DATES TO REMEMBER

• 10/14/04 Next Regional Meeting at Surf-n-Turf.

• 11/04/04 State Board Meeting at Nemacolin Woodlands

• 01/07/05 Leadership Retreat at Toftrees in State College

• 03/17/05 thru 03/21/05 H.B.A.A. Home Show 2005

KEEP YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS

ON FIRM FOOTING!

To help you build a firm foundation for your business the IRS has built a special construction industry website.  Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned business owner you need to know the tax and accounting requirements of a construction business.  Just enter the word �construction� in the search box on the IRS website at www.irs.gov. 

            Try measuring your wealth by what you are rather than by what you have.  Put the tape measure around your heart rather than your bank account.                            - Anonymous

LAUNDRY ROOMS COME INTO THEIR OWN

A survey by Whirlpool Corp. Found that 20 million women and 8 million men do laundry each day, and that the typical family does 8-to-10 loads of wash per week.  Given manufacturers estimate that a load of clothes takes more than 2 hours from start (collection) to finish (putting them away), that means that nearly 20 hours a week - or the equivalent of a part-time job - is dedicated to laundry.  Phew!

            Today�s busy families are looking for modern conveniences in every aspect of their lives, and laundry activities are no exception.  The NAHB reports that 95% of consumers surveyed said that they either desire or must have a separate laundry room in their new home.  NAHB reports that 26% of consumers surveyed wanted the laundry room near the bedrooms, 26% percent near the kitchen, 23% in the basement and 10% in the garage.  The report also says that 92 percent of new-home buyers wanted a laundry room among a home�s �extra rooms for convenience and luxury.�           Luxury?. 

            The Remodelors Council also reports that some homeowners want their laundry room to blend in with the rest of the house, with crown moulding and hardwood or tiled floor to match adjacent rooms.

•   People want more counter space to fold, iron or   sew clothes, with granite or Formica counter tops that match those found in the kitchen.
• Homeowners also want cabinets to store laundry detergent and other products, often in wood finishes normally used in the kitchen.
• Customers want bigger, high-end appliances - washers and dryers that can handle ever growing wash loads and even two dryers to keep up with the washer.
• To give the laundry room a more sophisticated look, many homeowners are creating built-in cabinets or closets to hide the appliances when not in use.