sales center, it seemed to be a perfect fit to host a halloween party.

So that's the humble beginning.  It was going to be us and a few of our closest vendors and a small trick-or-treat fest at our sales center.  Our office is off the street and so parents wouldn't need to worry where the candy came from or having their kids run into traffic.  And then the call came... Jackie Mitchell was a neighbor of Eric's from VT and she had Audrey Magram call to see if we would be interested in doing some fundraising for the Ronald McDonald House in VT.  She went on to explain that they got little support from our side of the lake, and many of the families that use their facility are from our three counties.

So, I started to think.  I had just started planning this little party- and maybe the two ideas can do hand in hand.  The first years were pretty modest, and we were humbled by the support of the community and our vendors and companies we do business with.  When Della Honda moved next door, we asked for their help and as a good neighbor they offered us their service waiting area  for the magic show and service bays for the car seat checks.  The Adirondack Safe Kids Coalition no longer has the trouble they used to to get staff for the event now that it is indoors and out of the rain and cold.

We had commited to the event for ten years which has now come and gone.  There are other events in the area around Halloween, so I was thinking that there wasn't really the need for the event anymore.  But then in early September we started getting calls from past supporters and families asking if we were having it again.  So... here we go again!

This year we expect to surpass the $35,000 mark for donations we have sent over to the Ronald McDonald House Charities and their support of families in need.  I have heard how families have been touched by this facility and others like it and I feel blessed that I have only seen the house from afar.

Our staff has shrunk a bit since home buiding is off somewhat these days, and my home responsibilities with two growing boys have certainly grown, but it is an event near and dear to my heart so I will continue to be a one man band and plug away a bit each day starting in August and working up to the Saturday before Halloween.  Much of the planning is now complete- what can be done is now done.  All that there is left to do is....  THINK SUN!!!

A peek at history

We found the blueprints for my Dad's family camp recently.  Growing up, we would travel to Chateaugay Lake and camp, but the great camp was long since gone.  I remember seeing the foundation but that was all that was left of this magnificent camp.

There is something magical about the lake.  I still am drawn to it all these years later, and time moves a little slower at camp- something we could all use a little more of these days.

I grew up seeing pictures of the camp.  The management at Republic Steel used the camp to entertain out-of-town executives.  There were massive parties in the dining room that could seat 30-40 people and had this incredible floor to ceiling stone fireplace.

My Dad said today that the library in the camp was larger than his first home.

It's funny, how similar log cabins are today.  These prints could be from now versus the 1930s.   And I just wonder how much it would cost to rebuild today!

An inside look

This weekend, I am headed to the Bill Lake Home Show in Sprakers, NY.  We are lucky to have them so close as our customers can easily get an inside look into how modular homes are constructed.

Not only does our manufacturer allow customers to come tour his facility- he encourages you to- and even bribes you.  You will get a $750 discount for attending the show or during a time that better suits your need.  And if that weren't good enough, you actually could win up to $12,000 off your new home.

Over the years PHO has been lucky- we have had a $6,000 winner from Champlain two years ago, which allowed them a couple of extra luxuries they might have decided to forgo.

So if you are considering building a new home, come join me on Saturday and you will be convinced- having your home built indoors and with professional supervision is the way to go!

Out with the old

And in with the new!

This was an exciting week, as our cape cod was dismantled from its temporary place at our sales center and moved to its forever home in Hogansburg!

The transition went very smoothly.  Monday we scored the drywall that had been finished inside the home and took down the siding.  Tuesday the crane and (un) set crew arrived and within two hours, the home was on the carriers, dormers off, and roof down! 

We then shrink wrapped the two halves for transportation.

Day three- Wednesday- back up again!

And now we will get busy finalizing the order for our new model!  It is a beautiful chalet design that we will have some nice craftsman accents on the exterior.  In all the trade magazines, this has been a new trend and everyone I have spoken to about it, seems to think it will be a good fit for either a permanent home or camp!

And...it's only Wednesday!

Inspiration found!

Our cape cod model has been sold and we have been trying to decide on how to build and design our next model home.  I have finally found our inspiration for the next model we will bring in.  I have been drawn lately to the classic simple styling of Craftsman design.  It is elegant but not overstated.

I remember when I found the inspiration last time, and now our beloved cape cod will soon be housing a father and his kids west of Plattsburgh.  It's always a little sad saying goodbye, but quite exciting to show off the new as well.

The next couple of months will be a transition time, but we are excited with the opportunity!

An event two years in the making

We are getting our sales center all spic and span this week in anticipation of the Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours which will be held here on August 19th.

We have the kids helping with the weeds and painting and hired someone to come tackle the shrubs which always get unruly this time of year!

If you are in the business community, we love to see you that night.  You can download a flyer at http://www.plattsburghhousing.com/ and RSVP directly to the Chamber!

There will be lots of great freebies and giveaways as well as yummy food catered by the Smoked Pepper!

Hope to see you then!

End of an era

We often see customers at a crossroad or new chapter in their life.  We had one of those events in our lives this week.

Our play gym which the boys have enjoyed for several years came down. It was such a nice set and still in incredible shape that we gave it to another family for their twins to enjoy now!  They wanted one but with the expense of twins didn't have the money to invest in it.

So while not a big enough event to warrant a new home, our back yard is undergoing a transformation.  We are installing a putting green in that location.  Eric and the boys have claimed the spot and although our backyard is sloped, we leveled that section off when we installed the gym.  It has quirky corners so I think it will be a perfect spot!

Unfortunately, the end of the play gym symbolizes that we are one step closer to being empty nesters- not a day that I am looking forward to for sure, but for now I see some putting contests in our future!

I look forward to getting to see Ethan and Abby swinging away :)

A time to learn

We have been offering our home building seminars now for over 6 years.  Building your new home is such a huge undertaking and has so many facets- from finding the right land, to development costs, to obtaining a competitive mortgage and finally designing a home- we think it is a good idea to come learn before you leap. 

There's no catch.  Just sign up so we save you a seat. Come have dinner with our compliments and see if building is for you.  We paint a realistic picture of what to expect.

Each session we have first timers come who have never owned before.  We have folks who have bought an existing home before but never built a home designed for them.  And we have plenty of advisors- those who come on behalf of someone else.

The first hour is a formal presentation, which I think is important and necessary.  But the second hour- the question and answer period I always think is the most powerful.  It is unscripted and changes each time.

As always, I am looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.  We have several clients already under contract who just want a refresher on the process and we have several couples who are coming to the workshop who have never visited our model homes.  It'll be a good day!

The dilemma

Today was frustrating, indeed.  We had scheduled a modular home set for today.   Nothing terribly out of the ordinary, other than the fact that our client would have had to leave yesterday at noon to come up from Connecticut.  The weather looked iffy at best in Lake Placid, where the home will be located.  I looked at wptz.com- not looking good, so I went to weather.com for a second opinion- stilll not liking the results so let's give accuweather.com a try- no better.

This went on all weekend into yesterday morning.  Until I had to make the call.  If it had been a local customer we wouldn't have had to make the judgment call until about 6am today.

So, deep breath and one last look at the weather- and then the call.  It is not looking promising.  We need to reschedule.  We all know that if one of the "isolated thunderstorms" came over while the home was wide open to the elements it would have been a disaster. 

Last evening, horrific weather- my friend emailed me pictures from her mom's in Cliff Haven.  It looked like a war zone.  Boy, I felt we made the right call. 

Then today came.  I don't know for sure because I was in Plattsburgh, but at least here the weather was fine.  Not a great day, but good enough.

I still do feel that we made the right decision given the facts we had at the time, but weather is fickle.  I would rather err on the side of caution, especially since both our set company and the crane were available on Thursday of this week.

So the fun and excitement of set day was only postponed by two days, and the potential for ruined drywall was averted, but truth be told I would have been happier had it rained today.

On the other hand, if we had gone ahead with the set as planned, it would have poured for sure :)

This takes the cake!

The saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. How about a delicious cake with just a few words?

A big thank you to Margaret for taking the time to make the staff a yummy treat last Friday, which also coincided with Eric's birthday.

It was a great surprise and we are so glad you appreciated our hard work!

191 Sweet Sugar Hill

Today was a red letter day as I witnessed Valerie's USDA success event. The USDA helps American's realize their dream of owning their own home. As a result of their efforts, and more specifically Valerie's efforts, we are one step closer to helping that become reality.

Travis, Valerie's 6 year old son was proud as a peacock showing everyone around his new place.

I shared her original sketch she sent me, and it was on June 28th of last year- look what a difference a year has made!

The heart of the home

There is a saying in real estate "kitchens and baths sell homes." It is true and probably why we place so much emphasis on the design.

It is the heart of the home. It is where the family gathers and as one customer said' "My kitchen is mission control." Whether doing homework with the kids, or paying bills, planning a trip- it all happens in the kitchen.

It is a great place to centrally locate the computer to keep an eye on which sites are visited.

Hence, the kitchen office idea has become more and more popular.

It can be a small space with great storage. It is a great location for a message board, calendar, charging station for cell phones- and more.

If all this isn't enough to convince you, ask Martha what she thinks!

Manufactured homes vs. modular homes

One of the important discussions at our home building seminars every session, is discussing the differences and advantages of manufactured and modular homes.

Our next session will be mid-July, however we would be happy to counsel you one-on-one to see which style will best fit your needs and budget, or go to the "find a home" section of http://www.plattsburghhousing.com/ for some articles to begin your search.

Why decide?

We took the boys to Boston last week for the Memorial Day Holiday. We spent two glorious days in the heart of Boston exploring the history and fun. We took in a Red Sox game and Jacob got to touch the World Series trophies!

I marveled at how the city is such a perfect mix of old and new. There is a house built in the 1700's next to a new skycraper- all over the city, and as strange as that may sound, it works!

I took this photo while on the freedom trail near Bunker Hill. The next time one of our customers can't decide on which exterior for their home, this will be my suggestion!

Boston- can't wait to come back!

A site built home built indoors

Modular vs "Stick-built"

Modular homes are more popular today than ever before. There are plenty of reasons why people trust the quality, reliability, speed and generous pricing that modular homes provide.

Modular home quality has never been better than it is now. A modular home meets and exceeds traditional stick-built standards. Here are some of the advantages of choosing a modular home over stick-built:

Advantages:
1. Higher Quality Materials - Because a modular home is built using similar materials between each home, modular home builders purchase higher quality materials that are of more consistent quality.
2. Lower Cost Materials - Because a modular home builder purchases in large quantities, the materials used to bulid your home can be purchased more cost-effectively and those savings are passed down to you.
3. No cost overruns on site - How many times does a traditional builder have to run to Lowes etc... to get extra materials he/she didn't get in the first place? This problem is eliminated when choosing a modular home.
4. Less Time To Build - A traditional home takes between 6 - 12 months to build. A modular home usually takes between 6 - 12 weeks to build and set on your property.
5. Material Integrity - Because your modular home is built in a climate-controlled workspace that is protected from excessive heat, water and wind, a modular home's exterior and interior are not subject to rainshowers, windstorms and snow storms as well as the dirt and dust that plagues every traditional home build site.
6. Build Quality & Consistency - A traditional stick-built home may have a different person working on your home from day-to-day, picking up where someone else left off and sacrificing build quality and consistency. Modular homes are built using consistent build practices and personnel to ensure your home is built to the highest quality standards all with professional supervision.
7. Fewer & Shorter Delays - Have you heard horror stories about a traditional stick-built home taking months longer than expected to build and going thousands of dollars over budget? Wells Fargo did a study and what they found is that "modular homes are much less likely to go over budget."
8. Customization - Many people stray from building a modular home because they feel they won't be able to receive the options they want. This is incorrect. With modular homes you can often pick from different materials for construction such as OSB or Plywood, choose different types of floor joists like 2x8 or Open Web, pick insulation values, choose different window manufacturers or window styles, change snow and wind load requirements, choose from flooring such as hardwood or laminate, pick out kitchen cabinet styles & types, and much, much, more.
9. Modular Homes Cost Less - We know that price factors into your decision in selecting a home once you know you will receive a high quality home. FEMA found that modular homes withstand severe weather conditions better than site built homes as they have more lumber- you can save money AND have a well built house!
10. Look at value- pick a company that helps you through the daunting process of building your home and stands behind their homes long after you have moved in. Research your builder, make sure they have taken good care of their other customers because that will help predict how they will treat you!

I is for insurance

Posted a few weeks ago by a builder friend of ours out of the area. I thought it beared repeating.

Question: What happens if during the building of your new home, there is a fire? You have closed on your construction loan and the bank has made several dispersement payments for the construction costs. You now have a mortgage but no home, who covers the damages?

Answer: Your Builder’s Risk Insurance Policy.

Most banks require that a Builder’s Risk policy be in place at the initial closing of a construction loan. They want to ensure that their interests (the money loaned for the project) are insured in the event of a catastrophic loss during the construction of a new home. Builder’s Risk Insurance is a physical damage policy that covers all phases of construction. From the moment equipment arrives on site to occupancy of the home. Some of the losses this insurance covers include theft and vandalism, water, fire and weather damage. This coverage is for the interests of the General Contractor, sub-contractors, bank and homeowner. Each policy is project specific and should be reviewed between the General Contractor and homeowner.

Does your G.C. have Builder’s Risk Insurance?

For more information, check out these links:

http://www.buildersriskinsurancehelp.com

http://www.ehow.com/how_2049312_prepare-builders-risk-insurance-checklist.html

Is it real or is it memorex?

We just updated our building feasibility worksheet, under the "financing" section of our website. The worksheet has average costs on items such as your heating system or foundation.

We prefer to provide you with "real" numbers to avoid the "oh by the way" conversation later. While these numbers are just based on previous projects, and not yet site specific, they are designed to be realistic.

We want to earn your business for the right reasons, not because we tricked you into a low price and then do the old bait and switch technique.

As I have said before, I want to be able to sleep at night. And boy do I sleep like a baby.

Our next home building seminar is set for next Friday night- hope you can join us for a pizza party and some great information.

All the details at www.plattsburghhousing.com under the event section!

A red letter day

This Saturday was a great day for many reasons. It was day one of the Bill Lake Open House in Sprakers, NY.

While it is a distance from Plattsburgh, we usually do have several of our clients attend to partly try to win the big prizes and to see how modular homes are built. It is fun to see everyone out of the office with so much to talk about.

I was particularly excited this open house because we had two of the four homes "on line." It was nice to see the homes during the construction phase, and also because Valerie, one of our customers saw her home for the first time. When she got there, I knocked on the side of the home and said "is it real yet?!" She was obviously pleased as we scoured over everything- especially her pocket doors which were of particular importance to provide her with good mobility throughout the house.

I may just have the best job ever.

Take care of your mother

Mother Earth that is. In honor of earth day here are some tips:

The New 3 R's:

Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Materials: first reduce how much you use, then reuse what you can, and then recycle the rest. Then, dispose of what's left in the most environmentally friendly way. Read the tips below
for some easy ideas.
Reduce:
-Buy permanent items instead of disposables.
-Buy and use only what you need.
-Buy products with less packaging.
-Buy products that use less toxic chemicals.
Reuse:
-Repair items as much as possible.
-Use durable coffee mugs.
-Use cloth napkins or towels.
-Clean out juice bottles and use them for water.
-Use empty jars to hold leftover food.
Reuse boxes.
-Purchase refillable pens and pencils.
-Participate in a paint collection and reuse program.
-Donate extras to people you know or to charity instead of throwing them away.
Recycle:
-Recycle paper (printer paper, newspapers, mail, etc.), plastic, glass bottles, cardboard, and aluminum cans. If your community doesn't collect at the curb, take them to a collection center.
-Recycle electronics.
-Recycle used motor oil.
-Compost food scraps, grass and other yard clippings, and dead plants.
-Close the loop - buy recycled products and products that use recycled packaging. That's what makes recycling economically possible.
Learn at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/home.htm

We’re right there with you! It feels like the nice weather just started, and there are all sorts of fun things that you want to do...BUT…

We don’t want you mad at us, when you come visit us after Labor Day, and want your home built by Thanksgiving.

Building a home takes time. Every year we have to have the difficult conversation with anxious customers about the realistic time-line for building a new home.

For those of you who have your land and financing in place, you may have a little breathing room, but realistically the entire process takes 4-6 months, so we really encourage you to come in to get started now so you are not disappointed later. Have we ever done it quicker? Sure, but we’re not going to be the ones to overpromise and under deliver!

Don’t be fooled by those who will advise you “can be in your new home in as little as 6 weeks…” Your mom’s old adage of “If it sounds too good to be true…” applies here.

We suggest you get started now so that we can protect the pricing on your new home project and pencil it onto our construction calendar to get a great building date! Learn all about it at the next home building seminar on May 20th~ we look forward to seeing you there!

We're so excited!

It is a new season at Plattsburgh Housing Outlet. We have three, count 'em three new models arriving soon. We are excited because each is a great value and have their own unique personality.

The first to arrive is a new Titan Home. It has a log porch and rugged steel roof. It will make a great camp or primary home with its cedar beams and rustic feel.

The second will have a 5/12 roof and 8' flat ceilings and is in the Sunset Ridge series from Skyline Homes. It will have a flat screen TV as a standard feature greeting you when you walk into the living room. It will be great for a family with its 4 bedrooms.

And last, but certainly not least is a new Classic home from Champion Home Builders with every option under the sun. It has maple cabintery with drywall throughout the entire house. The fireplace makes the home sophisticated and cozy all at the same time.

Come in and visit or ask to be put on a list to be notified as the models arrive. We look forward to earning your business!

Material prices increasing

I'm sorry for the tone of this post, but sometimes there are important things to talk about that aren't great news.

We have just received several price increases from our manufacturers... yup, I know, it stinks. It will mean a $1000-1500 change in most projects so not the end of the world, but it would have been more fun to use the money for an "extra."

Here are some of the reasons why we have been experiencing the increases. Trust me, we are not lining our pockets.

-Lumber. According to an update we received from Ward Lumber this week. OSB and plywood have increased dramatically. They stated in the notice that the wholesale price of 7/16" OSB is now more than they were retail selling it before. They sited that the Chilean earthquake is part of the reason for the jump.

-Asphalt, in all it's forms. Manorwood Homes said that gypsum (drywall) has increased over 20% in the last three months. All petroleum based products- shingles, siding, vinyl clad windows, and more have increased because of raw material increases as well as increased demand in places like China.

-Copper. Also has gone up by over 20% recently.

We encourage you to solidify your building plans so that we can "lock in" your prices and protect your project from further increases.

We appreciate your business!

Feelin' lucky?

If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to visit Bill Lake Homes on the weekend of April 24 and 25th. I have toured the facility many times over the years, and always learn something new and interesting.

There is something special about watching a home be built indoors. All the raw materials, tools and manpower are all inside under controlled conditions. You don't need to worry about materials getting ruined or stolen, or a craftsman hurrying because of bad weather.

Because Bill Lake is there personally overseeing every home built in his facility, you can be sure there are no corners cut.

He is so proud of his homes, he has decided to have a spring open house to invite you to tour them personally. You can see model homes, the design center and the factory where the homes are built.

And as an extra incentive, one person will win $20,000 off their new home! PHO has been lucky in year's past so perhaps this year it will be you!

Check out www.billlakehomes.com for more details!

Big personality, little price

We just returned a couple of weeks ago from a Manorwood meeting in Syracuse. We were all discussing that we needed to have good, reasonably priced homes to offer our customers, and a little grin came over sales manager Terry Schmader's face.

"Well let me show you this," he said and sent around a plan for us to review.

This plan is designed for a cape cod, but they have decided to allow it as a chalet or ranch as well. So in addition to being a great value as a primary home, this will make a marvelous camp as well!

The plan is designed to travel on one long carrier to cut down on transportation costs, so there may be sites that we need to pay extra for an additional carrier, but overall this is an exciting new plan for us!

Want to see more? Head to www.plattsburghhousing.com and search the "find a home" section under cape cods for MW419A.

Nice to be appreciated

Was excited by a surprise from Kevin Menard, from Casella Waste Management. Together with the Plattsburgh Lions Club, Casella has always been a HUGE supporter of our Halloween Festival. He brought in a gorgeous, professionally framed article from the Press Republican highlighting our hard work. It made my day!

Home and Energy Show this weekend

2010 Home & Alternative Energy Show Set For March 13 & 14

Plattsburgh - The Adirondack Builders Association’s annual Home Show is set for Saturday, March 13th from 10 am until 5 pm and Sunday, March 14th from 10 am until 4 pm. The show will be held once again at the Crete Civic Center in Plattsburgh. Stop by the show to see the latest new products and styles available for the new homes and remodeling projects. This year’s show will also feature a special focus on Alternative Energy Options and Energy Saving Products. For a complete schedule of educational seminars as well as any other details on the show, visit the ABA’s website: www.adirondackbuilders.org .

The Principal goal of the Adirondack Builders Association is to provide all members of the association with as many opportunities as possible to expand their business association and to provide services that promote professional training and development. It is composed of members that range from building and specialty contractors to suppliers and other related services such as banks and government agencies.

See you there! Michelle

Forget me nots

This is a fun time of year for us as we enter open house season. I am feverishly printing out 500 newsletters as I write. 400 to current and potential customers and 100 to our existing home buyers. The newsletter for them has ideas for playgounds and decorating and such. I always include a little reminder of us and spring... a packet of "forget me nots"

Not your grandmother's singlewide...

You may have heard this from me already, as I can't stop talking about it, but we just returned from a trip to Port Orange Florida visiting my dad and his wife Debbie.

They liked the Daytona area and had visited before as Debbie's brother Steve has a place nearby, so they started a home search of their own in late 2008. This was our first opportunity to visit, so the place was already 100% perfect, but it is my understanding that they really only did cosmetic fixes to their otherwise incredible home.

After looking at condos, a site built home development and more, the settled on Crane Lakes, a subdivision built on an old family farm from 2001-2008. The subdivision is now complete and has 800 multi section manufactured homes.

Most have carports, many have garages, and some even have cute little garages for their golf carts as Crane Lakes offers a golf course! The majority of homes are end elevation but with the landscaping, siding, roof lines and more, each house has its own unique identity.

We had such an incredible time, and were so very comfortable I have been wondering, why anyone would consider anything else? The monthly rent they pay maintains the lawns and provides security and they have access to tennis courts, golf, 2 pools, a restaurant, a hot tub, a fitness room and more.

They also have a built in social network for cards, rides and more.

I can't imagine that any one person living there for one minute felt that they "settled" for a manufactured home. We cannot wait to go back!

Being green just got easier

Kermit the Frog once said "It ain't easy being green." And with green building the same held true for a long time.

Manorwood Homes has created a green initiative. You can read information about it on our website. It has to do with renewable products they use and building an energy efficient home.

Bill Lake Homes is doing their part too. With the blower door tests of their homes they can see where any air infiltration occurs and remedy the problem at the factory to cut down on your heating and cooling expenses.

Look under the "Advice" section of our website too for small ways you can save energy in your own lives too.

Being green is good for your psyche knowing you are keeping the environment safe, and good on your wallet cutting down on unnecessary expenses.

A sure sign of spring

We had a Board meeting today for the Adirondack Builder's Association and we are in the midst of planning our Spring Home Show. It will be at the Crete Center March 13-14. It is a lot of work, but a lot of fun too. It is always nice to see new familiar faces, as well as faces of our customers from past years, who are there looking for landscaping or a pool etc.

There will be an Alternative Energy component this year, which we are really excited about. Allsion from Hulbert Brothers has worked really hard getting speakers for the two days!

Hope you can join us! It will be here before we know it!

It's a pizza party!

Thursday evening was a night of much anticipation. We have been hosting our home building seminars for quite some time, but because the Holiday Inn is undergoing renovations, we had to find a new venue to host this seminar.

We had heard that Dino's Pizza was allowing their dining room to be reserved for events, so we arranged with them for the seminar this time.

I showed up early at 4pm and Ali, the owner, and I set the room up for all the attendees, our handouts, and of course...pizza.

We had 40 or so sign up this time, so it was a tight fit. We were pleasantly surprised that over 50 showed up. Eric joked around with me, that it was because of the pizza. Truth be told, I'm sure it didn't hurt :)

The night was light and exciting. Everyone seemed genuinely interested to hear about building. It was nice to see how appreciative everyone was of the information- and the pizza :). Most everyone filled out their surveys which is helpful for us to have the feedback.

Next time it help if we can better filter the noise from the bar side, and have some "plain cheese" pizzas. I know Ali was just trying to show off all he could do, but we underestimated how many people just like cheese pizza.

If you were there, thanks for coming- especially given the fact the weather was not ideal. And if you couldn't make it- mark your calendars for the end of March!

A sea of red...

Tonight I attended the GO RED for women dinner at SUNY. It was mostly women, and a few token men on hand to eat a heart healthy meal and here inspirational stories of women who have survived heart disease. It was powerful to see the entire ballroom of women tonight all dressed in red.

It is a misunderstood disease and a huge killer of women. Women and those who love them need to educate themselves to learn more about the signs of heart attacks in women as the signs are atypical of men.

Please do what you can to support the GO RED cause and the American Heart Association. I was happy to pay the entry fee and to bring a silent auction item as our small part.

Our family was adversely affected by heart disease when it took my mom at 45 years old. She left a void in our lives but gave me the foundation I needed to lead the life I live today. I hope that I do as good a job rearing my boys as she did with me. Love you, mom.

This is what it's all about

Over the weekend, we celebrated our son Josh's 15th birthday. In front of our fireplace, Eric and I, the boy's and Eric's mom, MaryAnn played cards and had some snacks before dinner. I thought to myself, this is our home. I felt safe and happy.

And this is what we help people to accomplish. Yes, we want your home to be well built and energy efficient... yes, we want it to have nice cabinetry, but most of all, we want to help you build a place to call home and where you too will celebrate holidays and milestones in your own family.

Thank you for the privilege and honor to help make that happen.