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NAHB Remodelers Membership Has Its Advantages
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Vince Butler, CGR, GMB, CAPS | When the going gets tough, the tough become NAHB Remodelers.
Vince Butler, CGR, GMB, CAPS, of Butler Brothers in Clifton, Va. and a former NAHB Remodelers chairman, believes increased business comes through referrals from fellow NAHB remodelers and local association members.
“Everyone can run a business in a strong market,” said Butler. “But you need to be a businessman to manage a down market.”
“Let your fellow members know you’re looking for jobs and they will think of you for referrals,” he continued, while noting that he has received referrals from a member who worked in a bank.
Staying connected and informed about the current marketplace will help you land these leads, he said.
Butler also recommends that remodelers take advantage of NAHB’s educational and business management opportunities — including the NAHB 20 Club Program. Each remodelers’ 20 Club includes 20 or so similar-sized remodelers who work in non-competing markets. They meet several times a year to discuss business practices and learn from each other.
Butler said his club has discussed how to make smart slowdown adjustments, including managing margins and more effective marketing.
NAHB Remodelers membership is one of the most important tools in any remodeler’s toolbox, Butler said, while noting that remodelers should not drop their membership in difficult times.
Instead, he said remodelers should take advantage of all the resources NAHB Remodelers and NAHB have to offer. The discounts on courses and special member discounts through the Membership Advantage affinity program can return major dollars to a remodeling business, he noted.
“I think this is the best deal, bar none,” said Butler. “I can’t imagine going through this period without having these tools available.”
 Increase Your Professional Credibility
The Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation emphasizes business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation.
Remodelers who earn the CGR become members of an exclusive national program and gain recognition as industry leaders.
To learn more about the CGR designation, visit www.nahb.org/CGRinfo, or call The Professional Designation Help Line at 800-368-5242 x8154.
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