What do all those letters mean?

Behind Rob's name are the abbreviations C.R., C.G.P., and C.A.P.S. You may have wondered what those things mean, and why you should care about them. Essentially, these letters stand for credentials Rob has earned from coursework through the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and the National Association of Home Builders. NARI (www.nari.org) and NAHB (www.nahb.org) are two of the most respected associations in the construction industry. Rob's goal in gaining and maintaining these certifications is to serve our clients better by seeking out new technologies and learning best practices.

C. R. : Rob is a Certified Remodeler through NARI. A certified remodeler "must possess skill and knowledge in a broad range of business management and technical skill areas." Certified Remodelers must have a minimum of five years experience in the remodeling industry; be committed to earning continuing education credits on a yearly basis; pass a written exam assessing twenty areas of knowledge; and adhere to NARI's code of ethics.

C.G.P. : Rob has trained to become a Certified Green Professional through the NAHB. While everyone is interested in protecting the environment by utilizing technologies that are good for the planet, most people don't have the luxury of being able to pay top dollar to do so. The purpose of the C. G. P. training is to help incorporate green building principles into our projects without driving up the costs of construction.

C.A.P.S. : Rob has trained to become a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist through the NAHB. The goal of the training is to allow a builder or remodeler to design projects better to meet the needs of people who are or may become mobility challenged. While the NAHB promotes the certification with a mind to meeting the needs of the elderly, the training can be applied more broadly. For example, a lever handle in place of a typical door knob is more easily opened by someone whose hand is arthritic, but also by a small child whose dexterity isn't fully developed, or an adult with an armload of groceries.

The NARI Code of Ethics

As members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, we have pledged to observe high standards of honesty, integrity and responsibility in the conduct of business by adhering to the NARI Code of Ethics:

• Promoting in good faith only those products and services that are known to be functionally and economically sound, and that are known to be consistent with objective standards of health and safety.


• Making all advertising and sales promotion factually accurate, avoiding those practices that tend to mislead or deceive the customer.


• Writing all contracts and warranties so that they comply with federal, state, and local laws.


• Promptly acknowledging and taking appropriate action on all customer complaints.


• Refraining from any act intended to restrain trade or to suppress competition.


• Attaining and retaining insurance as required by federal, state, and local authorities.


• Attaining and retaining licensing and/or registration as required by federal, state, and local authorities.

Watch out for the proverbial guy working out of the back of his pickup truck. Chances are good that he is neither licensed nor insured, and not a member of NARI. All these things are for your benefit and protection as a consumer.