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Week of July 19, 2004

Front Page

* In U.S. Census, Active Seniors Prefer the Suburbs of Metro Areas
* 2005 IBS Exhibit Space Already Tops Las Vegas
* Liability Insurance Initiative Reaches a Critical Phase
* Housing Snapshot

President's Message

* Please Take the Time to Help Us Solve the GLI Crisis

Housing Politics

* White House Plan Could Increase Logging in National Forests
* Bill Would Help Small Businesses Recover Court Costs in Federal Agency Disputes
* NAHB Enters Election Season With 10-Point Housing Platform
* NAHB Inviting Convention Delegates to Special Events

Housing and Economics

* Housing Market Index Finds Builders Remain Upbeat in July

Housing Finance

* Builders Advocate Stronger Housing Goals for Fannie and Freddie

Small Builders and Remodelers

* Remodelers and Custom Builders Ought to Get Together

Seniors Housing

* Universal Design: A Winner-Takes-All 'Experience'
* Pitfalls to Avoid When Planning an Active Adult Community
* 20 Club Forming for Seniors Housing

Design

* Vanilla Not a Favorite Flavor of Generation X Home Buyers
* Best in American Living Award Deadline Extended

Environment

* NAHB Members Urged to Act Now to Preserve Habitat Conservation Program
* Waiting for Decision on Beach Mouse Plan a Hardship for Small Alabama Builder
* Eco-Terrorists Intensifying No-Growth Battles in California

Green Building

* Solar Photovoltaic System Built on Rooftop of Brooklyn Rectory

State and Local

* Mississippi Circuit Court Knocks Down Local Impact Fee Ordinance

Building Systems

* New York Agrees to Test Third-Party Modular Approvals

Sales and Marketing

* What’s in a Name? Plenty — If It's Followed by ‘MIRM’

Building Products

* Bendable Vinyl Coil Has Come of Age

Builder's Engineer

* The Boss With the Swiss Cheese Desk

Building News Coast To Coast

Association News & Events

* Official Web Site Optimizes Benefits of NAHB Membership
* Member Advantage: Save 15% With Paychex® Payroll Processing
* Awards Programs Deadlines
* Calendar of Events

NBN Back Issues

 

Remodelers and Custom Builders Ought to Get Together

By Finley Perry

People say there are major differences between remodelers and custom builders. But, I would argue there are very few.

  • Both sell a service as opposed to a product.
  • Both typically use the client’s money — not the bank’s money — to build the work.
  • Both tend to be more craft-oriented than market-oriented.
  • Business owners in each category often come out of the trades.
  • Financial accounting is similar in each case — WIP (work-in-progress) analysis is key to knowing the numbers.
  • Insurance needs — workers comp, liability — are similar.
  • Gross profit margins may be a point of departure, but nets are similar.
  • Custom builders and remodelers share a common interest in business development strategies, management techniques, building science, code issues, architecture and design and client relationship management.

Interestingly, the separation comes in what we like to call ourselves — custom builder or remodeler. I suppose self-image and pride have something to do with it, but the


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compartmentalization of the residential general contracting industry into custom builder or remodeler tends to weaken both groups.

NAHB furthers and promotes this compartmentalization by having a council for the remodelers and a committee for the custom builders. The trade press fosters it by having separate magazines for each. And the trade shows further divide us with the Remodeling Show and the Custom Builder Symposium.

It’s just a thought, but I’d like to see more togetherness in the residential contracting industry, more looking for commonalities and less differentiation.

We all have a lot to teach each other. Why not leverage our knowledge to build a better industry? Why not combine the notion of remodeler and custom builder into an umbrella council — maybe something like Residential General Contracting?

We’ll better serve the big players in both categories, and we’ll better nurture the smaller and newer members in each at the same time. Any takers?

Finley Perry, a remodeler with more than 30 years experience, is president of F.H. Perry Builder, Inc., in Hopkinton, MA. Perry has been very active in both national and local Remodelors™ Council leadership. He currently sits on the Remodelors™ Council Board of Directors, is the vice chairman of the Remodelors™ Council Public Affairs Committee and immediate past chairman of the Remodelors™ Council Membership Committee. For more information, e-mail Perry.


Nominate the Best of the Best for Remodelor™ of the Year

Applications for the Remodelors™ Council’s most prestigious awards program, the Remodelor™ of the Year Award, are now available online at www.nahb.org/remodelors under the Awards section.

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.

The winner will be announced at the Remodelors™ Council Gala during the 2004 Remodeling Show in Chicago (Oct. 8).

Local Councils Honored With CADRE Awards

The Council Awards for Demonstrating Remodeling Excellence (CADRE) is awarded to local Remodelors™ Councils for superior member service in the categories of:

  • 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

For information, e-mail the Remodelors™ Council or call 800-368-5242 x8216.

The NAHB 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.

Attend the 2005 Custom Builder Symposium

Expand your knowledge “Beyond the Tool Belt” at this year’s Custom Builder Symposium. This is the one event where custom builders can go for world-class education and exceptional networking opportunities. For more information, click here.

'Home Remodeler's 2004 Costbook' Available at BuilderBooks.com

"Home Remodeler's 2004 Costbook," available at BuilderBooks.com, provides material and labor costs that cover all components of house construction from the unique perspective of remodeling. Features include man-hour data for scheduling, reference tables, an extensive index and a 200-city geographic modifier chart. The costbook also includes free estimating software and data. To view or purchase "Home Remodeler's 2004 Costbook" online, click here, or call 800-223-2665 to order.


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