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HBA: Little interest in new homes
By Jordan Cohen
NILES
Contractors at this weekend’s Home Builders and Remodelers Association of the Valley show at the Eastwood Expo Center say their sales leads will come from remodeling because there is almost no interest in home construction.
“If I had to make a living building new homes, I wouldn’t be working, because there’s nothing out there,” said Sam Pitzulo, a Canfield-based builder and remodeler for 21 years. Pitzulo said that consumers, wary of a shaky economy coupled with limited financing options, are going for remodeling, and it’s in that area that he and his fellow builders are having some success.
“In a typical year, I used to build 10 new homes and have 20 remodeling contracts,” said Pitzulo, “but last year, I had 60 remodeling [jobs].” The number of homes Pitzulo said he built in 2010: one.
A number of patrons at the show interviewed by The Vindicator echoed Pitzulo’s comments. All said they were looking at remodeling options and costs. No one expressed any interest in building or buying a new home.
“We’re not doing anything major; just basic maintenance and upgrades,” said John Besoiu, of Mineral Ridge. “We’re just looking for ideas.”
“I’m on a fixed income, and the economy will probably affect what I spend,” said Marilyn Spahr, Warren, as she and her husband looked into floor remodeling.
The annual fall show features 70 vendors including a few crafts such as Amish rugs and jewelry, but remodeling seems to draw the most interest, an apparent fact of life for Mahoning Valley contractors.
“People are willing to work on older homes, and that’s why we had to diversify,” said David Smith, HBA president and owner of Smith Family Builders in Hartford. Smith said he and his fellow HBA members face another major challenge.
“We are busy, but our margins are smaller, which is true of any industry these days,” Smith said.
Larry Fusco, sales manager of Thompson Heating and Cooling, Warren, said he was disappointed at the show’s attendance thus far, which he blamed on the economy, as did several other vendors. Fusco said the quality, rather than the quantity, of his leads will determine whether the show is a success for his company.
“I have some leads and made appointments, and if a couple of them work out, it will pay for the show and our booth,” Fusco said.
Some contractors, however, said they were optimistic about potential sales the show may generate, none more so than Debbie Martin, an “outside lead adjuster” for Leaf Fitters. Martin, whose company sells leaf screens and gutter improvements in seven states, said she got a number of sales leads since the show began Friday, mostly from older people.
“Senior citizens are our biggest customers because they don’t want to be [climbing] on a roof,” Martin said.
The HBA show reopens today at 10 a.m. and concludes its run at 5 p.m. Admission is free.
The HBA has scheduled its annual spring show for next February in Boardman.