by Sean | Feb 1, 2017 | Building Green, Green Building, Home News, Postings
Sean Sullivan, the president of Living Stone Construction, is an award-winning builder who specializes in designing and building high-performance green homes in Asheville, North Carolina. We recently spoke with Sean to learn more about today’s green homes and why they are becoming more popular among home buyers.
Tell us a bit about your background. Why did you decide to concentrate on building green homes?
My father was a fighter pilot in the Marine Corps. After he ascended the leadership ladder and finished taking command of different air bases, he began teaching TQM (Total Quality Management) and later formed his own consulting company. I learned not only from his teachings, but also those of others like W. Edwards Deming who said, “It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, and then do your best.”
So when we first heard that there was a rating system coming to western North Carolina for ENERGY STAR and Greenbuilt-certified homes, we immediately signed up. We simply believe that if you are going to do something, do it right.
Read More
by Sean | Jan 16, 2017 | News
NAHB has honored five home builders around the country as the 2016 Young Professionals of the Year. The awards were given Monday evening, January 9th in Orlando, Florida, during the NAHB International Builders’ Show. “David Belman, Robert Fallone, Eugene Graf, Sean Sullivan and John Williams are the future of our great industry,” said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady. “I’m honored to recognize their significant achievements and know they all have many years ahead in which they will continue to shine.” The NAHB Young Professionals Award is designed to acknowledge each of five regional winners’ hard work and successes, performance and dedication, and outstanding potential as they begin to serve as leaders in the home building industry. It is awarded to industry professionals under the age of 45. David Belman is president of Belman Homes in Waukesha, Wisconsin. A member of the Metro Builders Association of Greater Milwaukee, Belman has been elected the 2017president of the Wisconsin Builders Association. His company has won numerous design awards for its Parade of Home entries, was the first builder in the state to make smart home technology a standard feature in all homes and is active in the Make a Wish Foundation, Operation Finally Home and other charitable efforts. Robert Fallone is president of Fallone Group LLC in Somerville, New Jersey and has been named the builder of the year by both his local and state home building associations. He started a Young Professionals group for the Metropolitan Builders & Contractors of New Jersey, and for the state he chaired a task force to create a health benefits trust, enabling New Jersey Builders Association members to obtain health insurance at more competitive rates. Eugene Graf IV is the owner of E.G. Construction in Bozeman, Montana and active in the Southwest Montana Building Industry Association. He has been recognized as builder of the year by his local association, the Montana Building Industry Association and by Montana State University’s construction management program. In 2016, Graf served as chairman of the NAHB national political action committee. Sean Sullivan is president of Living Stone Construction in Black Mountain, North Carolina and his company has been honored with national design awards and for innovation in green building. As president of the Asheville Home Builders Association he oversaw a 30% increase in membership. Sullivan is also past president of the North Carolina builders’ political action committee. John Williams is vice president of construction services for K. Hovnanian Homes’ Houston, Texas division and will lead the Greater Houston Builders Association in 2018. At K. Hovnanian, Williams created an innovative training program for new construction managers that enabled the company to quickly bring new hires up to speed. He is also active in building codes advocacy work to keep homes safe and affordable. Meet the 15 finalists for the award. For additional information about NAHB Young Professionals, contact Sahrah Zarei at 800-368-5242 x8431.
by Sean | Nov 9, 2016 | Building Green, Green Building, News
By Charles Richardson
A timeless setting
The first thing you notice about French Broad Crossing (FBC) is the exquisite Western North Carolina setting: pure, pristine, secluded, and in perfect harmony with the lush, densely forested hills that form a natural amphitheater of majesty and timeless beauty. Residents here liken it “to living in one’s own national park,” yet it’s just a short drive from the dynamic city of Asheville, NC. Indeed, much of the land at FBC is permanently preserved, held in conservation to prevent further development. Families are drawn to an idyllic living experience that can be passed down to future generations, in the same undisturbed state that exists today. It is here, against the backdrop of ancient rolling mountains and the mighty French Broad River—third oldest river in the world according to geologists—that the new 2016 Southern Living Inspired Home will reside.
Read More
by Sean | Oct 31, 2016 | News
Submitted by Sean D. Sullivan
For many seniors, making the decision to move or downsize to a smaller home can be emotionally challenging. After raising a family or spending a good portion of their adult lives in one home, it is often difficult to think about leaving it. Yet, practically, it may be easier to live in a home that better accommodates their changing lifestyle.
To meet the growing need of these baby boomers, a new industry of “senior move managers” was created to help with the transition to the next phase of their lives. Senior move managers handle many aspects of a senior move. From setting up floor plans and helping determine what furniture to take, to packing the house and helping seniors sell or donate things they no longer want.
The National Association of Senior Move Managers provides resources and a directory of senior move managers across the country. Here are the three key things seniors should consider before they begin the downsizing process:
• It takes time. It is hard to imagine moving out of a home you have lived in for so long. Likewise, organizing all of the steps involved in a move can be overwhelming. Be sure to give yourself enough time to process the changes that will be taking place.
Read More
