The idea of a story “The Anatomy of a Home” in this issue was the result of a brainstorming session I had with several business-minded folks I consider well versed in the economy and the state of our country.
The discussion was actually about politics and our armchair Monday morning quarterbacking resulted in what it is going to take to turn our economy around.
All agreed that besides restoring confidence, jobs were the root of all success. The conversation almost always would circulate back to the American Dream of owning a home. Although it was agreed that the “Dream” may need tweaking in this new age, we still returned to issues surrounding construction, investing, securing and even participating in real estate and construction.
It was not hard to see that if you were to dissect the industry, one cannot have a conversation without the number of jobs as a primary subject.
That is why we approached Richard Dostie, a longtime friend and giant in the local home building community. I knew his daddy and his sons and Richard is a fixed asset to this community. One thing he sees is the number of jobs and the economic impact construction of a home generates.
Almost every aspect of construction requires a multitude of laborers, specialists, professionals, craftsmen, tradesmen and licensees,. They consist of lawyers, salesmen, training schools, teachers, legislators and elected officials, even baby-sitters.
Our goal is this: Over the next five months to break down five different steps in the process from buying the lot you love and who participates in one of the biggest decision of your life.
Even before we began, I knew it was a large number, but not until we had dug deeper did I fully understand the magnitude of this industry on our local economy.
At Realty/Builder Connection, we don’t profess to know it all. Our job is to disseminate information. So we need your help.
Read and look over the “Anatomy” spread in the third section of this newspaper and let me know what you think, and how you would make this even more beneficial to the rest of our readers.
How can we keep the jobs we have and how can we grow this industry so there are more jobs? The easy answer: build more homes. But that’s not the right answer until we determine how to get more homebuyers.
We’re all in this together, from our community leaders to the craftsman who doesn’t have enough work.
I truly feel your thoughts will be enlightening to all of our regular readers and I think it will eye-opening to many others.
My email: [email protected].
– Jim Bailey is publisher of Realty/Builder Connection and president of Bailey Publishing & Communications Inc.