Article ID# 2855091
Peterborough Examiner

The top salesman of the year, working for the top home builder of the year, said it all boils down to customer service.

"Service is a big thing. It's all about looking after the clients," said Craig McFarlane, vice-president of retail sales for Linwood Custom Homes.

"In construction there are always situations, but you have to turn around and make it good for your customer."

The company took the local homebuilder of the year award Friday night and McFarlane won salesman of the year for the second year in a row. "We have a great team from designers to support people, sales team and builders," he said. "We are thriving. We're doing well, but we're working at it."

The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association held the annual Kawartha Awards of Distinction Gala at the Holiday Inn, which attracted about 200 people. Linwood Custom Homes also won in the categories of best interior decorating for a model home, the 2010 green renovator award and most outstanding home renovation more than $150,000, but it was Mason Homes that once again dominated the award ceremony, winning eight categories.

"It's about thinking outside of the box, being different and trying to think that the end user, the customer, is really what's more important," explained Sean Mason, a vice-president with Mason Homes. Mason Homes won project of the year, once again being recognized for its Avonlea subdivision in the city's north end, which earned the company home builder of the year last year. It was a controversial idea when it went through the city council approval process because of its rear-lane design and reduced lot widths.

"This project actually was very special. It really did push a lot of boundaries of what was conventionally approvable in the city," Mason said. "It harkens back to a more neo-traditional development." Mason Homes also won for best new home sales office, best sales brochure, best Internet website, best print ad campaign, most outstanding multi-unit attached home, most outstanding single detached home over 1,500 square feet and single detached home under 1,500 square feet.

Non-profit Habitat for Humanity was recognized for its environmental practices, receiving both the green technology award and the green award for excellence in environmental innovation.

"When building affordable homes it's important that we stay with other causes, that we're responsible builders," the organization's project administrator said. "People don't realize that if you build an energy efficient home, it costs you less down stream and that's important," board member Dave Moffat added. Habitat for Humanity built three units in 2010, the first year it had ever built more than one, and plans to build five units next year, Moffat said.

The awards ceremony recognizes the achievements of members of the association including homebuilders, renovators and new home designers, sales and marketing professionals. "The purpose of this is to just recognize all of our home builders and renovators for all their special work throughout the season," the event's chairman Randy Smith said. "It's nice to be recognized for your efforts throughout the season and on a marketing ability it puts you on a different class than a lot of other builders because you are an award-winning builder."

The 2010 winners of the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association 's Kawartha Awards of Distinction:

* Northern Designs - Plans Design

MEMBER AWARDS

1. Kawartha Awards of Distinctionwinners Salesperson of the Year: Craig McFarlane, Linwood Homes
2. Project of the Year: Mason Homes Outstanding Supplier/Manufacturer of the Year: Direct Energy
3. The Green Technology Award: Habitat for Humanity
4. The Green Award -Excellence in Environmental Innovation: Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and the Kawarthas 2009 Homebuilder of the Year: Linwood Custom Homes

HOME RENOVATION

1. Most Outstanding Home Renovation -under $25,000: Stoney Lakes Fine Homes
2. Most Outstanding Home Renovation -between $50,000 and $75,000: Kawartha Lakes Construction
3. Most Outstanding Home Renovation -between $75,000 and $149,999: Kawartha Lakes Construction
4. Most Outstanding Home Renovation -$150,000 or more: Linwood Custom Homes
5. Most Outstanding Kitchen Renovation: Evergreen Home and Cottage
6. Most Oustanding Bathroom Renovation: Kawartha Lakes Construction 2010 Green Renovator: Linwood Custom Homes

NEW HOME ROOM DESIGN

1. Most Outstanding Single Detached Home -semi custom tract built under 1,500 sq ft: Mason Homes
2. Most Outstanding Single Detached Home -semi custom tract built over 1,500 sq ft: Mason Homes
3. Most Outstanding Single Detached Home -for Custom Builder under 2,200 sq ft: Evergreen Home and Cottage
4. Most Outstanding Single Detached Home for Customer Builder over 2,200 sq ft.: R&M Smith Contracting
5. Most Outstanding Single Detached Home -for Manufactured Custom Built over 2,200 sq ft: Discovery Dream Homes
6. Most Outstanding New Kitchen: R&M Smith Contracting
7. Most Outstanding Multi-Unit Attached Home (row, stacked or multiple level): Mason Homes Single Home Using Insulated Concrete Forms: R&M Contracting

ADVERTISING

1. Best Print Ad Campaign: Mason Homes Best Internet Website: Mason Homes

ON-SITE SALES PRESENTATION

1. Best Interior Decorating -Model Home: Linwood Custom Homes
2. Best Sales Brochure: Mason Homes
3. Best Project Logo Design and Signage: RWH Construction
4. Best New Home Sales Office: Mason Homes