Builder Books Can Boost Your Business!

The housing market is recovering and builders' confidence continues to rise for newly built single-family homes. Click here to read the press release.

Did you have the opportunity to take advantage of this year's best-selling publications from NAHB BuilderBooks. These publications will help you prepare for the recovery and enhance your company's efficiency.

• Green Building Strategies: From Plan to Profit
• Internet Marketing: The Key to Increased Home Sales
• Jobsite Safety Handbook, Third Edition, English-Spanish
• Scheduling for Home Builders w/Microsoft® Project, Third Edition
• Social Media for Home Builders 2.0: It's Easier Than You Think
• Survive and Thrive in Building: Fundamentals of Business Management
• The Cost of Doing Business Study, 2012 Edition

Go to www.BuilderBooks.com to stock up on these helpful resources now!

Also, if you prefer the e-Book versions, click here to go to the BuilderBooks e-Books website or download the NAHB BuilderBooks App to your iPad or iPhone.

Remember before you buy, take the BuilderBooks Survey and get your 10% discount code to use with your purchase.

Have you registered for the NAHB International Builders' Show® in Las Vegas, Jan. 22-24, 2013? The NAHB International Builders' Show® is the largest annual light construction show in the world, with the latest and most advanced building products and services ever assembled. Go to www.BuildersShow.com to learn more.

Follow NAHB BuilderBooks on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/BuilderBooks.

NAHB BUILDERBOOKS—BOOKS THAT BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

Holiday Season Safety Tips

Planning for the holidays is a busy and joyful time. But all of the decorations, extra electrical cords and the parade of people going in and out of your home calls for more safety precautions to help you make this holiday season safe and happy for you and your family.

Here’s a checklist for home holiday safety: 

·         Ask a friend or neighbor to watch your house and take in your newspaper and mail if you plan to spend the holidays away from home. Put lights throughout the house on timers to turn them on and off in your normal living pattern.

·         If you display a live Christmas tree or live greenery, select the freshest possible. A moist tree is less likely to catch fire. Look for a trunk sticky with sap and for green needles that bend and are secure on the branches.

·         When using a live Christmas tree, cut the base at a 45-degree angle. Place it in a container with water and always keep the water level above the cut.

·         Place trees a safe distance from stoves, radiators, vents, fireplaces and any other heat source that may dry the tree. Inspect the tree for dryness daily.

·         Inspect all holiday light wiring. Defective, worn or frayed electrical wiring should be thrown away. Check for the UL label on lights. Also, be sure to use fixtures specifically designed for outdoor use if you decorate your house, trees or yard.

·         Use no more than three light sets on any one extension cord. Also, don't run electrical cords under rugs. Be sure all lights are turned off before you go to bed or leave the house.

·         Place candles and other open flames away from decorations. Never leave burning candles unattended and always supervise children when burning candles.

·         Keep a fire extinguisher near your Christmas tree. Make sure your family has a fire emergency escape plan. In case of fire, leave your home and call for help from a neighbor's home.

·         When buying artificial decorations, check for "flameproof" or "fire retardant" qualities.

·         Never burn wrapping paper in a fireplace or wood stove. Certain ink pigments react with heat and create airborne particulates that are dangerous to inhale. Also don’t burn evergreens, they could flare out of control and send flames and smoke into your house.

·         Cooking is a leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries. When you cook, be sure to wear clothes that fit close to the body so they won't be ignited by hot burners. Do not leave items cooking on the stove and be sure that pot handles are turned in.

The decorations around your house, lights, gifts, music and the presence of loved ones make the holiday season festive and fun, and with the proper precautions, safe.

Learn more about home safety, maintenance and other homeownership advice at the Home Builders Association of Grand Traverse Area, Inc.

SPRING CLEANING SAFETY

As the weather begins to warm and thoughts turn to open windows and time spent outdoors, many families undertake the time-honored ritual of spring cleaning. It can involve anything from clearing winter’s debris from your lawn to major renovations, but it is important to remember to work safely during all of your spring cleaning activities.

There are some simple steps you can take to ensure that you are protecting yourself, your family, and the environment.

Ladders can be hazardous when not used properly. In many cases, accidents and injuries occur while using ladders because they are improperly placed, not secured, not the right size for the job, or the user overreaches.

When working with ladders always remember to:

·         Read and follow all warning labels that are on the ladder

·         Use ladders only on solid, stable and level surfaces

·         Keep your body centered on the ladder;  never let your belly button  pass either side rail

·         Never stand on the top two rungs of a step ladder

·         Only use a step ladder in a fully opened and locked position; never use it while it is closed, partially opened or leaning on a structure

·         Protect yourself from electrical hazards and do not work within 10 feet of overhead power lines

Spring cleaning often involves moving heavy objects such as couches, tables, entertainment consoles and bookcases—a situation where a serious injury can occur. In order to eliminate the risk of objects falling and to lift items safely, always have another person help you.  

More tips for lifting heavy objects include:

·         Get close to the load

·         Maintain an upright posture from the waist up

·         Lift with your legs, not your arms or back

·         Pivot on your feet, don’t twist from your waist

Using chemicals during cleaning can post a hazard to not only yourself, but also the environment. Read the labels of all chemicals you are using and follow all the recommended safety practices. These may include: wearing protective gear such as gloves and goggles, not mixing the substance with other cleaners, opening windows for ventilation, and following proper disposal guidelines.

Finally, before you use any tools or equipment while cleaning up your yard, make sure you have maintained them in proper working condition and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Have your lawnmower serviced yearly, never remove guards or safety devices, and wear appropriate eye, body and hearing protection.