
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 20, 1994                   TAG: 9404140155
SECTION: TODAY'S HOME                    PAGE: 16   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BILL SMITH, Chairman of the Roanoke Regional Remodelors Council
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PROGRAM SETS STANDARDS CONTRACTORS MUST MEET

With any professional service, you want to make sure the person you hire is professionally competent. You wouldn't hire a doctor who doesn't carry the designation M.D., or a dentist without a D.D.S. after his name, or an attorney who's not a member of the American Bar Association.

However, with remodeling, there's no federal criteria or standard to evaluate contractors. Many states have no licensing procedure at all. Of the states which do require licensing, the standard fluctuates so much that in some cases it won't necessarily have any bearing on a contractor's business solvency, track record or technical expertise. While some states require an examination to demonstrate at least some trade knowledge, others treat licensing as just another tax and don't provide the enforcement necessary to weed out incompetence or dishonesty.

This inconsistency in state regulations led the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelors Council to create the Certified Graduate Remodelor (CGR) professional designation program. The program began five years ago and now has over 500 participants.

CGR is unique in the remodeling industry because it's the only designation emphasizing business acumen as the key to a successful remodeling company. NAHB understands that it takes more than skilled craftsmanship to sustain a remodeling business over time.

Before a candidate is ever considered for certification, he must have at least a five-year track record of remodeling management experience. He then must go through an accreditation process, which includes educational programming, a thorough check of the candidate's customer and vendor credit references, licensing (if required by state), insurance and a full review by the seven-member CGR Board of Governors. In essence, the Board does the legwork that a consumer should do to verify a contractor's competence and credibility.

Based on the candidates's previous experience, he will have to take between three and nine educational courses. After the candidate completes the managed number of courses and receives final approval from the Board of Governors, he is then officially certified and allowed to use the CGR designation and logo on his business cards, advertising and promotional material.

The certification remains valid for three years. As with most professional designations, a CGR must keep abreast of the industry's latest business and technical changes in order to keep his certification valid. Additional education is required at renewal time.

The Code of Ethics which all CGRs must sign and follow is at least as important as the business and technical skill they must prove. The CGR Code of Ethics deals with such issues as truth in advertising, safety of customers and employees, quality of craftsmanship and materials, and project completion time. The CGR Board of Governors has the authority to revoke at any time the certification of a CGR found in violation of this Code of Ethics.

American homeowners now have a standard by which to judge all remodelers. The state they live in may vary, but the benchmark will not. Whether the remodeler you're considering received his CGR designation in California, Rhode Island or points in between, you can be sure he's met a uniform standard of excellence.

For a list of Certified Graduate Remodelors in your state, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to "CGR List," NAHB Remodelors Council, 1201 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005.

by CNB