It is better to give than to receive

All over Facebook since the beginning of November have been posts about what people are thankful for.  Indeed, it is good to remember all that we are blessed with.

We host a Halloween Festival here at PHO every Halloween; the kids trick or treat in our model homes, are entertained by a magic show, and have fun with arts and crafts.  This, our 13th year, was our biggest and best yet.  We hosted 800 kids and their families the Saturday before Halloween, and as a result raised $5300 for the Ronald McDonald House in Burlington, VT.

We chose them as our receipient years ago because so many of our Northern NY families utilitze the House when they have a sick or injured child in the hospital in VT.  I can only imagine how difficult it is to watch your child suffer, that whatever little extra we can help with is worth our effort.  The ferry and car ride would be just too much for a parent to bear, they would want to be as close as possible to their child.

It is the best of both worlds when we can provide a safe and fun event for our local kids- where parents know that the children could run around without worry of traffic, and they know the candy they received was safe.  In the 13 years we have done the Halloween Festival, we have sent over $47,000 in donations to the Ronald McDonald House, all in $1 donations from attendees and from our business partners generous contributions.  It is amazing what a lot of little businesses can do when we put our efforts together.

From all of us at PHO, we wish you all a safe and joyous Thanksgiving and holiday season!

We're sold out!

I just took a "deposit" to hold the last model for our Halloween Festival.  It is a lot of effort every year to pull this thing off.  I start planning at the end of August, and crescendo into the end of October.  It makes my heart swell with pride that how giving our community is.  Every year different civic organizations and local business help out in so many ways.  They "rent" a house for the 3 hours of the event, they give auction items, or let us borrow things like tables and chairs so that every dollar we raise goes over to the Ronald McDonald House.

Through 2012 we raised over $42,000 and I think/ hope the money impacts our community since so many from our 3 counties utilize the House if they have a sick child.

So here we go again, let's hope for good weather!  And spread the word, 13th Annual Halloween Festival, Saturday October 27th from 1-4pm at Plattsburgh Housing Outlet!

Be prepared and stay safe.

It's fire safety month.  District 3 will be here for the Halloween Festival to help teach fire safety but please take a moment to learn more.  And PHO 2nd year homeowners, check your mailbox for the batteries we sent- and take the time to change them!  Stay safe!

Read below for information from the NFPA.  Learn more at:
http://www.nfpa.org/

Home Fires

• One home structure fire was reported every 85 seconds in 2010.
• Most fatal fires kill one or two people. In 2010, 19 home fires killed five or more people. These 19 fires resulted in 101 deaths.
• In 2010, U.S. fire departments responded to 369,500 home structure fires. These fires caused 13,350 civilian injuries, 2,640 civilian deaths, and $6.9 billion in direct damage.

Escape Planning

• According to an NFPA survey, only one-third of Americans have both developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.
• Almost three-quarters of Americans do have an escape plan; however, less than half actually practiced it.
• One-third of Americans households who made and estimate they thought they would have at least 6 minutes before a fire in their home would become life threatening. The time available is often less. And only 8% said their first thought on hearing a smoke alarm would be to get out!
  Smoke Alarms
• Almost two-thirds (62%) of reported home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
• Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
• In fires considered large enough to activate the smoke alarm, hardwired alarms operated 92% of the time, while battery powered alarms operated only 77% of the time.

Cooking

• Cooking has been the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries since 1990. Unattended cooking was by far the leading cause of these fires; Two-thirds of home cooking fires began with ignition of cooking materials, including food, cooking oil, fat, or grease .
• Cooking caused two of every five (42%) of reported home fires, roughly one of every seven (15% ) home fire deaths, and two of every five (37% ) home fire injuries, and 11% of direct property damage from home fires in 2010.
• Ranges accounted for the 58% of home cooking fire incidents. Ovens accounted for 16%.
• Children under five face a higher risk of non-fire burns associated with cooking than being burned in a cooking fire.
• 90% of burns associated with cooking equipment resulted from contact with hot equipment or some other non-fire source.

Heating

• Heating equipment was the leading cause of reported home fires in the 1980s and has generally ranked second since them. It is the second leading cause of home fire deaths. Fires involving heating equipment peak in December, January and February, as do deaths from these fires.
• The leading factor contributing to heating equipment fires was failure to clean, principally creosote from solid fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.
• Portable or fixed space heaters, including wood stoves, were involved in one-third (32%) of home heating fires and four out of five (79%) home heating deaths.
• Half of home heating fire deaths resulted from fires caused by heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattresses or bedding.

Smoking Materials

• In 2010, smoking materials started and estimated 17,500 home structure fires, resulting in 540 deaths, 1,320 injuries and $535 million in direct property damage. Smoking materials are the leading cause of home fire deaths.
• Sleep was a factor in two of every five home smoking material fire deaths. Possible alcohol impairment was reported in one quarter of these deaths.
• In recent years, Canada and the United States have required that all cigarettes sold must be “fire safe,” that is have reduced ignition strength and less likely to start fires.

Electrical

• Half (49%) of home electrical fires involved electrical distribution or lighting equipment. Other leading types of equipment were washer or dryer, fan, portable or stationary space heater, air conditioning equipment, water heater and range.
• In 2010, electrical failures or malfunctions were factors in an estimated 46,500 home structure fires resulting in 420 deaths, 1,520 injuries and $1.5 billion in property damage.

Candles

• On average, there are 35 home candle fires reported per day.
• More than one-third of these fires started in the bedroom.
• More than half of all candle fires start when things that can burn are too close to the candle.
• In 2010, candles caused 3% of home fires, 4% of home fire deaths, 6% of home fire injuries and 5% of direct property damage from home fires.

Home Fire Sprinklers

• Automatic fire sprinkler systems cut the risk of dying in a home fire by about 83%.
• Home fire sprinklers can contain and may even extinguish a fire in less time than it would take the fire department to arrive on the scene.
• Sprinklers are highly effective because they react so quickly in a fire. They reduce the risk of death or injury from a fire because they dramatically reduce the heat, flames and smoke produced, allowing people time to evacuate the home.

A great way to come together

Champion was excited to be selected to build the House United and we are proud to donate this home to a deserving veteran. Along with our partners, Craftsman, a division of Sears Holdings, as well as NextGen Home, Bank of America and nonprofit organizations, Rebuilding Together and Heroes at Home we will construct two halves of a modular home in our manufacturing facility in Salisbury NC.

One half will be displayed at the Republican National Convention in Tampa and the other half will be displayed at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. At each of the events Ty Pennington will lead delegates as they complete the construction of the home in a display of political unity in support of our troops. After the home is completed it will be placed on its foundation in Charlotte and then handed over to a deserving veteran.

To learn more about the House United project, to sign the petition encouraging delegate involvement or to sign up to volunteer, please visit www.facebook.com/craftsman .

Where to start?

Over the years, we have built many homes for folks who have owned homes but had never constructed one themselves.  There is a misconception on what a modular home can offer.  There are tons of standard plans available, but we truly can customize a plan as well.

From Sticky notes:

To Ultimate vision...

To near Fruition...

Stay tuned for the finished product!

Nothing makes me happier...

Often when we leave a job site, the best is yet to come.  The house always looks great, the land has been graded etc, but rarely is there a lawn or landscaping.  Eric and I enjoy Sunday drives (our kids do not) going back to see the outsides of the homes we have built once they are lived in.

But we truly, sincerely love to get updates from you.  We got a thank you after one of our home owners had a Christening party at their home after their son was born, we get wedding pictures, retirement announcements... there are so many reasons people come to see us for their homes.

These photos were sent to us from a client in Lake Placid.  They bought a modest cape cod knowing that while on "vacation" here- ok so his wife and kids are on vacation, he has single-handedly finished the upstairs of their cape cod.  While his kids are still young, I'm sure with every swing of that hammer, he thought about how they will have this home for generations now.  And that his kids will bring their kids there someday for Fourth of July celebrations, like they did this year.

And while this may not always be the easier job in the world, this is what makes it the best.

Sometimes you just have to find out yourself.

I had a woman and her father in today.  Now I have one of those Dads.  At 42, I'm still his baby girl and I wouldn't have it any other way.  I know in his heart he is just looking out for his daughter, but he didn't trust or believe anything I said.  He yelled and eventually stormed out.

I hope they come back, but if they don't I will know that I answered their questions to the best of my ability, and I'm not going to change my approach or my values to get a quick sale.  While, of course, we'd like the business, I would rather lose a sale than compromise our integrity. 

Essentially, what this gentleman was upset about was he was told the interest rate on the home would be 4%.  That may be true if he were doing a mortgage, but when the loan is on the home itself, the interest rates are higher because the loan is riskier.

How much higher?  I don't really know, but I told him that it was dependant on credit, amount of money down, and other variables, and would likely be 7-9%.  As you might guess, that was where the conversation ended.

I guess I was feeling sorry for myself, with the "good guys finishing last" thought running through my mind, so I took solace in a couple of thank you's we'd received.

Trudy said. "Thanks, Eric and Michelle, for being honorable business people..."

And Samantha wrote   "Everything Mike said was going to happen, happened & in a very quick manner." 

Hopefully, they will do their homework and realize what I have told them was the truth and that I wasn't trying to take advantage of them.  I know it's hard to know who to trust, and who is honest- especially when you get different answers.

We have not forgotten

Memorial Day has taken on many reasons over the years, but it originated as a day of rememberance for our fallen military heroes.  I have many in my family.  Uncles and grandfathers who fought in World War 2 and my dad and uncle served in the Vietnam era.  I have cousins who continue the tradition in our family and are true patriots.

I would also like to express our gratitude to the many who continue to protect our great country, and the families who sacrifice in their absence.  We are eternally grateful.

So while you enjoy the barbecues and first trips to the beach, hug your family and remember the true meaning of the day.  We salute you.

Among my favorite things

I love to see our home owners light up the first time they see their hardwork and dedication pay off the day their home is set on the foundation.  But I have found it equally rewarding when a client gets to see their home in process as well.

John and Brad made the trek to the Bill Lake Show to get a sneak peek of their new chalet.  When I arrived at Bill Lake's on Friday I realized that it had only been framed, and I was afraid they may be disappointed.  But by the time they arrived on Saturday, the sheetrock was up and being taped! 

I could hear them say to anyone who would listen "that's my house!"  And everyone was delighted to hear that.

After posting a photo on facebook, another client of ours remarked how special that day had been for her too- now TWO years ago.

Boy time flies when you're having fun!

Second time around

It is the ultimate compliment rewarding a job done right when we get repeat customers or family members who come to see us to help them build a home.

It made Eric feel so old a couple of years ago when he built a home for the child of one of his first customers from the early 90s.  They had just had their first child and were ready to settle down into their own home.

Yesterday, we had a client from VT that we built a beautiful cape cod for come back as they are ready to build again. They are on the lake in North Hero and they want a chalet this time around.

This is what we had heard from another customer that we built them their second home a few years back when their jobs took them from Lake Placid to Plattsburgh.

"You (Eric), Michelle, and Lisa have treated us like friends and family throughout this process.  This level of service is a lost art in the world today--we are glad that it still exists with PHO. Especially when we have made TWO of the biggest purchases of our lives with you! "

We look forward to working with you as well!

It's March Madness!

March is always the month that we hit the ground running in.  There are so many fun, exciting things going on at Plattsburgh Housing Outlet right now.

From past experience, we know that for you to break ground this spring/ summer, you really need to solidify your project now!  If you are a cash customer, you have a little extra breathing room, but if financing is necessary and a lender is involved, that takes time.  Because interest rates are so favorable, the banks are busy- not only with new construction, but also folks refinancing and so the appraisers and underwriters and all those involved are busy.

We start next weekend at the Adirondack Builder's Show, and then move on to our open house the following Saturday- March 17th!  You can truly find your pot of gold that day!  It is the one time of year you can take advantage of multiple discounts!  We are offering our TAX MATCH promotion, where we'll match your tax refund or deposit up to $2000...AND... our manufacturers will also be offering their own promotions on Saturday- so you can get BOTH!

Later in the month, on Thursday, March 29th is our next home building seminar from 6-8pm at Dino's Pizza in Plattsburgh.  It is a great overview of the building process, and in the 9 years we have offered them, attendees have always been happy they took the time to come.  At the workshop we go over: financing and what a lender is looking for, how to find and develop your land, the differences and advantages of manufactured and modular homes.  In two hours you can come learn, have dinner, and get all your questions answered!!

We hope to see you early and often in the month of March as we help you put your building project together.  We are grateful for the opportunity to earn your business and will work hard on your behalf!

Buying Power

Eric leaves today to attend a mandatory meeting for our buying group, the National Buyer's Group.  Back in the early 80s the group was born through the hardwork of its early leaders, some whom are still vital member today.  Small business owners, like us, who own manufactured home dealerships and communities decided to pool their knowledge and create a co-op to increase their power with the home manufacturers.

As a result, we negotiate better pricing, preferred building dates, and maybe most importantly... have a voice.  Over the years we have discussed ideas for better models, increased quality and more- as we are the ones "on the front lines."  If you are asking for it, the ultimate home owner, then we most definately need to make sure we can provide it to you!

The meeting is mandatory as they need to have a quorum of the membership in order to pass these important measures each year.  So while sometimes it is hard to be away from work and family, we have realized that it is equally important to work ON our business as well as IN our business.

Lucky duck, the weather in Florida is supposed to be in the 80s, so that will be a nice change of pace for Eric too.

Some pretty tasty pizza

Our first home building seminar of the year is coming up soon.  We are happy to offer these workshops 5 or 6 times a year because there is so much to learn when building a new home.  We often have folks come who have owned homes before but never built- it's much different.

Some of the things we talk about are how to finance your home and what a lender is looking for, the differences and advantages of manufactured and modular homes, and how to find and develop land.

Over the nine years we have been offering the seminar, we have never had one person sorry they spent the time to come.  They don't all ultimately decide that building is for them, but at least you know and understand the process!

If you'd like more details you can visit our website or give us a call.  If you decide you'd like to join us, there is no cost or obligation, we just ask that you RSVP so we can save you a seat- and properly plan dinner, after all it is some pretty tasty pizza.