Is anyone here a member?
Our local HBA is in the planning stages of starting a Remodelers Council, which has recently been re-named HBA Remodelers.
I’ve been asked to help start it and be the committee chair.
I’ve done a little of my own research and I’m interested in hearing from people who are members or have had experience in it.
Feeling a little like a fish out of water here.
Replies
We don't have a local Remodelers Council, but I am a member of the state Council. (though I haven't been to a meeting in a year). Been in it for 4 yrs.
Mostly it has been a political voice in the state capital.
I had hoped there would be some formal business education, or maybe a mentoring program, but there isn't.
However, the informal education was great. Ask a good question over lunch and have a couple hundred years of experience discuss it for an hour. The point about the state level is most of the dozen or so that are at a meeting are from non-competing markets. Much more open discussions, than any local HBA meetings.
One excellent informal thing the group did was to create a list of some of the steps in the whole remodel process, and then for a year or so, the hour before the meeting would start was filled with a discussion of one of the steps. Steps like qualifying the client: 3 of the remodelers brought in copies of their phone call lead sheet, and gave some reasons they ask particular questions. Another time, we used a video camera and taped some made up sales situations, and had different remodelers try to handle them.
Bowz
Bowz,
Thanks for the response. I believe the local HBA is using it to try to drive membership for the most part. I can't say I blame them because membership is dropping a bit in the current market. It would also give a voice to remodelers in particular in front of the city and the local HBA has had very good success in the past in protecting/fighting for the Home Builders at both the local and state level.
The benefits I see could be great. At this point we are talking about having a quarterly meeting with a guest speaker relating to something pertinent to remodelers. I'd also like to see a more regular "Round Table" discussion between the local guys about varying issues related to doing business as a "Professional Remodeler". You're lunch meetings sound like what I had in mind.
It could also be another step forward in weeding out the rift raft fly-by-nights and at the same time give new guys a leg up and help them avoid some of the mistakes that others have made.
I don't mind competition so long as it is on an even playing field and I believe it might be a step in the right direction.
shameless bump