• Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 4:19 PM Friday, February 01, 2013

  I think its OK for anyone to be a contractor, hell Mike Holmes is one and he claims 80% of contractors are idiots, or worse. What we really need is an organization that hold our feet to the fire. Not a government entity because we all know how that will turn out but an industry group that is quick and easy to join that supports and polices its members. We nave NARI but they are stuck at 7000 members and primarily a networking group with some educational offerings that are not widely recognized, we have NAHB which mainly protects homebuilders from regulations. We need something like what Realtors have, minus the embezzling and illicit affairs. LOL!

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• Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 7:51 PM Tuesday, December 11, 2012

  Awesome post. I must completely agree!

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• Posted by: Bruce Case | Time: 5:04 PM Monday, November 05, 2012

  Awesome and passionate feedback! One consistent theme seems to be educating homeowners about the need to hire qualified, legal remodelers. Love the concept - it's just how to do this. It's an expensive, big mountain to climb. Any ideas on first steps?

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• Posted by: sukh_preet_sodhi@hotmail.com | Time: 7:42 PM Monday, October 22, 2012

  I think the government has a significant role to play in this. It is not more regulation, it is the enforcement of the existing laws primarily in getting the unlicensed contractors out. If the unlicensed contractors are no longer there then the playing field is leveled. Every contractor should have to be re certified or take coursed like any other professional (doctor, lawyer, CPA etc.). These two things I think will have a tremendous impact.

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• Posted by: markthecoach | Time: 6:48 PM Monday, October 22, 2012

  Wouldn't it be great if there were consistent standards to be a remodeler or home improvement contractor. Should we invite government to regulate us some more? Remember EPA RRP? Home Improvement Registrations? Government regulation should be the last thing tried. If regulation is the way then it should be accompanied with first educational outreach to homeowners that is well funded and second with enforcement that focuses on outreach not fines. In addition homeowners should be held accountable for projects that do not meet code if they hire an unlicensed contractor or if they do it wrong themselves. Another challenges we face is homeowners are allowed to get their own permits. In many states there is little or no requirements to hang your shingle and start your own business. Homeowners hire illegal immigrants to keep the price down. Solutions from private industry and trade associations not government: 1. Establish best practices for remodelers, builders, home improvement companies and trades that includes the basics tenets of running a business like a business. You wouldn't give the car keys to your 12 year old, maybe we should think about not giving the keys to the business to someone who has no business training. 2. Start real contractor schools for residential work not commercial or union. Teach contractors how to market, sell, estimate, business plan, administration along with building courses. 3. Petition the large material suppliers to undertake a massive consumer advertising campaign on how to hire a real professional. This will exclude the DIY Big Box Stores who are our competition. All they do is drive prices down, raise consumers expectations that they can work done cheap and they hire subcontractors to compete against us. 4.Reach a consensus in the industry on what credential is legitimate. There should be a degree in remodeling, building a new home and the various home improvement specialties.

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• Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 2:06 PM Monday, October 22, 2012

  Just as with any profession, buyers beware. When was the last time you went to a doctor without any information? Would you just run your finger down a newspaper “services offered” column to find a doctor to remove your gallbladder? Highly doubtful. Yet, every day people hire contractors without doing research. Only being able to discuss Michigan, all jurisdictions default to the minimum IRC requirements. Again, like anything else that happens in life, government is sitting on the sideline waiting for some perceived problem to occur. With government, there is only taking, not giving. For every law put into place, some right is always taken away. Customers, who would willingly give their hard-earned money to someone who they don’t know, should be allowed to suffer the consequences. Most remodelers I know are great individuals who do everything in their power to make sure their customer always receive the best possible.

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• Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 12:26 PM Monday, October 22, 2012

  Public education and a strict licensing process followed by regulation is the only way to build consumer trust in the construction industry. Here in FL remodelers have to be state licensed just as a home builder. You either take a test to be a certified residential contractor, building contractor, or general contractor. The testing is three parts consisting of two days, 16 hrs, trade knowledge, project management/contract administration, and business/finance of which you need a 70% on all parts. Once you pass the exam you can apply for a license by filling out a 20 plus page app providing personal financial info, background reports, credit reports, fingerprints, and experience. If your financials aren't sufficient for licensure they will require you to provide a bond. FL does have a very regulated construction industry, which can be a model for other states, but it still does not prevent fly-by-nighters from contracting with the public. Although, there are heavy fines/penalties for homeowners and contractors for unlicensed activity, it still happens. Which is why I believe public education and strict licensure procedures are necessary. This will protect the public, prevent incompetent contractors, and build respect for the industry. Additionally, legit contractors need not be afraid to report unlicensed activity to the proper state agencies. Especially in construction, guys don't want to be tattle tails but don't complain if your not willing to do your part.

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• Posted by: Anonymous | Time: 11:50 AM Monday, October 22, 2012

  I would go further. HOME DEPOT. LOWES... AND OTHERS LIKE SERVICE MAGIC, HGTV, SEARS... all are GUILTY! of not supporting our industry. These large scale operators sell to the corrupt at the same price they sell to LICENSED bonded, insured, construction professionals. HOW DARE THEY! crooks walk in with cash on a daily basis, and have done so since they opened their doors! it is why they are so succesful! and why they are complicit in the crimes that haunt our trades. if not the only reason it still exists today!

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• Posted by: Darius | Time: 11:29 AM Monday, October 22, 2012

  I have been frustrated by this for the entire 32 years I have been in this business. Believe me, I have seen MAJOR improvements since I started. I believe the key lies it two distinct efforts, neither of which requires Gov't meddling in our industry. 1. Promote to the public the importance of choosing contractors they have vetted completely by doing the things the gov't agencies already tell them to do, i.e. check license, check insurance, and CALL REFERENCES! 2. Promote to the public the importance of selecting companies who have made the committment to their profession by belong to and being active in trade associations (NARI, NAHB, NKBA ,etc). This message also gets to the companies who SHOULD belong to such organizations. Particularly once consumers start asking "Do you belong to NARI, NAHB, NKBA?" It has been our chapter's experience that we have had companies join after being asked this question by consumers. This has been a LONG tough road but it eventually works. These companies then become more professional...provided they become involved with the organization and take advantage of the information available. Obviously a passionate topic of discussion for those of us who have made this effort and have seen the positive results it can bring.

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• Posted by: bmwjparker | Time: 10:32 AM Monday, October 22, 2012

  The question is well-meant, and with the right motive, but any time one invites politicians to get involved, the road will take unexpected twists in unexpected directions. For example, here, in Connectticut, the pols tried to address the issue by requiring all remodeling professionals to post a performance bond, the face amount of which would be the upper limit for work you can do on any one project. In other words, you are guilty before the fact, and we'll get our greedy mitts on your money in advance of your doing any work, to spend as we desire. Can't, or won't post a bond? Then, you can't do the work.

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• Posted by: csinc | Time: 10:06 AM Monday, October 22, 2012

  I think this is a compound issue since you can not license or regulate hones tie and integrity, where I believe some of the problems have there origins. I also think sales people / contractors can create an unrealistic expectation in the customers mind in there efforts to sell the job, then in the end find they under bid or just do not have the ability to deliver and wont ask for help. I believe the best we can do as responsible professional contractors is engage in clear concise conversations with our clients write clear complete contracts and be candid about the trauma they will experience as there home is transformed. In these ways we can prove ourselves as true professionals in our endeavors.We also need to remember 10 people will be told about a bad job almost no one hears about the good ones because most take the good ones for granted.

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• Posted by: Hantelkitchens@yahoo.com | Time: 9:46 AM Monday, October 22, 2012

  Hiring a licensed, bonded and insured contractor should be the basic requirement for a contractor to practice and anyone who doesn't have these basic Credentials should be reported to the police and arrested for practicing without a license just like an attorney would be reported. This doesn't get rid of poor performance attorneys or re-modelers, but it does say to the public in general, beware of the person that does not have the basic credentials.

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