• Texas Comptroller Announces Building Efficiency & Retrofit Program
  

• Demolition Day! Volunteer to Help Our Homeless Vets

• Strategies for Building a Social Media Presence and Selling More Homes
  
  
• Join the Real Estate Center Focus Group
  

Only 17 Booths Left in the GHBA Product Expo! This is one of GHBA's most popular events each year, and we expect to SELL OUT by mid-September. Associates, reserve your exhibit space by calling 281.635.3673 or email Lyn Foster. Download the floorplan and contract at www.GHBAshows.com

Print is FOREVER! Is Your Listing Correct? GHBA is updating company contact information for the 2011 Membership Directory. Log on to www.ghba.org to make sure your listing is correct. Deadline for changes is October 1, 2010. For questions or login assistance, contact VBonilla@ghba.org.
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Deadline to Apply for Lead Paint Rule Training Coming Up
Remodelers and other contractors have until Sept. 30 to get their companies certified and to sign up for the training required to comply with the EPA's Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. Although the EPA has agreed to delay enforcement of the certification requirement, remodelers may still be required to demonstrate that they have scheduled their training before this date. Fines for infractions of the rule range as high as $37,500 per violation per day.
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• BMC SELECT
  
• Builders Post-Tension Inc.
• HoustonNewcomerGuides.com
• Sherwin-Williams Paint Co.
  
• Suncoast Post-Tension

• Advantech & ZIP System
  
• Stevenson Group
• Acme Brick
• Home Builders Insurance Services
• The Kitchen & Bath Showplace, a division of Moore Supply
• Masco Environments for Living
  

Don't want to receive these emails anymore? Email Vilma Bonilla.

Project Independence, a HomeAid Care project, is giving back to 23 women who selflessly gave to our country by serving in the military. These women have returned to Houston in need of shelter and a hand up in transitioning back into society. The team working on Project Independence is renovating and restoring five apartments and two common area bathrooms for Santa Maria's Spring Branch location. These apartments will welcome these 23 homeless female veterans this fall.

HomeAid is partnering with the GHBA Remodelors Council on this project. The Council is providing remodelers and associates who will work in teams to demolish and completely refurbish the apartment bathrooms. Sign up online to work "Demolition Day" on Saturday, September 11 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Or email Karen Krenek to sign up and receive location details. Lunch will be provided on demo day by Venetian Blind and Floor.

In addition, designers will work with each team to "beautify" the apartments, providing fresh paint, new linens, storage solutions and special touches. Each designer has registered at Bed, Bath and Beyond. You can help by purchasing registered items through the Project Independence registry, either at the store or online. The registry can be accessed under HomeAid Houston, with the first name: Homeaid and last name: Houston or through http://tinyurl.com/ProjectIndependenceRegistry.
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Help GHBA win a free workshop, valued at $3,000!

"Social Media for Home Builders: It's Easier Than You Think!" is a new resource that teaches builders and residential construction professionals how to use social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to increase their visibility and improve their sales results. Available at BuilderBooks.com, "Social Media for Home Builders: It's Easier Than You Think!," demonstrates how builders and developers are effectively using two-way communication via the Internet and social media outlets to attract consumers, follow up on leads, and improve customer service.

This is the only book that speaks specifically to the needs of the real estate industry and teaches home builders how to build a social media presence. Author Carol Flammer outlines how to engage consumers through social media. She demonstrates the power of social media through case studies and online outlets created specifically for the home building industry. She will help readers understand social media and create a strategic plan for using it to attract new home buyers. Readers learn how to use social media sites to:
• Build a brand
• Engage new and existing consumers
• Manage online reputation
• Increase Web site traffic
• Perform social media optimization
• Sell more homes

For more information or to order "Social Media for Home Builders," click here, or call 800-223-2665.

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Would you like a chance to win a camcorder at the Texas Association of Realtors convention this weekend in Galveston? Then sit in on one of our two focus groups.

At each session, Center Director Gary Maler will ask participants for their opinions on Center research and products. The feedback will be used to help set the course for future research and communication efforts at the Center. The first focus group will be Friday, Sept. 10, from 3–4:30 p.m. in the Marlin Room at the San Luis Resort. The other will be Saturday, Sept. 11, from 2:30–4 p.m. in the Galleon 1 room at the Galveston Convention Center.

As a way of saying thanks, the Real Estate Center will give away a new flip video camcorder to one lucky participant at each session. If you'd like to join, e-mail texrec@recenter.tamu.edu. Include your name, telephone number and e-mail address, and be sure to indicate which session you'd like to attend.