Blog

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome and introduce our newest team member, Jim Richards.  Jim began his career in the Systems Built industry with another local manufacturer where he worked in the framing department on the production floor. Jim also spent time as an assistant service manager. He used his experience and expertise Systems Built industry to move through the ranks; from Production to Forema and ending his 13 year tenure there as a Regional Account Executive. He is joining the Signature team as an Account Executive focusing mainly in the Southern New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland region. Currently, Jim resides in Moosic, Pennsylvania with his wife, Kim. He is a father of 6 and grandfather of 4. We are very excited to have Jim working for the Signature Family and we are looking forward to many years together

Join us Saturday March 6, 2010 from 1:00 to 4:00 for our open house and factory tour.  Factory tour will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m. 

• Light Refreshments
• Q & A Session
• Mortgage Consultant on-site  

When economic survival becomes a genuine concern in Corporate America, for many it’s easier to resort to mankind’s inherent instinct of saving yourself than it is to take a stand, facilitate change, and contribute to the industry. However, America was built on values of reciprocity and collaboration not narcissism as Theodore Roosevelt pointed out when he said, “Every man owes part of his time and money to the business or industry to which he engages.  No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere.”

 Here at Signature Building Systems we happily embrace our intrinsic duty to reinforce our industry. We encourage all of our employees to share their personal values and participate in industry events to support our trade. Recently, Vic DePhillips, President & CEO, and Charlie Kasko, VP of Business Development, traveled to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The NAHB is a trade association representing more than 200,000 members involved all aspects of the construction and housing industry. Known as “the voice of the housing industry,” NAHB is affiliated with more than 800 state and local home builders associations around the country. The NAHB also organizes trade shows, the most impressive being the IBS. The IBS is the largest annual building industry tradeshow in the country. Each year builders migrate to the IBS to participate in workshops, network with peers, listen to speakers, and gain invaluable information that they can pass onto others to enrich their hometown industry. IBS offers more than 175 education sessions taught by industry experts.  

 While at the IBS Vic and Charlie received notable industry honors.

Vic has been selected to serve as the Chairman for the Building Systems Council of the NAHB and also as a 2010 NAHB Executive Board Member. He will continue to serve on the NAHB Board of Directors. As Chairman of Building Systems Council, Vic will represent the interests of the systems built producer members for the Log Home Council, Modular Home, Panelized Home and Concrete Homes in the country. Vic has been a National Director for the past 12 years for his local, the Lackawanna Home Builders Association. During that time he also served for 3 years as the President and 9 years on the Board of Directors. 

   Charlie was elected Secretary of the NAHB Research Center Board of Directors. He was also appointed to the Board of Trustees of the 50+ Housing Council. Charlie will continue to serve on the Federal Governmental Affairs Committee and on the Board of Trustees for Build-PAC. Charlie is a Life Director for the Board of Directors of the NAHB. Charlie has also served as the President of the Pennsylvania Homes Builders Association and his local association, The BIA of Northeast Pennsylvania.

Congratulations Vic and Charlie on these remarkable accomplishments and showing by example what it means to contribute and support our industry!

 Visit www.nahb.org for more information on joining the NAHB or your local Builders Association and to begin doing your part to improve the conditions within our sphere.

                Since June when we added a blog to our re-vamped website, we’ve made a conscious decision to stick to stories, topics, anecdotes, etc that pertain to who we are and what we’re capable of as a company. At times, we’ve posted stories about the $8,000 First-time homebuyer tax credit (which is still active!) or builder confidence polls but we’ve never ventured very far into political talks or updates. As a company, it’s our belief that you don’t want to read about the politics on our site and we don’t want to talk about it. We’ll continue to stick to that agreement, but we feel that you, our builders, stakeholders, family, customers, etc should know what’s going on with health care reform and how  it will affect everyone in this industry. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590 hereto forward) contains language that is very damaging to our industry at a time when many of us can’t afford it. H.R. 3590 mandates that all businesses with 50+ employees must provide healthcare for their employees. This same mandate holds true for the Construction Industry with a major caveat. That caveat is that companies in the “construction industry” with more than FIVE employees must provide health care coverage for all of their employees.  Let us just repeat that sentence one more time so it sinks in. Companies in the construction industry with FIVE or more employees must provide health care to all of their employees. Below are reasons we feel that this provision (SEC. 10106) is absolutely unfair and unnecessary.

1. Most businesses’ health care packages are based on the best coverage they can comfortably afford.  Inherently, business owners and managers want to do right by their employees. Why should congress be able to tell a business owner that their affordable package isn’t enough?
2. In the bill, it uses the term “construction employer” to describe those affected by this provision. Does that mean XYZ builders, a company of 7 employees in Montana? Yes. Does it mean 123 Supply, a lumber supply company of 5 employees in Hawaii? We don’t know, but the assumption is that yes, yes it does. Essentially every small supplier, distributor, manufacturer, set crew, etc that you’re working with will have to add health care coverage.
3. Going on the last point, Congress and the Senate must not realize that “construction employers” already provide workers compensation insurance which already covers any workplace injuries and illnesses and also provides compensation for lost wages should an injury occur.
4. I stated “should an injury occur” for a reason. Did you know that according the Bureau for Labor Statistics (BLS) the construction industry has consistently reported fewer injuries and illnesses than the manufacturing, retail, and health care sectors over the past few years?
5. Better yet, the same BLS data cited above also states that companies with fewer than 50 employees (in any sector, not just construction) have a lower rate of injury and illness than companies with more than 50 employees.

So, in closing, we invite you to please call your representatives and voice your opposition to this provision of the bill. If he, she, or a staff member asks why [in addition to the reasons above], leave them with this thought: Our industry is currently running at 18% UNEMPLOYMENT and we’ve lost more than $200 BILLION in economic activity in the past 12 months.

Over the next few months, as daylight grows scarce, finishing a house becomes a race against the clock.  Time or lack thereof, inclement weather, and below freezing temperatures begin to become a builder’s most loathed adversaries.

Recently, Signature Building Systems has begun to witness a shift in the modular market. I’m referring neither to an increase nor a decline in interest overall, but rather a lateral move. We’re seeing a boost in interest in Cape-Cod style homes – “4-box” Cape-Cod style homes to be more precise.

“Traditional” Cape-cod style homes or “2-box” capes have always been a good seller. A traditional cape is delivered with an “unfinished” attic – this area is then completed by the builder to the customer’s specifications on-site after delivery. In the past, this was the road most traveled. Everyone knew there had to be an alternative, faster way to build a cape and began to search for a better way. With the goal of time savings in mind – the “4-box” cape was born.

A “4-box” cape is delivered with the “attic” completed to the same factory specifications as the first floor of the home. Essentially the factory construction is much like a two-story modular home. This coupled with Signatures standard practice of pre-fitting the boxes in the factory eliminates countless hours of on-site construction. Thus, allowing the home to be completed in a fraction of the time.

Extending the home buyer tax credit and at the same time expanding eligibility to more buyers is critical to helping the housing market recover. At the same time, this action will stimulate job growth and creation. Signature wants to thank the tireless efforts of Chairman Joe Robson at NAHB as well as everyone affiliated with the organization for their tireless efforts. Special appreciation also goes out to law makers responsible for the passage of this legislation including Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.).

For consumers it means better values when purchasing of a home. When a consumer is sitting on the fence trying to decide these credits can act as a significant catalyst.

The net effect to consumers is much more than $8000.00 and $6500.00. Consider financing $8000.00 for 30 years at a rate of 5%. The monthly savings with interest is $42.95 which translates to a total savings of $15,462.00 over the term of the loan. Financing $6500.00 at the same interest and term translates to a saving of $34.89 a month or $12,560.00 over the term. This is significant from any perspective.

Quick Facts:

• $8000 tax credit extended until April 30th 2009 for first time buyers
• New $6500 tax credit for repeat home buyers effective till April 30th 2009
• To qualify for either scenario buyers have till June 30th 2009 to close
• Income limits for both categories include higher income limits. For individuals the amount is $125,000 and $225,000 for couples
• Repeat buyers must be moving up from a primary residence they lived in for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 years. In order to qualify, repeat buyers need not move up in price.

Builders can send consumers to this page or www.FederalHousingTaxCredit.com