Congratulations, Theresa Springer Outstanding Associate Member CADRE Award Winner

Theresa Springer was recently honored with the 2009 Council Award for Demonstrating Remodeling Excellence for Outstanding Associate Member. The awards—known in the industry as the CADREs—were announced during NAHB Remodelers annual Gala at the 2009 Remodeling Show in Indianapolis. Winners in eight categories were honored for outstanding contributions and performance at the local council level.

Jarred Roy, from the Pella Corporation, with NAHB Remodelers Greg Miedema, CGR, CGB, CAPS, CGP, a remodeler from Tucson, Ariz., presented the awards from NAHB Remodelers.

Roy applauded Springer for “helping to promote remodelers, support professional development, and grow leadership at the local council.”

Theresa Springer, CGA, joined the Professional Remodelers at the HBA of Metro Portland in 2004 and has become a vital leader while representing the Pacific Residential Mortgage company. She actively participates in a long list of committee meetings, at luncheons, and at other events. Theresa has been working in home lending for more than 20 years and knows firsthand the challenges remodelers are experiencing with financing projects. She actively promotes council members to consumers through seminars and supporting website improvements.

The CADRE Awards, judged by members of NAHB Remodelers’ Board of Trustees, are presented each year to local Remodelers Councils and individuals whose work at the local council level exemplifies the best practices of the remodeling industry. The CADRE is the NAHB Remodelers highest national award for work at the local level.

Miedema added, “Local NAHB Remodelers Councils across the nation nurture excellence in professional remodelers with programs, education, and leadership development. The CADRE awards celebrate their achievements and raise the bar for local excellence.”

National News: For Remodelers, Recovery Won’t Mean Business as Usual

You have got to read this article from the Nation’s Building News giving highlights from the recent Remodeling Show. 

According to the article…

• The latest findings of the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity, which was released late last month by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, spending on home improvements should begin rising early next year. Spending will, however, still have ample ground to recover, remaining 8.9% below its year-over-year level in the second quarter of 2010.
• Sixty percent of remodeling businesses never make a profit; 81% of them don’t track their profits by market and 64% don’t track profit by product. Most businesses don’t have a written business plan. Sixty-two percent of remodelers don’t track client retention and 64% don’t know their sales conversion rates. Consequently, roughly two-thirds of remodeling companies fail in their first five years,  roughly the same as the 60% failure rate experienced by small businesses overall. However, about 90% of remodelers perish before celebrating their 10th anniversary.
• Case Remodeling has found that after contracting an initial job, largely a smaller project coming in through its handyman division, 18% of its clients went on to a second job within 18 months. Of that 18%, 72% went on to a third project.

National News: Remodelers Action Needed!

NAHB Remodelers are urged to comment on a recent proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that would add more requirements and costs — and subject the remodeling and renovation of an estimated 40 million additional homes — to the lead paint regulations that will go into effect in April 2010.

The proposed amendment is a direct result of EPA’s settlement with environmental advocates. Some of the proposed changes will drastically affect the rule and add further demands on remodelers.

The EPA’s lead paint rule is focused on homes built before 1978, which are more likely to contain lead. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, these homes account for 68% of the nation’s total housing stock.

The rule currently requires remodelers to certify their firms, have a trained and certified lead renovator on staff, educate home owners, contain and clean up dust, conduct a final dust wipe to confirm cleaning, and maintain records. The rule also allows an “opt-out” provision for homes without children under six and pregnant women as residents.

EPA is now proposing to remove the “opt-out” provision, which would drastically increase the number of homes impacted by the rule. If accepted, all pre-1978 homes would be subject to the rule, which is an estimated addition of 40 million homes.

Additional proposed changes to the rule include a requirement for remodelers to give the home owner a compliance checklist document to add to their home records for passing on to future owners. The checklist would describe the sections of the home renovated and details on rule compliance.

The window for comments to EPA on the proposed amendment to the rule is extremely short, yet is it is very important remodelers submit comments for the official record. NAHB is also submitting an official comment letter.

NAHB has created a member-only customizable letter to adapt and send to EPA by the comment deadline of November 27. The letter is accessible only to members and can be downloaded and tailored with comments and cost estimates.

The full proposed amendment was published in the Federal Register and can be downloaded in PDF format. Learn more about the current lead paint rule and how to prepare at  www.nahb.org/leadpaint.

Remodelers: Action Needed!

EPA estimates that compliance with the Lead: Renovation Repair & Painting Program increases the cost of each job by $35. Remodelers have expressed to NAHB the concern that $35 is well below the costs a firm will incur in working in pre-1978 homes. NAHB asks that you let EPA know the true costs of complying with the Lead Regulation.

Please send EPA a letter during the during the brief comment period, following the recent proposal to remove the opt-out provision and tell EPA how much it really costs to follow the regulation. Write and send your own letter or customize the member-only downloadable letter from the NAHB website with your story using the worksheet to estimate both the initial costs (certification, training, etc.) and the cost incurred for each job.

Questions? Contact remodel@nahb.org.

How to prepare your business for the flu season

This year’s flu season could potentially affect your business and employees. The H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, has spread rapidly around the globe. One of the best ways to battle the flu season is by preparing your company now. Developing a game plan today will put you in a better position to keep operations running smoothly should the flu hit your workplace.

Here are six tips to prepare your business for flu season:

• Educate your employees: Inform workers about symptoms of the flu and how to prevent its spread to others. Post signs about good hygiene and put anti-bacterial soap or sanitizer in the office kitchen and bathrooms. Routinely wipe down computer keyboards, phones, door knobs, and light switches.
• Develop an absenteeism plan: How will you operate if there is significant absenteeism from sick workers, or those who stay home to care for ill family members? Determine, for example, who will assume the lead role if a manager becomes sick, or who will be responsible for payroll if your accountant is sent home.
• Alternative work arrangements: Train employees on how to telecommute from their home and set expectations for them if they have to work from home.
• Encourage vaccinations: Consider making flu shots available to your employees by brining in a service, or by subsidizing the cost for them to get them on their own.
• Keep sick workers home: Encourage sick workers to stay home without fear of losing their jobs. Workers who have flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, sweating) should stay home and not come to work until they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours. It may seem like an unbearable hardship for you, but you’ll have an even harder time if employees who contract the virus spread it to others.
• In case of an emergency: Have everyone’s mobile number handy to contact, or develop a phone tree to get the word out.For more information on the H1N1 virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

November New Members of PRO

Welcome new members of PRO:

• Brian Bohrer, Cornerstone Construction Services
• Joe Yosso, Northwest Energy Savers
• Larry Gale Mock, Phoenix Group Construction