Don't miss the HBA Home & Outdoor Living Show, April 12 - 14, 2024 Wilson Logistics Arena  |  Ozark Empire Fairgrounds  |  Springfield, MO
Don't miss the HBA Home &
Outdoor Living Show
April 12 - 14, 2024
Wilson Logistics Arena
Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
Springfield, MO

Protect Your Home Investment: Designations Make A Difference!

Brett Godfrey
HBA Education Ambassador Brett Godfrey

Quality workmanship, knowledge and experience matter, especially when you will be investing a significant amount of money with a home builder or remodeler as you build a new home or update your current one to fit your lifestyle. Choosing a building professional with a designation can help ensure you are hiring a builder or remodeler who is committed to their craft by learning—and continuing to stay up-to-date on—the latest technology, building methods and business practices.Through the National Association of Home Builders, members of the building industry can earn professional designations in more than 15 specialties, including:

  • Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist
  • Certified Graduate Builder and Graduate Master Builder
  • Certified Graduate Remodeler and Graduate Master Remodeler
  • Certified Green Professional and Master Certified Green Professional
  • Certified Graduate Associate

As the more than 140,000 members of the National Association of Home Builders celebrate National Designation Month in March, members of the HBA of Greater Springfield consistently aspire to the highest standards of professionalism here, as well. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should choose a designated professional builder or remodeler for your next home build or major renovation project.

NAHB’s targeted curriculum and accomplished teachers help home builders and remodelers learn new laws, methods and materials in order to offer the best level of service to their clients.  That level of service or expertise often translates into a home that delivers optimal performance but doesn’t have to cost you a premium to purchase.

In the home building profession, there are new building codes every three years, in addition to new energy, fire, plumbing, electrical and mechanical codes that are constantly being revised and upgraded. Designees learn the codes that apply to the specific states, counties, municipalities and cities they work in – and these professionals take those factors into consideration when building or remodeling your home.

This knowledge possessed by a professional designee can save their customers thousands of dollars in efficient and proper use of building technologies. Today’s new home is a complex integration of systems and concepts – concepts that can be misapplied – or even missed altogether – by those who may be less committed to their craft.

A building professional with a designation has taken the time to go in-depth into a specific building area of interest.

For example, only a Certified Aging-in-Place (CAPS) specialist will know how to build or remodel to overcome common age-related barriers. They will know to widen doors so that wheelchairs can fit through, install shower bars to improve safety and make other modifications to your home to accommodate disabilities or accessibility challenges.

And a Certified Green Professional (CGP) will help you get the best bang for your buck on an energy-efficient remodeling project. CGPs are committed to the idea of “greening” a home affordably and are trained in choosing products and practices for greater energy efficiency, indoor and outdoor water conservation, preserving indoor environmental quality, and identifying and choosing sustainable building products.

A professional remodeler or builder can help you cut through the confusion of the hundreds of new products that come on the market each year to make your home better and your life easier. They will know what the newest materials and techniques are, where to get them, and how to use them. Their insights and advice will not only bring you savings and satisfaction today, but will help your home’s value far down the road.

Buying a new home or making major renovations to your existing one can be a huge investment into a place your family will make memories and grow in for many years. It only makes sense to select a professional with superior training, real-world experience and in-depth knowledge of your area of need.

For most of us, our home is the single largest investment we ever make. When planning your next home purchase or major remodel, why take unnecessary risk? Sure, you could roll the dice on the lowest bidder, but why take the chance. Protecting your investment by working with a professional will only save you money and sanity in the long run.

For more information on the types of designations building professionals can earn, go to www.nahb.org/designations. To find a professional home builder or remodeler in the southwest Missouri / greater Springfield area, go to www.springfieldhba.com/find-a-pro.

Brett Godfrey is a Certified Green Professional and owner of Built By Brett, LLC. He is a past president of the HBA of Greater Springfield and serves as the HBA’s Education Ambassador. He also is a member of the board of directors for the National Association of Home Builders.