Before and after photos of NARI’s first-time Green Recognition winners for green remodeling projects.

  1.) Check the license status and complaint record of all contractors on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website.  A link is provided here- 
 
2.) Check the Better Business Bureau record of all contractors on the BBB website.  A link is provided here- 
 
3.) Ask to see the Contractors tax license.  By Arizona State law they are supposed to be charging you anywhere between 5-6% tax on all labor and materials and sending it out to the State, County and local municipalities monthly.  Some Contractors may charge you the tax and then keep it for themselves.  And if they don’t charge tax at all, they are breaking the law. 
 
4.) Ask all Contractors to provide a certificate of insurance for liability and workers compensation listing you as the certificate holder before work begins to protect YOU in case something happens on your job.  If they cannot provide you with a certificate, they are not insured.  If they are not insured, you are liable for any and all damages, injuries and financial loss that may occur on your property during the course of the job. 

5.) Call at least 5 referrals from every contractor, or better yet, ask to go and see a completed job in your area.  Talk to the previous clients about how the contractor responded to concerns, if they returned calls in a timely manner, were their employees and sub-contractors timely and polite, if they finished on time, if they were clean and neat, Etc. 
 
6.) Ask all contractors how many jobs they have going at once.  The more jobs they have going, the less attention you will receive. 
 
7.) Ask who will be performing the daily work; employees or sub-contractors.  You don't want to go into a project blind as to who will show up at your door.  Ask if their referrals had the same workers that your job will have, so you can enquire about how it was to be interacting with those workers every day. Generally, employees have more to gain by keeping you happy.
 
8.) Ask for a list of all sub-contractors that will be used on your job, then go to the Registrar's website and check the status of their licenses. 
 
9.) Ask all Contractors if you can view a sample of their Contract and Specifications.  You can tell a lot about a Contractor by the details in their documents. 
 
10.) One of the more frequent complaints you will hear about remodeling projects is how long it takes.  Ask for start and completion dates in writing on the front page of the contract.

11.) If you are working with a Salesperson or Employee of a Company, ask how long they have been with that Company and who you would contact if their employment is terminated before or during your job (this happens frequently).

If you ask all these questions you will easily be able to weed out the good Contractors from the bad.  Good Luck!

STARFIRE GOLF CLUB
@ SCOTTSDALE COUNTRY CLUB
11500 N. HAYDEN RD. SCOTTSDALE 85260  

 DATE:                FRIDAY – June 3rd, 2011
TIME:                 6:30 – 7:30       
                           8:00                     Shotgun Start
FORMAT:          Scramble
COST:                 $125 per player <or> Package Deal
$35 Lunch only (excludes door prizes)




.        Hole-in-One contest win $10,000 Cash Prize!
·       Prize for Longest Drive
·       Prize for Closest to the Pin
·       Betting Hole
·       Special Prize Drawings
·       Gift Bags for All Golfers

Entry Application

We are just back from attending the 2011 Coverings tile and solid surface expo in Las Vegas NV. Our local NARI chapter took nearly fifty members and family to see the latest in the world of tile and solid surfaces.

About Coverings           

Coverings is the premier international trade fair and expo dedicated exclusively to showcasing the newest in ceramic tile and natural stone. It has grown to be the largest and most important show of its kind in the U.S., featuring exhibitors from more than 50 countries and attracting thousands of distributors, retailers, fabricators, contractors and specifiers, architectural and design professionals, builders and real estate developers, plus the press and journalists who cover this vital and dynamic industry. Coverings is the stage for introducing some of the most innovative tile and stone products in the world. The exposition also serves as a valuable resource for continuing education for all categories of attendees, with informative, accredited seminars and live demonstration sessions conducted throughout the four days and all free of charge. Coverings 2012 is set for April 17-20, at Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL.

It looks like I missed out on all the fun.

This Tuesday we had our first in a series of social media classes. Our members of  Greater Phoenix NARI are all anxious to stay ahead of all the latest in internet communication tools.

My seat was vacant because I was visiting the Wellborn Cabinet company's manufacturing plant in Alabama to learn more about their product and processes.

Steve Shinn
Tri-Lite Builders ~ Homework Remodels
President, Greater Phoenix NARI

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry is actively working both locally and nationally to promote education, certification and compliance with the EPA's Lead Renovate Repair & Paint regulations.

These LRRP regulations went into effect in 2010 and effect all contractors working in homes built on or before 1978. The regulations were designed to help protect homeowners from lead paint contamination as a result of disturbing painted surfaces in older homes that may have preexisting lead paint.

Our NARI Chapter follows NARI's strict code of ethics in remodeling, as a result our membership has participated in the required training classes for EPA certification. Each of the companies that have completed the requirements will display the EPA Lead Safe Certified Firm Logo with their company registration number.

The EPA regulations require contractors to give you the EPA's informative booklet titled "Renovate Right" and perform the work in such a way as to isolate the work and clean up in a prescribed manor in order to safeguard your family's health.

We would encourage all homeowners living in pre-1978 homes to request to see proof of certification prior to having work done on your home. Lead poisoning as a result of disturbing old painted surfaces is the leading cause of lead poisoning in America.

Contact one of our NARI contractors recognized by the EPA as Certified Renovators to ensure that your remodel will be done right.

Author:
Steve Shinn, GCP
2011 GP NARI President
Owner, Homework Remodels

As the year winds down, I thought it would be a good time to share my views on the top remodeling trends for 2011. This year has been challenging for homeowners and remodelers alike. The good news is that although progress is slow, NARI remodelers from across the valley say that things are looking up.

Many homeowners are looking to the New Year with a renewed sense of optimism about remodeling their homes. Home prices have stabilized and the economy is moving in a more positive direction. Astute remodeling contractors have found ways to lower their overhead and pricing to be competitive during the recession.  Many people think that 2011 will the best time we have seen in years to remodel a home.

The focus will be on creative use of existing space and moderate sized additions. The use of color as a way to define space and bring out architectural features will continue to gain popularity. Kitchens will be made over to be brighter, open and less formal. Granite and quartz continue to be the countertops of choice, but soapstone is emerging as a unique alternative for an earthier feel in a solid surface countertop. Many kitchen and bathroom remodels will include cost effective techniques to recycle or renovate features rather than replacing everything.

Creating open floor plans will be one of the leading home improvements of 2011.  Formal spaces in the home will be repurposed by opening up existing walls and creating more usable family centered space. Many people will find that their home can take on a whole new feel and function by reorganizing the seldom used formal living and dining rooms. 

Master suites and bathrooms will also be designed around how we live our lives, with less focus on over the top extravagance.  By focusing more on function and reasonable scale over flash, home remodels will have the feel and features we want without unsustainable budgets.

Integrating home energy performance improvements with various types of remodeling projects will continue to grow in popularity due to their positive return on investment. Homeowners are discovering that advances in building science have illustrated that there are numerous cost effective adjustments that can be made to their homes during a remodel.  These adjustments and repairs will improve their energy bills and make their homes more comfortable at the same time.

An excellent resource for perspective on remodeling in 2011 can be found in Sarah Susanka's book "Not So Big Remodeling. Sara is an Architect and bestselling author. She has been a proponent of designing and building living space that is more in line with how we live our lives. Her earlier book on home building "The Not So Big House" has led the trend away from building homes that are built for show instead of function.

Her longstanding focus on remodeling better instead of bigger will be the perfect homeowner perspective for 2011.

Author:
Steve Shinn, GCP
2011 GP NARI President
Owner, Homework Remodels