Connection DepotIf you’re building, about to build, considering building or are remodeling a home in Central Oregon, there’s a great new web resource on hand to help you. It’s called Connection Depot Central Oregon.
An offshoot of the Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA), it’s chock-full of building-related information. For starters, you’ll find lists of area resources for every aspect of the home-building process — from real estate agents, lenders, architects, building designers and landscape architects to contractors, interior designers, plumbers, painters, carpenters, roofers, electricians, remodeling specialists, furniture resources, HVAC systems, handymen and much more.
It’s also an educational tool. So, for example, not only are lists of general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers included, but an explanation of each specialty is provided as well. There’s also a page that explains in detail how to choose a contractor. Plus, there’s an entire section devoted to green building. (However, just when the phrase “green building” was becoming  widely recognized, there’s a movement afoot to label it “high-performance building,” which is how you’ll find it labeled on the home page here.)
Folks  who’d like to check out new home-related resources first-hand can learn more about upcoming events, such as the Go Solar! Central Oregon program (which provides workshops and discounts on solar systems from Sept. 5-Oct. 10) and COBA’s Remodeling, Design and Outdoor Living Show (Sept. 22-23 at the Century Center in Bend).

But perhaps the most useful tool for those in the market for a new home or a renovation is the section devoted to the building industry. There you’ll find not just a list of area contractors, but detailed licensing info about each business mentioned, along with contact information, a detailed description of the company’s specialties, plus any green-building experience, awards received, additional credentials  and a link to the company’s website.

About the Author
Lisa Broadwater, GRI, CDPE, is a Central Oregon-based real estate professional who specializes in listing and selling homes, especially in Sisters, Tumalo, Bend and Redmond.