Life Erickson: Building for the future

The owner of American Dream Estates is this year's president of the North Idaho Building Contractors Association and the economy is the first thing that comes to his mind.

COEUR d'ALENE - It is probably a sign of the times that the question most often put to Life Erickson is not about his name.

It is about his industry.

The owner of American Dream Estates is this year's president of the North Idaho Building Contractors Association and the economy is the first thing that comes to his mind.

These days one of his main concerns is keeping the association healthy, along with the other builders and subcontractors in the area.

That means keeping in touch with city and county officials to ensure what growth there is is well thought out.

In the past week, it meant getting ready for the 2010 North Idaho Building Contractors Home & Garden Show that wraps up today, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

Born in Riverside, Calif., he has lived in North Idaho since 1991 and started his company in 2004.

But about that name, it's a question he is accustomed to answering. The answer is both cultural and generational, and he laughs when asked.

"I was born in 1973, I guess it was supposed to be like, Leif Erickson. It was at the end of my parents' hippie days," he said. So it only figures, he would have a middle name of significance as well.

"I don't have one," Erickson said.

What attracted you to construction?

I've always liked the way you can take a big project, and you start small by doing things the right way start to finish, being able to run it properly and make the best product.

How long have you been in the industry?

Off and on working, learning the trade, I started general labor construction 20 years ago. I worked for a local delivery company (UPS) for 13 years and did a lot of part-time, temporary construction.

Did you work for somebody else?

With UPS, it was a part-time job for a lot of years, doing all aspects of construction on a temporary basis. I've done hod carrier, roofing, a little bit of framing, some trim work. Almost all aspects.

I ... built my house and liked it so well I lined up four presold homes and quit my job.

Was it good timing?

I could have started a little sooner.

How many homes have you built?

I probably personally built 16 to 18, and worked on six others as supervisor. Generally most were $500,000 to $1 million homes.

What is going on right now?

We have got a lot of inventory to work through. I think people's mentality is changing, what they need versus what they want, there's got to be some adaptation to stay in front of business. We are going through some inventory and there are some price ranges that are really moving.

When things were going strong, did you think it was going to last, could last, did you pace yourself?

We just built the best product we could, we went though the large property value increases.

Were you stuck with any inventory when the boom ended?

No (he laughs). I built a Parade of Homes house (in 2007). My other house was much smaller and didn't sell. I ended up with two houses for over a year. I built the house for myself, and was just hoping to sell but didn't. I'm not sitting on anything now.

What are you building now?

I'm working on a couple of projects I'd like to get started, working with a banker, Realtor and a developer, trying to be economy proof. Which is kind of hard to do, coming from the higher end stuff to the stuff that's moving now.

Labor and materials costs are down, are people still making decent money in the building industry?

I'm in the process right now, going to get a better idea for that. I'm going to bid a set of plans for the type of homes I think are moving now. My goal now is to build a home people can get financing for with a lot of custom amenities that are cost effective in a market like this.

Are high end vendors willing and able to put that product into less expensive homes?

I imagine so. A lot of the things that are nice about quality homes don't necessarily need to be custom, you just need to get them finished right, you have to start right, through the whole process.

What can you get for a good price?

I'm looking at under $250,000. More attention to detail, managing the project the way it should be managed, hiring good subcontractors. I rely on my good subcontractors. Subs are the key.

As president of NIBCA, what are your goals?

My basic biggest goal is having NIBCA represent the building industry as far as being for responsible growth, working with the county and the city officials. We have monthly meetings with commissioners and building officials, which has been really good, we sit and talk to each other across the table. One talk was called 'working together,' so it's a benefit.

As president, how do you serve the other members and subs?

Working with the city and county officials like we do, we can see what's coming down the line before it gets there, by constantly being a promoter of responsible growth.

How do you describe responsible?

I would say promotion of green building. Twenty-two builders went through our Green Builder class to get certified. We promote a safe work environment, recycling as much as they can.

There are a lot of partially built, good sized subdivisions. Will the number stay steady for a long time?

Yeah, I would think so, it depends on who owns them. I think there is a whole lot of changing going on in the development of land.

What is the toughest thing you're looking at in the industry?

We've got to go through the inventory we have, and we are. Lending is becoming more difficult. There are a lot more regulations coming down from the feds.

What do you think about the area in general?

I don't think we're affected as much as the nation. I don't have that doom and gloom attitude about this area or the industry. I think there are a lot of positive things going on.

How important is the Home and Garden Show to the industry?

It's huge. It gives people who are looking to do things a place to go find what they want and gives subs and suppliers a good place to showcase their product.

Is it going to be a good show?

Yeah it's going to be good. There is a ton of work that goes into that.

Is there more home improvement than home replacement?

Yes, I think any time housing does what it's doing we see a lot of remodeling.

What kind of feedback do you get from the everyday guys in the industry, are they doing other things?

Everybody would like more work now, but a lot of them have work and are making it through. It's not like the heyday, if you're not sitting on anything and not paying interest, it's a lot easier to make it through.

This is a beautiful area, all of us know that, that's why we're for responsible, healthy growth.

Date of birth: March 1, 1973

Family: Wife Angela and son Pierce

Education: High school and two years college

Number of hours you sleep in a night: seven

Number of hours you work: 50-55

Hobbies: Travel and outdoor activities

Favorite music: Rock

Favorite book: "The Shack"

Favorite movie: "The Usual Suspects"

Favorite vacation spot: Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Favorite spectator sport: Motocross

Best advice you ever received: If a job is worth doing at all, it has to be done right.

One person who most influenced you: I have to name two, my parents.

Quality you admire most in a person: That can-do attitude.

Any one thing you would change about yourself: I could use more patience at times.