By Matt Weafer
For the Messenger-Inquirer Home and Garden Show catalogue
Until the birth of the National Home Builders Association, home construction had only one guideline, customer satisfaction.
But what happened when there was an injury on the job site? Or the customer was unhappy with the quality of craftsmanship?
The Home Builders Association of Owensboro is designed to ensure local contractors provide honest work and a quality product.
“We are a group of builders that strive for all builder members to be registered,” HBAO President David Clark said. “And registered means they use a written contract, carry insurance and continue their education every year.”
The HBAO has 333 members, including contractors and suppliers. And each member is dedicated to professional performance.
According to the HBAO Code of Ethics listed on the organization’s Web site, “Home ownership can and should by within reach of every American family. American homes should be well-designed, well-constructed and well-located in attractive communities with education, recreational, religious and shopping facilities accessible to all.”
Members of the HBAO ascribe to a list of principles that define their goals as responsible contractors; the first of which lists the members’ primary responsibilities as customer, community and country. And the second principle states, “Honesty is our guiding policy.”
The other policies create a standard of safety, fairness and legality. The members of the HBAO are a virtual brotherhood dedicated to creating a quality housing market and happy consumer-base in Owensboro.
“(For the) general public or someone that would be interested in building a house, the major benefit (of HBAO) is they can call and get a list of registered builders,” Clark said. “And those are the (builders) that in my opinion are more reputable.”
The HBAO also provides education seminars and safety training throughout the year.
“That goes along with part of the continuing education,” Clark said, “and also makes for a safer workplace for employees and all concerned.”
On top of dedication to consumer-satisfaction and quality control, the HBAO is also a networking organization for contractors.
With the 333 members in Owensboro, the HBAO offers a large network of businesses accessible for contractors.
Clark said members include contractors as well as suppliers. And many of the contractors use member suppliers for orders.
“And we provide a meeting 11 months out of the year where there is networking available to all the builders and associates,” Clark said.
Another benefit for members is discounted rates for workers compensation insurance.
To maintain a progressive level of quality control and new ideas, each year, the HBAO announces a new president. Board members are named according to a ladder system.
“Once you become involved,” Clark said, “you start out at different positions and just qualify as you go. It takes about four years once you’re on the ladder to actually become associates council president, which gives you a better understanding of how everything works.”
As the president for 2009, Clark said, “This year we just hope to survive.”
While tight economic times have drastically hurt some industries, Clark said Owensboro has suffered a little but not as bad as some cities.
In fact, the HBAO is still moving forward.
The new HBAO building has been completely paid for, Clark said, and the organization recently purchased a plot of land near the new building.
Clark’s goal is to pay off that plot of land by the end of the year.
But HBAO funds do not all stay within the membership.
As part of the HBAO’s dedication to the community, each year, the organization hosts a reverse raffle to raise money for different charities.
Last year, the HBAO donated $5,000 each to Friends of the Children and the Daviess County Lions Club.
The reverse raffle takes place each fall.
For more information about the HBAO, call (270) 699-0353 or visit www.hbao.com.
Reprinted with permission from the Messenger-Inquirer.
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