HousingZone.com

Apr 18 2008 12:32PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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If your market's been down and you're looking for good news, turn the page. At Tuesday's Remodeling Futures Steering Committee Meeting in Cambridge, Mass., director Kermit Baker said in his Remodeling Trends and Outlook presentation that the national remodeling outlook likely will not see any improvement until 2009.

"Currently, the second half of this year is shaping up to be weaker than the first half," Baker said. Harvard has based its predictions on three major indicators which they use to formulate their Leading Indicator for Remodeling, all of which have negative trends: contractor payrolls, remodelers' future expectations for business, and pending sales of existing homes. Bruce Christensen, General Manager - Home Improvement&nb...Read More

Apr 17 2008 1:28PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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I just returned from Harvard's Remodeling Futures Steering Committee spring meeting, and most of the news was pretty dismal (check future posts for some details from the presentations). Today wasn't any better, as the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies released its quarterly Leading Indicator for Remodeling Activity (LIRA). The LIRA states that homeowner spending for home improvement activity will decline by an annual rate of 4.8 percent through the end of 2008, a drop of 3.7 percentage points from last quarter's LIRA. The Joint Center points toward falling consumer confidence and a weakening economy as the top two reasons for the decline in remodeling spending.

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Apr 10 2008 1:07PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (2) |
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The EPA's long-awaited Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule was issued last week, and it will take effect in April 2010. The rule applies to all remodeling projects that disturb more than six square feet of painted surfaces for residential and multifamily structures built prior to 1978 that are inhabited pregnant women and children under age six. The rule requires a cleaning inspection after the work is done and lists prohibited work practices ¯ including open-torch burning and using high-heat guns and high-speed equipment such as grinders and sanders unless equipped with a HEPA filter. The rule also establishes required lead-safe work practices, including posting warning signs, using disposable plastic drop cloths, and clean...Read More

Apr 8 2008 2:56PM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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If you're one of many remodelers who has seen the well of leads drying up due to the real estate market slowdown, take a look at this video clip (click on the white arrow in the video image below). Adjusting your business plan for fewer and smaller projects in 2008 is one way to adjust to these market conditions, but why not use the opportunity to sell the benefits of remodeling over moving, too? Many consumers who were in the market for buying a new or upgraded home are now more open than ever to the idea of remaining in their current home and remodeling.

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Apr 5 2008 12:00AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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If you're a remodeling contractor who does a lot of kitchens and baths, do your business a favor and attend next week's Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Chicago. This is one of my favorite trade shows of the year because of all the innovative products launched at the show. It's also one of the more visually stimulating shows, with stunning booth displays and a boutique feel that other shows, like the International Builders' Show, can't touch. There are also a lot of great educational sessions at the show, so in between learning about all the great new products being offered for these highly-remodeled rooms, you can also learn how to improve your kitchen and bath remodeling business.