Builders League merges with New Jersey Remodelers Association, strengthens membership

The Builders League of South Jersey has announced its merger with the New Jersey Remodelers Association, thus expanding the scope of work the association does for construction industry professionals. The League will gain some 50 new member companies, most from southern New Jersey, that will comprise the newly-formed Builders League of South Jersey Remodelers Council.

The BLSJ Board of Directors voted on the merger at its March 17^th meeting. The NJRA Board approved its merger into the Builders League in January.

“We are very excited to announce this merger. Both associations felt that now was the right time to join forces and provide industry leaders from our area with an expanded level of professional development and industry oversight, which together we could do,” said BLSJ President Winfield Ziegenfuss. “There are more networking opportunities for all our membership with everyone under one roof. As well we are strengthening the scope of our community service programs and public affairs oversight of the regulatory issues that impact both new construction and remodeling.”

The merger helps the League strengthen its efforts within the remodeling community. Several BLSJ member companies were also members of the NJRA.

Founded in 1979, the NJRA was a trade association of builders, remodelers, suppliers, financial experts and other professional service organizations involved in the housing and construction industry. The Association promoted itself as an ethical and humanitarian trade association focused on providing New Jersey’s property owners with access to member companies dedicated to the most stringent remodeling standards.

Its membership standards were considered one of the strictest in the country. When members were approved they assigned the association the rights to arbitrate in any legitimate consumer claim against them that was filed with the NJRA’s Consumer/Contractor Arbitration Board. The CAB, which was founded in 1981, heard a handful of new cases each year. Throughout its history no complaint had gone unresolved.

The Remodelers Association founded the non-profit Operation Good Samaritan in 1984, which helped area families in need. Help was given to both families in need and victims of unethical business practices of non-NJRA members.

Several older stories on Operation Good Samaritan can still be found on the Association’s website www.thenjra.com.

“New Jersey’s remodeling industry is growing. How we live in our homes is changing, from our likes and dislikes to our technology needs and the ever-increasing desires to improve the energy efficiency and durability of our homes,” said BLSJ Remodelers Council President Mark Evans of M.S. Evans Builders in Mt. Ephriam. “As an industry we’re adjusting to those changes. There is greater oversight needed for new and changing regulations that impact the construction industry. Now was a great time for the two associations to combine their efforts. It gives us an opportunity to strengthen the construction industry in southern New Jersey by offering an expanded level of professional development to remodeling companies and, at the same time, provide New Jersey property owners with a reliable resource for finding quality remodelers and builders.”

Buy New It’s Time campaign offers information on housing market in southern New Jersey

The Builders League of South Jersey has launched Buy New It’s Time, a public information campaign to address some of the misconceptions about the housing market in South Jersey. Developed in response to buyers’ concerns about the stability of the region’s real estate market as compared to the national market, the campaign seeks to provide potential homebuyers with the information they need on South Jersey real estate market to decide if now is the right time for them to buy a new home.

The www.buynewitstime.com website offers a series of interviews with housing industry experts and homebuyers who bought a new home in South Jersey in the last two years. The Consumer Information section offers plenty of answers to consumers’ toughest questions about buying a new home today. The campaign also hosts a series of Builders League podcasts with housing industry experts discussing real estate market conditions and national housing news.

"Opportunity Knocks" Brochure for Consumers

A new resource describing the advantages of buying a home today. Today’s consumers do their research before making decisions, so it is important to have a resource that goes in-depth into why the current housing market - with ample inventory, attractive pricing, near record low interest rates, tax incentives and more - offers, unprecedented opportunities to home buyers. Click here to download your copy of the brochure.

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

For aspiring home owners who find their goal stubbornly elusive, newly enacted legislation providing a tax credit of as much as $8,000 for first-time home buyers might just be the opportunity of a lifetime. But like so many of the good things in life, time is of the essence for buyers who want to take advantage of this outstanding opportunity. Only homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before July 1, 2010 are eligible. Learn more at http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com

Check out the Federal Housing Tax Credit explained on YouTube.

Learn more about Green Building

The National Association of Home Builders is bringing green to the mainstream with the NAHB National Green Building Program (NAHB Green) for all home builders and remodelers.

What Does Green Mean?

A green home pays attention to energy efficiency, water and resource conservation, the use of sustainable or recycled products, and measures to protect indoor air quality. More

Homebuyers - Understand what green home building includes, and work with your building professionals to design a green home. More

Builders & Remodelers - Use these resources to aid in the design of green homes. Evaluate your projects, get advice, get certified! More

How much does New Jersey’s Red Tape and overregulation cost home buyers?

The hidden tax that new home buyers pay in New Jersey is the cost of over-regulation by municipal, county and state government. This adds an additional 20% - 30% to the price of a new home. (Read more) Order your copy of "Red Tape and Housing Costs: How Regulation Affects New Residential Development" from the Center for Urban Policy Research, a component of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. Click here:

BLSJ members are eligible for a 50% discount off the purchase price of the book.


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BUILDERS LEAGUE TO HOST MANDATORY EPA LEAD CERTIFICATION COURSE FOR CONTRACTORS

CHERRY HILL, N.J. – Ordinary renovation and maintenance activities in older buildings can create dust that contains lead. Beginning on Earth Day, New Jersey contractors will play a greater role in preventing lead exposure as the US Environmental Protection Agency fully implements a new rule that requires all contractors performing renovations, repairs, painting jobs and maintenance on properties built before 1978 to be certified to use lead-safe practices.

The Builders League of South Jersey is hosting an EPA Lead Certification course for area contractors from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 20 at the League’s office at 114 Haddontowne Court in Cherry Hill. Participants can earn their certification with the one-day course, which costs $325. Registration can be done by phone at (856) 616-8460) or online at www.blsj.com.

The EPA implemented its Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule nearly two years ago, but the grace period ends on April 22. The rule lists specific containment procedures for both interior and exterior projects. In addition to firm certification, one employee will need to be a Certified Renovator. This employee is responsible for training other employees and overseeing work practices and clean up. The training curriculum for certification, in development with the EPA, will be an eight-hour class with two hours of hands-on training. Both the first and renovator certifications are valid for five years.

Violations of the EPA’s RRP rule can result in fines of $32,000 per day.

The certification is required for any one who performs renovations, repairs, and painting jobs in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities. Under the rule, child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis. The rule does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities where less than six square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed in a room or where less then 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior. Window replacement is not minor maintenance or repair.

Before beginning work, contractors will be required to provide owners, tenants, and child-care facilities with a copy of EPA’s lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools. Once work is completed, contactors must document compliance with this requirement.

Homeowners who perform work to their own homes are not covered by the EPA’s RRP Rule. It is their responsibility, however, to create a safe environment for their family. The EPA is urging homeowners planning to conduct work on their older homes to read a copy of the Renovate Right pamphlet.They may also call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323) and ask for more information on how to work safely in a home with lead-based paint.

For more information on the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Rulevisit http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm.

BUILDERS LEAGUE OF SOUTH JERSEY ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO AREA STUDENTS

The Builders League of South Jersey Scholarship Foundation has announced scholarships are now available for area students for the upcoming 2010-2011 school year. Scholarships, ranging up to $2,000 will be awarded to students from southern New Jersey who will be matriculating in an accredited, post-secondary school and pursuing a course of study related to real estate and the construction industry.

The Foundation was funded with a donation from the Home Builders Foundation, a community service entity established by the Builders League in 1956 to help area residents in need, and by special donations from Builders League members. Since 1995, the Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $106,093 to area students.

Applicants must live in or attend school in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Cape May or Atlantic counties. Studies may be undertaken in qualified trade school programs as well as junior and four-year college university programs, according to BLSJ Scholarship Foundation President Susan Schaeffer. Students who are enrolled in programs part-time are also eligible

Study fields may include, but are not limited to, air conditioning, plumbing and heating technology, architecture, civil engineering, construction management, CAD drafting, landscape architecture, real estate marketing and surveying. Scholarships will be awarded in the form of a tuition payment directly to the institution of higher education. Students may reapply for the scholarship each year, as long as they continue their course of study.

Deadline for applications is April 9, 2010. Scholarship winners will be announced in May. For more information contact the Builders League at (856) 616-8460.

Application - click here.

Set yourself apart from your competition

In a competitive marketplace, differentiation is key to success. Professional designations offer excellent opportunities to improve your skills, advance your career, and be recognized for your commitment to professional growth.

Whether you are new to the industry or a veteran ready to advance your career to the next level, the Builders League of South Jersey in cooperation with the NAHB University of Housing can assist you in your educational pursuits. Serving as the facilitator of all NAHB education products, the Builders League is committed to helping our members and the building industry “Reach Higher and Work Smarter.”

The following is a brief description of the various designation programs that are available through the Builders League. If there are any classes that you would like us to to schedule in order for you to complete your designation or just for your own personal growth and industry education, please call Marlene Spencer at 856-616-8460.

Arrangements to take the BAR assessment, which is the first step towards the Certified Graduate Builder designation or the PREP, which is the required first step in the process of becoming a Certified Graduate Remodelor tm (CGR), can be made by contacting Marlene Spencer at 856-616-8460.

The Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation teaches builders, remodelers and other industry professionals techniques for incorporating green building principles into homes using cost-effective and affordable options.

Earning the CGP demonstrates to clients and peers your commitment to the best and latest in green building practices and techniques. More than 1,000 people have earned the CGPdesignation to date.

Certified Graduate Associate (CGA): Developed specifically for NAHB associate members (including suppliers of materials and financial services), the CGA program offers participants an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of home building industry fundamentals.

Certified Graduate Builder (CGB): An overview of key areas in today’s home building industry, the CGB curriculum covers business management, financial strategies, marketing techniques, construction technologies, and more.

Graduate Master Builder (GMB): The GMB program allows industry professionals who already have completed either the Certified Graduate Builder or the Certified Graduate Remodelor course to more fully develop their skills and provides in-depth instruction geared for experienced building professionals.

Certified Graduate RemodelorTM (CGR): An exclusive professional designation that emphasizes business management skills as the key to a professional remodeling operation, the CGR designation trains remodelers in project management, design estimating and job cost, along with other core skills relevant to the remodeling industry.

Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS): Developed by the NAHB Remodelors Council, in collaboration with the AARP, NAHB Research Center and NAHB Seniors Housing Council, the CAPS program provides comprehensive, practical, market-specific information about working with older and maturing adults to remodel their homes for aging-in-place.

Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH): The active adult market is the fastest-growing segment of the housing industry today and into the foreseeable future. The Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing designation gives housing professionals serving this rapidly burgeoning market the essential knowledge, tools, and skills that will help them succeed – from conducting initial research to design considerations and features to servicing the customer.

Certified New Home Sales Professional (CSP): The first designation available through the Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM), the CSP program is designed to help specialists in new home sales to enhance their professional image, increase their marketability in the home building industry and sell more homes.

Master Certified New Home Sales Professional (Master CSP): A more advanced designation that acknowledges additional educational achievements of CSP graduates, the MCSP program is open to professionals currently holding a CSP designation. Advanced courses such as “House Construction as a Selling Tool” and “Essential Closing Strategies” are targeted toward improving participants’ sales and marketing skills and providing increased marketability in the industry.

Certified New Home Marketing Professional (CMP): IRM’s mid-level professional designation, the CMP program recognizes the achievements ofstudents who have completed four marketing-intensive core IRM courses: Understanding Housing Markets & Consumers; Marketing Strategies, Plans, and Budgets; Lifestyle Merchandising, Advertising & Promotion Strategies; and Challenges of New Home Sales Management.

Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM): The most prestigious designation bestowed by the Institute of Residential Marketing, the MIRM represents the highest level of achievement for professionals in new home marketing. MIRM graduates are required to complete all mandated coursework and submit a case study for approval before graduating from the program.

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