As I sit here typing this month’s newsletter it is hard to believe that fall will soon be here. Where has the time gone?  I think admittedly for the homebuilding industry, even in Bloomington-Normal, we have all felt the crunch in one way or the other. Unfortunately there are no easy answers; however this is a good time to do the things you have always needed and wanted to do but never could find the time to do and continue to educate yourself in many ways. You can keep up to date and learn more about items such as business, finance, insurance, green building, marketing and many other topics at the National Association of Home Builders web site. These are the tools that may just put your company and yourself one step ahead of the rest.

Thanks to all who attended the Peoria Chiefs night out, we had a great night of baseball and conversation with the Peoria Homebuilders chapter.

Homebuilders Office Update: Mechanical systems have been installed. Thanks to Brian Schenk from SOS Plumbing, Nathan and Rick Masters from Masters Brothers for all of their work installing the mechanical systems. In addition, Shermans Home Works has installed all of the low voltage wiring. A special thanks to Erick Cane of Prairie State Insulation for their donation of all material and labor in insulating our office and Andy Holt of Holt Supply for donating our restroom toilets. H & H Drywall has installed all of the drywall and is in the finishing stages. We will soon be starting the items such as flooring, cabinets and trim so if you are interested in bidding any portion of the remaining work please call Lisa or myself to get a copy of the plans. We would greatly appreciate any support you can give.

If you have not had a chance to swing by the new office please feel free to do so and take a look. Things are moving along and I am happy to see the progress. This is a unique, exciting and rare time in our organization’s existence when we have the opportunity to grow to another level beyond where we have ever been and I encourage everyone to get involved in whatever way you can.

Please feel free to call me with any questions any time at 275-1580.

Sincerely,

Brad Ropp

Johnston Builders