My name is  Karsten Curtis and I am honored to be the provincial president of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association New Brunswick. My involvement with our Association has spanned 14 years and it has been very rewarding. I have participated locally, provincially and nationally in the many facets of operations of the Association. From this participation I have learned and come to appreciate the significance of the residential construction industry and the part CHBA plays on the front lines of it. In the big picture the industry is an economic engine as well as a gauge of the performance of that engine. In the smaller picture the industry delivers to you your private living space, your home.

The Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA) is dedicated to excellence in all aspects of the Residential Construction Industry. It is not excellence at any cost but responsible and cost effective excellence. On all levels, national, provincial and local, our Association works to safeguard and facilitate the evolution of an industry that is getting continually more sophisticated. It has therefore become more complicated for those who work in it and those who purchase the offerings produced by the industry; a home. At the national level we bring together three times per year many government and private research agencies with a variety of other industry participants and facilitate frank discussion and reporting. From this we establish an unparalleled knowledge base on everything residential. The Association also monitors the pursuits of special interest groups as well as overly enthusiastic legislators and regulators so that the dream can become a reality at a reasonable cost. This is “behind the scenes” work that helps keep the industry viable and contributing to our nation’s economic health.

CHBA strives for excellence but are not a regulatory body or an industry policing agency. We are a self funded collection of volunteers who are intimately involved in the industry and are concerned about its well being. Membership in the Association is at the discretion of a local board of directors and applicants are judged by their peers on their credentials to be a member. For the consumer of residential construction services this is not a guarantee of a successful project but is an indicator of good potential.

There has never been a time when it is more important to thoroughly research and plan the building of a new home or the renovation of an existing one. It will be at least a significant financial investment and for most of us the largest in our life. What we commit our dollars to should be the best investment possible. It is a challenge to start with an idea and have it materialize into a secure and comfortable personal domain. There are many decisions to be made on all aspects of a home. In recent years the palette of decisions has been increased with our consciousness of our energy consumption and our responsibility to reduce it. The Canadian Home Builders’ Association is certainly aware of this and is in tune with the industry’s carbon footprint and is a proponent for bettering its performance.

In preparation for making their investment in a new home or renovation, the Homeowner should research and explore the opportunities. The process is certainly about living space, comfort, aesthetics and amenities. It should also be about the long term imprint you are going to make on the environment and the personal cost of doing that. We all like to get some free stuff. How about some free heat? The sun gives it away every day in varying proportions. For starters, why not consider taking advantage of this? The broker for your investment is your builder. Challenge them on their knowledge of energy conserving and green initiatives; get your designer to engage the services of a Residential Energy Consultant. For your own toolbox of knowledge utilize the resources of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association; its websites and publications. We are not a homeowner’s save the day reality show so we don’t exist for entertainment or have to play to ratings. We have local connections and knowledgeable local celebrities (our members) that can help you with your residential construction investment.

Thank you for reading and I hope this publication assists you in building your dreams into reality.

 Best wishes,
 Karsten Curtis