DirectBuild Franchise Lends More Than a Helping Hand to The Kempe Foundation

Posted on May 15, 2007 by

DirectBuild’s Dream Home Will Improve Children’s’ Reality

(Denver, CO)--- DirectBuild, a franchised concept that provides turnkey consulting programs to clients that enable them to build or remodel a home without using a general contractor, is building the largest charity home in Colorado – the 12,000-square-foot Kempe Villa of Dreams in Denver’s Cherry Hill neighborhood. The home will be valued at more than $5 million and net proceeds from the sale will benefit the Kempe Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect.

The villa is part of the foundation’s campaign, Custom Built Hope for Kempe Kids. The Kempe Foundation is a nonprofit organization which provides the education, advocacy and fundraising support for the work of The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, The Kempe Center is recognized as the world leader in child abuse treatment programs and has been at the forefront in the fight against child abuse for over thirty years.

"A significant partnership, like this one with DirectBuild, has an incredible impact on Kempe’s ability to fight child abuse and neglect by continuing to improve our model programs and enabling us to treat more children who are victims of abuse and neglect," said Steve Demby, chairman of The Kempe Foundation.

DirectBuild’s founder and CEO Mike New is determined to make this home the very best so that it reflects the importance of The Kempe Foundation’s work. "We have the 'best of the best' subcontractors and vendors hard at work to create a home that matches the same level of excellence as the life-changing programs of Kempe and its experts who prevent and treat child abuse and neglect," New said.

The home even has green construction, which means the average monthly utility bills will be in the $200s – about $800 to $1,000 less than the typical $1,100 to $1,200 heating and cooling costs for a house this size. Perfect timing: the home is scheduled to be completed in December.

The home will be open to the public before it goes on the market. For those who want one of their own or want to borrow some of design elements for their own house, there’s good news: the home was constructed using the DirectBuild program. Providing unmatched one-on-one support, DirectBuild offers programs that can assist clients through early-stage activities such as finding the right piece of land, drawing up house plans and securing home-building loans through the additional phases of budgeting, hiring contractors, selecting materials and overseeing the entire construction process.

While allowing clients to be in control of their project, DirectBuild consultants actively participate with 25 scheduled onsite visits. In addition, DirectBuild’s affiliations with experienced subcontractors and supply houses help clients secure labor and materials at discounts ranging from 20 to 40 percent. Overall, clients can save between 10 and 15 percent by managing their own construction project with support from DirectBuild.

“People increasingly like to do their own thing. Look at the popularity of Lowe’s and Home Depot. DirectBuild not only saves clients money, but gives them control,” said New. “Besides fulfilling the American dream of owning a home, it gives people the ability to put some sweat equity into making their dream come true.”

Having launched the DirectBuild program himself in the Denver area in 2005, New expects to grant 10 franchises within the company’s first year and expand to 50 locations within three years. A franchise has already been sold in Fort Collins, CO.