Building Better Working Relationships between Builders and REALTORS®
The Builder/REALTOR® Alliance Committee (BRAC) is the largest committee at CBR with membership of 254 (and still growing.) The purpose of this group is to build better working relationships between Builders and REALTORS®.
We had a great start with the sell out crowd at the Builder’s Preview in January and 32 builders participating. At our first meeting, committee members filled out a survey as to what they wanted to focus on this year and the results came back with members wanting a variety of speakers touching on new construction trends and issues.
Our meetings are held the second Monday of the month (with the exception of next month’s meeting to be held on November 17 due to the NAR Convention.) The meeting starts with networking and food which is provided by the sponsoring builder. Thanks to the following builders for sponsoring meetings this year: DiYanni Homes, Rockford Homes, Key Homes, M/I Homes, Walt Morrow Builders, Hytek Tops, The Lawrence Company, Duffy Homes, and Village Communities.
Each meeting Linda Winrod of the BIA announces news and upcoming BIA events and classes. |
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 Lyn Charobee
Co-Chair
 Julie Hutt
Co-Chair
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As the committee asked a speaker or a panel of speakers on topics relevant to new construction and/or the selling of new homes, our meetings this year have included the following presentations:
- Insurance — Scott Molino of Nationwide Insurance and CBR member service provider addressed the increases in home owners insurance and what to expect/how to help home buyers. (This was before the “Great Ice Storm” in April.)
- Roofing -- Eric Marckel - Sparkle Clean Roof showed us how to get rid of roof stains and what could be done to help prevent them on new homes.
- Countertops — Jodi Moehring, Hytek Tops showed samples of new countertop materials available and the pros/cons of usage.
- Plumbing — Keith Sharrock of Eastway Supply spoke on new/popular plumbing products.
- Our CEO Larry Metzger spoke to the members on the Pickerington City Council proposal for a moratorium on building permits, Governor Taft’s proposal to tax commissions
- Feng Shui — Carolyn Redinger, a REALTOR® with RE/MAX Achievers and certified Feng Shui consultant, spoke on Feng Shui principals being requested by new home buyers
- Parade of Homes – In May, developer Bill Fannin, Jr. provided details on the Parade, participating builders, site development, etc.
- Builder panel which consisted of Dllona Shortle of Luxona Custom Homes, Bob Barlow of Duffy Homes and Giorgio Bittoni of Bittoni Homes addressed topics on Central Ohio growth areas, warranties, building restrictions and threshold theories.
- Condos — In September we had a panel on the popular subject of condos with panelist Karen Claar from Duffy Homes, Chris Hebert of DiYanni Homes and Tom Trigg of Rockford Homes.
- Our next meeting, coming up November 17th, will be on basement construction and methods to prevent water penetration.
- Our last meeting will be a Holiday Luncheon at the River Club Confluence Park on December 8th. (Thanks to Dwacka Dillon, Martha Hunley and Suzanne Rhea for coordinating this event.)
We also co-sponsored an informative new contruction seminar in July called “From The Ground UP” by Giorgio Bittoni of Bittoni Homes.
We skip a meeting in June and ask that all BRAC members attend the Parade of Homes on REALTOR® Day. This year, at the request of the BIA, committee members helped to check in REALTORS® that morning. This year, the BIA also asked that, beginning next year, the BRAC becomes more involved in coordinating REALTOR® Day.
Each year BRAC makes a donation to the Columbus Foundation Fund which goes toward scholarships.
We are taking reservations for the upcoming seminar “Maximizing New Home Sales 101.” The instructor is Giorgio Bittoni of Bittoni Homes and will be held at CBR Headquarters on November 6, 2003. The cost is $50 if paid by November 5, and $60 the day of the class. It’s approved for 4 hours of continuing education credit. Registration and breakfast are at 8:00 a.m. and the class is from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Thanks to our sponsors Fifth Third Bank, M/I Homes and Chicago Title.
A special thanks to all our members and the vice co-chairs Anneliese Pearson and Dllona Shortle for all their help and input to making this committee “the best darn committee in the land.”
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