We are excited to make out initial post to our new "News and Notes" blog at koontzbuilder.com.   Our new feature will allow us to update the website with fresh pictures, articles and information about our company and the home building industry in general.  We will also update our Facebook friends each time that we post new material.

Our thanks to John and Kia at pyrographics.com for their help with the web site updates!

Our other big news of the day: "world premiere" video will be coming out soon!!  Susan and the talented staff at Media Development have helped us to put together some video pieces to share some of our thoughts.  We will be releasing the first video soon.  We look forward to hearing from you when you see it.

Stay in touch and make it a great week.

We are pleased to announce that Dale Koontz Builder has officially become a “Pella Certified Contractor”.   For many years our company has installed Pella windows in our custom homes and additions.  We have also worked with numerous homeowners to install Pella replacement windows in homes in the Quincy area.

Today we are formalizing what has already been a healthy long-term relationship.  Pella will be providing our crews with the most current training in products and services and Dale Koontz Builder has committed to continue using the best practices in installation and finish – as well as continuing to offer top notch customer service to all our clients.

Great companies with quality products installed by skilled craftsmen…more of what you expect from Pella and Dale Koontz Builder!

On the Dale Koontz Builder team we are proud to say that we have 6 people working for us that have 15 or more years of service with our company.  We think it says something about our company, and about the kind of people that work for us.  We think it shows that we value our employees and that they feel valued by their employer – a cycle of mutual benefit.

What do we offer our staff that entices them to stay?  We offer a competitive wage and top-notch benefits including paid vacation, company health insurance and a 401K plan.  Perhaps more importantly, though, we offer our employees the chance to work for 52 weeks each year.  This is not a given in the construction industry – but at Dale Koontz Builder we make every effort to keep all of our staff busy all year round.

In the company’s history we have not ever had to lay off staff due to lack of work.

The kind of people that are working for us are honest, hardworking people.  The kind of guys that pride themselves in putting in serious effort.  Day after day.  Year after year.  Their commitment to consistent effort and continuous improvement compels us to keep rewarding them.

And the cycle continues.

Members of the group were treated to presentations by nationally known architect Wayne Visbeen and also from Meredith Communication's Meredith Oliver. (www.creatingwow.com)

"It's always beneficial to step back from the day to day operation of our business and take time to learn about the newest trends in building," shared Tim Koontz, President.  The PBA meets twice annually at different locations around the country - affording members of the group the opportunity to see different products and learning about the industry's best practices and trends.

"Roger is a tremendous asset to our team," says Tim Koontz, President; "Our homeowners enjoy working with him on their projects and Roger is an easy guy to be around on the job site for all his fellow employees and our subcontractors"

With Roger's 20th anniversary, the Dale Koontz Builder team now boasts 5 current employees with 20 or more years of service.  Scott Koontz notes that "we try hard to be a good place to work; to treat our people fairly and keep them working year-round...the fact that we now have 5 people who have stuck with us for more than 20 years is a testament to the working environment we have"

This drop is due in large part to the number of foreclosed properties that have sold at very depressed prices.  These new “comparables” have a significant impact on other similar properties.  In the Quincy area, we have been fortunate to avoid many of the big swings (up or down) in the appraised value of homes. 

However, we do struggle with the limited number of comparables available, especially in the market above $400,000.   When a property sells at a significant discount, whether due to a corporate move or a foreclosure sale, that single comparable can have a large impact on other similar valued homes.  This “comparable” has an impact on those selling a home, but also on those building a home. 

Banks have become more discriminating with their lending, often loaning 10-20% less than the full appraised value of a property.   If the home an individual is about to buy or build is undervalued through the appraisal process, the amount of cash needed to make the deal happen can be significant.  Again, the Quincy market has been fortunate, and currently there are some good comparables for higher valued properties.  Right now might be a great time to move forward with a project you have been considering, especially in view of the record low interest rates available.  Understanding the role that your banker plays, and how appraisals and comparable sales factor in can prepare you to make the most of this process.

The “Koontz Crew” will be visiting Orlando not only for the IBS show, but also in order to enjoy the Florida sunshine and see a few of the Disney sights, too.  Previously the Dale Koontz Builder team visited IBS in Las Vegas – a trip that was also enjoyed by all the team members.

“This is a reward for our guys, and it also is a great way for them to find new tools or learn new tricks of the trade from people in the industry,” says Scott Koontz.  Tim Koontz describes the upcoming trip as a terrific “team-building experience” that he is looking forward to.

Getting Greener - the industry continues to embrace more and more products and processes that promote energy efficiency and sustainability in materials.  Many different vendors were touting the benefits of their spray foam insulation and its vast superiority to fiberglass and even cellulose.  SIPS panels (Structural Insulated Panels) are available from a number of different sources, and also are promoted for their high energy efficiency and ease of use.  Emphasis on renewable materials, recycled materials and efficient use of materials is seen across the show floor.  It is apparent that the industry recognizes the value to the consumer of an energy efficient home, built of renewable materials and built to fit the family that will live there.

Generation "Y" in view - several seminar presenters were pushing builders to prepare for the next generation of buyers: Generation Y, also called the Millenials.  In terms of pure numbers, Gen Y will be bigger than the renowned Baby Boom generation.  Builders are happy to hear that there is a large pool of potential homeowners on the way.  However, builders are being cautioned to understand what this new generation of buyers will want - probably less square footage in their homes, but with nicer finishes throughout.  Millenial buyers also seem to value flexibility in their floorplans... leading builders to re-examine old plans to see if they still "fit" with these upcoming buyers.

Is this the bottom of the market? - The burst of the housing bubble was well documented; the numbers of show attendees and vendor exhibitors at the show is almost 50% of what it was 3-4 years ago.  So what happens now?  There are threads of optimism running throughout the industry.  Some people think that the pent up demand of the last few years will finally lead to some activity in housing starts.  Interest rates remain low and industry figures show that we are not currently building enough houses to satisfy the needs of new households being formed.  Those builders who have weathered the storms of the last few years are positioning themselves to meet the needs of homeowners in 2011.  

Everybody at Dale Koontz Builder is poised for a good year.  Stay tuned....