Today's Remodeler eNewsletter
Published by the Professional Remodeler's Organization
4120 Secor Road
Toledo, Ohio 43623
June 2009


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President's Message June 2009

The market is more competitive, and the buyers are slow to decide. Even though most raw construction material prices are at a 25 year low, renovation spending has dropped nearly a quarter since its 2005 peak.

Most of today’s remodeling prospects are nervous and undecided. Many potential clients seem to look for excuses not to proceed, more than reasons to buy. People are talking to several contractors now, when in the past, they may have interviewed with one or two.

New approaches to selling to what they may want to buy will make doing business with you easier. By adjusting some of our past selling practices, we may be able to read our clients/customers better, and make their decision to buy easier.

Maybe selling to time and material as opposed to a fixed price, or allowing more customer participation, or even possibly allowing owner supplied material could be a solution. It may take an adjustment on our part to take smaller jobs than we used to in the past, in anticipation that it will lead to the opportunity for larger future projects.

The importance of making your customer easily understand your selling points, the more likely potential clients are to buy from you.

Executive Director's Report June 2009

The golf outing was a success. Congratulations to the team of Earl Bros. Auto Repair who posted a fine score of 14 under. It started out looking like it was going to be a wet and cold day but it quickly cleared up to a beautiful one. I personally want to thank those who offered to sponsor this outing even though it is trying times in this area. Our hole sponsors were American Builders, Toledo Door & Window, WRK Advertising, CertainTeed Roofing & Siding, Great Lakes Credit Union, and Arnold’s Home Improvements. Cleaner&Dryer Restoration gave everybody a chance to go to Hawaii. Jim Earl missed it by inches. A special thanks goes to our Gold Sponsors, Owens Corning and ABC Supply who so generously supports your association.

I have received a number of awards for various groups and was never as proud as the evening that your association received recognition from the O-OHIO program. I (and only I) stood in the packed Gish Film Theatre at Bowling Green State University and received a heart warming thank you medal from the Adjutant General for our participation in their program. Every soldier there came up and shook my hand. One of the recipients of your generosity was in attendance and came up to me and couldn’t thank our association enough for repairing her roof. In case you are not aware, the O-OHIO (Operation Ohio Helps its Own) is a program where they recruit help for the spouses of those soldiers who are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. Our help comes in the form of repairs around the house. So far we have responded so well that we were the only group in this area to receive recognition. It is my hope that when you get a call from me looking to help them with a repair that you will find in your heart to help. You can only imagine the stress that the spouses are going through with trying to maintain a house, raise children and try to live a normal life while their loved one is fighting overseas.

Do you have an Entertainment Book that you bought from the school, churches, etc., and it’s laying around your house until late this year? The PRO office has partnered with “FanClubCard.com” to bring you savings on hundreds of products and services at LOCAL area businesses. Instead of carrying that heavy book around for a year, by becoming a member, you will have a plastic card that fits in your wallet. This card can be reused every single day. You must check out the website (FanClubCard.com) and see how it works. You will most likely be contacted to see if you would want to be a part of this program also. Tell your friends and family about this program. When you sign up, please use Registration Code 1969. A portion of your fee will go to the Professional Remodelers. Call the office if you have any questions.

Well, summer is upon us and that means that there are no more General Meetings until September. I hope that you have a busy and safe summer.

Toledo Residential Remodeling Contractors 2009 I.C.C. Prep Class

When: August 12th, 2009
Where: Professional Remodelers Organization
4120 Secor Road
Toledo, Ohio 43623

Time: 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cost: $175.00 (Includes Code Book)

** Free to THRA members **
(Code Book Extra)

I.C.C. Prep Class Application

2008 Northwest Ohio Green Industry Summer Session

The 2008 Northwest Ohio Green Industry Summer Session is an educational event specifically designed for members of the local landscape, garden center, tree care, and turf industry. Education sessions and exhibits will be held throughout the afternoon.

For more information and registration forms Click Here

Fall Life & Home Show 2009

Keep your eyes open for the new information coming soon on the Fall Life & Home Show being held at the Tam-O-Shanter in Sylvania on October 17th, 2009. This will be in partnership with Tam-O-Shanter, Sylvania Chamber of Commerce and PRO. It will be a free show and they anticipate 4,000 people coming through in one day. There will be a limited number of similar displays.

In other words, there will not be 15 companies there selling lipstick. So when you receive your brochure, do not hesitate to act on it. Watch your mailbox by the end of this month for more information.

2009 BBB Torch Award Winners

Congratulations to the BBB for 90 years of service to the region.

There were several of our members nominated for the 2009 Torch Award for marketplace ethics. Custom Storage Solutions, Earl Bros. Transmission & Auto Repair, Father & Son Building & Remodeling, Harms Carpet Center, Mullan Insurance Services, North Branch Nursery, Paul Davis Restoration, Radiant Windows, Seagate Roofing & Foundation Services, Skyline Beam, Wesson Builders, and Window Pro Infinity from Marvin.

Our own Mullan Insurance won the small business category. Way to go Mike & Ryan Fitzpatrick!

PRO Chit Chat June 2009

We would like to offer our condolences to the following families. Tom Gearhart from Seagate Roofing who’s wife Rebecca passed away suddenly. Some of you may remember a former member of the association Robert Brewer of RB Roofing. Robert passed away after a short sickness.

On the good news, congratulations go to Michael Bonnar for the birth of a very small (2lb 12oz) baby boy. Although ________ was born premature, he is doing very well. And to our very own Reneé Mani who became a grandmother to a healthy 5lb 8oz boy. We welcome Cole J. Williams into the world. Mother and son are both doing fine.

Welcome New Members



2008 Northwest Ohio Green Industry Summer Session

The 2008 Northwest Ohio Green Industry Summer Session is an educational event specifically designed for members of the local landscape, garden center, tree care, and turf industry. Education sessions and exhibits will be held throughout the afternoon.

For more information and registration forms Click Here