ReNews -- Remodelors Council News - 05/12/2004  (Plain Text Version)

Doug Sutton, Sr. CGR, CAPS
Remodelors^TM Council Chair
Springfield, Illinois

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Missed the Spring Board Meeting ... Here Is What Happened

NAHB and the Remodelors^TM Council recent Spring Board meeting in Washington, D.C. was a success. If you were unable to join us in Washington, here is what you missed.

Bryan Patchan Scholarship winner Steve Scheipeter, CGR (left) of S.W. Scheipeter Construction met with Congressman Todd Akin (R,MO) (center)  during his visit to Washington, DC for the Spring Board Meeting. Also pictured, Remodelors Council Chairman Doug Sutton, CGR, CAPS on right.

Business Associates Committee

• Inaugural meeting of the Remodelors™ Council Business Associates Committee. The committee will focus on how associate members of the Remodelors™ Council can help the council.
• Group identified the following goals for committee:
  - Determine how associates can get information to remodelers.
  - Many associate members not aware of the Remodelors™ Council. Make them aware of the council.
  - Get more participation from business associates of the Remodelors™ Council.
• The committee will survey the following groups to determine what types of information would be useful to them in developing and maintaining relationships between remodeler members and associate members of the council: 
  - Leadership of local Remodelors™ Councils
  - RC associate members
  - NCHI associate members
  The results of the survey will be collected by end of July and presented at the fall board meeting.

CAPS Board of Governors

• A total of 403 CAPS nationwide
• CAPS designees are now listed on the AARP’s Web site, click here.
• American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has approved the two CAPS courses — Working with and Marketing to Older Adults and Home Modifications — for continuing education credit for its ASID certification.
• This year's May is National Remodeling Month features the CAPS designation and universal design.
• The CAPS Board approved seven new CAPS instructors. Contact the NAHB University of Housing for an updated list.
  

CGR Board of Governors

• A total of 784 Active CGRs nationwide
• The program has 81% retention rate
• Alan Hanbury, CGR, CAPS was appointed as the 2004 vice chair of the CGR Board of Governors. 
• The Certified Graduate Remodelor™ Board of Governors enacted a CGR emeritus status for the CGR program. The emeritus status is eligible to those CGR’s 58 years of age or older and completed a minimum of two CGR continuing education cycles (maintained designation for a minimum of six years); and has been a CGR in continuous good standing. Interested candidates must complete an application and provide a statement of retirement or letter of justification to the CGR Board. 

Education & Business Development Committee

• The committee reviewed and selected the 2005 IBS educational proposals.  A total of 42 proposals were reviewed. This was a significant increase from the 27 proposals submitted for 2004 IBS. The next step is for the NAHB Education Committee to make the final selections.
• The committee reviewed and edited the draft Cost of Doing Business survey. 
• Members provided ideas for questions to be added to the RMI. The committee discussed the survey question ideas. If you have a question or a subject that the Remodelors™ Council should add to the RMI, contact Remodelors Council Senior Manager Barbara Drobins.

Membership & Local Council Development Committee

• Membership Number as of March 2004 — 6,800
• Four new Local Councils since IBS
• Remodelors™ Council Trustees and Committee Members were asked to make a commitment to participate in Council Connection, an important membership program. Participants will be assigned a number of local Remodelors™ Councils to contact on quarterly basis.
• The membership committee discussed the initiative of creating a directory of Remodelors™ Council members on the NAHB Web site.

Past Chairs Leadership Development Committee

• Doug Sutton announced Steve Scheipeter, of St. Louis, as 2004 winner of the Bryan Patchan Scholarship.
• Sutton encouraged past chairs to participate in the Council Connection Survey, which is an updated version of the Reach Out and Touch Survey.
• Information was sent to all Remodelors™ Council committee members inviting them to submit leadership profiles and interview for Remodelors™ Council Board of Trustees and Observer position.
• The committee discussed strategies for submitting candidates for observer (or second vice chair) to NAHB Treasurer David Pressly who will be making the appointment.
  

Public Affairs Committee

• The Public Affairs Committee approved removing the Remodelor™ of the Year award from the CADRE award program to be a stand alone award.
• The Public Affairs Committee voted to reinstate the Remodelor™ of the Month award program.
• The Public Affairs Committee voted to add essay questions to the 2005 CADRE awards.

Other Remodelors Council Spring Board News:

• Request for a name change: The White Mountain HBA in New Hampshire has a new name White Mountain Home Builders and Remodelers Association
• Congratulations to Remodelors™ Council member Leon Church of Sweetwood Builders, Inc., in Appleton, WI, for achieving Senior Life Director status of the NAHB Board for attending at least two meetings for 20 consecutive years.
• Congratulations to Remodelors™ Council members Mike Carden of MUI Corp., in Vestavia, AL; Steve Albert of Albert Construction Co., in New Orleans; and Jim Reichard of Campbell & Reichard Builders in Bay City, MiI, for achieving Life Director status of the NAHB Board for attending at least two meeting for 10 consecutive years.

Remodelors Council Platinum Sponsor

Through the support and contribution of our sponsors, the NAHB Remodelors Council keeps its members at the forefront of industry developments and increases consumer awareness of the remodeling industry through a variety of programs and publications. The NAHB Remodelors Council appreciates the commitment presented by all of its sponsors and would like to send a special thanks to the Remodelors Council Platinum Sponsors.  Please join us by visiting the Pella Corporation at www.pella.com.

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Who Will Be Inducted to This Year's America's Best National Remodeling Hall of Fame?

It is that time of year again when the Remodelors™ Council begins searching for the best of the best for induction into the America’s Best National Remodeling Hall of Fame. This award honors those individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on the remodeling industry whether on a state or national basis.

Induction into America’s Best National Remodeling Hall of Fame is open to individuals in any public or private sector entity or institution. Areas of contribution may include industry image, governmental affairs, education, business management or any other contribution that has helped advance the remodeling profession. We encourage you to nominate individuals who have made a positive impact on the remodeling industry. Self nominations are not permitted.

Completed applications must be received by July 12. The induction ceremony will take place at the Remodelors™ Council Gala during the 2004 Remodeling Show in Chicago, Oct. 7-9.

Thanks to the generous support of Weather Shield® Windows and Doors, your Remodelors Council can continue to honor those individuals who have made a noteworthy impact on the remodeling industry.

Click here to download an application from the Remodelors Council web site. Contact Barbara Drobins, 800-368-5242 x8217 with questions regarding this prestigious awards program. [return to top]

The Remodelor^TM of the Year Search Begins

Who is the best of the best in the remodeling industry? The Remodelors™ Council is making the call for entries into one of the council’s most prestigious awards program, the Remodelor™ of the Year Award.

The Remodelor of the Year Award recognizes exemplary NAHB involvement at any level, superior business management, and an outstanding contribution to the remodeling industry. Councils should nominate individual remodelers, but the nominee must write his or her own entry essay. All entries in this category must come from local councils.

The Remodelor™ of the Year application is available online. The award will be presented at the Remodelors™ Council Gala during the 2004 Remodeling Show in Chicago (Oct. 8).

The Remodelor™of the Year award is sponsored by Qualified Remodeler magazine. The winner will be featured in an issue of the Qualified Remodeler magazine.

Award entries are due to the Remodelors™ Council by Friday, Sept. 3. For more information, contact the Remodelors™ Council or call 800-368-5242 x8216. [return to top]

Remodelors Council Platinum Sponsor

Through the support and contribution of our sponsors, the NAHB Remodelors Council keeps its members at the forefront of industry developments and increases consumer awareness of the remodeling industry through a variety of programs and publications. The NAHB Remodelors Council appreciates the commitment presented by all of its sponsors and would like to send a special thanks to the Remodelors Council Platinum Sponsors.  Please join us by visiting the Whirlpool Corporation at www.whirlpool.com.

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As GLI Premiums Rise, NAHB Begins Counterattack

Is your general liability insurance premium so high the only thing covering your employees is bubble wrap? NAHB has been tackling this issue head on and this issue of ReNews offers information, a call for action, and some remedies to keep your business afloat and profitable.

NAHB is rolling out one of the most important initiatives in history to solve the residential construction industry's general liability insurance (GLI) crisis. Many NAHB members, including producers, builders, remodelers and more, have been facing dramatic increases in premiums and big changes in deductibles and exclusions.

An NAHB task force presented a plan of action during the International Builders Show with the endorsement of the Senior Officers and Executive Board. The plan is a strategic relationship with Marsh, the global insurance consulting firm, to develop a range of GLI coverage options for producers, builders, remodelers, and subcontractors in every state. The Marsh/NAHB plan seeks to achieve three primary objectives:

• An accurate national picture of the loss experiences of the residential construction industry
• New insurance products that will give NAHB members access to lower cost GLI with better coverage and broader availability (available as early as mid-January 2005)
• A structure that allows local insurance agents to sell new GLI products and enables NAHB and its state and local affiliates to participate in revenue generated by these new products

How To Be Part Of The Solution

The first step toward a solution is gathering data. The Remodelors™ Council Board of Trustees  encourages all members to participate in this plan for the betterment of the remodeling and general housing industries. Marsh needs information to develop a database about the frequency and severity of losses — how many losses you experienced and how much they cost. This information will be held in the strictest confidence by Marsh and will not be shared with any NAHB staff or members.

Participating members will fill out a survey about their business and its loss experience. They will also need to send a letter to their insurance carrier granting permission to share loss-run information with Marsh. NAHB and Marsh need to complete this data-gathering effort by July 15.  Marsh will use the data to conduct an extensive analysis of the risk management needs of the home building industry and then develop new insurance products.

To obtain a copy of the GLI survey or consent letter, go to www.nahb.org/gli or contact the NAHB Member Service Center at 800-368-5242 x8583. If you have specific questions about the data collection initiative, e-mail Brett Diggs or call him at x8453 or e-mail Clayton Traylor or call him at x8490. [return to top]

Protect Your Profits From Escalating Materials Prices

Rising material prices often throw wrenches into best-laid bids and budgets, but there’s plenty you can do to explain these costs upfront to your customers and protect your profits.

NAHB has developed a sample escalation clause that provides for contract termination in the event that increases in materials prices cause the total contract price to increase by more than a certain percent, although this can also be stated as a certain dollar amount. Both the owner and the remodeler should mutually agree on the percentage or the amount. This may be pegged to the lending limits on the construction loan or another figure that both parties find acceptable.

Because the remodeler must take affirmative steps to claim the increase, it is possible for him or her to waive or ignore increases considered to be minor. However, including the clause in the contract is insurance against suffering the effects of crippling building material cost hikes.

To download the escalation clause, select this link. For more information, contact David Crump, NAHB’s director of legal research, at 800-368-5242 x8491 or contact David Jaffe, NAHB’s staff vice president for construction liability and legal research, at 800-368-5242 x8317. [return to top]

Recognizing Local Remodelors^TM Council Excellence

The Council Awards for Demonstrating Remodeling Excellence (CADRE) are the highest honors awarded to local Remodelors™ Councils for superior member service.

The CADRE call for entries has been mailed to all local councils and is also available online.  The winners will be announced at the Remodelors™ Council Gala during the 2004 Remodeling Show in Chicago (Oct. 8).

Show off your local council’s great work by submitting an application in one or all of the following categories:

• Membership Recruitment & Retention
• Community Service Project
• Public Relations & Promotion
• Outstanding Associate Member
• Member Service/Education
• Government Affairs/Legislation
• Outstanding Council Chair
• Outstanding Executive Officer/Council Coordinator

Enter the CADREs and win recognition for your great work! CADRE Awards entries due by Friday, Sept. 3.

The CADRE Awards are sponsored by Remodelors™ Council Platinum Strategic Partner
Pella Corporation.

For more information, email the Remodelors™ Council or call 800-368-5242 x8216. [return to top]

How to Find A Professional Remodeler

This newly designed, glossy four-color brochure promotes the professionalism of your remodeling business by offering a wealth of valuable advice to your customers on the process of selecting a remodeler. The brochure guides consumers from the dream of remodeling their home to the reality of superior job done by a skilled and trained professional. Sections on what to look for in a professional remodeler, what questions to ask and signs of a professional remodeler all reinforce the value of your business with potential and existing customers.

(Packs of 25)
Item number: 00214
Member price: $ 28.80
Non-Member price: $ 32.00

To view or order this publication or other Remodelors™ Council publications, visit the remodeling section of BuilderBooks.com.  [return to top]

Customize Your NAHB Web Site View

You deliver exactly what your customers want in the homes you build. Now NAHB’s Web site delivers exactly what you need to run your business and keep abreast of important industry issues.

NAHB has just added customization features to the www.nahb.org site that allow you to create your own My NAHB interface and make it yours. What does that mean to you?
 
Similar to MyYahoo and MyMSN, you can now set up your own My NAHB. Simply identify the home building topics that you want to know more about in the My Profile section and matching site content will then display in your own customized windows. You’ll find resources, meetings, courses, messages and more in My NAHB — customized just for you based on your preferences. You can even view a slice of My NAHB on one page with My NAHB at a glance.
 
Along with customization, NAHB added the ability to identify pages as “My NAHB Favorites” and save them for future reference. You can even identify four favorites to appear on the home page.  Your profile is the key to setting your content preferences and it can be found under the My NAHB section off the main navigation bar or by typing “my profile” in the search box. Specific details and instructions on customizing this site can be found under "How to Use www.nahb.org." [return to top]

NAHB Public Affairs Launches Member Matrix Initiative

NAHB Public Affairs is looking for a few good builders…and remodelers, architects, associates and more! 

To keep NAHB’s 20-plus publications and newsletters even better connected with issues important to members, NAHB is launching the Member Matrix (M2), a new initiative that will allow the editorial staff of the association to draw on members’ wide-ranging expertise to explain the impact of policies, news and trends on the building industry. 

M2 participants will be tapped for quotes by telephone or by e-mail when there is news in their areas of expertise, and they will gain national exposure among their peers. Ideal participants in M2 are members who, while they may not hold elected offices in their local or state associations, have a significant knowledge base in a specific area and are interested in sharing their experience and perspective with others.

While M2 continues to expand to additional areas of interest to NAHB members, the initial phase of the program is looking for stakeholder members who can comment on the following areas:

• Storm water management
• General liability insurance
• Impact fees
• Habitat conservation plans (HCPs)
• Active adult housing
• Remodeling

Already, executive officers at the state and local level are nominating members that they feel will be enthusiastic about acting as sources for staff writing stories about critical issues for NAHB print and electronic publications.

If you are interested in participating in M2 or know of someone who would be a good resource, please contact your executive officer or NAHB Public Affairs or call, 800-368-5242 x8061. [return to top]

Did You Ever Wonder If? Need Some Advice?

If that’s the case, visit the Remodelors™ Council new message board on www.nahb.org. The Remodelors Council message board allows you to ask questions and get the answers from seasoned industry peers. Feel free to ask you question or respond to your peers. Visit www.nahb.org/forums for the current list of discussions or give us your suggestions. Contact Melanie Hinton, 800-368-5242 x8451 for details. [return to top]

Storm Water Permit Guide Available to NAHB Members Through BuilderBooks

NAHB recently completed a builders guide to help association members comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state storm water permitting requirements.

EPA recently stepped up its enforcement of the storm water rules, which it has repeatedly called a national priority. The guide, which will provide information on storm water requirements that affect NAHB members, can be pre-ordered through BuilderBooks.com.

In addition to information on federal and state storm water permitting programs, Storm Water Permitting: A Guide for Builders & Developers contains information on more than 50 of the most commonly used Best Management Practices, sample Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans, and tips on compliance, including how to handle visits from inspectors. It also features a CD ROM of U.S. EPA and state general permits, Notices of Intent and many other forms and guidance that can be use to help ensure compliance with state requirements.

For more information and to obtain your copy, email Dionne Iyoha at NAHB or call her at 800-368-5242 x8163.  [return to top]

Expand Into Mexico — Explore New Business Opportunities

Maximize your opportunity to enter the Mexican marketplace at the 2nd International Housing Conference of the Americas — Mexico City, Nov. 7-10.   

FACT: The Mexican home building industry constructed, sold, and financed 2.4 million units valued at $60 billion from 1995 to 2003 — and the demand for housing continues to grow.  

FACT: The Mexican government plans to cultivate the housing industry to build, sell, and finance 750,000 new units a year amounting to $20 billion by 2006.

FACT: Mexico’s home ownership rate is among the highest in the world at 87%. 

NAHB and CANADEVI (Mexico’s National Industry Chamber for the Development and Promotion of Housing) have joined forces to offer members the opportunity to meet, learn, exchange ideas, and explore business opportunities with top housing industry leaders and government officials.

The Conference offers technical seminars, property tours of Mexico’s largest developers, numerous networking events, and prime table-top exhibit space.

Make critical connections for future business and explore partnerships and investment opportunities at the 2nd International Housing Conference of the Americas in Mexico City, Nov. 7-10.

Register now and be one of the first 200 people to receive a free pass to the 2005 IBS! [return to top]

Innovation in Workforce Housing Awards

The Innovation in Workforce Housing Awards (IWHA) are designed to recognize outstanding examples of workforce housing communities across the nation that provide decent and affordable homes for nurses, police officers, schoolteachers, retail workers and the like near areas in which they work.

IWHA is open to builders, architects, designers, developers and land planners nationwide. Communities completed or for which the first model opened, or the first unit was occupied, between Jan. 1, 2002 and July 1, 2004 are eligible to enter. For additional entry guidelines and an entry form, visit www.nahb.org/workforcehousing.  Entries must be postmarked no later than Thursday, July 1. [return to top]

Are You Ready to Publish that Great Idea?

Do you have a great idea for a remodeling publication? Have you been kicking around a manuscript for a book, white paper, manual, etc to help remodelers do better business? Yes?! Then submit a proposal to BuilderBooks.com for consideration. Builderbooks.com is constantly looking for new materials to publish that will improve everyone’s bottom line and business acumen. For more information, contact Anika Trahan, 800-368-5242 x8024.
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NAHB Members Receive 5% Discount from AT&T Wireless

NAHB members can take advantage of a 5% discount on monthly cellular services available in all AT&T Wireless markets. Qualified charges for discounts include one-time charges for Wireless Service activation, conversion and rate plan changes, monthly wireless access, home wireless airtime charges, roaming airtime charges incurred in AT&T Wireless markets, charges for billing detail, and charges for additional features such as voice mail.

For information on activating new AT&T Wireless Services call 888-444-4410; be sure to mention code 50001515 and your NAHB membership. If you have existing AT&T Wireless Services and would like to start receiving the 5% discount, please call 800-459-6524, mention code 50001515, and mention your NAHB membership. Or visit the AT&T Wireless Web site.
 
For the most up-to-date details on the Member Advantage discount program and all of the participating companies, click here.

 Or visit www.nahb.org to explore the full range of benefits associated with membership in your local, state and national home builders associations. [return to top]

For more information or to contact us directly, please visit www.NAHB.org | ©2004, National Association of Home Builders