The Value of Education

Have you taken advantage of the diverse educational opportunities offered by NAHB and your Olympia Master Builders (OMB)?

In today's changing housing market, current and potential homeowners have more questions than ever. They're asking, "How do I know if my builder or remodeler is the best one for the job? How do I choose a home sales professional that I am confident has my best interests in mind? How can I modify my home so I can continue living here after I retire?"

Like any other profession, a changing housing market can translate into fiercer competition for your business. How do you differentiate the great services you offer from your competition? The answer is advanced education! Earning a professional designation from NAHB is a challenging and enriching process. Though the curriculum is demanding, year after year, builders and remodelers eagerly enroll in designations programs, and each year hundreds from around the country earn professional credentials.

The National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) University of Housing offers comprehensive training programs to builders, remodelers and other industry specialists that lead to professional credentials. Those credentials behind your name mean you have passed rigorous coursework and are committed to be among the best in the business. To your customers, this means they can rest assured they are working with a qualified specialist ready to meet their needs.

The professional designations from NAHB can be earned in any of 14 specific areas. "People who have designations are special within their industry," says Tim Dickey of Dickey's Inc. "They have demonstrated a passion for what they do. The on-going education they pursue keeps them on top of new products available to their customers. Education provides advisement on industry trends and applications of better building practices. Education keeps them abreast of changes to contract and lien law, as well as building codes. Bottom line…on-going education and accreditation make these contractors more marketable and better able to serve their customers."

NAHB has some targeted curriculum and accomplished instructors to pass along their expertise. Designations give consumers a guide to selecting professionals who have specialties in their areas of interest such as Aging-in-Place and Marketing. Consumers can rest assured that a credentialed University of Housing graduate has excellent training, practical experience and in-depth knowledge. Obtaining a designation may add credibility to how a person is viewed by a customer. It provides a third party endorsement that says I'm not doing this just as a "job", I'm doing it as a profession.

Imagine, if you will, someone who has an elderly parent moving in with them. As a contractor, you want to ensure the newcomer will be safe and comfortable in their new environment. Preparations to make the home accessible for their loved one may entail working with a remodeler to widen doors, install shower bars for improved safety and to make other modifications to their home to accommodate disabilities or accessibility challenges. Choosing a professional who has earned the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation ensures the remodeler has completed a demanding curriculum that covers how to overcome common age-related barriers.

Designations in the following areas currently are awarded by NAHB's University of Housing:

• Certified Graduate Associate (CGA)
• Certified Graduate Builder (CGB)
• Graduate Master Builder (GMB)
• Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR)
• Certified Aging In Place Specialist (CAPS)
• Certified New Home Sales Professional (CSP)
• Master Certified New Home Sales Professional (MCSP)
• Certified New Home Marketing Professional (CMP)
• Member, Institute of Residential Marketing (MIRM)
• Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP)
• Certified Leasing Professional (CLP)
• Registered in Apartment Management (RAM)
• Advanced RAM
• Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS)

Additionally, over the course of this year, OMB is offering Forklift Training, First Aid/CPR, QuickBooks Pro, and several other classes. Some count toward National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) designations. Others do not and are simply available for safety, career broadening and general information.

OMB is a host for NAHB classes administered by BIAW staff. If you are interested in learning more about NAHB designations or registering for classes, please call Amanda at the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) at 360-352-7800. A list of scheduled classes is available at: www.biaw.com.