Recent Blog Posts

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:14:56 -0500

There could not have been a better, more enjoyable day Friday for playing golf with 108 of your closest, fellow hackers and golfer wannabees...out at the beautiful course and layout of Oakwoods Country Club.

Many thanks to all the players, sponsors...including lunch sponsor A & J Rental, prize providers, and organizers, registrars, and other fantastic helpers, including Jerry Smithey (Jones Windows & Doors) for overseeing the 18th green...in case there was a hole-in-one. That feat would've netted that player $10,000 cash. Royce McCarty came closest...and got a nice prize package...but not $10,000.00. Maybe next year!

Earl Parsons (Team American Specialty Window & Door) came closest-to-the-pin on hole #1. Our own Johnny Huffman (Johnny Huffman Plumbing) was closest on #8. And Steven Lowe (Wilkes Telecommunications) was the man on #12.

As to teams: 1st place (net) ($400) Jeff Joines, Zach Joines, Josh Welborn, and Louis Curte

1st place gross ($400) Mark Cook, Daniel Walsh, Royce McCarty, Glenn Andrews

2nd place (Net) ($200) Jim Byrd, Kenneth Howell, Ray Smith, Jeff Reed (Cregger Supply)

2nd place gross ($200) Terry Johnson, Dusty Rhoades, Kenny Brooks, Brian Robbins

And a fun day was had by all!

Cash payouts this time to 1st and 2nd place 'net' and 'gross' teams. Prize holes include $10,000 for a hole-in-one on number 18...along with other quality prizes for closest-to-the-pin.

The form is posted here to register.

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:13:17 -0400

A glorious day! as the Wilkes - Yadkin Home Builders Association helped raise $1,826.63 in a one-day Yard Sale event to benefit Samaritan Kitchen of Wilkes. Samaritan's Executive Director Julie Smith said the amount would cover a week's worth of food in the Back Pack food distribution program for area school children. And it was a lot of fun too!

In dozens of instances, shoppers gave more than the original 'asking price', or simply said to keep the change. And while seemingly tons and tons of stuff was bought and carted away...there were still plenty of leftover items -- enough to spread out with large donations of items to The Goodwill Store, Ebenezers Attic, and The ReStore/Habitat for Humanity.

We hope to show pictures soon on our web site...and acknowledge all those companies and individuals that made this venture so worthwhile.

100% of proceeds to Samaritan Kitchen!

HBA members and others are invited to continue donations of canned goods (nothing frozen) and other non-perishable items, and other household supplies (toothpaste, toothbrushes, toiletries) you would purchase for your family may be dropped off directly at Samaritan's Kitchen (at Celebration Baptist Church/the old Union School Building - Boone Trail, North Wilkesboro) on any Wednesday and Thursday from 9am til noon.

A community project of your Wilkes/Yadkin HBA.

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:43:54 -0400

What You Should Know about Hiring a Remodeler

By Dale Goforth, President
Home Builders Association of Wilkes & Yadkin County

With the ongoing challenging economy, many families are choosing to remodel their homes to fit their changing needs, rather than selling their home and buying another one. Your home is likely your largest investment, and even simple remodels can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, so you want to make sure you find a contractor you can trust.

As the home building and remodeling industry celebrates National Remodeling Month in May, here are some important considerations to ensure you make the right decisions when you find, evaluate and hire a remodeler.

The best place to start is within the membership listings on this web site. There's also the Directory of Professional Remodelers at www.nahb.org/remodelerdirectory. A professional remodeler will uphold the highest professional and ethical standards in the industry. These sources can also help you find a remodeler who specializes in a specific type of remodeling if you need it, such as a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) to help modify your home to better suit you as you age, or a Certified Green Remodeler (CGM) to make your home more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly.

You should also ask for referrals from friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and others who have had remodeling work done. Or, ask local independent trade contractors, building materials suppliers, architects, engineers, home inspectors, lenders and insurance professionals for recommendations.

There are also websites where consumers leave comments about their experience with local businesses, such as www.yelp.com, www.angieslist.com and www.kudzu.com. But be careful about these sources of information, as you have no way of knowing who left the comment or if they were honest.

Once you have a list of potential home remodelers for your project, do research to verify that they are appropriately licensed and have a good business track record. You can verify that the remodeler/builder has the appropriate licenses and registrations, and see if they have received any complaints about the remodeler and if so, were those complaints resolved satisfactorily?

When you begin meeting with remodelers, you want to find out information such as:

How long they have been in business in your community? Can they provide references from customers and suppliers they work with?
Do they carry insurance that protects you from claims arising from property damage or job site injuries? Ask for a copy of the insurance certificates.
What is their working knowledge of the many types and ages of homes in the area, and what sort of issues could arise?
Do they arrange for the building permit? (The person who obtains the permit is the contractor of record and therefore liable for the work)
Do they provide a written estimate before beginning the work, and a detailed contract that spells out the work that will and will not be performed, protects both of you, provides a fair payment schedule contract and complies with local, state, and federal laws?
Do they offer a warranty? What is covered under the warranty and for how long?

For more detailed checklists for finding, evaluating and working with a remodeler, as well as other information about remodeling your home, contact the Wilkes - Yadkin Home Buiolders Association. 336-667-5455. www.homewilkes@aol.com.

And Welcome to the Neighborhood!