Tax Credit? Can I get a Tax Credit over here?

Whoo, things are busy around Eastern Eight these days.

Seems like we have more work than ever before and less staff available to carry the load. At our staff retreat a couple of weeks ago, we played a game where we tossed balls around in rapid succession, trying to get them to the last person without letting any of them touch the ground.

That's a pretty good picture of what's going on around the office. I hope we're keeping more "balls" in the air metaphorically than we did physically, lol.

How much more work do we have, you ask? Well... since the end of September we've received more than 30 applications, more than 30 request for foreclosure assistance, a doubling and tripling of our homebuyer education classes attendance and more random requests and grant applications to turn in than seemingly ever before.

I think part of it is the end of the year. Folks, for better of for worse, are either catching up or realizing how far behind they are in their endeavors, so they're seeking out help or they're financially fit enough to take the plunge into homeownership. I want to focus on the positive, homeownership facet of the conversation for the rest of the post, specifically discussing the Tax Credit.

Before we go on, if you don't know what the Tax Credit is, head on over to www.e8cdc.org and read the front page. Go on, I'll wait.

Ready?

Ok, good. People are scrambling to get this Tax Credit before the end of November, because that's as long as we're guaranteed to have it. After November, the government has a lot of options, including getting rid of it, extending it, or even extending it and increasing it.

Here's Eastern Eight's stance on the matter: as busy as it's making us, it's a GOOD kind of busy! We're in the business of making homeownership affordable, and this Tax Credit helps quite a bit. In fact, we want the government to extend and increase the credit, so more potential homeowners can achieve the American Dream.

We at Eastern Eight encourage you to write letters, make phone calls and send emails to our government officials to support an extension and an increase of the Tax Credit. If you own a home, you know the joy, peace of mind and stability that homeownership brings.

Support the Tax Credit and help thousands of Americans experience those same feelings.

Cheers,

Just what our blog needs...Macully Culkin...

Ever seen the movie, Home Alone?

Remember the part near the beginning where they've overslept and are in danger of missing their plane? They're running around, falling all over each other, screaming and trying to pack. They load up the van, take a quick, faulty headcount and roar down the street. When they get to the airport, they run as fast as they can to get to their gate, with that Christmas song blazing in the background. I'm not sure what the name of it is, but I know the chorus ends in, "He can take the freeway down."

Yeah, I know it's a little early for Christmas. Heck, Halloween's right around the corner (my favorite holiday!). I just want you to imagine that scene in your head.

Why? Because that's what its like around Eastern Eight when we're trying to meet a grant application deadline.

People are running up and down the stairs, copying this file, looking for another. We go over the checklist to make sure we're "packing" everything we're supposed to in the grant. When we finally get it assembled, we take a "head count" of its contents (hopefully not faulty!). Then we tear down the street and run through the post office so we can make sure to get it onto the last mail truck leaving on the day of the deadline.

Do we have this sense of urgency because we've "overslept?" Nope. We work hard on them as soon as we know about them. They're just a lot of work, up until the hour before they're due.

So what's my point? I just wanted everyone to be able to visualize the kind of stress and hard work we go through to get those applications out the door (poor Melissa and Retha bear the heaviest loads).

Because without those grants (and without that hard work), more than 300 people would be without a home today.

It's just a thought. Think about it.

Cheers,

It really does work!

Sometimes it's better to be a participant than a host.

I discovered that last Thursday, when Chad Head from ETSU led us in a maintenance course covering plumbing. As I've said previously, I know NOTHING about plumbing, so when Chad started talking I, who normally plays the happy host, sat down and shut up.

It's funny - I understand why Eastern Eight is sponsoring this program. We want to help new homeowners feel secure in their finances, community and the physical structure of their homes. I've always had the knowledge that that was a good thing.

But Thursday, I put myself in the shoes of the homeowner and realized just how wonderful this program is (in my humble opinion).

Everything I needed to know about plumbing, I learned Thursday night. I had always thought plumbing was difficult and too big for me to learn, but Chad made it all seem easy. He gave examples, showed us how to do everything and answered all of our questions.

I can now confidently say that I can fix all of the most common plumbing problems, saving myself time and money because I don't have to call a plumber.

And that's quite a feat for me. I never thought I'd be able to understand any of this. Now I don't understand why I thought I couldn't.

I can't wait until the next course.

Cheers,

What's a Toilet Flange?

We've got a workshop coming up on August 20, covering Home Emergency Planning and Plumbing and Bathroom Maintenance.

Not at the same time, lol.

The first hour will feature Glenda Bobalik, executive director of The American Red Cross in Northeast Tennessee. She'll be presenting the Home Emergency Planning portion.

The second hour features Chad Head, ETSU maintenance supervisor. His portion covers the plumbing. I had the pleasure of going to Lowe's today and purchasing materials he needed.

It was an adventure. I know nothing (emphasis on NOTHING) about plumbing, and I was looking for toilet flanges (pronounced flan-GEEZ?), chrome-plated brass traps, wax rings with bolts and other confusing implements that basically ensure the water goes down the hole.

Lucky for me, the nice young lady working in the plumbing section knew where everything was and could lead this big dumb man in the tie to the exact parts I needed.

I'm thinking I need the maintenance training more than any of the participants.

Oh well. Hope to see you Thursday!

Cheers,

Exciting changes to HOW 2

Ever had a great idea that makes you feel stupid?

Like strawberry wine, those types of ideas are indeed bittersweet. Sweet, that they're great ideas and that you thought of them.

Bitter, in that why didn't you think of them in the first place?

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting with Maria Catron of KHRA and Fresh Start Foundation, to discuss the possibility of starting up a HOW 2 program at a Kingsport location. We had a great meeting - I think HOW 2 in Kingsport has a very bright future ahead of it. We're working out the details now, so stay tuned.

However, when we got to the topic of how we'd offer HOW 2 in K-Town, I proudly presented the (at the time) current schedule for Johnson City's HOW 2 program. For those of you who don't know, up until a few days ago, we offered a workshop on the third Thursday of each month and a maintenance course on the fourth.

Maria took a look at it, made some approving comments on the content, then questioned whether we could offer the program on two dates in Kingsport. I agreed, and together we came to the conclusion that we should offer a single combined two hour class, covering both the workshop topic and the maintenance topic.

After our meeting I began the 20 minute drive to JC, feeling satisfied. Somewhere during the commute it hit me.

Why not just offer one class in Johnson City too?

Gosh, it makes so much sense when you say it. Instead of asking folks to come twice a month for two one-hour classes, just ask them to come to one two-hour workshop! Brilliant!

Why didn't I think of that in the first place?

I think I'll exclude incompetence, to help keep my self-esteem up. I could go with the fact that I honestly didn't think about until I was almost four months into the program, but that doesn't make me sound too good either.

Maybe it has something to do with us starting the maintenance course portion of HOW 2 a couple of months after we launched the workshop portion. That might work.

Whatever the reason, HOW 2 is now combined into one workshop, covering homeowner issues and maintenance all in one night. You're invited - every third Thursday at 6 p.m.

Just try to be nice to me when you get here - I really didn't think about it!

Cheers,

Photoshoot fun?

Sunday's going to be a big day for me.

The Calvert Foundation, in partnership with FAHE, is sponsoring a photographer to visit some of our clients. His photos will be used as part of a national marketing campaign, giving Eastern Eight recognition at no cost to us.

Free advertising is the best kind, folks. :-D

So Sunday is the shoot day. We're starting at 8 a.m. and we're going until 8 p.m. Like I said, its going to be a long day.

But it's going to be a fun day. I'm actually looking forward to seeing some of the homes we've built and sold, and hearing from the owners. We've got shoots at 8 a.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. respectively.

We're also going to set up a mock counseling session with our financial counselor, Sam Brumit. It looks like I get to play the part of the counseled...

And check out the photographer - www.rlordphoto.com

He's going to be interesting, to say the least. He just got back from Africa, and judging from his photos, he's been all over the world.

I wonder what he'll think of Tennessee?

bookstore

Greetings my friends. I just wanted to let you all know about my friend's bookstore in the JCity mall. They opened a discount Christian bookstore [where the Kirklands was located]. I would love for you stop by and check it out. We would love your support!

A few votes are still votes!

The Front Porch's latest poll closed recently, and though we only had five votes we still had a clear majority.

The question was: Which is more relaxing?
- Sitting on the porch
- Watching a movie in the den
- Taking a hot shower
- Cooking dinner
- Reading a book in bed

While taking a hot shower and reading a book both got a vote, sitting on the porch was the winner with three votes. With no votes, apparently cooking dinner and watching movies aren't the best ways to relax in your home.

If front porches play host to the most relaxing moments of your home, what's your front porch like? Do you have a good view of anything? Do you have a porch swing, a rocking chair or an especially comfortable spot? Let us know by replying to this post.

With that poll ended, it's time for a new one: What do you think is the most expensive aspect of owning a home? This poll will be up for a week and a half - choose you answers at your convenience.

And while you're at it, get your friends to visit the site and vote too - we'd like to get 10 votes this time!

There's still good folks in the world...

Have you ever worked with the public?

It's quite an experience. I was a gas station attendant - a glamorous position, I know. My responsibilities included but were not limited to: taking money; managing the pumps; cleaning the store; stocking shelves; training new employees; end-of-the-day reports; handling customer service issues; etc.

Pay attention to the "handling customer service issues" part - that's where the "responsibilities not limited to" portion of my job description came in to play.

You folks who've never worked with the public are going to find this hard to understand: dealing with the public can be bad news. No bueno. Downright ICKY. Customers from the public come in three varieties:

You Mean Nothing to Me: My particular favorite, this type of customer, for whatever reason, knows he or she is better than you. They don't care about your situation, your plans for the future, your obvious disability - they're out for blood and you, as a lowly clerk, waiter or phone operator have plenty to give. All that matters to this customer is their situation, their feelings. Most likely, the company you work for has wronged them in some deeply personal way and that's why you're gonna pay.

Or, they're just snobs. It's really hard to tell the difference.

My Request is Obscure and Frustrating, But of the Utmost Importance: These folks need something from you so strange, so out-of-the-blue that you begin to question whether it's your job to provide the service. You better, though, cause they need it NOW! Hurry! Forget your other customers! Meet my strange and foolish needs!

I'll have an example of this a little later in the post...

I'm a Good and Rational Customer: Yeah, so there are some good customers. And sure, they're the majority, I guess. They're the reason you like your job, the reason you can plaster a smile on your face when you're dealing with the rotten apples.

It just seems like the problem-causers are the ones that stick out in your mind.

So what's up with this post? What does this have to do with anything? Let me explain...

I'm planning the first real workshop for my education program today, and I'm trying to get a game/home improvement project together for the first 30 minutes of the session. I decide to wait until today work out the kinks, a mere 48 hours before this program starts.

And let me tell you, I've got some kinks.

The game involves identifying nicely-crafted toy tools, a good exercise for every homeowner. I mean, how do you take care of your home if you don't know what your tools are for, right? So I actually find the tools today, confirming their existence in the office. The problem is, they have no instructions, so I (oh irony of ironies) don't know the names of the tools I'm going to use for the tool identification game.

Being the industrious fellow I am, I look on the box for a website. Under construction - great. I go back to the box, find a telephone number, and I do it.

I become Customer # 2 - My Request is Obscure and Frustrating, But of the Utmost Importance.

"Um yes, I'm trying to find a list of the tools included in your Black & Decker 25 piece and 42 piece deluxe tool set."

Yeah, go ahead and add me to the list you give me, buddy - I feel like a tool for asking that.

But lo and behold, the guy goes beyond what he's probably required to do and searches his data banks. He then takes my email address and promises to have me a list by the end of the day.

What a nice guy. That just got me going, and I had to share it. Who said there was no kindess left in the world?

Until next time...

You want the rocking chair?

It's hard to stay in touch with everybody.

You know its true. As we move through life, we meet new people everyday - sometimes we greet one another and go our seperate ways and other times stay a while and chat, forming a relationship that benefits us both. Sometimes those relationships are so life-changing that we wonder how we ever got along without them. We stay best of friends, through joy, sadness and pain.

Often, however, we just move on. We don't don't forget about those who've helped us along, but life carries us too fast through its currents to really keep in touch. If you're like me, you can't help but wonder how someone's doing, even though you've not spoken in years.

Hopefully, this is no longer the case. Today is an exciting day for Eastern Eight - this blog and, more importantly, the new website offers us the chance to reach our friends, partners and clients like never before. These new tools make it possible for us to reach everyone, on their terms, despite the raging rapids of life.

Ever sit on a porch and watch the day turn into night? That's a peaceful setting, and even more enjoyable when you're watching it with a friend.

This blog is our porch, and we're inviting you to join us as we sit a spell. Just like in real life, we're not sure where the conversation will take us as we watch life roll about us. We might have some laughs, learn some things and make a few new friends.

We'd love to have some of our homeowners and partners contribute to this blog. To get an invitation, just send us an email. We'll get back to you soon.

I think I'll head back inside. You can stay out on the porch a bit longer if you'd like.

Come back any time.

Have a seat...

Welcome to The Front Porch, Eastern Eight's gathering place for the Homeowner Community!

Soon, this blog will bring you advice, humor and perspectives from dozens of Eastern Eight's friends and partners. This will be the place to find out about issues important to homeowners.

Pull up a chair and stay a while!