KY3: Check up on your contractor before starting a home improvement project... Are they HBA Members?

Contact KY3's Cara Restelli reported this week on the tragic story of an 80-year-old Branson woman who lost thousands of dollars to a landscaping contractor who never completed the job. In this case, a simple Internet search would have revealed a criminal background. But consumers in general should always take full precautions when hiring someone to work on what for most is their single largest investment - their home.

Among the recommendations made by KY3 is to insist that your contractor is a member of the local home builders association. You can watch the Contact KY3 story on KY3.com or below. And you can check always on your contractor to see if they are an HBA of Greater Springfield member by clicking here (http://www.springfieldhba.com/FindaPro.html).

KY3: Home sizes in the Ozarks, as elsewhere, are shrinking

Contact KY3's Cara Restelli reports that, reversing a 30-year-old trend, American homes are getting smaller. Not only have home prices declined from their highs in 2006 but also builders have started delivering less square footage on new homes.

This story aired on Monday, July 26 on KY3 News. HBA Past President Kevin Clingan was interviewed for the story.

KY3: New houses going up in the Ozarks buck national trend

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KY3's Linda Russell reported this week that while it may not be the building boom that we saw a few years ago, more buildings are starting to go up in the Ozarks, including new houses.  While the housing market index fell across most of the country last month, it rose slightly here in the Midwest.  In the Ozarks, builders are building and cautiously optimistic.

HBA of Greater Springfield member Bob Fitzgerald is interviewed for the story, as are homebuyers John and Peggy Kubicek.

KOLR: Local Contractors Focus on Work With Permits Down

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KOLR's Jessica Williams reported this week that, while nationwide home builder confidence declined further this week, in the greater Ozarks area, the picture is less bleak. While the home building market here is still a long way from full recovery, encouraging signs can be seen. HBA of Greater Springfield President Rusty MacLachlan is interviewed as a part of the story, and he shared insights on just how critical the residential construction sector of the economy is to our overall success as a region.

To read and/or watch the full KOLR story, click here.