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Remodeling Courses Focus on Business Practices, Lead Paint
NAHB Remodelers educational sessions at the 2010 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas will provide attendees tips on how to improve business practices, estimating and scheduling; preparing for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new lead paint rule; green remodeling; an assessment of the remodeling market and more.
The sessions at the Las Vegas Convention Center include:
Tuesday, Jan. 19
- “Marketing Your CAPS Designation”
8:00-9:30 a.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenters: Rob Braugher, Dan Bawden, Amy Levner, Ben Morey and Bill Owens
Attend this panel discussion to see how others have maximized the value of their CAPS (Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist) designation to corner this large and emerging market.
- “The 10 Best Practices of the NAHB Remodeler of the Year”
10:00-11:30 a.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenters: Patrick O’Toole and Doug Sutton
Great remodelers are great business people, too. This program will highlight the 10 best practices that helped the NAHB Remodeler of the Year become a business success. Featuring insights into every part of your operations, from estimating and pricing to design and construction, this program is a must for all diversified builders and remodelers.
- “The Five Universal Laws of Business Success”
1:30-3:30 p.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenter: Brett Harward
All success in business, from profits to productivity, market share to morale and revenue to retirement, is controlled by the laws of vision, frequency, perception, accountability and leadership. Most businesses fail to adhere to these laws sufficiently to produce outstanding results. This thought-provoking session, which received excellent reviews at the 2009 IBS, examine how these laws predict success .
- “Making the Most of Your QuickBooks Investment”
1:30-3:00 p.m.
South 229-230, Level 2
Presenter: Diane Gilson and Bob Whitten
In this session, attendees will learn how QuickBooks can provide the financial information that bankers, the government and the owner need in order to more effectively manage their company and save time.
- “Hire the Best — Forget the Rest”
3:30-5:00 p.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenter: Roger Fiehn
Learn how to recruit, screen, hire and retain loyal and motivated team members — and, at the same time, control expensive turnover. Learn how to dig deep and find out the real truth before hiring an employee and reduce the chances of having to fire an unproductive or unsuitable team member.
- “Packaging the Right Stuff”
3:30-5:00 p.m.
South 231, Level 2
Presenters: John Barrows
Most builders and remodelers know how to come up with the numbers, but when it comes to delivering the proposal and going for the close, something is often lacking. This session teaches remodelers how to professionally package their proposals and present them with confidence. Remodelers also will learn how to include options for customized features to entice the most demanding prospect and increase their chances of closing the deal.
Wednesday, Jan. 20
- “Not So Big Remodeling: ‘Greening’ Our Existing Housing Stock”
8:00-9:30 a.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenter: Sarah Susanka
“Not so big” has become a common motivator and top priority for home owners seeking smaller, better-designed, more energy-efficient homes. Remodelers can tap into this opportunity by using simple greening strategies to help their customers make functional and aesthetic improvements to their houses.
- “Green Energy Retrofit — Futureproofing Your Home”
10:00-11:30 a.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenter: David Johnston
No matter what drives customers to remodel their homes, volatile energy prices and climate change will ensure that energy conservation and solar power features remain popular elements of the remodeling landscape. In this presentation, based on the book, “Green From the Ground Up,” attendees will learn how few homes are truly prepared for future energy and climatic changes. As a result, whether a family is remodeling to add a new bedroom, redo a worn-out kitchen or address some other concern, it’s likely they’ll be especially interested in features that will help save on energy costs.
- “Don’t Just Build Green — Operate Green”
1:30-3:00 p.m.
North 262, Level 2
Presenters: Jay Christofferson and Tim Metler
In this session, remodelers will learn environmentally conscious, practical methods for operating their company sustainability — and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their operations — from site, job and office management to communication, transportation and trade contractor efficiency.
- “New Territory — Adapting Your Custom Building Business to the Remodeling Market”
1:30-3:00 p.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenters: John Bratton, Christine Fortenberry, Paul Magleby, Greg Miedema and Patrick O’Toole
A panel of custom builders will share their experiences and firsthand knowledge of how building a home and remodeling a home are two different beasts.
- “Tighter Margins, Sharper Pencils: Job Costing With QuickBooks and Excel”
3:30-5:00 p.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenter: Diane Gilson
Learn how to use QuickBooks and Excel to actually make money with these easy-to-use, intelligently designed financial and control systems. Attendees will learn how to speed up cash flow and manage critical financial information day-to-day, including job costing, estimates and change orders, purchase orders and tracking estimated vs. actual costs.
Thursday, Jan. 21
- “Remodeling Market”
8:00-9:30 a.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenters: Paul Emrath and Kermit Baker
This session will forecast where the remodeling market is headed in 2010 by examining the residential remodeling activity expenditures and will look at the remodeling jobs that will be in greatest demand.
- “Estimating With Microsoft Excel”
10:00-11:30 a.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenter: Jay Christofferson
Based on the BuilderBooks.com best-selling book of the same title, this session will help attendees become more familiar with methods for easily creating customized estimates. By unlocking a few spreadsheet secrets, builders and remodelers will be able to craft their own customized and automated spreadsheets for estimating — saving time and creating more accurate estimates.
- “Universal Design Meets Green, Have It Three Ways: New Homes, Remodeled Homes & Congregate Retirement Apartments”
10:00-11:30 a.m.
North 261, Level 2
Presenters: John King, Tracy Lux, John Salmen and Stephen Wattenbarger
The trends toward universal design and aging in place are beginning to merge with the consumer’s desire to invest in green, sustainable techniques and materials. This session examines the best ways to combine universal design and green living elements in new homes and remodels to increas sales while also demonstrating social responsibility.
- “Singing to the Choir and Other Mistakes of a Tone-Deaf Business Owner”
1:30-3:00 p.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenter: Brett Harward
This workshop teaches small business owners how to refine their marketing message and achieve much higher marketing success using proven strategies for branding, market research and low- or no-cost marketing.
- “EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Program”
3:30-5:00 p.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenter: Michael Wilson
Beginning April 22, 2010, contractors working in homes and child care facilities built prior to 1978 must comply with a variety of new requirements designed to prevent hazards associated with the disturbance of lead paint. This program will provide an overview of these requirements and will include a question-and-answer period to give attendees a jump-start on the training, certification and work practice requirements they will need to follow.
Friday, Jan. 22
- “Listen as If Your Very Success Depends on It, Because It Does”
8:00-9:30 a.m.
South 232, Level 2
Presenter: Bo Boylan
This workshop introduces attendees to the critical importance of listening effectively on the job; how listening styles influence the ability to communicate; and how to make sustainable changes to listen more effectively.
- “Business Planning for Profits”
8:00-9:30 a.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenter: Vince Butler
Sitting down to write a business plan can be a daunting task for any business owner. This session will help remodelers overcome many of the common obstacles to developing a business plan. They’ll learn how to eliminate fluff and focus on developing benchmarks, goals and a budget that is practical and can be used as an effective guide for their business every year.
- “Improving Trade Contractor Relationships...From Good to Great”
10:00-11:30 a.m.
North 257, Level 2
Presenter: Richard Pagotto
With merely being good no longer acceptable in these challenging times, this session explains how to help remodelers move their trades to the next level — and create more free time for themselves and their family. By achieving higher quality performance from their trades, remodelers will increase customer satisfaction and referrals — and also build a stronger bottom line.
- “Not So Big Remodeling: ‘Greening’ Our Existing Housing Stock”
10:00-11:30 a.m.
Level 2
Presenter: Sarah Susanka
“Not so big” has become a common motivator and top priority for home owners seeking smaller, better designed, more energy-efficient homes. Remodelers can tap into this opportunity by using simple greening strategies to help their customers make functional and aesthetic improvements to their houses.
For more information on NAHB Remodelers events at IBS, visit www.nahb.org/nahbratibs.
For more information, e-mail Kelly Mack at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8451.
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