PRO Gear Available for Order

If you are interested in ordering a logo’ed name tag, shirt, vehicle graphics or extra window clings, click here to download an order form. Please fax completed forms to the HBA at 503-684-0588. Orders received before noon on Wednesday, May 13 will be ready for the May 20th PRO Luncheon at Genesis Home Technologies.

On The Go With Joe: Tour of Remodeled Homes

See On The Go With Joe segment about Tour of Remodeled Homes here.

Spring Home and Garden Show

See what RC Members are up to out at the Spring Home and Garden Show going on this weekend.

Tour of Remodeled Homes Booth

Steve Stolze, SLS Custom Homes early morning television interview.

Stanley Home Renovation & Design booth.

2008 Remodeling Excellence Awards

The Remodelers Council of Metropolitan Portland is pleased to announce the 2008 Remodeling Excellence Award winners. Sponsored by Contract Furnishing Mart/ Stainmaster Carpets, the Remodeling Excellence Awards recognize outstanding work throughout the remodeling industry.

“It is important that we take some time each year to applaud the individuals and companies who lead our industry though their efforts,” said Steve Frazier of Contract Furnishings Mart. “We were proud to have so many difficult decisions to make while judging submissions. The Portland area’s remodeling industry is home to some amazing talent and some outstanding professionals.”

Remodeler of the Year: Scott Gregor, President of Master Plan Remodeling  With 36 years experience, Scott Gregor has assembled a team of experts that consistently create award-winning remodels for Portland/Vancouver homeowners. Master Plan provides complete in-house design services and Wood-Mode Cabinetry.

Ten years ago, Scott joined other remodeling industry leaders like Tom Kelly, Lee Zajic, Lora Creswick and David Ewing to help found the HBA Remodelers Council.  Through the years the Remodelers Council has continued to grow and is now the third largest Remodelers Council in the United States.  While his involvement started ten years ago, he is still very active today.  In 2008, Scott served on the RC Steering Committee and the RC Programs subcommittee.  He served as Chair for the 2008 Tour of Remodeled Homes and also was one of the Tour participants.   He also served as one of the judges last year for the Remodeling Awards program with the Twin Cities HBA – part of a partnership we have to help elevate the awards program of our HBA.

Scott cares passionately about his work, his family, his integrity and his customers.  He brings that passion to his leadership in the RC.  As the old saying goes, iron sharpens iron, and Scott brings his high standards and drive to help push the RC and the HBA to excel. 

Trade Contractor of the Year: Quadrant Systems  Quadrant Systems has been in business for twenty years and its owner, Gary Nedelisky, is a long-time supporter of our industry and the HBA.  Quadrant has been an HBA member for over eight years and is also an active member of the Remodelers Council.  The company has supported builders in the Street of Dreams for over 15 years and has also contributed auction items to the Home Builders Foundation.  Last year, Joe Ness and Curt Nelson, both active in the HBA in a variety of areas, served as the Chair and Vice-Chair of our Membership Council, providing strong leadership in a very tough year. 

Other Excellence Award Winners:

Whole House Remodel Under $250,000   
Highland Ridge Custom Home Remodeling

Whole House Remodel $250,000-$499,999 
Cascade Restoration & Remodeling

Whole House Remodel $500,000-$999,999 
BC Custom Homes Corp.

Whole House Remodel over $1,000,000
Metke Remodeling and Woodworking

Kitchen Remodel Under $100,000  
Craftsman Design & Renovation

Kitchen Remodel $100,000 and above 
Neil Kelly Design/Build Remodeling

Bathroom Remodel under $50,000  
Metke Remodeling and Woodworking

Bathroom Remodel $50,000 and above 
Yalecrest Homes

Master Suite Remodel    
Cascade Restoration & Remodeling

Exterior/ Outdoor Living/ Deck Remodel 
Metke Remodeling and Woodworking

Open Category    
Neil Kelly Design/Build Remodeling

Interior Design and Project Designers

Residential Bath Design   
Fuller Spaces

Residential Kitchen Design   
Paolo Design Group

Residential Whole House Design 
Z-3 Design Studio Inc.

Michelle Obama Selects White House Decorator

Susan Davis reports on the transition for the Wall Street Journal.

Interior designer Michael Smith will be in charge of helping the Obama family make the White House a home, the transition office announced Tuesday.

Michelle Obama selected California native Smith, who studied interior design at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and launched his own design firm in 1990. “He takes particular pride in his family-focused clientele and approach,” the announcements states. 

“Laura Bush has been a wonderful steward of The White House and created a beautiful residence for her family,” Obama said in a statement, “I look forward to adding our own touch to the East Wing and creating a living space where our family feels comfortable, happy and settled.” She added that she wants the White House to have a “family friendly feel” that will incorporate “new perspectives” from American artists and designers.

Smith noted the Obama’s “casual style” and said he will be “utilizing affordable brands and products” in the residence.

Affordable furniture chain Ikea is already lobbying for a role in the redecorating effort with an “Embrace Change ‘09” ad campaign blanketing Washington, D.C. metro stops.

Ikea is also featuring an Oval Office replica inside Union Station in Washington, D.C. decorated with—you guessed it—Ikea furniture. The ad campaign also launched a Web site with a count-down clock to when the Obama family moves in and a solicitation to “speak out and let the president know your suggestions for fiscally responsible home furnishings.”

See WSJ link here.

CCB cracks down on unlicensed contractors

by Scott Barrie, OHBA

The Construction Contractors Board (CCB) recently increased its efforts to find unlicensed contractors. In February the CCB partnered with Portland FOX affiliate (KPTV) to conduct a sting in the Portland area. Last month, the CCB partnered with the Oregon Home Builders Association and conducted a sting in the Eugene/Springfield area.

Prior to the stings, the CCB obtained leads of unlicensed construction activity from advertisements, public complaints, Craig’s list, public bulletin boards and other unnamed sources.

In each operation, suspected unlicensed contractors were invited to offer bids for improvements and repairs. In Portland, CCB’s investigators and compliance officers received nine bids for construction work. All were found in violation of Oregon’s construction contracting laws (working without a license). In Eugene, seven of the eight bids were found in violation.

“Illegal activity doesn’t just hurt the consumer,” says Robert Rambo, CCB Field Investigation Manager. “It hurts the legitimate contractors who work hard to stay in compliance and keep getting undercut by those who don’t. The CCB is committed to finding and penalizing those working illegally.”

The CCB has stepped up its proactive efforts throughout the state to address illegal activity. These efforts include random jobsite checks, multi-agency enforcement sweeps (i.e. saturation of targeted areas to check jobsites for illegal activities), and additional enforcement stings.

“These efforts are designed to address unlicensed activity, as well as other illegal practices that may put Oregon workers at risk and provide an unfair competitive advantage to outlaw contractors hiring workers under the table,” says Craig P. Smith, CCB Administrator. “The CCB shares its findings with other state agencies to help penalize violators to the fullest extent of the law.”

If you are concerned that someone is working illegally in your area, you can contact the CCB at 503-378-4621.

CCB NUMBERS (APRIL – SEPT 2008)

Dispute Resolution:
Complaints filed: 679
Investigations: 240
Settlements on-site: 14
Final Orders – Damages: 225

Enforcement:
Complaints Illegal activity: 3,246
Jobsite inspections: 3,419
Investigations opened: 3,246
Warnings issued: 520
Licenses suspended: 431

Customer Service:
Incoming telephone calls: 63,028

Easy, New Remodeler of the Month Application

The NAHB Remodeler of the Month award program celebrates local, active remodelers who stand out because of recent quality work, customer service, community involvement, and dedication to furthering the industry. The winner, once selected by NAHB Remodelers, will be profiled on a full page within Qualified Remodeler.

• Candidates must be NAHB Remodelers/Remodelers Council members.
• Local HBAs may nominate a member or members may self-nominate.
• Candidates may submit for any month and will compete with peers across the nation.
• Before confirmed as winner, NAHB will check with the candidate’s EO to confirm their qualifications.
• All applications are submitted electronically.
• The deadline is the 15th of each month
• Winners must reapply to be considered for Remodeler of the Year.

The deadline for each award is the fifteenth day (15) two months prior to the award month. For example, to submit for May Remodeler of the Month your application must be in by March 15, 2009.

This is a great opportunity for local councils and members to get involved and submit their “best of the best” members to compete with your peers.

Apply for the Remodeler of the Month today at www.nahb.org/rom!

Neil Kelly named national “Remodeler of the Year” by Professional Remodeler Magazine

Tom Kelly has the aggressive nature of a world-class athlete, the passionate soul of a rock star and the wily personality of a high stakes gambler.

But when you get right down to what really makes him tick, it’s the heart of gold that beats within his Irish-American chest that separates Kelly from many remodeling firm executives and industry leaders.
 
The jovial, witty and kind-hearted Kelly has Neil Kelly Co. poised to come out of the remodeling industry’s downturn stronger than ever — partly because he’s not afraid to take a calculated risk or two and partly because he cares about the careers of his 159 employees as if they were members of his extended family.

That nature and an innate passion for green building practices — both of which he inherited from his father, industry icon and company founder Neil Kelly — trickle throughout the entire organization. Not only does that make for a wildly successful company culture, it creates an environment where the buy-in is so deep and rich that the company will increase its volume from $25 million in 2007 to more than $27 million by the time the books are closed on 2008. While many remodeling firms in America are struggling just to keep revenue flat, Neil Kelly Co. has pushed the pedal to the metal thanks to Tom’s aggressive business strategy and cunning knowledge of the Oregon markets his company serves. 
 
It’s all this that has earned Neil Kelly Co. Professional Remodeler’s 2008 Remodeler of the Year award.

Congratulations Tom and the Neil Kelly Team!!!  Read the rest of the article here.

November New Members of the Remodelers Council

Welcome new members of the Remodelers Council

• Ted Casian, SuperFloors of Oregon Inc.
• Warren Smalley, Sonoma Tec
• Nick Priest, Portland Home Improvements

Happy Halloween!

A few fun Halloween facts from the National Confectioners Association.

• 93 percent of children will go trick-or-treating.
• Bite-sized chocolate candies are the post popular type of candy to be included in Halloween activities (76 percent), followed by bite-sized non-chocolate candies (30 percent).
• Kids tell us that their favorite treats to receive when trick-or-treating are candy and gum.
• Kids’ least favorite items to get in their trick-or-treat bags were fruit and salty snacks like chips and pretzels.
• Ninety percent of parents admit to sneaking goodies from their kids’ Halloween trick-or-treat bags.
• Parents favorite treats to sneak from their kids’ trick-or-treat bags are snack-size chocolate bars (70 percent sneak these), candy-coated chocolate pieces (40 percent), caramels (37 percent) and gum (26 percent).
• Parents least favorite goodie to take from their kids’ trick-or-treat bags is licorice (18 percent).