The Registered Builder (Remodeler) Program
The Building Industry of Greater Louisville (BIA) was founded in 1946 by eight area builders who wanted to organize local builders and their associates to better represent the needs of the housing and construction industry and the home-buying public. More than half a century later, BIA is one of the largest associations in the country, with nearly 1,800 members in Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt, Shelby, Spencer, Henry, and Trimble counties.
BIA's primary focus is to promote its members through its signature events, advocacy, an array of continuing education programs, and networking among industry peers. But, at the heart of the organization is the highly regarded Registered Builder Program. Recognizing that builders and remodelers have a responsibility to homeowners, in 1966 BIA created the Registered Builder Program to distinguish professional builders and remodelers from all others. At the time, this program was one of the first of its kind. It has since been replicated by many home builders associations across the United States.
The Registered Builder Program requires builders and remodelers to meet a strict set of qualifications, including a code of ethics, providing customer and business references, being peer-reviewed, demonstrating financial integrity, carrying workers comp. and general liability insurance, continuous learning, providing customers with contracts and warranties, undergoing a panel interview, and agreeing to participate in a conciliation program - should the need arise. The result is a program that's main focus is to instill confidence in a builder's or remodeler's professionalism to the public. In turn, builders and remodelers receive an additional level of credentialing, an opportunity to grow their knowledge, and market their business.
The Registered Builder Program has been recognized again and again nationally as one of the finest of its types in the county. The system is based on professional contracts, a one-year limited warranty, and a conciliation program that has proven to be of tremendous value to builders, remodelers, and homebuyers.
Unfortunately, complaints sometimes cannot be resolved by the builder, remodeler, and homeowners alone. But, unlike other cities where parties would have no choice but to resolve their disputes through legal channels, homeowners who purchase or remodel a home with a BIA builder or remodeler within BIA's seven-county jurisdiction can call on the conciliation process for help. Conciliation is non-binding, meaning that neither party is required to participate or accept the results. We believe the program encourages the parties to resolve their differences in the most amicable and affordable way possible.
As part of the conciliation process, third-party conciliators are assigned to review issues and determine if they are "builder responsibility" or "industry standard." To assess issues, conciliators use the "Residential Construction Performance Guidelines" authored by the National Association of Home Builders. The standards are applied the same no matter if a house is a $100,000 house or a $1 million house. Should an issue be determined to be "builder responsibility," the Registered Builder Committee, a panel of 22 industry leaders, then monitors the builder's or remodeler's progress until the conciliation agreement is completed.
Though not every matter can be resolved through conciliation, most are. Since the program's inception, very few builders and remodelers have been involved in litigation and many homeowners have had their complaints successfully resolved. This is something BIA takes great pride in.
We invite you to see what it takes to become a Registered Builder or Remodeler with BIA and to search for a Registered Builder, Registered Remodeler, or other industry professional for your next project.
BIA's primary focus is to promote its members through its signature events, advocacy, an array of continuing education programs, and networking among industry peers. But, at the heart of the organization is the highly regarded Registered Builder Program. Recognizing that builders and remodelers have a responsibility to homeowners, in 1966 BIA created the Registered Builder Program to distinguish professional builders and remodelers from all others. At the time, this program was one of the first of its kind. It has since been replicated by many home builders associations across the United States.
The Registered Builder Program requires builders and remodelers to meet a strict set of qualifications, including a code of ethics, providing customer and business references, being peer-reviewed, demonstrating financial integrity, carrying workers comp. and general liability insurance, continuous learning, providing customers with contracts and warranties, undergoing a panel interview, and agreeing to participate in a conciliation program - should the need arise. The result is a program that's main focus is to instill confidence in a builder's or remodeler's professionalism to the public. In turn, builders and remodelers receive an additional level of credentialing, an opportunity to grow their knowledge, and market their business.
The Registered Builder Program has been recognized again and again nationally as one of the finest of its types in the county. The system is based on professional contracts, a one-year limited warranty, and a conciliation program that has proven to be of tremendous value to builders, remodelers, and homebuyers.
Unfortunately, complaints sometimes cannot be resolved by the builder, remodeler, and homeowners alone. But, unlike other cities where parties would have no choice but to resolve their disputes through legal channels, homeowners who purchase or remodel a home with a BIA builder or remodeler within BIA's seven-county jurisdiction can call on the conciliation process for help. Conciliation is non-binding, meaning that neither party is required to participate or accept the results. We believe the program encourages the parties to resolve their differences in the most amicable and affordable way possible.
As part of the conciliation process, third-party conciliators are assigned to review issues and determine if they are "builder responsibility" or "industry standard." To assess issues, conciliators use the "Residential Construction Performance Guidelines" authored by the National Association of Home Builders. The standards are applied the same no matter if a house is a $100,000 house or a $1 million house. Should an issue be determined to be "builder responsibility," the Registered Builder Committee, a panel of 22 industry leaders, then monitors the builder's or remodeler's progress until the conciliation agreement is completed.
Though not every matter can be resolved through conciliation, most are. Since the program's inception, very few builders and remodelers have been involved in litigation and many homeowners have had their complaints successfully resolved. This is something BIA takes great pride in.
We invite you to see what it takes to become a Registered Builder or Remodeler with BIA and to search for a Registered Builder, Registered Remodeler, or other industry professional for your next project.