LAUNCH PARTY
Be one of the first to see a beautiful Artisan home built by Starr Homes, enjoy hors d'oeuvres, drinks, live music and take home a copy of the artisan guide, courtesy of DesignKC. Launch party proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City.
This event will sell out!
Tickets available while supplies last.
Registration required by July 16.
JULY 25
5:30-8:30PM
21906 Stateline Rd Bucyrus, KS 66013
Artisan home #12, built by Starr Homes
Cost: $100
Includes an electronic all-access Artisan Home Tour ticket
Summer Cocktail Attire
If your website doesn’t appear at the top of search engines the first thing to do is check your keywords. But there’s more to search engine optimization than keywords.
Member News
Emery Sapp Invests in Careers in Construction
Emery Sapp (ESS) has made a significant investment in the construction workforce through its ESS Foundation by donating $50,000 across the next five years to a campaign in support of building the Northland Workforce Development Center, which is in partnership with Platte County R-3 School District and the Northland Career Center.
Through the initiative, ESS will continue to:
• Empower the next generation with necessary equipment
• Offer opportunities through education, mentorship and training
• Create competition that benefits community development
Learn more about the ESS Foundation and its role: bit.ly/3WyCVbQ.
Patriot Homes Breaks Ground on St. Jude Dream Home
“In 2022 we started looking for something additional we could do to give back to our community,” said Brian Tebbenkamp, president of Patriot Homes. “I had always admired the Dream Home Campaign with St. Jude, so when we were asked to join their team it was a no brainer for us. We could do what we do best by building homes while helping to raise funds to help support the life saving mission that is what drives St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.”
“We are proud to return as the Kansas City Dream Home builder and hope that our efforts of building beautiful homes and raising money through our campaign will one day give St. Jude the ability to reach the goal of no child losing their battle to childhood cancer,” said Tebbenkamp.
KC Stone Opens New Showroom
KC Stone hosted a grand opening event for its new KC Stone showroom last month. Designers, builders, vendors, customers, families and friends came out in support the event. The showroom is located at 326 Main St., Belton, MO 64012.
Sea N
Sea N
CAPTAIN'S TABLE SPONSOR
$750 for single tour sponsorship (Up to Four Available)
$1,250 for both tours (Up to Two Available)
Recognition as Captain's Table [Food] Sponsor
2 Event Tickets [Single Tour Sponsorship]
ISLAND LIBATIONS SPONSOR
$750 for single tour sponsorship (Up to Four Available)
$1,250 for both tours (Up to Two Available)
4 Event Tickets [Both Tours Sponsorship]
Digital, Print, & Social Media Acknowledgement Company Logo at Food Selection Area
VALIENT VESSEL [BUS] SPONSOR
$1,000 for single tour sponsorship (Up to Four Available)
$1,750 for both tours (Up to Two Available)
Recognition as Island Libations [Drinks] Sponsor
2 Event Tickets [Single Tour Sponsorship]
4 Event Tickets [Both Tours Sponsorship]
Digital, Print, & Social Media Acknowledgement Company Logo at Beverage Area and on Coolers during tour
COASTAL COOZIES SPONSOR
$1,000 | One Available
Recognition as Valient Vessel [Bus] Sponsor
2 Event Tickets [Single Tour Sponsorship]
4 Event Tickets [Both Tours Sponsorship]
Digital, Print, & Social Media Acknowledgement Company Logo displayed next to bus during event and on the participant's name badge lanyards
2 Event Tickets
Recognition as Costal Coozies Sponsor
Digital, Print, & Social Media Acknowledgement Company Logo on Coozies handed out to participants on both tours
KCMO AcceleratorHousingProgram
The City of Kansas City is taking a new approach to turning vacant lots into vibrant neighborhoods. Recognizing the urgency of addressing this issue, Third District Councilmember Melissa Patterson-Hazley has spearheaded efforts to identify approximately 3,000 vacant lots within the Third District, and tackle issues related to vacant and abandoned properties, from safety concerns to decreased property values.
In collaboration with the Kansas City Land Bank, Councilmember Patterson-Hazley launched the Housing Accelerator program, an initiative to revitalize the Washington Wheatley Neighborhood, which spans 95 acres of vacant land, including 45 lots.
The program aims to eliminate blight, reduce crime and unwanted activity, and offer new affordable housing options. Qualified parties or developers can purchase lots for $1.00 plus applicable fees. The program’s unique and flexible approach to infill development removes previous restrictions on the number of properties developers can acquire, reduces barriers to permitting and approvals within City Hall, and reduces the cost and time to construct
single-family homes by providing additional resources and collaboration with city departments and related partners such as utility companies. New housing must fit the existing neighborhood aesthetic, and all house designs and floor plans will require neighborhood approval.
The project boundaries span from 18th Street to 27th Street and Prospect Avenue to Interstate 70. Interested parties must demonstrate expertise in urban redevelopment and engage in public dialogue with the Washington Wheatley Neighborhood Association.
For more information visit KCMO.gov/city-hall/housing/accelerator.
KCHBA Celebrates Students Entering Skilled Trades
KCHBA’s Workforce Development Committee and Foundation Committee recognized scholarship and grant recipients at an event on June 4 at Fowling Warehouse on State Line. The was a fun way to celebrate this years’ scholarship and grant recipients while also networking with colleagues and peers and kicking off the summer break.
The 11 recipients recognized during the event included students from:
• Excelsior Springs Area Career Center
• Olathe Advanced Technical Center
• Raymore-Peculiar High School
• Shawnee Mission Northwest
• Sumner Academy of Arts and Science
• Truman High School
• Van Horn High School
• William Chrisman High School
Energy Codes Were the Topic for May Education Event
The KCHBA’s second quarter education event focused on the 2021 IECC and featured a panel of energy raters: Corey DePenning, owner of Redfox Inspections; Krissa Miller, owner of Central Energy Audits; and Bryton Stoll, owner of Endeavor Home Performance.
Hosted by the Associates Council at Guitars & Cadillacs, topics covered included the different pathways, the most important items to remember when submitting your plans and what the biggest, mandatory requirements are that people need to know.
Afterward, some attendees stayed for country line dancing lessons.
PWB Philanthropy Social + Stock the Bar Event, July 11
Join fellow KCPWB members for a networking social as we collect Amazon Wish List items in support of the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Kansas City. The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge - Kansas City is a place where cancer patients and their caregivers can stay for free when they travel to Kansas City for treatment. It’s a nurturing community that helps patients access the care they need. Hope Lodge offers a supportive, homelike environment where guests can share a meal, join activities, or unwind in their own private room. They save patients over $1 million a year right here in Kansas City!
Please support Hope Lodge by donating essential supplies for the cancer patients and caregivers residing at the facility. Supplies are essential for meeting daily needs of patients staying at Hope Lodge facility. View their Amazon Wish List to see current needs and make a gift to Hope Lodge! Please bring a copy of your Amazon receipt to the event.
When: July 11 | 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: CKF | 10821 Lakeview Ave., Lenexa, KS 66219
Bring a bottle of whiskey for Bottle & Barrel Bash!
Bring a bottle of whiskey or wine (value $25+) to help KCPWB stock its biggest fundraiser of the year, the Bottle & Barrel Bash! Each bottle will earn you a raffle entry to win a general admission ticket to the event on Oct. 10.
Register at members.kchba.org/calendar by July 9.
kansasgasservice.com
Area 11 Registration Now Open
Kansas City is hosting NAHB’s Area 11 conference this year! Area 11 includes Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. HBA staff and leadership from these states will gather for updates and education.
Conference Registration
Conference Registration includes Thursday evening happy hour, Friday breakfast, Friday lunch, and all conference materials.
Early Bird Pricing: $175 • After Sept. 30: $195
Hotel Information
Hotel Kansas City
1228 Baltimore Ave., Kansas City, MO 64105
Pre-Conference Spokesperson Training
Join the nationally recognized communications and media expert, Deb Sofield, for the upcoming Area 11 Spokesperson Training. The training is designed to prepare HBA leaders who anticipate representing their association in various settings. Visit members.kchba.org/calendar for information and to register.
*This training is separate from the Area 11 conference.
Now Offering TRANE® Equipment
Mike Bryant Heating & Cooling knows how important the comfort and security of your home is to you and your family. So when you choose us for any heating and cooling services, we will do whatever it takes to make sure you are receiving the highest quality workmanship and the most professional customer service possible.
New Home
Tips to Improve Your Website’s SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the ability to get web pages to rank higher in search engines such as Google. Because search is one of the main ways in which people discover content online, ranking higher in search engines can lead to an increase in traffic to your website.
If your website doesn’t appear at the top of search engines the first thing to do is check your keywords. Keywords are the words people most likely would search that would bring them to your website. “Keyword research helps you find which keywords are best to target and provides insight into the queries that your target audience is actually searching on Google,” according to HubSpot.
HubSpot, a national marketing firm, notes in its article, “How to do Keyword Research for SEO,” that there are three main elements to pay attention to when conducting keyword research:
1. Relevance - Google ranks content for relevance. This is where the concept of search intent comes in. Your content will only rank for a keyword if it meets the searchers’ needs.
2. Authority - Google will provide more weight to sources it deems authoritative. Become an authoritative source by enriching your site with helpful, informative content and promoting that content to earn social signals and backlinks.
3. Volume - You may end up ranking on the first page for a specific keyword, but if no one ever searches for it, it will not result in traffic to your site. It’s like setting up a shop in a ghost town. Volume is measured by MSV (monthly search volume), which means the number of times the keyword is searched per month across all audiences.
Karol Angotti, a partner at Kansas City-based Fasone & Partners advertising agency suggests using tools like Google Keyword Planner to find popular keywords related to home building and using Google Search Console to see how people are searching and finding your website.
“Use keywords that include your location, like your city or neighborhood, to attract local customers,” said Angotti. “Also, make sure you have a Google Business Profile that is updated with all pertinent company information. You should also post updates to your Google Business Profile, especially for promotions and events.”
But there’s more to SEO than keywords. Creating great content is hugely important, according to Angotti.
“A common mistake people make with SEO is only focusing on keywords,” said Angotti. “Don’t forget about other important factors like having a well-organized website, making sure it works well on mobile devices and creating high-quality content. Write helpful and interesting articles about home building, tips, and trends to attract visitors.”
Scott Schaper, president of RSM Marketing, agrees. “Realize that SEO revolves around content — lots of it. If you want to start SEO - just focus on content.” RSM is a marketing services firm with offices in Lenexa and Wichita.
“Focus on content that is relatable,” said Schaper. “Google favors freshness and length so create a longer article by diving deeper into the subject matter. You are an expert, show off those chops. Then stay on it. If you do this on a regular basis, you will rise above every other competitor around you.”
Updating your content regularly is also key. Keep your website fresh with new content to make it more appealing to search engines. Compelling content means writing clear and attractive titles and descriptions for each page to help search engines understand and rank your content.
Once your updating your content regularly, track your progress by using tools like Google Analytics to see how your website is performing and find ways to improve.
Still unsure if you’re up to the SEO challenge?
“People don’t realize how technical and broad SEO is,” said Schaper. “It’s not something a business owner or a site owner should be doing. They’d be spending a lot of time on SEO when they would be better working on their core business offering.”
“If someone is a solo-preneur, they should focus their marketing on creating quality blog content focused on the problems they know their customers need solving,” said Schaper. “Then share pieces of that content with their social media audience. That alone will produce some results to attract new customers.”
A Great Day for Golf
June 6 turned out to be a warm, wonderful day to spend out on Stone Canyon’s golf course. This year, 36 teams participated in Associates Council’s annual scramble.
Special appreciation goes to the following:
• Presenting Sponsor: Dreams & Design Building
• Top Flight Sponsor: Canaan Stone Work (CSW)
• Eagle Sponsor: Spectrum Paint Company
• Birdie Sponsors: CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Hermes Landscaping, Open & Shut and Xtreme Exteriors
• Beverage Cart Sponsors: Bank21 and Midwest Lumber
• Hole-in-One Sponsor: Arrow Circle Electric
• Leaderboard Sponsor: First American Title
KCHBA would also like to thank the hole sponsors:
• Bell Bank Mortgage
• Capitol Federal
• Central Surfaces
• CSW
• Frontier Restoration
• Homoly Design + Build
• KBIG
• Kansas Gas Service
• KC Stone
• KCPWB Council
• Malarkey Roofing Products
• NBKC Bank
• Nebraska Furniture Mart
• North American Savings Bank
• ProSource of Kansas City
• Red Fox Inspections
• Sarto Countertops
Congratulations to the tournament winners:
Flight
Flight
Flight C 1st place: CSW Team 1
2nd place: ProSource of Kansas City Team 1
Finally, we would be remiss if we didn’t say a big thank you to our volunteers who helped make the day a success. We hope everyone had a wonderful time!
Building Solutions for KANSAS CITY
©2024 CC Photography
KCHBA NewMembers
D.A. Warren Construction, LLC
Darren Warren 70 NW 485th Rd
Warrendsburg, MO 64093
LDR Construction, LLC
Todd Manson PO Box 638 De Soto, KS 66018
Masonite Door
Steve Hunsperger 4558 Newport Ave St. Louis, MO 63116 314-365-7192 www.masonite.com
Mpire Development
Michele Dawson 8401 E Blue Parkway Dr. Ste 201 Kansas City, MO 64133 mpiredevelopment.com
Stego Industries
Christian Hauter 215 Stonebridge Ln. Smithville, MO 64089 www.stegoindustries.com
Titan Custom Homes
Glen Hoelting PO Box 860612 Shawnee, KS 66286 913-583-1856 Titanhomeskc.com
Tracker Door Systems
Karlie Nations 35000 W 95th St. DeSoto, KS 64113 913-585-3100 trackerdoor.com
Warners’ Stellian Appliance
Christine Hawkins 5101 W 135th St Leawood, KS 66224 816-309-7752 www.warnersstellian.com
KCHBA Member Referrals
Thank you to the following KCHBA members for referring new members to the association in March!
Kari English KCHBA
Ashley Mccurdy
Greg Prieb Prieb Homes, Inc.
Bruce Rieke B L Rieke Custom Homes, Inc.
KCHBA Staff
Will Ruder
Executive Vice President will@kchba.org | 816-733-2216
Celia Byers Manager, Events & Partnerships celia@kchba.org | 816-733-2241
Sheryl Drane
Assistant to the Executive Vice President sheryl@kchba.org | 816-733-2221
Kari English
Vice President of Communications & Strategy kari@kchba.org | 816-733-2213
Marcia Jurgens
Vice President of Administration marcia@kchba.org | 816-733-2215
Paige Livingston
Director, Parade of Homes & Artisan Home Tour paige@kchba.org | 816-733-2217
Jordynn Webster
Director of Community Relations & Membership jordynn@kchba.org | 816-733-2218
The Official Publication of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City
JUNE 2024 | Volume 31 | Issue 5
Copyright 2024
Published by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City 600 E. 103 Street, Kansas City, MO 64131 | (816) 942-8800
Editor Kari English
Contributing Writer Paige Livingston
Graphics Kelcee Allen, Kelcee Lynn Collective LLC
2024 Executive Committee
President Dennis Shriver
Vice President Justin Pfeifer
Executive Vice President Will Ruder
Secretary / Treasurer Joe Christensen
Immediate Past President Brian Tebbenkamp
Associate Representative Kevin Kirtley
Past President Representative Bruce Rieke
To subscribe to Building Business News call (816) 733-2217
To advertise in Building Business News call (816) 733-2213
For change of address requests please email Kari@kchba.org or call (816) 942-8800
For more information, visit KCHBA.org
Member Anniversaries
1952
Ferguson Enterprises, Inc.
Pacific Mutual Door & Window
1978
Tom French Construction, Inc.
1985
MarKirk Construction, Inc. 1992
Ashner Construction Company, Inc. 1999
Stewart Title of Kansas City
Atronic Alarms, Inc.
First American Title
KGH Building Group LLC
Apex Engineers Inc.
C & M Builders, Inc.
Haynes Equipment Co., Inc.
NBKC Bank
Shaw Construction Inc. 2005
Lumber One
Security Bank of Kansas City
K & E Flatwork LLC 2007 CrossFirst Bank 2008
Park Ridge Homes, LLC
Northcraft Flooring and Design 2013
Gaumats International LLC 2014
Rodrock and Associates, Realtors LLC
Rocktops Granite & Stone Fabrication LLC
Miami County Economic Development
2015
Owen Homes, LLC
Sunrise Construction, Inc.
Stone Mountain Mfg
2016
Cambridge Homebuilders, LLC
Sun Solar
Jim Macek Construction Company, Inc.
Legendary Stone
CKF, LLC
Riffe Custom Builders, LLC 2020
Edward Franklin Building Company
Max Framing & Remodeling, LLC
Fazes of Light LLC
Bank 21
Inspired Closets 2021
SES Landscape LLC
Trumark Homes LLC 2022
Quinn’s Irrigation Service DBA Lawnmaster
Myah Enterprises, Inc.
Pascoe Home Specialties, LLC
The Shade Store
2023
ProLine Custom Cabinets, LLC
CBUSA
Superior Electric
WeLightKC.com
HomeSphere
Framing Specialists Inc.
2024 ELITE PARTNERS ELITE PARTNERS
DIAMOND
Mike Bryant Heating & Cooling
Ferguson
PLATINUM
First Federal Bank of KC
Kansas Gas Service
McCray Lumber
Nebraska Furniture Mart
SVB Wood Floors
GOLD
Bovard Insurance Group
Builders FirstSource
Capitol Federal
Fasone & Partners
Fidelity Bank
High Definition Drywall
K&E Flatwork
Kitchens & Baths by Briggs
Morgan-Wightman Supply Company
Northcraft Flooring & Design
Owen Lumber
Phelps Engineering
Rew Materials
Star Companies
Sun Lumber Company
United Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, Inc.
SILVER
Kenny’s Tile
Mead Lumber
North American Savings Bank (NASB)
Schlagel
Shamrock Cabinet
Spire
Wilson Lighting
BRONZE
Commerce Bank
Complete Home Concepts
Denizen
DesignKC/Real Estate Book & New Home Guide
Henges Insulation
Hermes Landscaping
Locks & Pulls
NBKC
Pella Products of Kansas City
ProSource
Raynor Garage Door
ReeceNichols
Rocktops Granite & Stone Fabrication
SAPPHIRE
Bank of Blue Valley
Canaan Stone Works (CSW)
CommunityAmerica Credit Union
First American Title
RoyCo Roofing
SCI (Surface Center Interiors)
Johnson County Leading in SF Housing Permits by Large Margin
Of the 352 single-family permits issued in the month of April, half of them (179) were issued in Johnson County, according to statistics compiled by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (KCHBA). Jackson County ranked second with 76 permits issued in April, attributable to Lee’s Summit issuing 46 single-family permits.
Once again, Kansas City, Mo., did not make the top five of permitting cities in April. The top five permitting cities were Lee’s Summit (46), Overland Park (41), Lenexa (37), Olathe, (32), and Spring Hill (31).
RESIDENTIAL
PERMIT REPORT
Residential Building Permit Statistics APRIL 2024
APRIL 2024
Comparison of Single Family
Building Units for Greater Kansas City
(Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Wyandotte Counties)
Comparison of Permits By Units Issued Year to Date
^The Single Family number is units and includes both attached and detached units. %Multi-Family units are in buildings with 5 or more units. # Not available at time of report
Permit information reflects the most recent data at time of publication. In order to ensure accurate recording of residential building permit statistics, the HBA may revise monthly and year-to-date figures when updated data is made available. Copyright 2024 Home Builders Assoc of Greater Kansas City. All rights reserved.
Upcoming Events
June 27
Selling
June 25
Lenexa
June 25
Shawnee
