Threshold SEPTEMBER 2018

SEPTEMBER 2018
INSIDE
ROOM PAINTING 101
IMPROVE YOUR HOMES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
SPEED UP THE SALE
OF YOUR HOME
KEEP UNWANTED
GUESTS AWAY
THRESHOLD IS A MONTHLY MAGAZINE PRESENTED BY
THE GREATER CEDAR RAPIDS HOUSING & BUILDING ASSOCIATION

FEATURES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6
ROOM PAINTING 101
16
SPEED UP THE SALE
OF YOUR HOME
20
5
8
12
BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY
Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity Video
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES
IMPROVE YOUR HOMES EFFICIENCY
through technology
A publication of the Greater Cedar Rapids
Housing and Building Association
KEEP UNWANTED
GUEST AWAY
DEPARTMENTS
9 NEW MEMBERS
9 SAVE THE DATE
23 GCRHBA BOARD
24 THE SPIKE CLUB
2 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018

EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S MESSAGE
A very busy month
MELISSA
OLSON
August was a busy month with all of our member networking
events. Thank you to Weston Darling with
Splash Pool & Spa Builders for sponsoring and hosting
a wonderful event at your new location; which is
beautiful so if you have not stopped by please do so!
Splash Pool & Spa Builders provided fantastic hospitality
along with beverages and delicious food from a
food truck so thank you again!
We also held our Annual Nail Drivers’ Open at St.
Andrews Golf Course. Thank you to everyone at Mc-
Grath Fleet & Commercial and Altorfer CAT for sponsoring
and making this event so fun for everyone that
attends! In addition, we had 44 supporting sponsors
that went above and beyond to make sure the golfers
had a fabulous time on the course, so thank you to
all of you!
I would like to personally thank our Nail Drivers’
Open Committee that helped make this event so successful
this year (our best one ever)…Ontario Caudill,
Susan Forinash, John Guidinger, Brent Nichols, Robert
Riley, Ryan Sullivan, Justin Zimmerman, and Sarah
Zimmerman. And finally our month wrapped up
with a Fall Mixer with the CR & IC HBA members. A
special thank you to Karyl Bohnsack, EO with the IC
HBA, for coordinating the event. As well as Hills Bank
& Trust and all the sponsors that supported this event.
September is Fall Parade of Homes time! We have
16 new and 3 remodeled homes that will be open to
tour! Please make sure you come out to support our
builder and associate members that put a lot of work
into these beautiful homes! We will also hold our annual
Members Only Breakfast & Tour on October 3, so
mark your calendars now to join us!
And finally, we are very excited to announce the
launch of our new website! This has been a dream of
mine and something I am very proud of! Thank you
to Josh Krueger, CEO & Founder of Dotcom Design,
for taking on the challenge to do such an extensive
website for our association! Please make sure you
check it out at crhba.org.
Sincerely,
Melissa Olson, Executive Officer
Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & Building Association
MEMBERSHIP VALUE
Valuable Member Discounts through
NAHB’s Member Advantage Program. Your
membership entitles you to discounts and
savings opportunities offered by many
top companies on vehicles, shipping, cell
phone plans, computers, car rentals, office
supplies and more. NAHB’s purchasing
power means big savings for you!
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 3

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
September Message
MIKE FARR
Thank you for your membership and participation!
We held our Golf Outing on Friday, August
17th. It was a huge success! I want to that all the
participants and the committee for their hard
work! If you have any suggestions on how to make
it better, contact Justin Zimmerman or Melissa at
the HBA office. We also held a joint meeting with
Iowa City HBA on September 30th. It seemed to
go very well, but Iowa City brought more members
to the event then we had ourselves. The
meeting was at Kirkwood Hotel pavilion.
Are you looking for workers? Kirkwood has
students that are looking for internships and jobs
as they graduate. Contact the HBA office or Kirkwood
about finding a student!
Check out our website, looking for feedback!
Also looking for feedback on our new electronic
Threshold!
Putting a call out to our members to join the
Membership Committee! We need eager people
that want to make the call to perspective members
and to existing members and to our Spikes!
Members are the life blood to our association!
Contact Melissa at the HBA office to include you
to the committee email list!
It was hard to believe another summer has
come and gone! I hope that everyone and their
families were able to enjoy the time together and
are ready for the start of another school year! Best
wishes to all!
Take Care,
Mike Farr, President
Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & Building
Association
NETWORKING AFTER HOURS
MEMBER EVENTS
Fall Parade of Homes
Saturday, Sept. 29, 12-5 PM
Sunday, Sept. 30, 12-5 PM
Thursday, Oct. 4, 5-8 PM
Saturday, Oct. 5, 12-5 PM
Sunday, Oct. 7, 12-5 PM
See page 21 for more information.
Suburban Lumber
Oktoberfest
Thursday, October 18
5-7 PM
Suburban Lumber,
2630 Wiley Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids
See page 14 for more information.
4 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018

BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY
Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity
Video Captures the Commitment
Thank you to the commitment of
Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity,
five dedicated builders and
dozens of associate members,
three area families have received
an opportunity to build strength,
stability, and self-reliance in
homes of their own! It is truly
amazing what we can accomplish
when we partner together!
WATCH
VIDEO
Our new website
has launched!
CHECK IT OUT!
crhba.org
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 5

DIY PAINTING
ROOM PAINTING
101
Ready for a new look in your home,
but don’t have a budget for a big
remodel? There’s nothing faster or more
economical to give your home a quick
update than by painting your rooms a
new color. A well-planned and executed
paint job can make a room look larger
or cozier, can accent features or hide
flaws, or reflect your own personal flair.
Article provided by National Association of Home Builders
6 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018

Some tips to help make your
painting project a success.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT COLOR
Go to a paint or home improvement store
and get swatches of colors to take home. Select
a lot of options, chances are the florescent
lights in the store will make the colors
look completely different than they will in
your home.
See how you like the colors on different
walls and in different lighting conditions —
early morning sun, midday and nighttime
lamplight — to make sure you’re happy with
your final choice.
Another option is to paint a few colors
on your walls. Many companies offer sample
sizes in either a selection of popular colors,
or in any color they offer. These samples
cost much less than a full gallon and give
you the opportunity to try them out on the
wall before spending a lot of money.
SELECT AN APPROPRIATE FINISH
Choose a paint finish depending on how the room or surface
will be used:
• A flat or matte finish helps conceal flaws and absorbs
light in well-lit rooms.
• Satin or eggshell finishes are a good choice for
high-traffic areas such as foyers, family rooms, kitchens
and bathrooms because they clean more easily than flat or
matte paint.
• Baseboards, molding and railings look best in a semigloss
finish, which is a shiny finish that is the easiest to
clean and provides a contrast to the walls.
Many paint companies also now offer “all-in-one”
paints that already contain primer. These enable you to
paint over a darker paint color or area that’s been repaired
with patching compound without having to apply a coat of
primer before the paint.
STOCK UP ON SUPPLIES
Here are the basic supplies you’ll need whether you’re
painting several rooms or just one:
• Brushes and rollers
• Paint trays
• Painter’s tape
• Sheets or tarps to cover furniture
PREPARE THE ROOM
Give yourself adequate space to maneuver while you
paint and protect your valuable furniture and belongings.
Move as much of the room’s contents as you can either
out of the room or away from the walls.
Cover whatever is going to stay and the floor, especially
where it meets the walls, with old sheets or plastic
tarps.
Next, remove the switch plates and electrical outlet
covers. It’s easier than trying to cover them with painter’s
tape and definitely looks better — and is safer — than
just painting over them. Don’t forget to repair nail holes,
dents or chipped spots with a patching compound.
If you have any doubt about your ability to paint a perfectly
straight line, or you don’t have a very steady hand,
use painter’s tape to protect features you don’t want paint
to get on. This could include baseboards, window and
door trim, and where the wall meets the ceiling or crown
molding. Make sure the tape adheres properly by running
a finger or mixing stick along the tape.
Clean the walls with a mild detergent solution or wipe
them with a damp lint-free cloth to remove cobwebs and
dust that will cause blemishes in your paint. Vacuum or
dust the room to make sure dust or animal hair doesn’t
get in your paint and on your walls.
Now you’re ready to make a colorful change! T
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 7

SUPPORT SMALL
BUSINESSES
Small businesses are the backbone of
America. They build a strong economy and
strong communities.
Many builders, remodelers and related
businesses in the housing industry are small
businesses making vital contributions to our
economy. In fact, 15% of the U.S. economy
relies on housing.
A healthy housing industry means more
jobs and a stronger economy. Constructing
100 new single-family homes creates 297
full-time jobs, $28 million in wage and business
income and $11.1 million in federal,
state and local tax revenue.
Housing, like no other business sector, is
“Made in America.” Most of
the products used in home
construction and remodeling
are manufactured here in the
United States.
That’s why it’s important to
support small businesses.
CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF
YOUR LOCAL HBA MEMBERS
Article provided by National Association of Home Builders
8 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018

SAVE THE DATE
The Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & Building
Association is the main sponsor of several events
throughout the year, that allow consumers direct
access to the latest in building products, actual
building contractors of new homes, and remodelers
of existing homes.
SEPTEMBER 29 & 30, OCTOBER 4, 6 & 7
Fall Parade of Homes
OCTOBER 3
Members Only Parade of Homes Breakfast & Tour
OCTOBER 18
Suburban Lumber Mixer
PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE
NOVEMBER 8
Annual Awards Banquet
NEW MEMBERS
Carlton Saunders
Doors by George
Pat Lang
P. Lang Construction
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 9

McGrath Fleet & Commercial/Altorfer CAT
2018 Nail Drivers’ Open
10 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018

Thank You!
McGrath Fleet & Commercial/Altorfer CAT
2018 Nail Drivers’ Open
THANK YOU TO OUR
SUPPORTING SPONSORS:
* Four person best shot (ALL parties hit from WHITE tees) * 2 Putt Max Rule
* $500 Putting Contest #10
* Flag Events: Long Drive #4, Closest to Pin #12 and Long Put #18
* Prize to lowest score team : 4 rounds of golf and 2 carts from St. Andrews Golf Course
ABC Supply Company
ON-COURSE Glass Concepts FOOD STATIONS:
Acme Tools #2 Grilled Pork Loins #4 Walking Greg’s Lawn Tacos #9 Snacks & Desserts #10 Hot Dogs
Advance Millwork
RAFFLE PRIZES! Buy your tickets at hole #10 or from the beverage cart!
Hanna Plumbing & Heating A VERY SPECIAL
Raffle Ticket Prices: 1/$5, 3/$10, Illuminate 8/$20, Lighting 30/$50, 40/$60, 60/$80 or GO BIG! THANK 80/$100 YOU
THANK YOU TO
Iowa
OUR
Appliance
SUPPORTING
Center
SPONSORS: to our Nail Drivers’
Kelly Concrete
Open Committee:
Ahmann Companies
Allied Glass Products
Anderson Bogert
Hall & Hall Engineers
BankIowa ABC Supply Company City Wide Construction Kelly Concrete
BerganKDV Acme Tools CliftonLarsonAllen Lumber Specialties LLP Lumber Specialties
Advance Millwork Culligan of Cedar Rapids NXT Bank
Bobcat of Cedar Rapids
NXT Bank
Ontario Caudill
Ahmann Companies Delaney Concrete Ogden & Adams Lumber
Bradley Allied & Riley Glass PC Products Duball Ogden Electric & Adams Lumber Ollinger Garage Robert Doors Riley
Budget Blinds Anderson of Eastern Bogert Iowa Federated Ollinger Garage Insurance Doors
Pinnacle Realty Susan Forinash
BankIowa Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Plumb Supply
Cascade Manufacturing
Pinnacle Realty
Ryan Sullivan
BerganKDV First Supply Price Electric
Cedar Valley Bobcat Habitat of Cedar for Rapids Humanity Glass Plumb Concepts Supply
Rathje Construction John Guidinger
City Wide Bradley Construction & Riley PC Greg’s Price Electric Lawn Squaw Creek Justin Millwork Zimmerman
Budget Blinds of Eastern Iowa Hall & Hall Engineers
Suburban Lumber
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
Rathje Construction
Cascade Manufacturing Hanna Plumbing & Heating UICCU
Culligan Cedar of Cedar Valley Rapids Habitat for Illuminate Squaw Creek Lighting Millwork
Universal Lending
Delaney Concrete Humanity Iowa Suburban Appliance Lumber Center Windows by Pella
Duball Electric A VERY SPECIAL THANK UICCUYOU to our Nail Drivers’ Open Committee:
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen Ontario & Lighting Caudill Susan Universal Forinash LendingJohn Guidinger Brent Nichols
First Supply Robert Riley Ryan Windows Sullivan by PellaJustin
Zimmerman Sarah Zimmerman
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 11

HOME IMPROVEMENT
Improve Your
Home’s Energy
Efficiency with
Technology
12 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018

Today’s home buyers are
looking for ways to incorporate
home technologies
that increase
the long-term value
of their house but also
provide convenience,
safety and comfort. In fact,
NAHB research shows that most
home buyers desire an energy-efficient
home and are willing to pay
more for it.
NAHB’s consumer preferences
survey of more than 3,600 recent
and prospective home buyers examined
the features, products,
amenities and layouts preferred in
a new home.
In the home technology category,
home buyers highly ranked
features that improve a home’s
efficiency, including multi-zone
heating, ventilation and air-conditioning
(HVAC), lighting controls
and a programmable thermostat.
By incorporating the following
technologies, home owners can
save money on their utility bills:
AUTOMATED HVAC SYSTEMS
can maintain a more energy-efficient
temperature while the home
68
owners are away at work
but switch to a more
comfortable temperature
prior to their arrival
home. Zones can also
be created to heat or cool
only the areas most used
by the occupants, keeping
other areas, such as guest bedrooms,
shut down until they are
needed. According to ENERGY
STAR, a joint program of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
and the U.S. Department of Energy,
programmable thermostats can
save consumers about $180 per
year in energy costs.
TANKLESS WATER HEATERS —
which save energy by heating water
only when needed — are comparable
in cost to traditional gas water
heaters but are 30% more efficient,
according to the U.S. Department
of Energy.
LIGHTING can make up 10-
20% of the total electrical usage
of the home. Installing an automatic
dimmer, which adjusts to
the home owner’s needs based
on time of day or occupancy,
will lower electricity bills and increase
the life expectancy of light
bulbs.
BLINDS AND DRAPES can be
programmed to close during the
hottest part of the day to block out
the sun; keeping the house cooler.
In the colder winter months, they
can open up to allow the sun in to
warm the house, which helps regulate
the room temperature.
By incorporating technologies that
help make your home operate more
efficiently, ENERGY STAR estimates
that home owners can save $200 to
$400 annually on their energy bills.
To learn more steps that you
can take to improve your home’s
efficiency, visit ENERGY STAR’s
website.
Research shows that most home buyers
desire an energy-efficient home and
are willing to pay more for it.
Contact your local HBA for help with
improving your homes efficiency.
Article provided by National Association of Home Builders
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 13

MEMBER EVENT
OKTOBERFEST
AROMA
ARTISAN PIZZA
will provide
appetizers and be
cooking pizzas
on site
Thursday, October 18
5-7 p.m.
Suburban Lumber
2630 Wiley Blvd SW, CR
BEVERAGES
including
Oktoberfest Beer,
Wine, Water and
Soft Drinks
Please email reservations to eo@crhba.org by
October 16
Courtesy of Suburban Lumber
Entertainment
provided by
Bryce Janey
14 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018

IC/CR HBA’s Fall Mixer
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 15

Speed Up
the Sale of
Your Home
SOLD
Putting your home up for
sale can be an exhausting,
stressful experience. But there
are several things you can
do to improve your home’s
marketability. By expending a
bit of effort before it goes on
the market, you can ensure your
home presents well, stands out
from the crowd and doesn’t
turn off potential buyers so
that you can sell quickly…and
at the best price.
First
Impressions
Count
16 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018

Clean your house top to bottom including
walls, floors, furniture and tabletops.
Everything should be sparkling clean
when a buyer makes that all-important
first visit. Don’t leave dirty dishes in the
sink, crumbs on the counter or laundry
stacked in the bedroom.
Take a long, hard look at your home from
the street. Does it have curb appeal? Is it
warm, inviting and well-kept? Make sure
by mowing the lawn, weeding garden
areas, trimming unruly bushes, resealing
the driveway and sweeping the porch.
Pay particular attention to your front
door. Repaint it if necessary. Polish the
doorknob and knocker and clean the
glass and screen door. When a buyer
waits at the front door to enter, make
sure he or she sees that your home was
cared for lovingly.
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 17

Tone Down
Personality
Don’t
Burden the
Buyer with
Repairs
Your bookshelves may be filled with Pulitzer-Prize winners
and your collection of Americana figurines may
reflect your personal interests, but to home buyers, it
looks busy and cluttered, and may distract them from
truly seeing your home’s unique architectural features
and spacious rooms. Also consider whether family
pictures help or hinder a sale: Future home owners
may not be able to look past your kids’ smiling faces
plastered all over the walls and see themselves building
their own future in your home.
Since you hope to move soon anyway, go ahead and
box them up and put them in storage in advance of
the open house or showing.
While that red accent
wall opposite the lime
green fireplace perfectly
ties in with your
ultra-modern furniture,
a potential buyer at
your open house may
be turned off immediately
and decide that
the entire house doesn’t
reflect their style.
Consider painting walls a neutral color such as beige
or taupe. The interior paint job should be fresh and
clean and in a single, neutral color throughout.
The same goes for the exterior. Don’t forget shutters
and windows. If your home has vinyl or aluminum siding,
be sure it’s clean. Moldy, dirty siding will tell a buyer
that your home has not been taken care of properly.
Old, matted carpeting will be a detriment to your
home selling. Real estate agents all have a dozen stories
of a home that sat and sat on the market until the
old carpeting was replaced. Then, it sold immediately.
If you have hardwood floors under old carpet, tear
up the carpet to expose them; today’s buyers love
hardwood floors.
If there are problem areas in your home,
get them fixed before the showing. When
prospective buyers tour the house and
see leak stains on the ceiling or peeling
paint, they will also see future work and
assume that bigger maintenance and repair
issues are lurking behind those small
problems.
This is particularly true in kitchens and
bathrooms, which are often the two
rooms that make or break a sale. The expenses
you incur on the front end sprucing
up your home will be cheaper than
the profits you could lose by having to
lower the price to meet buyer demand.
If your home’s appliances, like the dishwasher,
oven, refrigerator and washer and
dryer, are old and outdated, it could pay
to replace them.
Buyers do not
want to be faced
with the possibility
of having to
replace appliances
upon moving
in to a new
house. Shiny,
new appliances
already in place
will be a big
selling point.
18 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018
Article provided by National Association of Home Builders

VISIT THIS YEAR’S HOMES!
The Greater Cedar Rapids Housing
& Building Association presents
the Fall 2018 Parade of Homes.
Tour new and remodeled homes
in the greater Cedar Rapids
area to see the
latest advances
in home
construction
and design.
LOOK IN YOUR SEPTEMBER 23RD GAZETTE FOR OFFICIAL PARADE OF HOME GUIDE
new homes:
HOME 1 • Legacy GreenBuilders & Developers
334 RIDGE VIEW DR., FAIRFAX
HOME 2 • Schrage Construction, Inc.
2768 CREEKVIEW TRAIL, PALO
HOME 3 • Scallon Custom Homes, LLC
6710 COTTAGE HILL LANE NE, CEDAR RAPIDS
HOME 4 • Sattler Homes & Remodeling
314 WORTHINGTON CT., HIAWATHA
HOME 5 • Platten Construction LLC
6107 MICHAEL DR. NE, CEDAR RAPIDS
HOME 6 • JP Homes
9300 FEATHER RIDGE WAY, CEDAR RAPIDS
HOME 7 • B. Hancock Construction, Inc.
3062 DELL RIDGE LANE, HIAWATHA
HOME 8 • Frey Homes LLC
3088 WINDSOR DR., ROBINS
HOME 9 • Donohoe Custom Homes
3104 BRIMLEY PASS, ROBINS
HOME 10 • Skogman Homes
8726 GRAND OAKS DR. NE, CEDAR RAPIDS
HOME 11 • Skogman Homes
1482 CRESCENT OAK LANE, MARION
HOME 12 • Premier Plus Custom Homes
1159 KETTERING RD., MARION
HOME 13 • B. Hancock Construction, Inc.
1184 FOXBOROUGH DR., MARION
HOME 14 • Garman Built
345 LINDEN ST., ALBURNETT
HOME 15 • Flynn Homes, Inc.
1622 38TH ST. SE, CEDAR RAPIDS
HOME 16 • H&H Home Builders
4396 PIONEER TRAIL SE, CEDAR RAPIDS
remodeled homes:
ONLY OPEN OCT. 6-7
HOME A • Jim Buresh Construction Co.
4771 DOE RUN DR., CEDAR RAPIDS
HOME B • Sunderman Construction
2987 COUNTY HOME RD., MARION
HOME C • Home Town Restyling
2410 HILLVIEW DR., MARION
Tickets are $10 each and are available at each parade home, Hills Bank & Trust locations and Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.
Or you can purchase discounted tickets at any local Casey’s General Store for $9. Children 12 & under are FREE!
$
1 00
*
OFF
Fall 2018 Parade Ticket
NEW HOMES
Saturday, September 29 • 12-5 p.m.
Sunday, September 30 • 12-5 p.m.
Thursday, October 4 • 5-8 p.m.
NEW & REMODELED HOMES
Saturday, October 6 • 12-5 p.m.
Sunday, October 7 • 12-5 p.m.
*Valid on one ticket. Not valid at Casey’s General Store.
Sponsored by
R
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 19

Greater Cedar Rapids Housing & Building Association members are invited
to a breakfast and private showing of the Fall 2018 Parade of Homes!
Wednesday, October 3 rd
8:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Breakfast
Join us for a made-to-order omelet bar, coffee,
and networking at the Members Only breakfast.
Hills Bank and Trust Company
3905 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
Lower level - please park in the River of Life parking lot
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Tour
Members Only Tour tickets are required to enter the homes.
Stop by Hills Bank during breakfast to pick up your tickets.
Cost: $20/member
A FREE lunch coupon at any local Subway sponsored by
The Gazette will be provided with your Members Only Tour ticket.
Reserve your ticket by October 1 st at www.crhba.org.
Members Only Breakfast Sponsored by:
Member FDIC

Keep Unwanted Guests Away
Pest infestations are more than a nuisance. It is important
to protect your family from disease due to
food contamination and allergens and your property
from wood and foundation damage.
The cost for a home owner to treat an existing
pest problem averages more than $1,000 — which
doesn’t include the cost to correct the damage that
has already been done. Termites alone have been estimated
to cause $5 billion worth of damage in the
U.S. every year, according to the National Pest Management
Association. Here are some steps you can
take now to help keep your home pest-free for years
to come.
Inside Your Home
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
recommends a few things you can do inside your
house to control future infestations:
• Starve them out — keep a tight lid on the trash
and empty it often. Clean up spills immediately and
store food such as cereal, flour and sugar in plastic
containers rather than in their original packaging.
• Dry them out — some pests, such as cockroaches,
can survive a long time without food, but need
water more often to survive. To shut off
their supply, be sure to fix leaky faucets,
radiators, dishwashers,
and washing machines immediately and empty flower
pots and plant stands of excess water.
• Keep them out — seal cracks and openings along
baseboards, behind sinks, and around pipes and
windows. Repair holes in door and window screens.
Outside Your Home
Pests enter your home from the outside, so you will
also need to prepare the exterior of your house to
keep pests out:
• Look for cracks and holes on the outside of your
home and seal them up. Be sure to include points
where utility lines enter the house. Also address
damage to the basement foundation and windows.
• Check your landscaping. Rake mulch away from
the base of your home and keep it to a minimum to
allow for adequate drainage. Trim back tree branches
and bushes so they do not make contact with the
house. Remove tree stumps from your yard.
• Keep firewood piles stacked outside of your home
neat, away from the house and off the ground.
• Make sure basements and attics are well ventilated
and dry.
• Head up to the roof to look for any rotted or decaying
shingles.
• When you’re looking at your roof, also check
that your gutters are free of debris.
These simple steps now
can save you a lot of
headache and money
down the road from
these unwanted visitors.
Article provided by National Association of Home Builders
21 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 21

Thanks for a
fun evening!
Splash Pool & Spa Come make a Splash! Event
22 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018

Connect with Us
President
Mike Farr
Cascade Manufacturing Co.
Office: 563.852.3231
mgfarr@cascade-mfg-co.com
Vice-President
Rob Hajek
Home Repair Team
Office: 319.626.4663
robh@homerepairteam.com
Board Member
Jeff Capps
Cedar Valley Habitat for
Humanity/ReStore
Office: 319.366.4485
jeffcapps@cvhabitat.org
Board Member
Randy Dostal
Thomas Dostal Developers
Office: 319.431.3881
allamericanlc@hotmail.com
Board Member
Andrea Rhoades
Corridor Business Journal
Office: 319.665.6397
Andrea@corridorbusiness.com
Board Member
Robert Riley
Windows by Pella, Inc.
Office: 319.363.5768
robert.pellawindows@gmail.com
Second Vice-President
Dustin Kern
DK Land Services, Inc.
Office: 319.654.6706
dustin@dklandservices.com
Board Member
Mike Flynn
Flynn Homes, Inc.
Office: 319.366.6826
mike@flynnhomes.com
Board Member
Hunter Skogman
Skogman Homes
Office: 319.363.8285
hskogman@skogman.com
Treasurer
Justin Zimmerman
CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP
Office: 319.363.2697
justin.zimmerman@claconnect.com
Board Member
Benton Frey
Frey Homes, LLC
Office: 319.640.2300
benton@freyhomes.com
Board Member
Dean A. Spina
Bradley & Riley PC
Office: 319.861.8725
dspina@bradleyriley.com
Secretary
Jim Sattler
Jim Sattler Custom Homes
Office: 319.395.9157
jsattler@sattlerinc.com
Board Member
Joe Greathouse
Kirkwood Community College
Office: 319.398.5411
joe.greathouse@kirkwood.edu
Board Member
Ryan Sullivan
Amerhart, Ltd.
Office: 608.825.3322
ryan.sullivan@amerhart.com
Immediate Past President
Chad Pelley
Ahmann Design
Office: 319.395.7900
cpelley@ahmanncompanies.com
Board Member
Jim McGrew
Suburban Lumber Company
Office: 319.362.3115
jmcgrew@suburbanlumber.com
Board Member
Bryan Thumma
Affordable Heating & Cooling
Office: 319.462.3638
bryan.thumma@affordable-hvac.com
Remodelers Council First
Vice-Chair
Joe Sattler
Sattler Homes & Remodeling
Office: 319.395.9475
joe@sattlerhomes.com
Board Member
Amy Miller
Hills Bank and Trust Company
Office: 319.654.8007
amy_miller@hillsbank.com
Executive Officer
Melissa Olson
Greater Cedar Rapids Housing &
Building Association
Office: 319.395.0778
eo@crhba.org
Board Member
JR Blok
Blok Construction
Office: 319.533.4394
jrblok2@mchsi.com
Board Member
Drew Retz
Jerry’s Homes, Inc.
Office: 319.294.2290
drewr@jerryshomes.com
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 23

THE SPIKE CLUB
This month’s
SPIKE LEADER!
Growing our Strength through
Member Recruitment, Retention
and Involvement
Recruiting new members to your local association is an activity
recognized and rewarded through the Spike Club. Those who
participate are called Spikes, and they are among the most valued
members of the association.
Member-to-member recruitment and retention efforts are the
largest source of growth for the federation. Spikes bring grassroots
growth and stability. These efforts lend to the development
of the general membership and our leadership pipeline,
keeping the face of the federation true to that of our industry
and the scope of interests we represent.
Spikes are the membership leaders of our federation, building
the voice, power and influence on every level, in every state.
DUSTIN KERN
5.5 CREDITS
Watch this video and learn more about the
Spike Club.
C ongratulations
to Dustin!
24 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018

SPIKE MEMBERS
SUPER SPIKE
James Sattler 465.50
Mike Farr 343.00
ROYAL SPIKE
Michael Flynn 267.00
Mike Sattler 224.50
Wayne Winn 207.00
Randy Dostal 179.00
Rob Hajek 171.75
Tom Takes 170.25
Doug Kohoutek 167.25
Jim Buresh 157.75
RED SPIKE
Mark Wood 123.50
Drew Retz 116.75
Tari Dailey 110.25
Alvin Frey 102.25
GREEN SPIKE
Joseph Ahmann 75.00
Robert Meyer 74.50
Paul Brundell 70.50
Jim McGrew 67.75
YELLOW SPIKE
Joe Sattler 43.25
JR Blok 42.00
Steve Erusha 41.75
Ron Valenta 34.00
BLUE SPIKE
Todd Frazier 23.50
Kyle Skogman 23.00
Chad Pelley 20.50
Bryan Thumma 20.50
Benton Frey 13.50
Brian Ophoff 12.50
Ray Vasser 11.00
Chris Mottinger 9.50
Dustin Kern 7.50
Dustin Lee 7.50
K Flynn 7.75
SPIKE
CANDIDATES
Six (6) credits needed to
become a SPIKE MEMBER
Jeff Platten 5.50
Bob Rathje 5.25
Tom Kurtz 5.00
Mark Ralston 5.00
Chuck Rhode 5.00
Todd Richardson 5.00
Pat Sauter 5.00
Mark Sillman 5.00
Jeff Melcher 4.50
Al Sattler 4.50
Paul Scallon 4.50
Jerry Sunderman 4.00
Timothy Vaske 4.00
Kirk Sadilek 3.50
Todd Wood 3.50
Jamie Buresh 3.00
Ben Dahl 3.00
Chad Kelly 3.00
TJ Heefner 2.50
Terry Bjornsen 2.00
Matt Burger 2.00
Brad Joens 2.00
Dave Vanous 2.00
Mark Bertelli 1.50
Marc Daubitz 1.50
Mike Delaney 1.00
Rex Hamilton 1.00
Brian Hancock 1.00
Jennifer Hughes 1.00
Casey Johannes 1.00
Hanna Kustes 1.00
Brad Nielson 1.00
Justin Wright 1.00
2018 SPIKE
CHAMPIONS
Dustin Kern 5.5
Mike Farr 2.0
Jim McGrew 2.0
Ben Dahl 1.5
Randy Dostal 1.0
Rob Hajek 1.0
TJ Heefner 1.0
Tyler Janssen 1.0
Mike Ludvicek 1.0
Jeff Melcher 1.0
Drew Retz 1.0
Justin Wright 1.0
Gary Doerrfeld 0.5
Doug Kohoutek 0.5
Chad Pelley 0.5
WHO WILL
BE THIS
YEAR’S
GRAND
CHAMPION
“SPIKER”
THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018 25

Need a
?
Visit crhba.org for all your
housing & building needs.
• Free Referrals • Reputable Members • Peace of Mind •
crhba.org • 319.395.0778
26 THRESHOLD SEPTEMBER 2018