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Bulletin Editor

Dept. RF

601 East Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20049

Dear AARP,

We have had contractor registration in NJ for several years. Some are still not registered, either because they didn't know about the requirement, or chose to ignore it. The problem with registration is that 1) a registered contractor is not necessarily good in terms of service, quality, ethics, etc., and 2) an unregistered contractor is not necessarily bad.

The real answer to home and business owners' needs is a professional organization that properly vets our members like NARI, The National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Our Homeowners' Guide, including our Code of Ethics, is listed at the NARI web site: http://www.nari.org/homeowners/guide/. 

The goal for our fellow AARP members and other home and business owners is to find up to three bidders. Too many bidders is not helpful to yourself or the bidders. NARI.org is a great start. Especially if the owner(s) have had a bad experience, it is better to meet the builder or remodeler without a chip on their shoulders. We are there to help (yes, and make a decent living for our families). We work best in a mutually supportive, healthy vendor/client environment. If an issue of concern should arise, let's talk and resolve the matter before our relationship declines. If you do still have an problem, your State Division of Consumer Protection is available to help. Finally, don't wait to address a problem with your home or building. Water, insects, and other environmental factors are just natural phenomena. A more prompt repair will save you time, money, frustration, and possibly injury down the road.

Along with four other members of the central NJ Chapter (www.cjnari.org) of NARI, we recently returned from the Gulf Coast, where we volunteered to help rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Gustav.  Apparently, some unscrupulous, heinous contractors took a deposit from residents and absconded with their money...HORRENDOUS!!  During a recent home show, we participated in a presentation on building and remodeling.  The audience appeared to be a bit startled by practicing contractors who talked about the building code, the differences between legal and illegal contracts, the permitting process, and the important relationship between building officials and ourselves.

There are many professional, ethical, responsible builders and remodelers available to serve home and business owners' needs. The writer is the Marketing Chairman for the Central Jersey Chapter of NARI and a licensed builder and remodeler, based in Hillsborough, NJ.  I hope that this information is helpful to my fellow AARP Bulletin readers!

Thanks very much,

Wayne Baruch, CR