In-Depth
Featured Stories
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Unprecedented Times (January 2021)
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2021 Houzz Home Design Predictions (January 2021)
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Moving Forward (December 2020)
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Cautious Optimism Continues (November 2020)
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Conventions Amid a Pandemic (November 2020)
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Designed to Grow (October 2020)
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A Worthy Milestone (October 2020)
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The Hometown of the Future (September 2020)
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Rhythm of Color (September 2020)
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Strength in Numbers (August 2020)
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From 0 to 60 in No Time (July 2020)
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Baby Boomers Drive Home Renovations (July 2020)
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Learning to Dance in the Rain (June 2020)
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2020 Vision (June 2020)
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Weathering the Crisis (May 2020)
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A Legacy of Leadership (April 2020)
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COVID-19 and the Economy (April 2020)
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Writing A New Story (March 2020)
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Top Five Landscape Trends of 2020 (March 2020)
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DMAAR Gala (February 2020)
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The Hardest Contractor Jobs In America (February 2020)
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Predictions for 2020 (January 2020)
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8 Home Design Trends (January 2020)
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Leading the Way (December 2019)
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Showers Reign in Master Bathroom Remodels (December 2019)
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A Growing Family (November 2019)
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Giving Back (November 2019)
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Meet Your Winners (October 2019)
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The Top 4 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2019 (October 2019)
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A Decent Place to Live (September 2019)
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It’s A Lovely Day in the Neighborhood (September 2019)
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Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2019 Winners (August 2019)
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Making Housing Unaffordable (August 2019)
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A Reputation for Good Work (July 2019)
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Aventura—Living An Active Lifestyle (July 2019)
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Finding A New Home (June 2019)
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Building A Bridge (May 2019)
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It’s What’s on the Outside That Matters (May 2019)
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Reimagining an Ancient Concept (April 2019)
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Taking an Active Role (March 2019)
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The Top Landscape Trends of 2019 (March 2019)
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Advocacy in Action (February 2019)
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Red-Carpet Celebration (February 2019)
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Looking Back, Looking Ahead (January 2019)
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Single Females Remain a Force in the Market (December 2018)
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Innovating a Solution (December 2018)
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A Talented Team (November 2018)
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A Family Kind of Business (November 2018)
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Color Trends Reflect Human Touch (October 2018)
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Hammers & Heels (October 2018)
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Honoring the Past, Building Toward the Future (September 2018)
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Houzz Survey Finds Home Renovation Boom Continues (September 2018)
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Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2018 Winners (August 2018)
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Giving Back (August 2018)
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Creating a Legacy (July 2018)
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Time Well Spent (July 2018)
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A Little Bit of Everything (June 2018)
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Cooking Habits Impact Kitchen Design (June 2018)
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All They Could Wish For (May 2018)
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2018 Landscape Trends From the ASLA (May 2018)
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A Seamless Transition (April 2018)
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11th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (April 2018)
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The Future of the Industry (March 2018)
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Spotlight on the Top Design Trends (March 2018)
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Top 2018 Kitchen Trends from Houzz (February 2018)
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DMAAR Sells Out “Late Night” (February 2018)
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Predictions for 2018 (January 2018)
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Giving Back (January 2018)
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In The Spotlight (December 2017)
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The Inventory Crisis Will Drive the Market (December 2017)
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Surpassing Expectations (November 2017)
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Master Bathroom 2017 Trends (November 2017)
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K&V Homes Celebrates 20 Years (October 2017)
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The Top 5 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2017 (October 2017)
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Spreading the Message (September 2017)
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Pantone’s Hottest Home Trends (September 2017)
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11 Apps Every Building Professional Should Have (September 2017)
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Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2017 Winners! (August 2017)
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A Tiny Home Solution (August 2017)
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Livin’ the Dream (July 2017)
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There’s No Place Like Home (July 2017)
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Meet the New Owners of Kline Electric (June 2017)
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A Deeper Connection (May 2017)
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Archadeck of Central Iowa Wins Grand Prize Award (April 2017)
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Smart, Stylish & Sustainable (April 2017)
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10th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (March 2017)
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The Pro’s Picks for 2017 IBS New Products (March 2017)
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Late Night with DMAAR (February 2017)
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Real Estate Outlook for 2017 (January 2017)
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Zillow’s Top Design Trend Predictions for 2017 (January 2017)
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A Beautiful Combination (December 2016)
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Renovating Homeowners Are Split on Smart Tech (December 2016)
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Growing a Business (November 2016)
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Making Today’s Homes More Owner-Friendly (November 2016)
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The Right Tool for the Job (October 2016)
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Master Bathrooms Going High Tech (October 2016)
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Happy 40th Anniversary Shirley Bolton (September 2016)
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Gray Tones in Your Homes (September 2016)
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Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2016 Winners (August 2016)
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Red House Remodeling Named To Big50 (July 2016)
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Land for Sale? (July 2016)
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The Best Kind of Recognition (June 2016)
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Second Habitat ReStore Opens (June 2016)
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Building the Next Generation (May 2016)
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A Home of Its Own (May 2016)
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Taking It To The Hill (April 2016)
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Expert Perspective (March 2016)
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Forward Thinking Design (March 2016)
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Late Night With DMAAR® (February 2016)
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Super Kitchen (February 2016)
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It’s all in the Cards for 2016 (January 2016)
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Most Home Builders are Small Businesses (January 2016)
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Mind Your Manners (December 2015)
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Doing Good (December 2015)
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Plot Twist (December 2015)
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Des Moines: Top of The List (November 2015)
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Inspire Consumers (November 2015)
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Building the Future (November 2015)
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AIM Kitchen & Bath Named to Remodeling’s Big 550 (October 2015)
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Sharing the Vision (October 2015)
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An Opportunity for Growth (October 2015)
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Bridging the Communication Gap (September 2015)
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Americans Are Ready for the Smart Home (September 2015)
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Who’s in Control? (September 2015)
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Here Are Your Winners (August 2015)
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Unified Codes a Distinct Possibility (August 2015)
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DMAAR Rolls Out Safety Initiative (August 2015)
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Leading the Old Fashioned Way (July 2015)
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Built for Speed & Accuracy (July 2015)
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Classic Builders Named to Builder Next 100 (June 2015)
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Latest Residential Landscape Design Trends (June 2015)
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Nicole McGlothlin LLS Woman of the Year (June 2015)
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Mom’s the Boss (May 2015)
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Contemporary Kitchens Surge in Popularity (May 2015)
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Contemporary Spa Bath Leads Preferences (April 2015)
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Seeing Green (April 2015)
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Thriving in Wartime Conditions (March 2015)
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Seeing the Silver Lining (February 2015)
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Houzz Survey Finds Kitchens Outlast Most Marriages (February 2015)
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15 Predictions for ’15 (January 2015)
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How Healthy is your Home? (January 2015)
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Where the Action Is (December 2014)
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Move Over Millennials (December 2014)
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Building a Future (November 2014)
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Homeowners Looking to Add More Features (November 2014)
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October Is National Kitchen & Bath Month (October 2014)
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Sherwin-Williams Predicts Optimistic 2015 (October 2014)
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Lotsa Lots? (September 2014)
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Booming Ideas (September 2014)
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HomeShowExpo Winners (August 2014)
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Looking Ahead (July 2014)
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Home Trends in the Metro (July 2014)
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Builder Design Centers (June 2014)
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Millennials are Changing the Marketplace (June 2014)
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The Big Picture (May 2014)
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The Value of Remodeling (May 2014)
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Hot Trends: Kitchens & Baths (April 2014)
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Big is Back (April 2014)
Do You Know
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Do You Know: Tim Hicklin (September 2014)
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Do You Know: Korey Beemer (July 2014)
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Do You Know: Brenden Hannah (June 2014)
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Do You Know: Jed Finley (May 2014)
A Conversation With
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A Conversation With Cindy Pelz (August 2017)
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Jennifer Schumann (June 2017)
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A Conversation With Matt Ostanik (May 2017)
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A Conversation With Linda Westergaard (March 2017)
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A Conversation with Tawnya Neighbour (February 2017)
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A Conversation with Victoria Veiock (January 2017)
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A Conversation with Mark Reetz (December 2016)
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A Conversation with Darius Jackson (November 2016)
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A Conversation With Bob Burns (October 2016)
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A Conversation With Marsha Bannister (September 2016)
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A Conversation With Gavin Blair (August 2016)
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A Conversation With Jay Iverson (July 2016)
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A Conversation With Amy Spike (June 2016)
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A Conversation with John Dunn (May 2016)
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A Conversation with Sarah Kavalier (April 2016)
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A Conversation With Kelly Gibson (March 2016)
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A Conversation With Shannon Nathe (February 2016)
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A Conversation with Vicki Davis (January 2016)
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A Conversation With Jessica Terrill (December 2015)
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A Conversation With: Ken Clark (November 2015)
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A Conversation With Lindsay Black (October 2015)
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A Conversation with John Peterson (September 2015)
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A Conversation With Marshal Tolly (August 2015)
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A Conversation With Tina Mowry Hadden (July 2015)
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A Conversation With: Rick Parrino (June 2015)
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A Conversation With Jenna Ekstrom (May 2015)
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A Conversation With: Bill Blue (April 2015)
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A Conversation With Rachel Delzell (February 2015)
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A Conversation With Robin Polder (January 2015)
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A Conversation With Reo Menning (December 2014)
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A Conversation With: Jessica Reinert (November 2014)
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A Conversation with: Dan Knoup (October 2014)
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A Conversation with: Don Beal (September 2014)
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Zak Fleming (August 2014)
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A Conversation With: Brian Buresh (July 2014)
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A Conversation with: Brennan Buckley (May 2014)
In-Depth
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Building a Dream (January 2021)
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The Joy of Reaching Out and Giving Back (December 2020)
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Employee or Independent Contractor? (November 2020)
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Contract Protections for Contractors (October 2020)
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Seller’s Market (September 2020)
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More Than a Shelter (August 2020)
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Being the Change (July 2020)
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All the Right Pieces (June 2020)
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Contracts & COVID-19 (May 2020)
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Impact on Unemployment Benefits (April 2020)
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A Positive Outlook (March 2020)
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Planning for Future Growth (February 2020)
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2020 Color Trends (January 2020)
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Worth Celebrating (December 2019)
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Signs of Change (November 2019)
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Sellers Beware (October 2019)
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Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back (September 2019)
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It’s A Win/Win (August 2019)
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Starting From Scratch (July 2019)
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Everybody Wins (May 2019)
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Informed Decisions Begin Here (April 2019)
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ISU to Offer Grad Degree in Real Estate Development (March 2019)
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Tough Housing Market Ahead (January 2019)
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Ring Day (December 2018)
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Giving Back (November 2018)
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Not Just Talk (October 2018)
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Checks & Balances (September 2018)
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550 Remodeling List Announced (July 2018)
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Reaching Their Stride (June 2018)
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The Slow Pace of Change (May 2018)
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In Heels & Hardhats (April 2018)
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Home Ownership Gets One Step Closer (February 2018)
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New Year, New Merger (December 2017)
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Cyber Liability Risks (November 2017)
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The Significance of the Skilled Trades (October 2017)
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Digital Design (September 2017)
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Code Consortium Aims High (July 2017)
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Builder Magazine’s Top 100 and Next 100 Named (June 2017)
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Real Advice, Virtual Source (May 2017)
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Authentic 3-D Printed Landscapes (April 2017)
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A Win-Win for First-Time Home Buyers (March 2017)
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Developers’ Dream: Free Land & Incentives in Osceola (February 2017)
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Visions of Home (January 2017)
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A Flicker of Hope (December 2016)
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A Successful Group Effort (November 2016)
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Finding A Solution (October 2016)
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Emotional Factors Drive Purchase Decisions (September 2016)
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Leaving the Paper Trail (August 2016)
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For New Homes, Women a Tougher Sell (July 2016)
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A Last Gift (June 2016)
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Updates in the Affordable Care Act (April 2016)
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Dreaming Big (February 2016)
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New Study Suggests Strong Outlook for Green Homes (January 2016)
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Majoring in Real Estate (May 2015)
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Safety by the Numbers (April 2015)
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Late Night with DMAAR® (March 2015)
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Getting the Most from Your Exhibiting Experience (January 2015)
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MJ Properties Is True to Ankeny’s Schools (December 2014)
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A Deadly Threat in Iowa’s Homes (November 2014)
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Copyright Infringement and the Internet (September 2014)
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A Lasting Tribute (August 2014)
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A Code is Born (July 2014)
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Environmental Impact Awards (June 2014)
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When a House Becomes a Home (June 2014)
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Panelization: Advancing to Meet the Market (May 2014)
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Leading the Field (April 2014)
Giving Back
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A Lesson in Giving (January 2016)
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Greenland Homes Pays it Forward to Children’s Cancer Connection (February 2015)
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Habitat for Humanity Key Awards (October 2014)
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A Long Road Home (August 2014)
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Businesses Pay It Forward for Special Cause (July 2014)
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A Decent Place to Live (April 2014)
In Remembrance
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Terry Doling ()
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Pat Mashek (August 2014)
Observations
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The DOL Revisits Compensable Travel Time (January 2021)
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Des Moines 2021 Housing Forecast (January 2021)
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Investment Lessons from 2020 (January 2021)
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You Had Me At Hello (January 2021)
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To Post or Not to Post Progress Photos (December 2020)
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Time for Some New Year’s Financial Resolutions (December 2020)
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Where Are Des Moines Record Home Sales Coming From? (December 2020)
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Fire Up the Crystal Ball (November 2020)
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What Can Investors Learn from Veterans? (November 2020)
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How to Keep Your Clients Long Term (November 2020)
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What Will Real Estate Look Like After COVID-19? (October 2020)
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Sustainable Investing Can Pay Off—in Several Ways (October 2020)
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Eliminate the Tire Kickers (October 2020)
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The Place Is Here, The Time is Now (September 2020)
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Opportunities When Preparing for College Costs (September 2020)
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How to Get Your Point Across Today (September 2020)
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First Half of 2020 Unlike Any Other Year for Real Estate (August 2020)
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Are Women Better Investors Than Men? (August 2020)
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Form Follows Function (August 2020)
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What the Titanic Can Teach You About Business (July 2020)
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Year of the Relationship (June 2020)
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2020 Iowa Legislative Session Recap (May 2020)
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Unprecedented Times For Des Moines Real Estate (April 2020)
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Use This Time to Build Better Systems (April 2020)
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Don’t Let Fears Drive Your Investment Choices (April 2020)
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Off To A Strong Start! (March 2020)
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Time for Some Financial Spring Cleaning (March 2020)
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How to Write Blog Content (March 2020)
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What Can Investors Learn From “Big Game” Teams? (February 2020)
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Build a Low Maintenance WordPress Website (February 2020)
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Des Moines Real Estate—2019 Market Review (February 2020)
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2019 New Construction Market Rallied Its Way Back (January 2020)
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Change By Stopping the “Stupid Stuff” (January 2020)
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Financial Tips for Snowbirds… Present and Future (January 2020)
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Things Are Better Off Now Than This Time A Year Ago (December 2019)
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Stay On Top Of Your Marketing Plan (December 2019)
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Three Factors to Consider When Making Charitable Gifts (December 2019)
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Compete All Four Quarters If You Want To Win (November 2019)
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Know Your Numbers (November 2019)
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Fed Lowers Target Rate for Third Time in 2019 (November 2019)
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Share Your Financial Abundance with Your Family (November 2019)
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Comparing to Your Neighbors’ Can Lead to Dissatisfaction (October 2019)
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Make a Good First Impression With Your Website (October 2019)
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Residential Real Estate: 3 Quarters Down, 1 To Go (October 2019)
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Not Too Soon for End-of-Year Financial Moves (October 2019)
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Will Market Outperform to Overcome the Slow Start? (September 2019)
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Take a Break (You Deserve It) (September 2019)
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You Can Work to Become a Better Investor (September 2019)
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Home Sale Strategy—Proper Pricing is Crucial This Summer (August 2019)
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Find New Business in What is Trending (August 2019)
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Women: Don’t Forget About Your Retirement Plan (August 2019)
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New Construction Year-Over-Year Numbers (July 2019)
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Something Terrible This Way Comes (July 2019)
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Work Toward Your Own Financial Independence Day (July 2019)
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Another Way to Get Referrals (June 2019)
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Don’t Let Your Investments Go on “Vacation” (June 2019)
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New Construction Market Data (May 2019)
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Contractors Must Proceed Cautiously (May 2019)
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First Quarter Real Estate Sales Off To A Slow Start (April 2019)
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Responding to Negative Social Media Comments (April 2019)
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Are You One of These Bosses? (April 2019)
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New Construction Market Data (March 2019)
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4 Types of Facebook Ads that Will Help You (March 2019)
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Hiring Checklist (March 2019)
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How to Handle Employee Complaints (February 2019)
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Today I’m Going to Talk About Doing it All (February 2019)
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One Year Ends, Another One Begins in Real Estate (February 2019)
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Let’s Talk Websites (January 2019)
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End of the Year Projections (January 2019)
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Transition from Employee to Effective Owner-Leader (January 2019)
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2018 Des Moines Real Estate Year End Predictions (December 2018)
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Your Business End of the Year Legal Checklist (December 2018)
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Boundaries and Defined Responsibilities (December 2018)
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Why People Don’t Always Buy the Lowest Price (November 2018)
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Fall Brings Market Slowdown (November 2018)
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Why Your Business Needs Proper Succession Planning (November 2018)
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September Sneak Peek at Des Moines Home Sales (October 2018)
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Former Employees And Your Right To Disclose (October 2018)
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5 Steps to Achieve This Year’s Goals…This Year! (October 2018)
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Closing Out the Summer New Construction Market (September 2018)
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BYOD: Should Your Business Adopt This Policy? (September 2018)
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Tips For Building a Great Website That Works (September 2018)
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July 2018 Des Moines Real Estate Market Update (August 2018)
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Your Best Advice Might Come from a Marriage Counselor (August 2018)
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Five Website Mistakes to Fix This Summer (August 2018)
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Non-Compete Agreements in Iowa (July 2018)
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Summary Iowa Construction Industry Legislation (July 2018)
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New Construction Market Segmentations (July 2018)
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First Five Months is in the Books (June 2018)
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Take it Down a Notch, Will Ya? (June 2018)
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Spring Selling Season Picks Up (May 2018)
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Misclassification Of Iowa Workers (May 2018)
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A Snowy Start To 2018 Kept Des Moines Buyers Inside (April 2018)
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How Long Should You Keep Business Records? (April 2018)
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It’s Time to Grow (April 2018)
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Construction Inventory on Track for 2018 (March 2018)
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Staying on Track in the New Year (March 2018)
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Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace (March 2018)
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The 2017 Year in Review for Residential Real Estate (February 2018)
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Common Pitfalls When Running a Family Business (February 2018)
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Free Marketing Tips You Can Use Now (February 2018)
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New Construction Market Remains Strong as the Year Ends (January 2018)
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Pay Attention to These Things to Make it To Next Year! (January 2018)
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Discrimination In The Hiring Process (January 2018)
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Should An Unpaid Subcontractor Ever Walk Off The Job? (December 2017)
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Why You Should Consider Facebook Advertisements (December 2017)
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Des Moines 2017 Real Estate Sales Coming To A Close (December 2017)
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Third Quarter Results Are Now In (November 2017)
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Do I Need an Employee Handbook? (November 2017)
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Des Moines Real Estate Home Inventory On The Rebound (October 2017)
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Trademarks and Business Protection (October 2017)
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Unstuck Your Website (October 2017)
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Rights Amongst Shareholders on Sale of Corporations (September 2017)
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What is an Individual 401(k) Plan? (September 2017)
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Does Your Website Pass the Smell Test? (September 2017)
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Third Quarter Draws to an End (September 2017)
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Are Home Values Rising in the Des Moines Market? (August 2017)
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Obtaining and Conducting Business Using A DBA (August 2017)
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The Underdog vs. The Big Fish (August 2017)
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Considering an Employment Contract? (July 2017)
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Old-School Context for a 21st-Century World (July 2017)
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What are SEP IRAs? (July 2017)
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Construction Branding (June 2017)
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HBA of Iowa Legislative Recap 2017 (May 2017)
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To Sign or Not to Sign (May 2017)
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What is a SIMPLE? (May 2017)
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Des Moines Real Estate Market Softens a Bit (April 2017)
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We Need to Talk (April 2017)
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Barriers Holding Back Prospective Homebuyers (April 2017)
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New Construction Market Starts Out Strong in 2017 (March 2017)
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Radon—An Invisible Issue (March 2017)
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Nine Great Ways To Turn Coffee Into A Job Interview (March 2017)
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SEO Is Dead, Stop Chasing! (March 2017)
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Boomerangs: Should You Rehire A Former Employee? (March 2017)
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2016—The Residential Real Estate Year of Records (February 2017)
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Important Terms in Construction Agreements (February 2017)
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Five Social Media Tips For A Focused Marketing Strategy (February 2017)
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Want More From Workers? Tell ’em to Take a Break (February 2017)
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New Year, New Threats—Cyberattack Concerns (January 2017)
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New Construction Market Remains Strong (January 2017)
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Business Leaders Need to Watch Out for Woodpeckers (January 2017)
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What’s Your Data Backup Plan? (January 2017)
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Des Moines Real Estate Market Enters “The Zen Zone” (December 2016)
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Should Employers Postpone Overtime Overhaul? (December 2016)
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Are You Still Asking Those Weird Interview Questions? (December 2016)
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Is Your Password One Of These Phrases? Change It Now (December 2016)
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Fourth Quarter Market Progresses Nicely (November 2016)
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Non-Compete Agreements: Enforceable if Reasonable (November 2016)
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How to Handle Angry Clients or Customers (November 2016)
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Lazy Employees? 6 Workplace Issues to Blame (November 2016)
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Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working (November 2016)
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Milestones in Des Moines Residential Real Estate (October 2016)
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Legal Essentials for Starting a New Business (October 2016)
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Maintaining Commitment to Your Business (October 2016)
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How To Build and Better Client Relationships (October 2016)
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This Year’s Four Hottest Kitchen Trends (October 2016)
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New Construction Market Still Strong in 3rd Quarter! (September 2016)
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Drug Testing in the Workplace (September 2016)
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The One Trait Truly Exceptional Salespeople Possess (September 2016)
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Video Quality Matters: 5 Tips for Better Web Video (September 2016)
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Is Your Board Exercising Its Fiduciary Duty? (August 2016)
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Des Moines Home Sales—2016 Past, Present & Future (August 2016)
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Start Being a Leader at Work (August 2016)
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Social Media Cheat Sheet (August 2016)
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When LLC Owners Are Personally Liable (July 2016)
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Market Progresses Nicely in the Second Quarter (July 2016)
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What Does Your Online Profile Say About You? (July 2016)
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Regulation: 24.3% of the Average New Home Price (June 2016)
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Managing Personal Use of Company Vehicles (June 2016)
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9 Ways to Have Better Vacations (June 2016)
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What’s Your Website Say About You? (June 2016)
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Lawsuits in Iowa (May 2016)
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3 Differences Between an Iowa LLC and a Corporation (April 2016)
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A Gentleman’s Agreement (April 2016)
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15 Home Builder Marketing Tips You Should Be Using! (April 2016)
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How to Avoid Paying 4 Huge Taxes (April 2016)
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How to Recruit a Great Salesperson (March 2016)
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The New Construction Market Sees Robust Gains! (March 2016)
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Tips to Getting Paid As a Subcontractor (February 2016)
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Morning Habits to Recharge You And Your Business (February 2016)
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On August 1, OSHA Penalties Are Going Up, Up, Up (February 2016)
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The 7 Ways Most People Ruin Their Own Success (February 2016)
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How to Measure Business Maturity (January 2016)
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More Gains in Commercial Sector Next Year (January 2016)
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It Will Cost You $5 to Fly Your Drone (January 2016)
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Real Estate Des Moines Style—A Year To Remember (January 2016)
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2015 New Construction Market To Finish Strong (January 2016)
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Contractor Marketing in 2016? Instagram FTW! (December 2015)
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Don’t Forget About Year-End Investment Planning (December 2015)
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You’re a Better Boss When You’re a Better Teacher (December 2015)
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Face-to-Face Selling Is Still Effective (December 2015)
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Legal and Ethical Duties on a Construction Project (November 2015)
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Making Team Meetings More Productive for the Workplace (November 2015)
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10 Traits of Successful Salespeople (November 2015)
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New Construction Market Still Remains Strong (November 2015)
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5 Hidden Costs of Running a Business (October 2015)
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10 Signs of a Really Scary Boss (October 2015)
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The Big Picture of Des Moines Real Estate (October 2015)
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7 Bad Habits That Stand in the Way of Your Success (October 2015)
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Leaders Vs. Managers: What’s the Difference? (September 2015)
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New Construction Market Remains Strong (September 2015)
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Dealing with Client Conflict (September 2015)
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Marketing a Construction Business—The Ante (September 2015)
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Money & Happiness: It’s Complicated (August 2015)
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Is Criticism More Effective Than Praise? (August 2014)
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Construction Marketing is About Know, Like, & Trust (August 2015)
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New Construction Market Remains Strong (July 2015)
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I’m Here To Save Your Company Money (July 2015)
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Des Moines Real Estate Second Quarter 2015 Recap (July 2015)
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Non-Competes in the Construction Industry (June 2015)
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Why Being a Workaholic is Actually a Bad Thing (June 2015)
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10 Reasons to Update Your Website (June 2015)
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7 Baby Boomer Housing Trends to Watch (June 2015)
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Attract Buyers With Social Media (May 2015)
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Des Moines Real Estate First Quarter 2015 Recap (April 2015)
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Marketing Your Blog (April 2015)
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Dos and Don’ts to Keep You Out of Court (April 2015)
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It Pays to Own a Home (March 2015)
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What Do Today’s Homebuyers Really Want? (March 2015)
-
2014 New Home Market Recap and Start of 2015 Numbers (March 2015)
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Maya Angelou once wrote that “the ache for home lives in all of us.” For adults with intellectual disabilities, the longing for a home, a place of independence, is a longing that is rarely fulfilled.
Link Associates, founded in 1953, is a community-based nonprofit that serves more than 900 individuals with intellectual disabilities in the Des Moines area. Link has spent the past six decades helping intellectually disabled adults develop increasing independence by offering job training, residential assistance, and much more.
Last year, thanks to a generous donation from Bankers Trust and the help of Coldwell Banker and Tanzanite Homes, Link made that dream of a home come true for four Des Moines residents. The success of that project led to a second project this year.
“About three years ago, we started looking for a house to renovate,” says Linda Dunshee, Executive Director of Link Associates. “We thought we could find a ranch home that we could modify, but we just couldn’t find anything we could afford.”
After Link discussed the needs and the budget with Sarah Kavalier at Coldwell Banker, Kavalier reached out to fellow REALTOR® Robin von Gillern. “I knew Robin worked with KRM Development and Tanzanite Homes, and they had experience with new construction closer to the price range Link needed,” says Kavalier. “Link’s budget and current housing prices just didn’t allow much wiggle room for the renovations that would need to be made.”
Designer Tracie Burrell at Tanzanite Homes assisted with identifying a floor plan that would work for Link’s needs after some modifications. The next step was finding a lot that suited the residents’ restrictions.
“The lot needed to be on a bus line, have sidewalk access, and be suitable for a slab-built ranch design,” Kavalier says. “Kirk Mickelson at KRM Development put the word out, and he found four in-fill lots that were perfect.”
That first home, a four-bedroom, was completed last spring. The four adult residents moved in just as COVID restrictions went into place.
“We didn’t get to do the big celebration we wanted to with the new residents and subcontractors because of quarantine,” says Burrell. “But we started talking during the first build about doing a second home. Feedback from those first residents helped us make minor changes to the plan.”
Thanks to the sale of a Link-owned property in Ankeny, which was not handicap- accessible, funding for a second home came together quickly. The second home will feature five bedrooms, each with a wheelchair lift, and two bathrooms. “We broke ground in November on one of the other lots just a few doors down from the first home,” says Kavalier.
The floor plans on both properties include adaptations to make them suitable to safely support adults with both physical and intellectual challenges. Many of these design elements were familiar to Burrell from prior projects, but she says there were other considerations she had not addressed before in her designs. “Things like wider hallways to accommodate wheelchairs and zero-entry showers are not uncommon,” she says. “But there were other features we had to make sure accommodated every resident. So a wheelchair can fit under the counter, all the kitchen and bathroom sinks are designed for wheelchair access. Showers allow chair access so every resident can actually get in the shower and an aide can assist them.”
Dunshee says, “The four residents in the first home never had the opportunity to live with 24-hour/day staff support in their own home. This home has opened up such a world of possibility for these folks. Most of us can’t imagine what they deal with every day, just the little things like being able to take a shower. That hasn’t been possible for some of our clients because their homes or apartments can’t accommodate their needs. Imagine only being able to sponge bathe. The small things that we take for granted are impossible for them.”
Based on feedback from the first residents and to adapt the plan to suit the new residents, Burrell made additional tweaks to the second home’s design. “We’ll be installing metal frames around the doors to protect them from damage from wheelchairs,” she says. “We added special backing behind the walls, too, so they’re sturdier and can stand up to the day-to-day traffic of the residents who are in their wheelchairs.”
The new plan also features a fifth bedroom with a kitchenette and a separate entrance, much like a mother-in-law apartment. “One of the residents is more independent and doesn’t require 24-hour supervision, so we wanted to provide a little more privacy for him,” Dunshee explains.
Working with Link on these projects has not only transformed the lives of the residents who will live in the homes, it’s had a long-lasting effect on Kavalier as well. “The more I learn about what Link does and what these adults deal with every day, it’s just opened my eyes to how hard it is for them to live a normal life,” she says. “These fairly simple changes to a home make it possible for them to live like adults. It’s so exciting to be a part of that.”
Kavalier’s enthusiasm has gone beyond these specific projects. Beginning this year, she will be serving on the Link Associates Board of Directors.
“Link provides services to adults with physical and intellectual disabilities,” says Dunshee. “Our clients are fully capable of living active lives. We try to provide anything a family needs to improve the quality of life for intellectually challenged family members and for the entire family.”
Link owns or rents dozens of properties across the metro, from apartments to houses, to help those served transition to semi-independent living. Each living situation provides what the residents there need, including trained 24-hour staffing.
“We would love to do more homes like these two projects,” Dunshee says. “It’s so much more cost-effective to build a suitable home than try to adapt one. But it all depends on fundraising.”
Thanks to the generosity of donors, contractors, and subcontractors, in less than 18 months, Link has been able to provide a dream come true for nine adults who might never have been able to live such independent lives.
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Does Your Website Pass the Smell Test? (September 2017)
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Details may be altered, but the holiday spirit remains intact.
There certainly is no doubt about it. This holiday season is like no other for individuals, for families, and for businesses and organizations. No office parties, no big family gatherings, no huge cookie and gift exchanges, no school and church children’s programs. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s a major bummer all around for everyone.
But one thing is steadfast. The spirit of giving hasn’t diminished. If anything, it’s stronger with so many people facing hardships.
Two local organizations with annual holiday service initiatives are forging ahead, resolute in carrying on traditions that benefit others.
Iowa Association of REALTORS®
“We look forward to the first Friday of December,” says Mark Gavin, director of communications and marketing for the Iowa Association of REALTORS. “That’s when we traditionally participate in Iowa REALTOR Ring Day with the Salvation Army. A number of Realtors around the state team up with colleagues around the nation to stand at the iconic red kettles and collect donations.” He knows in the past that at least 20-plus states have been on board with the project.
Ring Day began with a member in Fargo, North Dakota, some years ago who wanted to give real estate professionals a way to support a cause near to them—housing. He felt the two groups could pair up easily because the Salvation Army offers a number of housing-related programs. Gavin says this is the ninth year for the central Iowa participation in the event.
He says there have been some slight changes because of the pandemic. Masks, gloves, and social distancing, of course, will be in place. “It’s hard to tell how many people participate; various boards handle the situation differently,” he explains. “Some work in one- or two-hour time slots. In some locations, Realtors might take a six-hour shift in front of a supermarket or a hardware store and provide various bell ringers for the whole time.” He says that some people go all out and wear Santa Claus or elf costumes to add to the spirit of the event.
Ken Clark, past president of the association, says, “My wife Diane and I participate in Ring Day and support the great work of the Salvation Army. The Army is unmatched in the percent of revenue that goes for its work. Because of the many volunteers, a very small percentage is used for administration.”
Gavin encourages individuals, or even other organizations, to help out the Salvation Army, too. “It’s so easy. Just sign up at RegisterToRing.com,” he says.
HBA Remodelers Council
For the Remodelers Council of the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines (HBA), December means collecting items for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. “We usually collect toys at our annual holiday party,” says Jeff Ellis, chairman of the council this year. “However, this year, like so many other groups, we aren’t celebrating with a party. So we are having our members drop off toys at the HBA office in Johnston.
Ellis, owner of FIRSTCALL, Inc., in Grimes, says various members usually offer repair services at the holidays to homeowners who need them, but not this year because of the pandemic. “Each year my wife and I go shopping for some basic, classic toys to donate, usually a truck and a doll. Every child loves those standard toys.”
Toys for Tots began in 1947, right after World War II, by Major Bill Hendricks in Los Angeles. The first year 5,000 toys were collected and distributed. The first donation was a doll handmade by his wife Diane. By 1980 only new toys were collected. The number of toys collected went to 7.9 million by 1990. A toy program for Native American children was established in 1980.
First Lady Michelle Obama volunteered for eight years. First Lady Melania Trump has participated in recent years. The Blue Angels have flown and distributed toys over the years, and corporate sponsors have been groups such as Build-a-Bear, Hasbro, and United Parcel Service.
Toys for Tots is proud that 97% of its proceeds go to purchasing toys, books, and other gifts for less-fortunate children. The remaining 3% goes to fundraising expenses, not salaries.
Ellis encourages the public to participate in the program. “If people drop off toys to the HBA office, 6751 Corporate Drive in Johnston, by December 14, we will get them to the Marine Corps.”
Bottom line for these two and other generous groups: The feel-good aspect goes two ways. While the goal is to make others have a nice holiday and feel great, those who perform the services feel good, too. It’s a win-win for both sides.
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How to Write Blog Content (March 2020)
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Build a Low Maintenance WordPress Website (February 2020)
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Des Moines Real Estate—2019 Market Review (February 2020)
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2019 New Construction Market Rallied Its Way Back (January 2020)
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Change By Stopping the “Stupid Stuff” (January 2020)
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Financial Tips for Snowbirds… Present and Future (January 2020)
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Things Are Better Off Now Than This Time A Year Ago (December 2019)
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Stay On Top Of Your Marketing Plan (December 2019)
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Three Factors to Consider When Making Charitable Gifts (December 2019)
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Compete All Four Quarters If You Want To Win (November 2019)
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Know Your Numbers (November 2019)
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Fed Lowers Target Rate for Third Time in 2019 (November 2019)
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Share Your Financial Abundance with Your Family (November 2019)
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Comparing to Your Neighbors’ Can Lead to Dissatisfaction (October 2019)
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Make a Good First Impression With Your Website (October 2019)
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Residential Real Estate: 3 Quarters Down, 1 To Go (October 2019)
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Not Too Soon for End-of-Year Financial Moves (October 2019)
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Will Market Outperform to Overcome the Slow Start? (September 2019)
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Take a Break (You Deserve It) (September 2019)
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You Can Work to Become a Better Investor (September 2019)
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Home Sale Strategy—Proper Pricing is Crucial This Summer (August 2019)
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Find New Business in What is Trending (August 2019)
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Women: Don’t Forget About Your Retirement Plan (August 2019)
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New Construction Year-Over-Year Numbers (July 2019)
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Something Terrible This Way Comes (July 2019)
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Work Toward Your Own Financial Independence Day (July 2019)
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Another Way to Get Referrals (June 2019)
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Don’t Let Your Investments Go on “Vacation” (June 2019)
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New Construction Market Data (May 2019)
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Contractors Must Proceed Cautiously (May 2019)
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First Quarter Real Estate Sales Off To A Slow Start (April 2019)
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Responding to Negative Social Media Comments (April 2019)
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Are You One of These Bosses? (April 2019)
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New Construction Market Data (March 2019)
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4 Types of Facebook Ads that Will Help You (March 2019)
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Hiring Checklist (March 2019)
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How to Handle Employee Complaints (February 2019)
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Today I’m Going to Talk About Doing it All (February 2019)
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One Year Ends, Another One Begins in Real Estate (February 2019)
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Let’s Talk Websites (January 2019)
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End of the Year Projections (January 2019)
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Transition from Employee to Effective Owner-Leader (January 2019)
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2018 Des Moines Real Estate Year End Predictions (December 2018)
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Your Business End of the Year Legal Checklist (December 2018)
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Boundaries and Defined Responsibilities (December 2018)
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Why People Don’t Always Buy the Lowest Price (November 2018)
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Fall Brings Market Slowdown (November 2018)
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Why Your Business Needs Proper Succession Planning (November 2018)
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September Sneak Peek at Des Moines Home Sales (October 2018)
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Former Employees And Your Right To Disclose (October 2018)
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5 Steps to Achieve This Year’s Goals…This Year! (October 2018)
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Closing Out the Summer New Construction Market (September 2018)
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BYOD: Should Your Business Adopt This Policy? (September 2018)
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Tips For Building a Great Website That Works (September 2018)
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July 2018 Des Moines Real Estate Market Update (August 2018)
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Your Best Advice Might Come from a Marriage Counselor (August 2018)
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Five Website Mistakes to Fix This Summer (August 2018)
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Non-Compete Agreements in Iowa (July 2018)
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Summary Iowa Construction Industry Legislation (July 2018)
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New Construction Market Segmentations (July 2018)
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First Five Months is in the Books (June 2018)
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Take it Down a Notch, Will Ya? (June 2018)
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Spring Selling Season Picks Up (May 2018)
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Misclassification Of Iowa Workers (May 2018)
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A Snowy Start To 2018 Kept Des Moines Buyers Inside (April 2018)
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How Long Should You Keep Business Records? (April 2018)
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It’s Time to Grow (April 2018)
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Construction Inventory on Track for 2018 (March 2018)
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Staying on Track in the New Year (March 2018)
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Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace (March 2018)
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The 2017 Year in Review for Residential Real Estate (February 2018)
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Common Pitfalls When Running a Family Business (February 2018)
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Free Marketing Tips You Can Use Now (February 2018)
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Pay Attention to These Things to Make it To Next Year! (January 2018)
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Should An Unpaid Subcontractor Ever Walk Off The Job? (December 2017)
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Why You Should Consider Facebook Advertisements (December 2017)
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What is an Individual 401(k) Plan? (September 2017)
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Third Quarter Draws to an End (September 2017)
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Are Home Values Rising in the Des Moines Market? (August 2017)
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Obtaining and Conducting Business Using A DBA (August 2017)
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Old-School Context for a 21st-Century World (July 2017)
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What are SEP IRAs? (July 2017)
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Construction Branding (June 2017)
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Radon—An Invisible Issue (March 2017)
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Boomerangs: Should You Rehire A Former Employee? (March 2017)
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What’s Your Data Backup Plan? (January 2017)
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Is a worker an employee or independent contractor? Department of Labor proposes new rule.
For many years, construction companies have been faced with the issue of whether they should treat a worker as an employee or independent contractor. Handling the issue incorrectly can have serious consequences. Various courts and regulatory bodies have enforced different standards over the years causing much confusion for construction companies and other employers and risk due to misclassification.
DOL Announces Proposed Rule
On September 22, the Department of Labor announced its proposed rule addressing how to determine whether a worker is an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) or an independent contractor. Most believe the new rule will provide greater clarity for construction companies and other employers faced with this issue.
In its press release, the DOL stated:
“The Department’s proposal aims to bring clarity and consistency to the determination of who’s an independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act,” said Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “Once finalized, it will make it easier to identify employees covered by the Act, while respecting the decision other workers make to pursue the freedom and entrepreneurialism associated with being an independent contractor.”
“The rule we proposed today continues our work to simplify the compliance landscape for businesses and to improve conditions for workers,” said Wage and Hour Division Administrator Cheryl Stanton. “The Department believes that streamlining and clarifying the test to identify independent contractors will reduce worker misclassification, reduce litigation, increase efficiency, and increase job satisfaction and flexibility.”
What’s Changing
The proposed rule:
- Adopts an “economic reality” test
The test considers whether a worker is in business for himself or herself (independent contractor) or is economically dependent on a putative employer for work (employee). - Identifies and explains two “core factors”
- The nature and degree of the worker’s control over the work
- The worker’s opportunity for profit or loss based on initiative and/or investment
These factors help determine if a worker is economically dependent on someone else’s business or is in business for himself or herself.
- Identifies three other factors
These three factors may serve as additional guideposts in the analysis:- The amount of skill required for the work
- The degree of permanence of the working relationship between the worker and the potential employer
- Whether the work is part of an integrated unit of production
- Relevance
Advises that the actual practice is more relevant than what may be contractually or theoretically possible in determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor.
Big Picture
Construction companies and other employers should continue to stay up to date on the latest rules and standards pursuant to Iowa and federal law and seek counsel when questions arise. Misclassification of status is a significant risk for employers, and any questions should be directed to your legal counsel.
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ISU to Offer Grad Degree in Real Estate Development (March 2019)
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Tough Housing Market Ahead (January 2019)
-
Ring Day (December 2018)
-
Giving Back (November 2018)
-
Not Just Talk (October 2018)
-
Checks & Balances (September 2018)
-
550 Remodeling List Announced (July 2018)
-
Reaching Their Stride (June 2018)
-
The Slow Pace of Change (May 2018)
-
In Heels & Hardhats (April 2018)
-
Home Ownership Gets One Step Closer (February 2018)
-
New Year, New Merger (December 2017)
-
Cyber Liability Risks (November 2017)
-
The Significance of the Skilled Trades (October 2017)
-
Digital Design (September 2017)
-
Code Consortium Aims High (July 2017)
-
Builder Magazine’s Top 100 and Next 100 Named (June 2017)
-
Real Advice, Virtual Source (May 2017)
-
Authentic 3-D Printed Landscapes (April 2017)
-
A Win-Win for First-Time Home Buyers (March 2017)
-
Developers’ Dream: Free Land & Incentives in Osceola (February 2017)
-
Visions of Home (January 2017)
-
A Flicker of Hope (December 2016)
-
A Successful Group Effort (November 2016)
-
Finding A Solution (October 2016)
-
Emotional Factors Drive Purchase Decisions (September 2016)
-
Leaving the Paper Trail (August 2016)
-
For New Homes, Women a Tougher Sell (July 2016)
-
A Last Gift (June 2016)
-
Updates in the Affordable Care Act (April 2016)
-
Dreaming Big (February 2016)
-
New Study Suggests Strong Outlook for Green Homes (January 2016)
-
Majoring in Real Estate (May 2015)
-
Safety by the Numbers (April 2015)
-
Late Night with DMAAR® (March 2015)
-
Getting the Most from Your Exhibiting Experience (January 2015)
-
MJ Properties Is True to Ankeny’s Schools (December 2014)
-
A Deadly Threat in Iowa’s Homes (November 2014)
-
Copyright Infringement and the Internet (September 2014)
-
A Lasting Tribute (August 2014)
-
A Code is Born (July 2014)
-
Environmental Impact Awards (June 2014)
-
When a House Becomes a Home (June 2014)
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Panelization: Advancing to Meet the Market (May 2014)
-
Leading the Field (April 2014)
Giving Back
-
A Lesson in Giving (January 2016)
-
Greenland Homes Pays it Forward to Children’s Cancer Connection (February 2015)
-
Habitat for Humanity Key Awards (October 2014)
-
A Long Road Home (August 2014)
-
Businesses Pay It Forward for Special Cause (July 2014)
-
A Decent Place to Live (April 2014)
In Remembrance
-
Terry Doling ()
-
Pat Mashek (August 2014)
Observations
-
The DOL Revisits Compensable Travel Time (January 2021)
-
Des Moines 2021 Housing Forecast (January 2021)
-
Investment Lessons from 2020 (January 2021)
-
You Had Me At Hello (January 2021)
-
To Post or Not to Post Progress Photos (December 2020)
-
Time for Some New Year’s Financial Resolutions (December 2020)
-
Where Are Des Moines Record Home Sales Coming From? (December 2020)
-
Fire Up the Crystal Ball (November 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn from Veterans? (November 2020)
-
How to Keep Your Clients Long Term (November 2020)
-
What Will Real Estate Look Like After COVID-19? (October 2020)
-
Sustainable Investing Can Pay Off—in Several Ways (October 2020)
-
Eliminate the Tire Kickers (October 2020)
-
The Place Is Here, The Time is Now (September 2020)
-
Opportunities When Preparing for College Costs (September 2020)
-
How to Get Your Point Across Today (September 2020)
-
First Half of 2020 Unlike Any Other Year for Real Estate (August 2020)
-
Are Women Better Investors Than Men? (August 2020)
-
Form Follows Function (August 2020)
-
What the Titanic Can Teach You About Business (July 2020)
-
Year of the Relationship (June 2020)
-
2020 Iowa Legislative Session Recap (May 2020)
-
Unprecedented Times For Des Moines Real Estate (April 2020)
-
Use This Time to Build Better Systems (April 2020)
-
Don’t Let Fears Drive Your Investment Choices (April 2020)
-
Off To A Strong Start! (March 2020)
-
Time for Some Financial Spring Cleaning (March 2020)
-
How to Write Blog Content (March 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn From “Big Game” Teams? (February 2020)
-
Build a Low Maintenance WordPress Website (February 2020)
-
Des Moines Real Estate—2019 Market Review (February 2020)
-
2019 New Construction Market Rallied Its Way Back (January 2020)
-
Change By Stopping the “Stupid Stuff” (January 2020)
-
Financial Tips for Snowbirds… Present and Future (January 2020)
-
Things Are Better Off Now Than This Time A Year Ago (December 2019)
-
Stay On Top Of Your Marketing Plan (December 2019)
-
Three Factors to Consider When Making Charitable Gifts (December 2019)
-
Compete All Four Quarters If You Want To Win (November 2019)
-
Know Your Numbers (November 2019)
-
Fed Lowers Target Rate for Third Time in 2019 (November 2019)
-
Share Your Financial Abundance with Your Family (November 2019)
-
Comparing to Your Neighbors’ Can Lead to Dissatisfaction (October 2019)
-
Make a Good First Impression With Your Website (October 2019)
-
Residential Real Estate: 3 Quarters Down, 1 To Go (October 2019)
-
Not Too Soon for End-of-Year Financial Moves (October 2019)
-
Will Market Outperform to Overcome the Slow Start? (September 2019)
-
Take a Break (You Deserve It) (September 2019)
-
You Can Work to Become a Better Investor (September 2019)
-
Home Sale Strategy—Proper Pricing is Crucial This Summer (August 2019)
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Find New Business in What is Trending (August 2019)
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Women: Don’t Forget About Your Retirement Plan (August 2019)
-
New Construction Year-Over-Year Numbers (July 2019)
-
Something Terrible This Way Comes (July 2019)
-
Work Toward Your Own Financial Independence Day (July 2019)
-
Another Way to Get Referrals (June 2019)
-
Don’t Let Your Investments Go on “Vacation” (June 2019)
-
New Construction Market Data (May 2019)
-
Contractors Must Proceed Cautiously (May 2019)
-
First Quarter Real Estate Sales Off To A Slow Start (April 2019)
-
Responding to Negative Social Media Comments (April 2019)
-
Are You One of These Bosses? (April 2019)
-
New Construction Market Data (March 2019)
-
4 Types of Facebook Ads that Will Help You (March 2019)
-
Hiring Checklist (March 2019)
-
How to Handle Employee Complaints (February 2019)
-
Today I’m Going to Talk About Doing it All (February 2019)
-
One Year Ends, Another One Begins in Real Estate (February 2019)
-
Let’s Talk Websites (January 2019)
-
End of the Year Projections (January 2019)
-
Transition from Employee to Effective Owner-Leader (January 2019)
-
2018 Des Moines Real Estate Year End Predictions (December 2018)
-
Your Business End of the Year Legal Checklist (December 2018)
-
Boundaries and Defined Responsibilities (December 2018)
-
Why People Don’t Always Buy the Lowest Price (November 2018)
-
Fall Brings Market Slowdown (November 2018)
-
Why Your Business Needs Proper Succession Planning (November 2018)
-
September Sneak Peek at Des Moines Home Sales (October 2018)
-
Former Employees And Your Right To Disclose (October 2018)
-
5 Steps to Achieve This Year’s Goals…This Year! (October 2018)
-
Closing Out the Summer New Construction Market (September 2018)
-
BYOD: Should Your Business Adopt This Policy? (September 2018)
-
Tips For Building a Great Website That Works (September 2018)
-
July 2018 Des Moines Real Estate Market Update (August 2018)
-
Your Best Advice Might Come from a Marriage Counselor (August 2018)
-
Five Website Mistakes to Fix This Summer (August 2018)
-
Non-Compete Agreements in Iowa (July 2018)
-
Summary Iowa Construction Industry Legislation (July 2018)
-
New Construction Market Segmentations (July 2018)
-
First Five Months is in the Books (June 2018)
-
Take it Down a Notch, Will Ya? (June 2018)
-
Spring Selling Season Picks Up (May 2018)
-
Misclassification Of Iowa Workers (May 2018)
-
A Snowy Start To 2018 Kept Des Moines Buyers Inside (April 2018)
-
How Long Should You Keep Business Records? (April 2018)
-
It’s Time to Grow (April 2018)
-
Construction Inventory on Track for 2018 (March 2018)
-
Staying on Track in the New Year (March 2018)
-
Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace (March 2018)
-
The 2017 Year in Review for Residential Real Estate (February 2018)
-
Common Pitfalls When Running a Family Business (February 2018)
-
Free Marketing Tips You Can Use Now (February 2018)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong as the Year Ends (January 2018)
-
Pay Attention to These Things to Make it To Next Year! (January 2018)
-
Discrimination In The Hiring Process (January 2018)
-
Should An Unpaid Subcontractor Ever Walk Off The Job? (December 2017)
-
Why You Should Consider Facebook Advertisements (December 2017)
-
Des Moines 2017 Real Estate Sales Coming To A Close (December 2017)
-
Third Quarter Results Are Now In (November 2017)
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Do I Need an Employee Handbook? (November 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Home Inventory On The Rebound (October 2017)
-
Trademarks and Business Protection (October 2017)
-
Unstuck Your Website (October 2017)
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Rights Amongst Shareholders on Sale of Corporations (September 2017)
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What is an Individual 401(k) Plan? (September 2017)
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Does Your Website Pass the Smell Test? (September 2017)
-
Third Quarter Draws to an End (September 2017)
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Are Home Values Rising in the Des Moines Market? (August 2017)
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Obtaining and Conducting Business Using A DBA (August 2017)
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The Underdog vs. The Big Fish (August 2017)
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Considering an Employment Contract? (July 2017)
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Old-School Context for a 21st-Century World (July 2017)
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What are SEP IRAs? (July 2017)
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Construction Branding (June 2017)
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HBA of Iowa Legislative Recap 2017 (May 2017)
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To Sign or Not to Sign (May 2017)
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What is a SIMPLE? (May 2017)
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Des Moines Real Estate Market Softens a Bit (April 2017)
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We Need to Talk (April 2017)
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Barriers Holding Back Prospective Homebuyers (April 2017)
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New Construction Market Starts Out Strong in 2017 (March 2017)
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Radon—An Invisible Issue (March 2017)
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Nine Great Ways To Turn Coffee Into A Job Interview (March 2017)
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SEO Is Dead, Stop Chasing! (March 2017)
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Boomerangs: Should You Rehire A Former Employee? (March 2017)
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2016—The Residential Real Estate Year of Records (February 2017)
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Important Terms in Construction Agreements (February 2017)
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Five Social Media Tips For A Focused Marketing Strategy (February 2017)
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Want More From Workers? Tell ’em to Take a Break (February 2017)
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New Year, New Threats—Cyberattack Concerns (January 2017)
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New Construction Market Remains Strong (January 2017)
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Business Leaders Need to Watch Out for Woodpeckers (January 2017)
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What’s Your Data Backup Plan? (January 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Market Enters “The Zen Zone” (December 2016)
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Should Employers Postpone Overtime Overhaul? (December 2016)
-
Are You Still Asking Those Weird Interview Questions? (December 2016)
-
Is Your Password One Of These Phrases? Change It Now (December 2016)
-
Fourth Quarter Market Progresses Nicely (November 2016)
-
Non-Compete Agreements: Enforceable if Reasonable (November 2016)
-
How to Handle Angry Clients or Customers (November 2016)
-
Lazy Employees? 6 Workplace Issues to Blame (November 2016)
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Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working (November 2016)
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Milestones in Des Moines Residential Real Estate (October 2016)
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Legal Essentials for Starting a New Business (October 2016)
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Maintaining Commitment to Your Business (October 2016)
-
How To Build and Better Client Relationships (October 2016)
-
This Year’s Four Hottest Kitchen Trends (October 2016)
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New Construction Market Still Strong in 3rd Quarter! (September 2016)
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Drug Testing in the Workplace (September 2016)
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The One Trait Truly Exceptional Salespeople Possess (September 2016)
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Video Quality Matters: 5 Tips for Better Web Video (September 2016)
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Is Your Board Exercising Its Fiduciary Duty? (August 2016)
-
Des Moines Home Sales—2016 Past, Present & Future (August 2016)
-
Start Being a Leader at Work (August 2016)
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Social Media Cheat Sheet (August 2016)
-
When LLC Owners Are Personally Liable (July 2016)
-
Market Progresses Nicely in the Second Quarter (July 2016)
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What Does Your Online Profile Say About You? (July 2016)
-
Regulation: 24.3% of the Average New Home Price (June 2016)
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Managing Personal Use of Company Vehicles (June 2016)
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9 Ways to Have Better Vacations (June 2016)
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What’s Your Website Say About You? (June 2016)
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Lawsuits in Iowa (May 2016)
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3 Differences Between an Iowa LLC and a Corporation (April 2016)
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A Gentleman’s Agreement (April 2016)
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15 Home Builder Marketing Tips You Should Be Using! (April 2016)
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How to Avoid Paying 4 Huge Taxes (April 2016)
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How to Recruit a Great Salesperson (March 2016)
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The New Construction Market Sees Robust Gains! (March 2016)
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Tips to Getting Paid As a Subcontractor (February 2016)
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Morning Habits to Recharge You And Your Business (February 2016)
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On August 1, OSHA Penalties Are Going Up, Up, Up (February 2016)
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The 7 Ways Most People Ruin Their Own Success (February 2016)
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How to Measure Business Maturity (January 2016)
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More Gains in Commercial Sector Next Year (January 2016)
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It Will Cost You $5 to Fly Your Drone (January 2016)
-
Real Estate Des Moines Style—A Year To Remember (January 2016)
-
2015 New Construction Market To Finish Strong (January 2016)
-
Contractor Marketing in 2016? Instagram FTW! (December 2015)
-
Don’t Forget About Year-End Investment Planning (December 2015)
-
You’re a Better Boss When You’re a Better Teacher (December 2015)
-
Face-to-Face Selling Is Still Effective (December 2015)
-
Legal and Ethical Duties on a Construction Project (November 2015)
-
Making Team Meetings More Productive for the Workplace (November 2015)
-
10 Traits of Successful Salespeople (November 2015)
-
New Construction Market Still Remains Strong (November 2015)
-
5 Hidden Costs of Running a Business (October 2015)
-
10 Signs of a Really Scary Boss (October 2015)
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The Big Picture of Des Moines Real Estate (October 2015)
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7 Bad Habits That Stand in the Way of Your Success (October 2015)
-
Leaders Vs. Managers: What’s the Difference? (September 2015)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (September 2015)
-
Dealing with Client Conflict (September 2015)
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Marketing a Construction Business—The Ante (September 2015)
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Money & Happiness: It’s Complicated (August 2015)
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Is Criticism More Effective Than Praise? (August 2014)
-
Construction Marketing is About Know, Like, & Trust (August 2015)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (July 2015)
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I’m Here To Save Your Company Money (July 2015)
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Des Moines Real Estate Second Quarter 2015 Recap (July 2015)
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Non-Competes in the Construction Industry (June 2015)
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Why Being a Workaholic is Actually a Bad Thing (June 2015)
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10 Reasons to Update Your Website (June 2015)
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7 Baby Boomer Housing Trends to Watch (June 2015)
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Attract Buyers With Social Media (May 2015)
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Des Moines Real Estate First Quarter 2015 Recap (April 2015)
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Marketing Your Blog (April 2015)
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Dos and Don’ts to Keep You Out of Court (April 2015)
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It Pays to Own a Home (March 2015)
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What Do Today’s Homebuyers Really Want? (March 2015)
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2014 New Home Market Recap and Start of 2015 Numbers (March 2015)
-
Roof Colors Gravitating to Gray (February 2015)
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Why Contractors Need to Create Powerful Testimonials (February 2015)
-
Consider the Real Rate of Return on Your Money (February 2015)
-
The Real Cost of Employee Turnover in Des Moines (February 2015)
-
2014 Des Moines Real Estate Sales—It’s a Wrap (January 2015)
-
Cities Build Too: Getting Paid On Public Improvements (January 2015)
-
How To Think About Marketing Going Into 2015 (December 2014)
-
5 Success Limiting Actions Contractors Should Avoid (December 2014)
-
Should You Hire for Skills or for Personality? (December 2014)
-
Trade Secret and Patents (December 2014)
-
Consider These 10 Basic Tax To-Dos for the Rest of 2014 (November 2014)
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11 Things Your Employees Want You to Tell Them Every Day (November 2014)
-
Content Marketing Versus Traditional Advertising (November 2014)
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Handshakes are Nice… But Contracts Are Legal (November 2014)
-
Is it Time for Electronic Filings of Legal Documents? (October 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Recovery Confirmed (October 2014)
-
Iowa Insurers Wrongfully Deny Coverage for Defective Construction (September 2014)
-
Networking Mistakes to Avoid (August 2014)
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Review Your Life Insurance Needs (August 2014)
-
Drones: Will They Fly in Iowa? (August 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Supply & Demand (July 2014)
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Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate (July 2014)
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Transferring Your Business to Your Children (June 2014)
-
Like-Kind Exchanges (June 2014)
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Four Ways to Establish a Leadership Style (June 2014)
-
Subcontractors Can’t Be Sued—For Now (May 2014)
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HBAI Recap: 2014 Iowa Legislative Session (May 2014)
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Revised Mechanic Lien Law (April 2014)
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100 Graduates Ready To Work For You (April 2014)
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Don’t Neglect Your Own Retirement Plan (April 2014)
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How to Gain Respect in the Workplace as a Manager (April 2014)
Increased material costs leave contractors asking about contract protections.
We are hearing about a budget pinch from many homebuilder and general contractor clients tied to the substantial increases in the cost of lumber and other materials; HBA Iowa reports about an 80% increase in lumber costs since mid-April. As the cost of materials for build projects soars, builders and contractors should review their contracts carefully to see if they have options to get some or all of the increased costs covered by the owner and consider revising their future contracts to help protect themselves against abnormal material cost increases.
Cost-Plus Contracts
Contractors and builders who signed cost-plus contracts with their owner-clients are breathing a sigh of relief, as these contracts fully protect them in this regard, all material costs are directly passed on to the owner-client. Though, contractors should carefully review any provisions in their cost-plus contracts regarding guarantees on any estimated budget and/or a guaranteed maximum price, as modifications may be prudent to these types of provisions.
Stipulated Sum Contracts
Conversely, contractors are much less protected in the typical stipulated sum contract, as contractors generally bear the risk, and gain the benefit, of downward or upward changes in material and labor costs. That said, contractors should review whether the contract has any provisions addressing delays caused by the owner-client, as such provision may provide relief. For example, as the virus took hold, many buyers reconsidered their project—putting the project on hold or delaying decisions as they dealt with the health and safety of their families. If your contract contains this type of provision and you can show that without that delay, costs would not have increased, the owner-client may be liable for the increased cost.
Future Contracts Recommendations
To help protect themselves from substantial market-wide material cost increases in the future, contractors and homebuilders should consider the following:
- Should you start using cost-plus contracts, instead of a stipulated sum contracts?
- Should you add one or more of the following provisions in your stipulated sum contracts?
- Provision RE: Market-wide Material Cost Increases: Generally, this type of provision provides that the contract price is subject to change if there is an unexpected market-wide increase in the cost of a certain material above X% (often 10% or more) and if the contractor cannot obtain the same or similar material for a lesser amount; in such event, the contract price is subject to increase in the differential amount of the material cost increase.
- Price Lock Provision: This type of provision mandates only a 30- or 60-day price lock guarantee, such that the contract price is subject to increase at the commencement of the project does not occur until after that price lock period.
These two provisions should help contractors and builders with future substantial material cost increases in the future, but contractors should ensure that their owner-clients understand the effect of these types of provisions.
Finding Relief
We echo our friends at NAHB—if your business is suffering from the increased costs of materials, reach out to your members of Congress. Although some of the increased cost can be attributed to the coronavirus—low supply and high demand, the ongoing trade wars add another layer to the issue. Ask your members of Congress to work with the administration to address lumber prices.
Going Forward
Coronavirus continues to teach us new ways to move forward. For builders, this includes adding contract provisions to address everything from government forced shutdowns to material cost changes. Builders are encouraged to work with their attorney to add address contractual changes going forward to avoid being on the hook for these massive cost increases.
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Contemporary Kitchens Surge in Popularity (May 2015)
-
Contemporary Spa Bath Leads Preferences (April 2015)
-
Seeing Green (April 2015)
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Thriving in Wartime Conditions (March 2015)
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Seeing the Silver Lining (February 2015)
-
Houzz Survey Finds Kitchens Outlast Most Marriages (February 2015)
-
15 Predictions for ’15 (January 2015)
-
How Healthy is your Home? (January 2015)
-
Where the Action Is (December 2014)
-
Move Over Millennials (December 2014)
-
Building a Future (November 2014)
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Homeowners Looking to Add More Features (November 2014)
-
October Is National Kitchen & Bath Month (October 2014)
-
Sherwin-Williams Predicts Optimistic 2015 (October 2014)
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Lotsa Lots? (September 2014)
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Booming Ideas (September 2014)
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HomeShowExpo Winners (August 2014)
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Looking Ahead (July 2014)
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Home Trends in the Metro (July 2014)
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Builder Design Centers (June 2014)
-
Millennials are Changing the Marketplace (June 2014)
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The Big Picture (May 2014)
-
The Value of Remodeling (May 2014)
-
Hot Trends: Kitchens & Baths (April 2014)
-
Big is Back (April 2014)
Do You Know
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Do You Know: Tim Hicklin (September 2014)
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Do You Know: Korey Beemer (July 2014)
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Do You Know: Brenden Hannah (June 2014)
-
Do You Know: Jed Finley (May 2014)
A Conversation With
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A Conversation With Cindy Pelz (August 2017)
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Jennifer Schumann (June 2017)
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A Conversation With Matt Ostanik (May 2017)
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A Conversation With Linda Westergaard (March 2017)
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A Conversation with Tawnya Neighbour (February 2017)
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A Conversation with Victoria Veiock (January 2017)
-
A Conversation with Mark Reetz (December 2016)
-
A Conversation with Darius Jackson (November 2016)
-
A Conversation With Bob Burns (October 2016)
-
A Conversation With Marsha Bannister (September 2016)
-
A Conversation With Gavin Blair (August 2016)
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A Conversation With Jay Iverson (July 2016)
-
A Conversation With Amy Spike (June 2016)
-
A Conversation with John Dunn (May 2016)
-
A Conversation with Sarah Kavalier (April 2016)
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A Conversation With Kelly Gibson (March 2016)
-
A Conversation With Shannon Nathe (February 2016)
-
A Conversation with Vicki Davis (January 2016)
-
A Conversation With Jessica Terrill (December 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Ken Clark (November 2015)
-
A Conversation With Lindsay Black (October 2015)
-
A Conversation with John Peterson (September 2015)
-
A Conversation With Marshal Tolly (August 2015)
-
A Conversation With Tina Mowry Hadden (July 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Rick Parrino (June 2015)
-
A Conversation With Jenna Ekstrom (May 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Bill Blue (April 2015)
-
A Conversation With Rachel Delzell (February 2015)
-
A Conversation With Robin Polder (January 2015)
-
A Conversation With Reo Menning (December 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Jessica Reinert (November 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Dan Knoup (October 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Don Beal (September 2014)
-
Zak Fleming (August 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Brian Buresh (July 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Brennan Buckley (May 2014)
In-Depth
-
Building a Dream (January 2021)
-
The Joy of Reaching Out and Giving Back (December 2020)
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Employee or Independent Contractor? (November 2020)
-
Contract Protections for Contractors (October 2020)
-
Seller’s Market (September 2020)
-
More Than a Shelter (August 2020)
-
Being the Change (July 2020)
-
All the Right Pieces (June 2020)
-
Contracts & COVID-19 (May 2020)
-
Impact on Unemployment Benefits (April 2020)
-
A Positive Outlook (March 2020)
-
Planning for Future Growth (February 2020)
-
2020 Color Trends (January 2020)
-
Worth Celebrating (December 2019)
-
Signs of Change (November 2019)
-
Sellers Beware (October 2019)
-
Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back (September 2019)
-
It’s A Win/Win (August 2019)
-
Starting From Scratch (July 2019)
-
Everybody Wins (May 2019)
-
Informed Decisions Begin Here (April 2019)
-
ISU to Offer Grad Degree in Real Estate Development (March 2019)
-
Tough Housing Market Ahead (January 2019)
-
Ring Day (December 2018)
-
Giving Back (November 2018)
-
Not Just Talk (October 2018)
-
Checks & Balances (September 2018)
-
550 Remodeling List Announced (July 2018)
-
Reaching Their Stride (June 2018)
-
The Slow Pace of Change (May 2018)
-
In Heels & Hardhats (April 2018)
-
Home Ownership Gets One Step Closer (February 2018)
-
New Year, New Merger (December 2017)
-
Cyber Liability Risks (November 2017)
-
The Significance of the Skilled Trades (October 2017)
-
Digital Design (September 2017)
-
Code Consortium Aims High (July 2017)
-
Builder Magazine’s Top 100 and Next 100 Named (June 2017)
-
Real Advice, Virtual Source (May 2017)
-
Authentic 3-D Printed Landscapes (April 2017)
-
A Win-Win for First-Time Home Buyers (March 2017)
-
Developers’ Dream: Free Land & Incentives in Osceola (February 2017)
-
Visions of Home (January 2017)
-
A Flicker of Hope (December 2016)
-
A Successful Group Effort (November 2016)
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Finding A Solution (October 2016)
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Emotional Factors Drive Purchase Decisions (September 2016)
-
Leaving the Paper Trail (August 2016)
-
For New Homes, Women a Tougher Sell (July 2016)
-
A Last Gift (June 2016)
-
Updates in the Affordable Care Act (April 2016)
-
Dreaming Big (February 2016)
-
New Study Suggests Strong Outlook for Green Homes (January 2016)
-
Majoring in Real Estate (May 2015)
-
Safety by the Numbers (April 2015)
-
Late Night with DMAAR® (March 2015)
-
Getting the Most from Your Exhibiting Experience (January 2015)
-
MJ Properties Is True to Ankeny’s Schools (December 2014)
-
A Deadly Threat in Iowa’s Homes (November 2014)
-
Copyright Infringement and the Internet (September 2014)
-
A Lasting Tribute (August 2014)
-
A Code is Born (July 2014)
-
Environmental Impact Awards (June 2014)
-
When a House Becomes a Home (June 2014)
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Panelization: Advancing to Meet the Market (May 2014)
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Leading the Field (April 2014)
Giving Back
-
A Lesson in Giving (January 2016)
-
Greenland Homes Pays it Forward to Children’s Cancer Connection (February 2015)
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Habitat for Humanity Key Awards (October 2014)
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A Long Road Home (August 2014)
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Businesses Pay It Forward for Special Cause (July 2014)
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A Decent Place to Live (April 2014)
In Remembrance
-
Terry Doling ()
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Pat Mashek (August 2014)
Observations
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The DOL Revisits Compensable Travel Time (January 2021)
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Des Moines 2021 Housing Forecast (January 2021)
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Investment Lessons from 2020 (January 2021)
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You Had Me At Hello (January 2021)
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To Post or Not to Post Progress Photos (December 2020)
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Time for Some New Year’s Financial Resolutions (December 2020)
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Where Are Des Moines Record Home Sales Coming From? (December 2020)
-
Fire Up the Crystal Ball (November 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn from Veterans? (November 2020)
-
How to Keep Your Clients Long Term (November 2020)
-
What Will Real Estate Look Like After COVID-19? (October 2020)
-
Sustainable Investing Can Pay Off—in Several Ways (October 2020)
-
Eliminate the Tire Kickers (October 2020)
-
The Place Is Here, The Time is Now (September 2020)
-
Opportunities When Preparing for College Costs (September 2020)
-
How to Get Your Point Across Today (September 2020)
-
First Half of 2020 Unlike Any Other Year for Real Estate (August 2020)
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Are Women Better Investors Than Men? (August 2020)
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Form Follows Function (August 2020)
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What the Titanic Can Teach You About Business (July 2020)
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Year of the Relationship (June 2020)
-
2020 Iowa Legislative Session Recap (May 2020)
-
Unprecedented Times For Des Moines Real Estate (April 2020)
-
Use This Time to Build Better Systems (April 2020)
-
Don’t Let Fears Drive Your Investment Choices (April 2020)
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Off To A Strong Start! (March 2020)
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Time for Some Financial Spring Cleaning (March 2020)
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How to Write Blog Content (March 2020)
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What Can Investors Learn From “Big Game” Teams? (February 2020)
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Build a Low Maintenance WordPress Website (February 2020)
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Des Moines Real Estate—2019 Market Review (February 2020)
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2019 New Construction Market Rallied Its Way Back (January 2020)
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Change By Stopping the “Stupid Stuff” (January 2020)
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Financial Tips for Snowbirds… Present and Future (January 2020)
-
Things Are Better Off Now Than This Time A Year Ago (December 2019)
-
Stay On Top Of Your Marketing Plan (December 2019)
-
Three Factors to Consider When Making Charitable Gifts (December 2019)
-
Compete All Four Quarters If You Want To Win (November 2019)
-
Know Your Numbers (November 2019)
-
Fed Lowers Target Rate for Third Time in 2019 (November 2019)
-
Share Your Financial Abundance with Your Family (November 2019)
-
Comparing to Your Neighbors’ Can Lead to Dissatisfaction (October 2019)
-
Make a Good First Impression With Your Website (October 2019)
-
Residential Real Estate: 3 Quarters Down, 1 To Go (October 2019)
-
Not Too Soon for End-of-Year Financial Moves (October 2019)
-
Will Market Outperform to Overcome the Slow Start? (September 2019)
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Take a Break (You Deserve It) (September 2019)
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You Can Work to Become a Better Investor (September 2019)
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Home Sale Strategy—Proper Pricing is Crucial This Summer (August 2019)
-
Find New Business in What is Trending (August 2019)
-
Women: Don’t Forget About Your Retirement Plan (August 2019)
-
New Construction Year-Over-Year Numbers (July 2019)
-
Something Terrible This Way Comes (July 2019)
-
Work Toward Your Own Financial Independence Day (July 2019)
-
Another Way to Get Referrals (June 2019)
-
Don’t Let Your Investments Go on “Vacation” (June 2019)
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New Construction Market Data (May 2019)
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Contractors Must Proceed Cautiously (May 2019)
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First Quarter Real Estate Sales Off To A Slow Start (April 2019)
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Responding to Negative Social Media Comments (April 2019)
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Are You One of These Bosses? (April 2019)
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New Construction Market Data (March 2019)
-
4 Types of Facebook Ads that Will Help You (March 2019)
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Hiring Checklist (March 2019)
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How to Handle Employee Complaints (February 2019)
-
Today I’m Going to Talk About Doing it All (February 2019)
-
One Year Ends, Another One Begins in Real Estate (February 2019)
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Let’s Talk Websites (January 2019)
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End of the Year Projections (January 2019)
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Transition from Employee to Effective Owner-Leader (January 2019)
-
2018 Des Moines Real Estate Year End Predictions (December 2018)
-
Your Business End of the Year Legal Checklist (December 2018)
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Boundaries and Defined Responsibilities (December 2018)
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Why People Don’t Always Buy the Lowest Price (November 2018)
-
Fall Brings Market Slowdown (November 2018)
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Why Your Business Needs Proper Succession Planning (November 2018)
-
September Sneak Peek at Des Moines Home Sales (October 2018)
-
Former Employees And Your Right To Disclose (October 2018)
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5 Steps to Achieve This Year’s Goals…This Year! (October 2018)
-
Closing Out the Summer New Construction Market (September 2018)
-
BYOD: Should Your Business Adopt This Policy? (September 2018)
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Tips For Building a Great Website That Works (September 2018)
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July 2018 Des Moines Real Estate Market Update (August 2018)
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Your Best Advice Might Come from a Marriage Counselor (August 2018)
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Five Website Mistakes to Fix This Summer (August 2018)
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Non-Compete Agreements in Iowa (July 2018)
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Summary Iowa Construction Industry Legislation (July 2018)
-
New Construction Market Segmentations (July 2018)
-
First Five Months is in the Books (June 2018)
-
Take it Down a Notch, Will Ya? (June 2018)
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Spring Selling Season Picks Up (May 2018)
-
Misclassification Of Iowa Workers (May 2018)
-
A Snowy Start To 2018 Kept Des Moines Buyers Inside (April 2018)
-
How Long Should You Keep Business Records? (April 2018)
-
It’s Time to Grow (April 2018)
-
Construction Inventory on Track for 2018 (March 2018)
-
Staying on Track in the New Year (March 2018)
-
Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace (March 2018)
-
The 2017 Year in Review for Residential Real Estate (February 2018)
-
Common Pitfalls When Running a Family Business (February 2018)
-
Free Marketing Tips You Can Use Now (February 2018)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong as the Year Ends (January 2018)
-
Pay Attention to These Things to Make it To Next Year! (January 2018)
-
Discrimination In The Hiring Process (January 2018)
-
Should An Unpaid Subcontractor Ever Walk Off The Job? (December 2017)
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Why You Should Consider Facebook Advertisements (December 2017)
-
Des Moines 2017 Real Estate Sales Coming To A Close (December 2017)
-
Third Quarter Results Are Now In (November 2017)
-
Do I Need an Employee Handbook? (November 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Home Inventory On The Rebound (October 2017)
-
Trademarks and Business Protection (October 2017)
-
Unstuck Your Website (October 2017)
-
Rights Amongst Shareholders on Sale of Corporations (September 2017)
-
What is an Individual 401(k) Plan? (September 2017)
-
Does Your Website Pass the Smell Test? (September 2017)
-
Third Quarter Draws to an End (September 2017)
-
Are Home Values Rising in the Des Moines Market? (August 2017)
-
Obtaining and Conducting Business Using A DBA (August 2017)
-
The Underdog vs. The Big Fish (August 2017)
-
Considering an Employment Contract? (July 2017)
-
Old-School Context for a 21st-Century World (July 2017)
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What are SEP IRAs? (July 2017)
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Construction Branding (June 2017)
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HBA of Iowa Legislative Recap 2017 (May 2017)
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To Sign or Not to Sign (May 2017)
-
What is a SIMPLE? (May 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Market Softens a Bit (April 2017)
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We Need to Talk (April 2017)
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Barriers Holding Back Prospective Homebuyers (April 2017)
-
New Construction Market Starts Out Strong in 2017 (March 2017)
-
Radon—An Invisible Issue (March 2017)
-
Nine Great Ways To Turn Coffee Into A Job Interview (March 2017)
-
SEO Is Dead, Stop Chasing! (March 2017)
-
Boomerangs: Should You Rehire A Former Employee? (March 2017)
-
2016—The Residential Real Estate Year of Records (February 2017)
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Important Terms in Construction Agreements (February 2017)
-
Five Social Media Tips For A Focused Marketing Strategy (February 2017)
-
Want More From Workers? Tell ’em to Take a Break (February 2017)
-
New Year, New Threats—Cyberattack Concerns (January 2017)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (January 2017)
-
Business Leaders Need to Watch Out for Woodpeckers (January 2017)
-
What’s Your Data Backup Plan? (January 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Market Enters “The Zen Zone” (December 2016)
-
Should Employers Postpone Overtime Overhaul? (December 2016)
-
Are You Still Asking Those Weird Interview Questions? (December 2016)
-
Is Your Password One Of These Phrases? Change It Now (December 2016)
-
Fourth Quarter Market Progresses Nicely (November 2016)
-
Non-Compete Agreements: Enforceable if Reasonable (November 2016)
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How to Handle Angry Clients or Customers (November 2016)
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Lazy Employees? 6 Workplace Issues to Blame (November 2016)
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Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working (November 2016)
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Milestones in Des Moines Residential Real Estate (October 2016)
-
Legal Essentials for Starting a New Business (October 2016)
-
Maintaining Commitment to Your Business (October 2016)
-
How To Build and Better Client Relationships (October 2016)
-
This Year’s Four Hottest Kitchen Trends (October 2016)
-
New Construction Market Still Strong in 3rd Quarter! (September 2016)
-
Drug Testing in the Workplace (September 2016)
-
The One Trait Truly Exceptional Salespeople Possess (September 2016)
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Video Quality Matters: 5 Tips for Better Web Video (September 2016)
-
Is Your Board Exercising Its Fiduciary Duty? (August 2016)
-
Des Moines Home Sales—2016 Past, Present & Future (August 2016)
-
Start Being a Leader at Work (August 2016)
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Social Media Cheat Sheet (August 2016)
-
When LLC Owners Are Personally Liable (July 2016)
-
Market Progresses Nicely in the Second Quarter (July 2016)
-
What Does Your Online Profile Say About You? (July 2016)
-
Regulation: 24.3% of the Average New Home Price (June 2016)
-
Managing Personal Use of Company Vehicles (June 2016)
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9 Ways to Have Better Vacations (June 2016)
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What’s Your Website Say About You? (June 2016)
-
Lawsuits in Iowa (May 2016)
-
3 Differences Between an Iowa LLC and a Corporation (April 2016)
-
A Gentleman’s Agreement (April 2016)
-
15 Home Builder Marketing Tips You Should Be Using! (April 2016)
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How to Avoid Paying 4 Huge Taxes (April 2016)
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How to Recruit a Great Salesperson (March 2016)
-
The New Construction Market Sees Robust Gains! (March 2016)
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Tips to Getting Paid As a Subcontractor (February 2016)
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Morning Habits to Recharge You And Your Business (February 2016)
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On August 1, OSHA Penalties Are Going Up, Up, Up (February 2016)
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The 7 Ways Most People Ruin Their Own Success (February 2016)
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How to Measure Business Maturity (January 2016)
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More Gains in Commercial Sector Next Year (January 2016)
-
It Will Cost You $5 to Fly Your Drone (January 2016)
-
Real Estate Des Moines Style—A Year To Remember (January 2016)
-
2015 New Construction Market To Finish Strong (January 2016)
-
Contractor Marketing in 2016? Instagram FTW! (December 2015)
-
Don’t Forget About Year-End Investment Planning (December 2015)
-
You’re a Better Boss When You’re a Better Teacher (December 2015)
-
Face-to-Face Selling Is Still Effective (December 2015)
-
Legal and Ethical Duties on a Construction Project (November 2015)
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Making Team Meetings More Productive for the Workplace (November 2015)
-
10 Traits of Successful Salespeople (November 2015)
-
New Construction Market Still Remains Strong (November 2015)
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5 Hidden Costs of Running a Business (October 2015)
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10 Signs of a Really Scary Boss (October 2015)
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The Big Picture of Des Moines Real Estate (October 2015)
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7 Bad Habits That Stand in the Way of Your Success (October 2015)
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Leaders Vs. Managers: What’s the Difference? (September 2015)
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New Construction Market Remains Strong (September 2015)
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Dealing with Client Conflict (September 2015)
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Marketing a Construction Business—The Ante (September 2015)
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Money & Happiness: It’s Complicated (August 2015)
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Is Criticism More Effective Than Praise? (August 2014)
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Construction Marketing is About Know, Like, & Trust (August 2015)
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New Construction Market Remains Strong (July 2015)
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I’m Here To Save Your Company Money (July 2015)
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Des Moines Real Estate Second Quarter 2015 Recap (July 2015)
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Non-Competes in the Construction Industry (June 2015)
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Why Being a Workaholic is Actually a Bad Thing (June 2015)
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10 Reasons to Update Your Website (June 2015)
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7 Baby Boomer Housing Trends to Watch (June 2015)
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Attract Buyers With Social Media (May 2015)
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Des Moines Real Estate First Quarter 2015 Recap (April 2015)
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Marketing Your Blog (April 2015)
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Dos and Don’ts to Keep You Out of Court (April 2015)
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It Pays to Own a Home (March 2015)
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What Do Today’s Homebuyers Really Want? (March 2015)
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2014 New Home Market Recap and Start of 2015 Numbers (March 2015)
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Roof Colors Gravitating to Gray (February 2015)
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Why Contractors Need to Create Powerful Testimonials (February 2015)
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Consider the Real Rate of Return on Your Money (February 2015)
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The Real Cost of Employee Turnover in Des Moines (February 2015)
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2014 Des Moines Real Estate Sales—It’s a Wrap (January 2015)
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Cities Build Too: Getting Paid On Public Improvements (January 2015)
-
How To Think About Marketing Going Into 2015 (December 2014)
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5 Success Limiting Actions Contractors Should Avoid (December 2014)
-
Should You Hire for Skills or for Personality? (December 2014)
-
Trade Secret and Patents (December 2014)
-
Consider These 10 Basic Tax To-Dos for the Rest of 2014 (November 2014)
-
11 Things Your Employees Want You to Tell Them Every Day (November 2014)
-
Content Marketing Versus Traditional Advertising (November 2014)
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Handshakes are Nice… But Contracts Are Legal (November 2014)
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Is it Time for Electronic Filings of Legal Documents? (October 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Recovery Confirmed (October 2014)
-
Iowa Insurers Wrongfully Deny Coverage for Defective Construction (September 2014)
-
Networking Mistakes to Avoid (August 2014)
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Review Your Life Insurance Needs (August 2014)
-
Drones: Will They Fly in Iowa? (August 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Supply & Demand (July 2014)
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Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate (July 2014)
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Transferring Your Business to Your Children (June 2014)
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Like-Kind Exchanges (June 2014)
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Four Ways to Establish a Leadership Style (June 2014)
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Subcontractors Can’t Be Sued—For Now (May 2014)
-
HBAI Recap: 2014 Iowa Legislative Session (May 2014)
-
Revised Mechanic Lien Law (April 2014)
-
100 Graduates Ready To Work For You (April 2014)
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Don’t Neglect Your Own Retirement Plan (April 2014)
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How to Gain Respect in the Workplace as a Manager (April 2014)
Mortgage industry experiences record activity.
Under normal circumstances, financial advisors recommend certain conditions before potential buyers apply for a home loan—favorable interest rates, reliable employment, and acceptable savings.
But circumstances for home buyers today are nothing like normal.
Circumstances for lenders are nothing like normal either, and financial professionals are making adjustments daily to address that.
“It’s like someone stepped on the gas,” says Green State Credit Union’s Amy Smith. “The mortgage market went from normal to beyond full speed in a matter of weeks.” She says rates had been low even before the pandemic affected markets, so activity had already been on the rise. But Green State’s mortgage lenders have never been busier. “Across the board, the mortgage industry is 70% to 100% busier than it was a year ago. But we’re not operating with 70% to 100% more staff,” she says.
The historically record lows—near 2% at press time—have opened up the possibility of home ownership to more buyers than ever, so inquiries and applications have skyrocketed.
Kim Downing-Manning of Bankers Trust says, “Even before COVID-19, we anticipated this would be a busy year. Rates were already low. And with it being an election year, we knew that would continue. But rates just kept dropping, and people are wisely taking advantage of that.”
“We’ve never had a market where there was a boom in refinances and home purchase mortgages at the same time. Both sides of the industry are experiencing unprecedented highs right now,” Smith says. She explains that typically rates fall when the economy slows down. Currently, while unemployment is rising, inflation is dropping.
“Normally there’s a bigger difference between mortgage and refinance rates,” says Downing-Manning. “Right now there really isn’t much of a difference. Rates benefit both. So whether clients are looking to buy their dream home and move up or put money into their current home or even just reduce their interest rate, the time is right for all of those.”
The months of quarantine during which homeowners were working from home and children were educating at home highlighted the need for more space or more-suitable space. This has led to a lot of motivated buyers for both new construction and resale properties.
“The resale inventory is low compared to demand,” Smith says. “I’m hearing of multiple offers on homes, more than 20 for one home recently.” Those low rates have benefited development and new construction as well. “A 30-year fixed loan is about 2.5% now [early August], and construction loans are at 3.75%,” she says.
“Although I don’t work with construction loans, it’s clear, just driving around, that builders are still moving a lot of dirt. Typically, construction and development loan rates are tied to prime, and that’s had a positive effect on those loans,” Downing-Manning says.
The steady activity during the height of quarantine resulted in occasional backlogs while many offices were closed. Many professionals, including real estate agents, appraisers, inspectors, and attorneys, were working from home or working limited hours.
Digital methods of completing sales, which were already in limited use, have been improved and implemented more consistently and are expected to become the norm in many aspects of the business.
As the busy construction season continues, mortgage activity remains at unprecedented rates. “Even with the uncertainties in the economy right now, folks who are employed feel pretty confident in their job situation after all the ups and downs lately, so they’re comfortable considering a move,” Downing-Manning says.
With rates this low, and likely to remain so at least through the end of the year, the seller’s market should continue.
As Smith says, with rates this good, anyone who qualifies is shopping.
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