Our firm’s relationship with our regular tile contractor was waning. We had been with him for a number of years, but we felt his quality was not keeping pace with the needs and desires for more sophisticated and intricate designs from our increasingly affluent clientele. We wanted to find a new tile installer and knew that the Yellow Pages was not an effective option. So we asked council members if they could recommend someone and they responded.
Our first contract using the recommended contractor was for more than $8,000. We expected a slippage of some 4% (which amounts to about half the cost of our membership), based on the labor problems that we experienced with our former tile contractor, but there were no problems and no extra costs. Add to that the good will we accrued with out client, the time we saved because our project manager did not have to solve any tile-related quality issues and — “boom!” — our coming dues again were paid in full for another year.
Today, 90% of trade contractors and more than 90% of our vendors are members of the Remodelers™ Council. Most important of all, however, through the sharing and mentoring atmosphere that permeates our council, 90% of those partnerships came about through the referral from a fellow remodeler.
If you think you are too busy to renew your membership, or that you can afford not to do so, you are completely wrong. You can’t afford not to.
Michael Strong, CGR, is vice president of Brothers Strong, Inc. in Houston. The company was voted as the 2003 Houston and Texas Remodeler of the Year. For more information, contact Strong via e-mail.
BuilderBooks.com Offers Publications for Remodelers
BuilderBooks.com offers a variety of publications about remodeling. To view or puchase these publications online, click here, or call 800-223-2665 to order by phone.
University of Housing Offers Courses and Designation Programs
The NAHB University of Housing offers a variety of business management courses and professional designation programs that set builders and remodelers apart from the competition. For a complete list of current offerings, click here.
Make Your Connection With www.nahb.org
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Log in today to register for educational seminars, meetings and networking events; find important economic and housing data; and learn the latest developments in NAHB’s efforts to promote housing. It’s all available to you 24 hours a day at www.nahb.org. Just click the "Member Log In" button to get started.
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