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National Association of the Remodeling Industry - Milwaukee
National Association of the Remodeling Industry
11815 W. Dearbourn Ave.
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Phone: 414-771-4071
Fax: 414-771-4077
Web Site
Mission Statement
The Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council was chartered in July 1961 as a chapter of the National Home Improvement Council. In May 1982, the National Home Improvement Council merged with the National Remodelers Association to form NARI - the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. With more than 650 members, the Milwaukee chapter is the largest in the nation.
The council's goals of encouraging ethical conduct, sound business practices and professionalism in the remodeling industry have led to the growth of the remodeling industry nationwide and made NARI a recognized authority in that industry.
'Shady' Operators, Beware -
NARI Membership Signifies
Ethics, Quality and Workmanship "Credibility!"That's Mark Brick's response when asked why his firm belongs to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
"Credibility - plus certification, networking, marketing, education and professionalism - they're all-important benefits," said the president of B & E General Contractors Inc. A staunch NARI supporter, Brick believes the organization is as vital to its members as it is to the customers they serve.
"NARI gives good contractors a way to market their businesses and improve their professionalism. Members meet higher standards, which is a safeguard for the public, and we get a lot in return in terms of education and networking - both very essential in our field," he explained.
A NARI member ever since he founded his Thiensville company 15 years ago, Brick is also president of NARI's Milwaukee Chapter one of the oldest and largest in the nation with a membership of more than 650.
He's proud of the chapter's substantial growth since it was started by 15 firms and chartered on July 12, 1961 as the Home Improvement Council of Greater Milwaukee. Today, Milwaukee/NARI is not only the nation's largest remodeling chapter, it's also one of only three that owns the building it occupies.
After a number of years in downtown Elm Grove, Milwaukee/NARI moved into its own 12,000-square-foot headquarters at 11815 W. Dearbourn Ave. in Wauwatosa on July 1. The convenient site just south of Bluemound Road was extensively remodeled largely through member donations of time and materials. It offers expanded office space as well as parking for more than 25 vehicles.
But as delighted as chapter President Mark Brick is with the new headquarters, he's even prouder of the contributions Milwaukee/NARI has made to the industry and the community in the past four decades. This includes informing the public as to remodeling options and providing member education and training as basic as the tools used on the job.
Community response was enthusiastic to NARI's First Annual Spring Home Improvement Showcase. Held May 20-21, the event featured on-site visits to 10 renovation projects at homes all over Milwaukee County. More than 500 visitors toured improvements from kitchens and baths to landscaping, siding and complete additions. Quality workmanship was apparent throughout, Brick noted.
"We emphasize professionalism - meeting the highest standards in products, workmanship and business practices. And our member education covers everything from certification to knowledge and awareness of government regulations and a better understanding of contracts," he added.
While NARI affiliation may seem logical for major construction firms, the organization also boasts a large percentage of independent contractors and smaller owner-operator companies. Muskego cabinetmaker James Goetzke is one such 20-year member who has seen multiple benefits for his one-person business, Jim's Custom Cabinets, which has specialized in kitchen and bath updates since 1980.
"I was impressed by the fact that NARI is fussy about who gets in," Goetzke emphasized. "You have to have good credentials and good ethics to belong. The NARI Ethics Committee either stands up for a company or takes it to task. That's strong protection for customers and it keeps the players on the up and up."
"It's a good deal if you're a reputable business. And it warns the shady operators - Stay away! You aren't going to make it in this town!"
To distinguish the expertise of its members from self-styled handymen and here-today-gone-tomorrow builders, NARI offers a demanding certification program. Credentials come in four designations: Certified Remodeler (CR) - those competent in a broad range of residential and commercial contracting and remodeling areas; Certified Remodeler Specialist (CRS) - an expert in a particular field such as masonry, plumbing, mechanical systems or roofing etc.; Certified Remodeler Associate (CRA) - someone working within the remodeling industry, such as a designer, supplier, appraiser, or manufacturer; and Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC) - an on-site expert who oversees all aspects of a project, including personnel supervision and job safety.
Prior to NARI certification, an applicant must summarize work experience and training as well as the company's track record before passing an eight-hour written exam. Applicants can take eight to 12-week certification courses that NARI offers every spring. An employer who appreciates having certified workers, Brick notes, often assumes fees. A course usually graduates 10 to 20 students of various ages.
To encourage a new generation of skilled remodeling specialists, Milwaukee/NARI funds scholarships to men and women interested in building industry careers. Incorporated in 1993 as the chapter's educational and charitable arm, the Milwaukee/NARI Foundation has aided more than 30 students since 1995. It dispensed more than $5,000 in scholarships in both 1999 and 1998 to technical college students in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties for courses ranging from architectural drafting and construction technology to cabinets and millwork, landscape horticulture, electricity and carpentry.
Further, foundation members go to high school career days and showcases produced by area technical schools. Part of the foundation's mission is to foster the justifiable pride skilled area craftspeople take in their chosen fields.
However, as Mark Brick quickly points out, Milwaukee/NARI isn't just a mutual back-patting society. It represents a coalition of able and ethical home improvement experts - many representing the third or fourth generation in a trade - who stand by their performance through written estimates, clearly-detailed contracts, well-defined warranties and straightforward representation. While such practices protect customers, there are also procedures to avoid as well as resolve any problems.
One of the most important is a lien waiver a NARI contractor gives a client who makes partial or full payment. This states that the contractor has reimbursed a supplier or subcontractor who cannot later place a lien on the building for money owed. Another is a third party mediation system that resolves disagreements between a NARI contractor and a customer, often clearing a conflict without either party resorting to legal avenues.
Such practices safeguard homeowners while demonstrating that NARI is effective in policing its members and promoting their interests. A NARI scholarship applicant six years ago, Kathy Brown of Kathy's Landscaping ("I like to keep things simple!") is another membership supporter. She's also the first MATC graduate to receive associate degrees in all four areas of the school's horticulture program: landscape management, tree care, landscape design/build and turf management. This expertise has made her the featured landscaper in NARI's spring Home Improvement Show Remodelers' Showcase for the past five years.
"Besides encouraging high standards, NARI teaches us to work with customers, setting up jobs in stages to help people cover costs of a major project. My NARI membership reflects the fact that I do quality work at a fair price. It distinguishes me from someone with a pickup, shovel and a rake who calls himself a landscaper!" she said emphatically.
"I have high standards and my NARI designation is a mark of that quality. The same goes for Milwaukee/NARI. It has a good reputation for serving both its members and our customers!"
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