Building Barometer - July 19, 2016

Vertical Codes Committee Meeting - July 11

County staff reported that the inspection rollover percentage was 28 for building, 2 for electrical, 1 for plumbing and gas and 1 for mechanical. Mike Rimoldi is working with staff to be proactive in
reassigning Building Inspectors to the busiest areas in an effort to address the 28% rollover rate. Residential permit turnaround times are 17 working days at the South County office, 24 working days at County Center and 35 working days for commercial permits at County Center. There were 458 single family permit applications received in June.  In addition, there were 542 residential building
permits issued, 81%, or 439, which were single family. Permitting, plan review and inspection staffs are working overtime, many 7 days a week. 

Adam Gormly and Mike are considering hosting a series of sessions with the various construction trades to discuss inspector assignments/rollover percentage improvements, red tag trends, new code issues, builder inspection scheduling and other issues as identified.  These sessions will be very helpful for all parties, and it is hopeful that participation will be widespread.

Current vacant staff positions include 1 electrical Inspector, 1 Permit Clerk and 5 Building Inspectors, 2 of which are limited duration. There were 4 previous applicants for the limited duration positions which were unlicensed and unqualified at the minimum level, and 2 building inspectors that recently resigned. 

The Building Fund balance was $2,617,809 at the end of May, and $2,255,393 at the end of April. 

Mike discussed the increasing problem of incorrect installation of irrigation systems.  Currently, these installations are being monitored by the County’s Extension Services Office.  There is currently no inspection required for these installations, and we certainly do not want the County placed in a position of having to provide enforcement. Builders need to be aware of this growing issue.

Tom Legler, Chief Plumbing/Gas Inspector, discussed a new procedure that will combine the tub set and 2nd plumbing rough-in inspections into a single inspection.  Mike and Tom will determine shortly when this new procedure will be effective. 

Obviously, the percentages and time frames listed above are of great concern to our building industry.  TBBA leadership is actively involved, as are general members, in working with County representatives to reverse these trends through whatever means possible.  We welcome any and all participation in these endeavors.

Please contact Dave Ford at davef@hamiltonengineering.us to have new items added to the agenda, or to be addressed prior to the next meeting. 

Staff Contact: Jennifer

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Lunch & Learn - August 4th

Many boomers will decide to move or remodel existing homes to be more energy efficient, livable and marketable. Hear current trends, data and research from AARP and learn more on the housing needs of the 50+ home buyer.

Thursday, August 4 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Location: Ferman Chevrolet, 9751 E Adamo Dr, Tampa

Presenter: Laura Cantwell, Associate State Director, AARP

FREE for RC members code: RCMEMBER |$10 for TBBA

members, lunch provided.

Register Here

Staff Contact: Lauren

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The 2017 Parade of Homes planning is underway! 

The tentative 2017 Parade of Homes dates are March 11 - 26. With judging taking place on March 10. We heard your feedback and have extended the parade to include 3 full weekends again.

The Request for Proposals was sent for the 2017 Showcase Home Builder. Full RFP

Committee meetings will begin in the fall, please email Amy if you are interested in participating.

Staff Contact: Amy

Building Barometer - July 12, 2016

A fair fee for a reasonable level of service - 

As a builder, you may be experiencing a deterioration in the level of service you receive for building permit and inspections. We have spent countless hours working with our partners in the regulatory community to address these problems on your behalf. Your permitting fees are the primary source of revenue for these services and you should be able to rely on consistent service and a reasonable timeframe for these services.

We have not identified any spikes in activity that would cause such a deterioration so my intuition tells me its staff fatigue. As we return to a more normal market, the building departments have been slow to increase their resources, relying on outsourcing and overtime – both great short term solutions but are not sustainable. 

We have meetings with both building officials this month and encourage you to attend so that you can help provide solutions to this shared problem. 

Hillsborough Vertical Codes – July 11th – 2pm @ TBBA
Pasco Roundtable – July 13th @ 2pm in New Port Richey Gov’t Center


Staff Contact: Jennifer

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The Trend Toward Green - 

A market report and case study submitted by Mitsubishi Cooling & Heating

This year the U.S. Green Building Council has attempted to understand why builders and homeowners have sustainability in mind. The top reasons driving this upswing in green building include strong market demand, cost savings for the end user, health, codes and property values. It could be easier, of course, to have just one reason. If the answer were cost savings for the end user, all decisions could be made with that concept in mind. 

Even without a single reason the market is going green, many builders share a sense of environmental responsibility and green is becoming a best practice. It helps that green building goes hand-in-hand with advanced technology. This is an era in which homeowners look to control costs and live more thoughtfully and conveniently. The result is that builders are tasked with providing homes that meet all of the market’s previous demands and are also contemporary and high-tech.

Fortunately, builders have tools at their disposal to solve this challenge. Some manufacturers offer apps, products, even entire mechanical systems that help builders create homes they can stand by, and homes people want. Read More

To submit an Innovation in your field contact Amy. 

 Building Barometer - July 5, 2016

Kevin Robles Testifies before US Senate Committee

TBBA's own Kevin Robles, CEO of Domain Homes, testified on June 30, 2016 before the US Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Hearing. Robles who is a past president of TBBA provided the committee insight on the effects recent flood insurance regulations were having on small business owners. 

“Any negative change to the market, such as flood insurance rate increases, could have long-term unintended consequences to Florida’s economy,” Robles said.

“I am a small business owner and at least a quarter of my customer base is active or retired military. I am constantly reminded of the need to keep housing prices affordable. In Florida, for every $1,000 increase in home prices, more than 8,000 households are priced out of the market,” he said.

Robles added that in Florida where there are large Special Hazard Flood Areas, it is extremely difficult to avoid building in or near a floodplain, so inaccurate floodplain maps are very problematic for builders. It can take months and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to change the flood maps or elevate a property. 

Read NAHB Press Release
Roble's Full Testimony

Staff Contact: Jennifer

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OPEN RFPs

"Marketing Partner" for the Awards of Excellence

TBBA's Sales and Marketing Council is seeking a "Marketing Partnership" for the 2016 Awards of Excellence. The services would be provided in-kind in exchange for a lucrative sponsorship opportunity.  Learn More

RFPs COMING THIS FALL

2017 Parade of Homes - Showcase Home

"Marketing Partner" for the Parade of Homes

Staff Contact: Amy

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The Construction Litigation Shortcut - 
Jason Lambert, Construction Litigation and Appellate Attorney at Zinzow Law

We’ve all been there (I say all because I was a contractor before I ever thought of becoming a lawyer). You complete a job, submit the invoice, and wait for payment. And wait. Eventually the homeowner or contractor tells you they are not going to pay you the balance due until you come out and fix some minor, punch-list-worthy issue. If you balk, you may get paid nothing. If you make the fix, you may open up Pandora’s box of never-ending repairs. The person holding the money never feels pressure to at least pay you something, because what are you going to do? Sue them rather than make the repair?

Yes. Because you may not actually have to go through an entire lawsuit to get paid the undisputed amounts you are owed. Section 713.346, Florida Statutes, provides an expedited process to determine, and require payment of, undisputed contract sums where a person or entity has received money to pay for construction services but has not yet paid for those construction services. Wait—before your eyes glaze over—here is what that means in plain English.

Assume a homeowner hires you to do work and she has a bank providing the construction financing or maybe an insurance company paying for the work. Your contract with the homeowner is for $10,000.00. You complete the work and the homeowner receives the $10,000.00 from the bank or insurance company but does not pay you anything. Maybe the homeowner claims that your work is incomplete or that in finishing your work, you damaged some other part of her home. Maybe that incomplete work or damage is only worth about $1,000.00, but the homeowner is withholding the full $10,000.00 as leverage to force you to complete that work (and maybe more).  Continue Reading


If you would like to submit an article for the eBarometer please contact Amy for more information.

Building Barometer - June 28, 2016

Building Barometer - June 27, 2016

A look ahead for SMC - June 22, 2016

The Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) is gearing up for leadership nominations, elections, and the Awards of Excellence (AOE) event. On August 18, the council will host “Bowling for Candidates” a fun member outing to inform members of the professional development opportunities through the SMC. On September 8, members will vote for the next set of SMC leaders at “Ballots & Brews”. Both of these events are free to SMC members thanks to the generosity of our annual sponsors. It may seem early, but the Awards of Excellence (AOE) committee held its first meeting this month. If you’re interested in getting more involved in the council, joining a committee is a great place to start.

Please note SMC board meetings will resume in August.

Staff Contact: Lauren

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Realtor Builder Expo - June 23, 2016

Hundreds of area Realtors attended the Realtor/Builder Expo on June 23 at the Florida State Fairgrounds. TBBA has partnered with the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors (GTAR) for many years to connect Builders and Developers with the Realtor community. Walking around the expo was a treat for the Realtors; the booths were decorated in a carnival theme with tasty treats around every corner. Some booths handed out branded items, some gave away carnival-themed gifts, while others offered fun activities like a kissing booth and plinko. Mike Finley of WCI Communities led a creative committee that brought change and spirit to this annual expo. Thank you to our Builders, Developers, Sponsors, and the hard-working volunteers behind this great event!

Click Here to View Pictures from #RBX2016

Staff Contact: Amy

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Education offered at SEBC - June 24, 2016

“SEBCville: Building in Paradise” will include Residential and Commercial Construction Educational Sessions, a two-day Expo Hall, and lots of fun filled and sandy social events. Please see below for the full schedule and join us July 28-29, 2016 in Kissimmee, Florida.

Click Here for the Full Schedule

Staff Contact: Kara

Building Barometer - June 21, 2016

Horizontal Codes Update - June 6, 2016

The regular monthly Horizontal Codes Meeting scheduled for June 6 was cancelled due to the tropical storm. The next meeting will be July 11. 

A meeting has been held with Public Works to discuss the delays in the review of plans by Public Works.

     

At the June 9, Hillsborough County Industry Meeting the following items were discussed:

• Hillsborough County staff presented a report to the BOCC on June 7, 2016 regarding Time Limitations on Planned Development Zonings. Hillsborough County staff will be putting together a focus group to discuss this further. TBBA will be an active participant in this process.
   
• There have been questions raised related to the 30 foot wetland setback and if it should be applied when wetland impacts occur. An amendment to the LDC will be required to clarify that no setback is required when there is a wetland impact. EPC will support this amendment and staff will proceed with confirming EPC’s position and preparing the LDC amendment.
   
• Under the Hillsborough LDC, if more than 10,000 cubic yards of dirt are hauled off-site, a borrow pit permit is required. Hillsborough County staff is looking at how to modify this regulation to add an administrative approval when the dirt is not hauled on public roadways or when the dirt is generated in the normal process of subdivision development.

Staff Contact: Jennifer

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Realtor Builder Expo - June 23, 2016

The 2016 Realtor Builder Expo is being held this coming Thursday, June 23^rd at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Realtor attendees will learn more about the local builders while enjoying nostalgic fair treats. The event has historically attracted over 700 Realtors and is one of the largest Realtor Expos in the area.  All TBBA members were invited to participate through sponsorships and builder members via exhibiting. Thank you to all of our volunteers and sponsors! We want to especially recognize our presenting sponsors CalAtlantic and the Tampa Bay Times!

Staff Contact: Amy

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Members Giving Back - June 8, 2016

With over 30 years of experience TBBA Member, Richman Signature Group has established themselves as a trustworthy and reliable company within the Tampa Bay area. Focusing on luxury apartment residences and new division they saw there was a need to support their community and lend a hand.

“Richman Signature Properties is strongly vested in building communities throughout the Tampa area and understands that to be successful and continue growing, we must help and support our neighbors,” said Kristin Miller, President of The Richman Group Development Corporation. “It’s incredibly important to both our company and our residents to give back to our local community. We invited residents from The Sedona in Westchase and Epic at Gateway Centre to participate, as well as potential future residents from our upcoming Tampa properties Aurora Downtown and Grady Square.”

“At Habitat, we believe that dignity and hope are best achieved through equitable, accountable partnerships,” said Tina Swain, Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County. “We are able to continue providing services to low-income homeowners because of sponsorship and volunteer partners like Richman Signature Properties.”

Richman Signature Properties currently has two open luxury apartments in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area and is slated to launch two additional properties this summer. Its partnership with Habitat for Humanity is one of many in the Tampa area (Alatriste, 2016).


For the full article please click here http://patch.com/florida/southtampa/richman-signature-properties-partners-habitat-humanity-build-home-0

Alatriste, Natalie. "Richman Signature Properties Partners with Habitat for Humanity to Build a Home." Tampa, FL Patch. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 June 2016.

Building Barometer - June 14, 2016

Going Vertical - Codes Committee Update - June 6, 2016

At the end of May, Hillsborough County staff reported that the inspection rollover percentage was 25.4 (combined specialties). Residential permit turnaround times were 20 working days at the South County office, 23 working days at County Center and 30 to 45 working days for commercial permits at County Center.

Mike Rimoldi, Hillsborough County Building Official, was scheduled to make a presentation at the June Vertical Codes Committee Meeting on the Hillsborough County’s proactive approach to providing inspection manpower to better address coverage and rollovers. Unfortunately, this meeting was cancelled due to weather. This presentation should be made at the June 9th Industry meeting, and repeated at the July Committee meeting.  

Adam Gormly, Hillsborough County Development Services Department Director, and Rimoldi are considering hosting a series of sessions with the various construction trades to discuss inspector assignments/rollover percentage improvements, red tag trends, new code issues, builder inspection scheduling and other issues as identified.  These sessions will be very helpful for all parties, and it is hopeful that participation will be widespread.

Gormly was successful in getting BOCC approval to fund 5 limited duration inspector positions. The costs associated with these positions will be covered by the Building Fund, which as of the end of April stood at $2,255,393.  These positions are currently being advertised and are drawing a good deal of interest.

Rimoldi will be discussing the increasing problem of incorrect installation of irrigation systems.  Currently, these installations are being monitored by the County’s Extension Services Office.  There is currently no inspection required for these installations, and we certainly do not want the County placed in a position of having to provide enforcement. 

Obviously, the percentages and time frames listed above are of great concern to our building industry.  TBBA leadership is actively involved, as are general members, in working with County representatives to reverse these trends through whatever means possible.  We welcome any and all participation in these endeavors.

Please contact Dave Ford at davef@hamiltonengineering.us to have new items added to the agenda, or to be addressed prior to the next meeting.

Staff Contact: Jennifer

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Be Prepared! - June 3, 2016

With our third Tropical Storm of the season (Colin) under our belt, it’s safe to say hurricane season is here. If a storm strikes Tampa Bay, you’ll want to get out of town, go to the nearest shelter, or be prepared in your home. TBBA wants you and your family, business and construction zone to be secure.

TBBA wants you to make a plan, know your zone, and pay attention to weather updates. The 2016 season is from June 1st- November 30th this year so read up on pre-storm prep and tips to keep your place of business and homes safe! Our members at the Tampa Bay Times issued out a very informative guide on May 29^th which is available to the public via the link below:

https://issuu.com/timescreative/docs/hurricaneguide2016_lores?e=10555583/35952277

For Evacuations Zones please use the following links in your county:

- Hillsborough: http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/index.aspx?NID=2890 or page 14 on Guide

- Pinellas: http://www.pinellascounty.org/emergency/knowyourzone.htm

- Pasco: http://www.pascocountyfl.net/index.aspx?NID=720 or page 16 on Guide

On May 14^th the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) opened up their doors to invite Tampa Bay residents and families to learn about hurricane preparedness and ways to protect homes. Afterward they were allowed to interact with educational displays and play inside MOSI. Phil Klotzbach of Colorado State University said “No matter how active a season is; most people aren’t going to be impacted. But even in an inactive season, all it takes is one to make it an active season for you.” The meteorologists said, even an average season could produce a devastating storm, and Floridians are more vulnerable than ever. (Soloman, 2016).

Soloman, Josh. "Experts Stress Preparedness at MOSI's Hurricane Expo."Tampa Bay Times. N.p., 14 May 2016. Web. 07 June 2016

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Industry Innovation - June 1, 2016

Today’s millennial home buyers are a new breed. They expect sophisticated, interactive technology in their day-to-day lives, and they expect it even more when choosing a home. For over 20 years, MediaLab 3D Solutions has provided builders with beautiful, hyper-real images, before ground is even broken. 

ICON, an immersive Sales Center Presentation, is their newest creation – giving buyers the ability to browse, select, visualize, customize, and share, all from one convenient portal that is compatible with multiple devices and browsers.  ICON provides a simple solution to any builder with a branded interface that is also available offline, making it possible to sell from anywhere.

MediaLab 3D Solutions continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, influencing the industry, and leading the way in new areas of 3D application, real-time buyer customization, and engagement.  

Contact MediaLab 3D Solutions today to learn more and schedule a demo.

Want to be featured in our next Innovations in the Field? Please contact Kara Cederquist for requirements and info.

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SEBC - July 28-29, Kissimmee, FL

Join us for the premier regional building industry trade show in the Southeast! This year #SEBCville is doing something bit different by offering our members free Full Access Pass to the Expo in July! This is your opportunity to make personal connections with leading industry professionals by meeting face-to-face with over 250 manufacturers and suppliers showcasing an astounding array of innovative products. 

Find out more at www.SEBCshow.com 

Staff Contact: Kara

Building Barometer - June 7, 2016

Be A Leader in your Association - June 1, 2016

The TBBA Board of Directors are elected each year by the membership in the fall. The Board of Directors sits as the decision making body for the association and sets policy on a variety of issues concerning the industry as well as adopts the budget each year. It’s a great time to be in the industry and a great time to serve as a member of this prestigious body. Members of the board represent the decision makers in their businesses and it’s not only a great opportunity to work on professional development but also to serve with other great leaders in the industry.


If you are interested in learning more about leadership opportunities including serving as a committee chair, please call me. 813.571.8222 ext 303

Staff Contact: Jennifer

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SEBC - July 28- 29, 2016 

Summer is here and everyone is heading over to the exciting trade show "SEBCville" surrounded by some sandy social events. There are over 250 manufacturers and suppliers on the trade show floor. Check out the schedule here which includes Residential and Commercial Construction Educational Sessions and a two-day Expo Hall. Join us July 28-29, 2016 in Kissimmee, Florida for the premier regional building industry trade show in the Southeast! “SEBCville: Building in Paradise.” Sign up here today!

Staff Contact: Kara

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Contractor Stickers are free for all members!

Don’t Hire Unlicensed Contractors or Subcontractors – The Newest Reason Why, and Background on Why Even Professional TBBA Members Must be Wary

By Justin R. Zinzow, Zinzow Law

You awake in your blaze orange jumpsuit to yelling and stagnant air, unsure what time it is because your room has no doors or windows.  In case you had not guessed, you are in prison for violating the law.  It is a felony to engage in construction activities without holding a license if one is required by the state. It is also a crime if you, a licensed trade contractor or general contractor, intentionally hire or assist an unlicensed contractor...  Read Full Article

Report an Unlicensed Contractor