Qualified Remodeler helps independent remodeling firms to survive, become more professional and more profitable by providing must-have business information, namely best business practices, new product information and timely design ideas.
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REMODELER SURVEY SERIES How Many Continuing Education Courses Have You Taken in Your Career? 35% 34.8% 30% 26.3% 25% 20% 18% 15% 11.4% 10% 7.3% 5% 3.2% 0 0–5 –10 6 –15 11 –20 16 –25 21 han T ore 25 M Do You Plan to Take a Continuing Education Course in 2013? No 23.2% 76.8% Yes Are You or Have You Been an Instructor for Industry Related Educational Courses? 20.2% Yes NKBA also offers virtual instructor-led training in which students and instructor log on at the same time for more of a traditional classroom feel but the convenience of taking the course from a home or work computer without the expense and time involved in traveling. Classes may be one-time or span six to eight weeks. The association also is embarking on new learning paths. "Previously, everything had been design oriented," Mackenzie says, adding NKBA also feels members need business skills to succeed. "We're creating learning tasks centered on business management, sales, HR, marketing and all those areas, and offering 20 to 25 classes in each area. That will provide them with the skills necessary to survive in this economy, and really, in any economy," Mackenzie says. Not So Easy 79.8% No "We still offer in-person classes," he says, "but because of the economy we've made many of our classes on-demand, where there is a recording of the class and some interactive quizzes. You can take the course at your own pace." 26 March 2013 QR ForResidentialPros.com Despite criticisms that certification (also called designations) is easy to obtain by anyone who sits down to take a multiple choice test, the reality seems to be otherwise. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has about 1,900 people who have earned the certified graduate remodeler (CGR) designation, according to Jeffrey Jenkins, director, candidate and instructor services, NAHB education. The graduate master remodeler (GMR) is an even more select group. "We don't have a lot of those because it requires a candidate to have been a CGR for nine years along with comparable industry experience. We've had 30 people earn the GMR since its inception," he says. "I find the people who have earned our NAHB designations really put a premium on learning. They're always looking for opportunities to expand their knowledge and to put that knowledge to use to better serve their customers," he says. Remodelers are hungry for information so they can distinguish themselves from their competitors, and they're doing it through education, Jenkins feels. "It's showing your customer you really know what you're doing, that you're always trying to better yourself, and you want to know the latest cutting-edge trends and products that consumers want," he says. "I think the last couple years have been a challenging because remodelers have to make a decision [about spending money on education and certification.] I think they will find professional designations are something that will pay off for them in increased credibility and send a message to their customers that they are continually learning and trying to be etter at what they do." Branding with Designations NAHB recently presented a webinar, "Branding Yourself and Your Business with Your Designation," to address the questions many remodelers have about what to do once they have a designation and the feeling that homeowners don't necessarily know what the designations mean. "We're trying to empower remodelers and builders who have NAHB designations to get the word out and to use every opportunity to let their current and future customers know what [those designations] mean. We hope that will start the conversation and get a consumer to ask: 'What is a CGR, what's a CAPS, what's a