Some industries may have moved or outsourced to less expensive shores, but some industries cannot be outsourced, said Scott Wohl, the new executive director of the Builders Association of the Hudson Valley. And residential construction is one of them.
“The skills of tradesmen and professionals who use stick, brick, conduit, asphalt, steel and so much more when putting our ”˜product”™ together can”™t be shipped to another country,” Wohl said.
“Today”™s new economy ”“ and the glut of homes flooding the market ”“ makes the residential building market very tough right now,” said Wohl, who has spent his career in real estate, from appraiser to director of government affairs for the Orange County Association of Realtors.
“Those who have managed to survive and to prosper are delivering what people want ”“ smaller, cost-efficient homes, or home renovations that are esthetically pleasing but don”™t break the customer”™s bank.”
With a current membership of 260, 80 of whom are home builders, it has been a brutal time for all in the industry. “Those who have been able to stay profitable have downsized homes and prices and gearing product to the markets where they are needed.” For the most part, McMansions are out, practical is in.
The number of “gray tigers” is disproportionately large for the region, with more residents joining the ranks each day. They aren”™t looking to join those exiting the state to warmer climes. They either want to sell their home and downsize or add an accessory apartment for extra income, despite the reluctance of many municipalities to endorse, but an alternative Wohl is in favor of.
On the flip side, the couple with a growing family who want a home that”™s new are happy to skip the 6,000-square-foot house for something in the 2,000-square-foot range, but built with today”™s technology at a price they can afford. “Those are the new houses that are selling, despite the bleak economy,” Wohl said. Walkable communities with markets, shops and pocket parks are also on the list of must-haves for many looking to buy new.
“Scott was the perfect candidate for job,” said Peter Berman, president of The Ruby Group, a design-build firm in Goshen and president of the BAHV”™s board of directors. “We are so excited to have him. His whole career has been in this industry; he understands it and is just what we need to help our members grow their business and get us the attention we need on a government level; he knows how to leverage social media to advocate for our members. We”™re an industry that”™s had its share of problems. We”™ve seen a loss in membership because of the recession. Some have gone out of business and potential members who want more value-added services offered to entice them to join.
“Scott brings that to the table and more. We are confident in his ability to communicate with our members on a level they can relate to, the savvy to use all the social media available and the expertise to deliver the message where it needs to be heard. And he is a good representative for BAHV with our chambers of commerce on matters that concern us all; the MTA tax is just one example.”
Despite the outsourcing by so many industries, “No one can get our services from another country,” Berman said. “Builders assemble products and turn them into homes, office buildings, roads and bridges and they do it right here.” BAHV members are encouraged to buy and do business with local vendors whenever possible and to seek out that Made in U.S.A. imprimatur.
Home building is one of the very few true manufacturing industries left in the United States that cannot be shipped offshore, re-emphasized Wohl in his first letter to members. “This means we are a dependable source of local jobs, with profits that will be seen immediately in the local community and providing a product that is ”˜used”™ locally. The economic and social benefits of a healthy housing industry are immense.”
“I”™m grateful to the board for their confidence,” he said. “Besides growing new members because we have something unique to offer ”“ the specialized training, certification classes and the benefit of having a network of people from a variety of industries who ”˜speak the same language”™ at one table along with the great discounts members receive from vendors like Paychex or Verizon ”“ my goal is to give BAHV members a voice our local and state government will listen to.”
