Qualified Remodeler Magazine

JAN 2013

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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IDEAS? OPINIONS? Join the conversation HOT SPOT / DISCUSSIONS FROM FORRESIDENTIALPROS.COM AND QUALIFIED REMODELERÕS SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AN APP RECOMMENDED BY YOU! On Nov. 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined 16 firms for violations of the lead-based paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. This news story generated some user feedback on ForResidentialPros.com Jay W: Also interesting was a well-advertised RRP training provider cited for poor training and may have to pay $60K in fines. Matt Markle: This is quite interesting since the last I read, the EPA was halting fines until a reliable and standard testing kit was determined. Anyone know what changed? Jason Tapia: Yes, they approved a testing method. Quite a long time ago. However, here in California, the method approved by the EPA is not permissible under California law. An XRF gun must be used by a certified tester. BuildCalc Brian K. Doles recommended the BuildCalc app through QR's Facebook page. The app, which is available in the Apple App Store and the Android Market, has calculator features that streamline construction-related math, including estimates and other calculations. BuildCalc.com    Share your app suggestions on Facebook for publication in an upcoming issue of QR. Read more at ForResidentialPros.com/10829823. LinkedIn member Tony M. from the Washington, D.C. area Linked started a discussion about a contractor who sued a homeowner over Angie's List and a Yelp reviews. "The contractor's response to her one-star takedown?" questions Tony. "Fight back. Is this guy's business toast anyway?" Here are what some of our members had to say. T he media just loves to run stories about the contractor that ran off with homeowner's money. When have you ever seen the story in reverse? There are far more contractors getting ripped off by homeowners. I bet any contractor who is in business has at least one nightmare story to tell. We need a contractors Angie's List so contractors can be aware of homeowners who know how to play the system. — Stephen Thompson, Hartford, Conn., area I t is tragic to think that after building a solid reputation for honesty and integrity and doing top-notch work in a community for more than 20 years that it could be taken down in a blink by some vindictive individual backed by a website that "protects consumers." — Steve St. Onge, CGR, CAPS, Providence, R.I., area I hope the contractor does win. Homeowners try to slam good, honest contractors for the dumbest things. Let this be a wakeup call. — Denny Cottrell Jr., York, Pa., area W hile we have a time-honored tradition in this country of rooting for the underdog, that attitude can get in the way of the truth and reality at times. Guilty until proven innocent comes with the territory when you're a company, no matter how small. Is it fair? No, but we have to live with it because the American people, especially the press, assume all too often that a lone citizen is probably in the right while a company must surely be in the wrong. One could argue that TV series like "60 Minutes," small claims court shows and Hollywood's movies where the little guy battles the evil corporation have made us far too cynical and suspicious of businessmen and companies. Do contractors deserve their bad rep? No, but there certainly are lots of contractors out there who do. The best we as a group can hope for is the benefit of the doubt. — Steve Priser, Seattle area Read more comments or share your own response by joining our LinkedIn group, 50 January 2013 QR ForResidentialPros.com magazine.

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