The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on April 21 released the 2019 Annual Report from the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate. The report examines and makes recommendations on policyholder and property owner concerns or frustrations with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The 2019 report focuses on five areas that may impact the rating of a policy or a policyholder’s eligibility for premium discounts or refunds:

• Improper application of an elevation rating using an elevation certificate;
• Loss of flood insurance policy rating discounts following a lapse in coverage;
• Confusion regarding the Group Flood Insurance Program;
• Limited refunds being issued after a policyholder has received a “Letter of Map Amendment, Out as Shown” letter; and
• A denial of Increased Cost of Compliance funds when a permit is issued before a substantial damage letter is received by the policyholder.

The Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate (OFIA) was created by Congress to advocate for the fair treatment of policyholders and property owners under the NFIP in the mapping of flood hazards, identification of risks from flood, and implementation of measures to minimize the risk of flood.

The OFIA provides education and guidance on all aspects of the NFIP, identifies trends affecting the public and makes recommendations for program improvements.

For more information, contact Tamra Spielvogel at 800-368-5242 x8327. To learn more about the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate, visit the FEMA website.

The 2020 Green Single Family and Multifamily Homes SmartMarket Brief, released before the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, found that most single-family builders (86%), single-family remodelers (72%) and multifamily builders/remodelers (74%) agree that building green costs more than building a traditional home, with the majority reporting a 5%-10% premium. These responses are similar to those reported in the 2017 SmartMarket Brief.

Even the majority of green builders agree there is a cost premium, although the percentage who find that it does not cost more to build green (12%) is three times more than those with low green involvement (4%). These data indicate that — once builders conquer the learning curve, have teams that are comfortable with and experienced in green building practices, and realize economies of scale where possible — green building can be done cost effectively.

Although some green homes may come with a cost premium, single-family builders and remodelers both perceive that owners of green homes experience value from their homes that typically outweighs any additional original cost. About 70% believe that customers will also pay more for these homes and nearly half think they will pay 5% or more, enabling builders to recoup the additional initial costs some encounter when building green.

Chart source: Dodge Data & Analytics, Green Single Family and Multifamily Homes 2020

More than half of single-family builders and remodelers cited greater comfort and a better occupant experience as ways to add value that recoup the initial investment; improved health and well-being was also cited by 43% of builders and 59% of remodelers. These findings parallel those reporting that techniques supporting healthier indoor living environments are among the top practices to improve green home performance.

The housing sector is likely to be a key factor in rebuilding of the economy from the impacts of COVID-19. After the extended period most of the country has spent homebound this spring, homes focused on comfort and health may hold added appeal for home buyers. Green builders are positioned to meet that demand.

Jerud Martin, co-owner of Urban NW Homes, has been building healthier homes for more than a decade. Since the onset of the coronavirus, his firm has seen an explosion in inquiries about these types of strategies.

“We have seen an increased demand for HVAC technology that promotes healthy indoor air,” he stated. “Extremely efficient furnace systems with HRV [heat recovery ventilation] and HEPA filters have been our standard for quite some time, when we help clients with respiratory illnesses or allergies. Now we are getting more requests for ductless heat pump systems, combined with HRV and ‘Air Scrubber’ technology, where we minimize the duct work, recover some energy used to condition the indoor air and treat fresh air so it has the ability to neutralize allergens and kill bacteria on solid surfaces, such as counters and door handles in our homes.”

Chart source: Dodge Data & Analytics, Green Single Family and Multifamily Homes 2020

The report — the latest in a series of studies conducted by Dodge Data & Analysis, in partnership with NAHB — also contains results on builders’ pre-coronavirus perspectives on green-building market activity, green-home marketing, drivers and obstacles for green building, and the use of green products and practices. The full report is available for free; download at nahb.org/smr.

While safety is changing the way we work, running a successful meeting – either with clients or team members – will always be a key part of doing business in the building industry.

During this time of social distancing, homes have become temporary offices and video conferencing has replaced in-person meetings. Adapting to this new standard will take some planning and a little trial and error as you figure out what works best for your business.

The advantages of these changes extend beyond today’s need for physical distancing. For example, you can use virtual meetings to connect more frequently with crew leaders across job sites for increased collaboration, or reduce miles driving to sites by offering to connect with customers via video.

“While we are making changes based on the current situation, we feel this is an opportunity to introduce new techniques to the industry that can increase safety while helping businesses run more efficiently going forward,” said Matt Piper, Technical Manager for James Hardie Building Products.

To help you get started, here are seven tips for running a successful and professional virtual meeting.

1. Find a secluded space. This might be challenging if you don’t have a home office, but if you can set up in a room with a door, you’ll be able to eliminate common distractions and keep clients focused on you. Be sure your space is out of the way of foot traffic, or let your family or co-workers know when you’ll be presenting on video.
2. Simplify your background. You’ll want to grab your audience with your proposal, not necessarily your background. If you don’t have your space perfectly branded yet, it may be best to simply position yourself in front of a blank wall. Later, consider staging your background with a logo, framed professional certifications, and samples of the products you sell.
3. Set a good camera angle. Think about how you would appear to a client in person and do your best to replicate that on camera. Place the camera at eye level to create the feel of a face-to-face conversation. If your webcam is on your laptop, you may need to raise your computer with a box to appear at eye level. Lastly, be wary of making your forehead the center of attention — create a comfortable distance by sitting back from the camera so that you don’t fill the screen.
4. Be thoughtful about lighting. Avoid bright windows or other spots with reflections. A shaded window or simple lamplight is usually best.
5. Control the audio quality. To maintain the same amiable feel of an in-person meeting, try using a headset microphone or a less-noticeable standalone mic for the best audio quality. There are plenty of cost-effective microphones that can drastically improve how you sound on video.
6. Test everything before you start. Technical issues can be incredibly frustrating and quickly destroy the integrity of a video meeting. You should always test the elements of your system before you start a video call with a client. That includes verifying that your internet speed is up to par, your lighting is on point and your audio is clear. You might want to call a friend or family member before you get started, just to ensure everything is working properly.
7. Always have a backup. Even if you did everything to prepare, unforeseen issues can arise. To ensure the client walks away with the information they need, provide them with your presentation materials before the meeting, and be prepared to switch to a phone call.

“Safety is the first priority in all aspects of the building industry, whether it’s on the jobsite or at the office,” Piper said. “Our goal is to help professionals think holistically about safety across their business and share in James Hardie’s goal of Zero Harm.”

For resources on making safety a top priority, 365 days a year, visit jameshardiepros.com/safety.

This post was updated on April 29 with a link to the webinar recording.

In an exclusive webinar for NAHB members, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and Federal Housing Commissioner Brian Montgomery today outlined specific measures the agency has implemented to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and lauded the efforts of NAHB during this outbreak.

“I commend NAHB for your work in educating employees and subcontractors about jobsite practices to stop the spread of COVID-19 – while keeping our nation’s foundational industries moving,” said Carson.

“NAHB has been a great partner in our fight to provide safe, quality housing to all Americans,” the secretary added. “Our nation’s home builders are critical to the economy and I am confident they will help lead our country back to full strength when we have defeated the coronavirus.”

On March 18, HUD authorized an immediate 60-day moratorium on foreclosures and evictions to help single-family home owners with mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

“The last thing any of us wants is for Americans to lose their homes unnecessarily while we continue to fight this invisible enemy,” Carson said.

On the multifamily side, Carson urged renters who can still make payments under the CARES Act – the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package passed by Congress — to continue doing so. “If you can pay, please do because that helps you, it helps your fellow American taxpayers and it helps the nation as a whole,” he said. “Don’t take advantage of forbearance if you don’t need it.”

The CARES Act supports a variety of programs and initiatives at HUD. Specifically, the CARES Act allocates:

• $4 Billion for HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants Program;
• $1.25 Billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance; and
• $1 Billion for Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance.

An additional $5 billion has also been made available in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to alleviate unanticipated costs from COVID-19 in impacted communities.

FHA Commissioner Montgomery said that FHA’s mission is to be a source of strength for the housing market. Towards that end, FHA has put in a place a number of solutions to help lenders originate new loans, including electronic submission of documents, e-closings, flexibilities on appraisal inspections, and waivers for electronic condominium approval applications.

“Many of the changes we at FHA have made have been designed to increase access to FHA loans,” said Montgomery. “If there is any silver lining (to this pandemic), it will result in online trends to make the origination process more efficient and lower costs to borrowers. We will continue to provide any and all flexibilities if and when they make sense.”

Regarding the possibility of using CDBG or HOME funds to meet needs that have risen out of the COVID-19 crisis, Montgomery said that is in the works.

Montgomery also said that “whenever it makes sense,” HUD would consider extending deadlines for construction and required inspections for the FHA-insured multifamily mortgage programs. He emphasized that FHA “wants to provide maximum flexibility. We provide waivers whenever we can.”

“I am grateful for the continued partnership of NAHB members who are serving so many millions of Americans in need while we all do this essential work together,” said Carson.

Members can access a replay of the webinar in the Webinars and Town Halls section of nahb.org/coronavirus.