Member Spotlight

They specialize in the remodeling of staircases to update the look, often by replacing wood balusters with metal balusters.

They offer stairs in a wide range of materials many types of wood and metal and a few other exotic materials such as stainless steel.

Their unique staff comprises a number of professional construction specialists, artisan’s, and true craftsmen with skills akin to that of a master carpenter. stair building shouldn’t be left to the unskilled.

However, they are more than stairs. They do, new and re-facing of cabinets, as well as related wood fabricating services.

All things Stairs can do it! Thinking of stairs, railings, or balusters? Think All Things Stairs! 

They welcome and appreciate your business.

All Things Stairs is committed to providing the finest and best built staircases and railings in the Bay Area California.

Their pledge to their customer is to be responsive to your desires, maintain top-end product quality and provide competitive pricing. They are a one-stop shop for building, remodeling, and/or repairing staircases, stairs, railings, balusters and other custom projects needing similar master carpenter level wood-crafting and construction skills.
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NARI of Diablo Valley Commercial

NARI of Diablo Valley is airing our first commercial! Check out the  commercial on HGTV, BRAVO & NSBA networks.  Below are the airing times.  Please note these airing times are in the eveing and are approximate, but should be within 10 minutes of scheduled time. Airing Times:

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Achievement Awards

Winning a Bay Area Remodeling Award (a Remmy) is a great marketing opportunity for your company and morale booster for your team.  It’s time to start making plans for entering the competition. We are still in the process of planning the event but here are some of the key details and dates that have already been confirmed:

Media Sponsor: Modern Luxury Interiors California Magazine

Eligibility: Must be a member of the Diablo Valley, North Bay or San Francisco Bay Area chapter of NARI

Entries: Projects completed between July 1, 2016 and January 31, 2018

Entry Packets: Will be sent via email in December 2017

ENTRY DEADLINE: Thursday, March 1, 2018 at 11:59 pm

Judging: March 2018

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Golf Tournament

6th Annual Charity Golf Tournament

When: September 21, 2018
Time:   1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Boundary Oaks Golf Course, Walnut Creek

Charity: Harbor House

For Sponsorship and Golfer Information: CLICK HERE

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News

 -  Best of Houzz third year in a row!

Clients of Hire My Husband include Realtors, Property Managers and Homeowner Associations, but their favorite customers are busy professionals, retired folks, families with busy parents and elderly couples.

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Education

Why certify? A certification identifies you as a dedicated professional and acknowledges your personal achievements, improves your level of practice and highlights you as an industry leader. NARI’s certification is also a powerful marketing tool, providing clients with assurance that they’re choosing expert professionals with not only years of experience and a commitment to ethical conduct, but also a dedication to ongoing training.

Consumers view certified individuals as:
Better trained, more professional, highly skilled, more reliable, more ethical, more knowledgeable,
with up-to-date information on the latest tools, trends, techniques and materials, and
quality-oriented with a sense of pride in his/her work.

How does a remodeling contractor become certified?
Receive an acceptable review by the NARI Certification Board by providing an outline detailing their hands-on experience, industry training, involvement in continuing education, technical skills, practices in business management, as well as association and community service.

Commit to intensive study on a broad range of critical home improvement industry issues. Most certification candidates participate in a formal study group and spend eight to twelve weeks studying in preparation for a written exam.

Successfully complete a comprehensive written examination covering critical subject areas such as sound business management practices, knowledge of building codes and construction law, plans and specification, proper and safe use of tools and equipment, safety, standards of practice, math, and several special skill areas. Once awarded their certification, NARI certified remodeling professionals must meet annual recertification requirements involving continuing education and participation in industry-related programs.

 NARI Certifications Available

CR/CRS/CRA (Certified Remodeler, Certified Remodeler Specialist, Certified Remodeler Associate)
MCR (Master Certified Remodeler)
CKBR (Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler)
CLC (Certified Lead Carpenter)
CRPM (Certified Remodeler Project Manager)
UDCP (Universal Design Certified Professional)

For more information and to become Certified CLICK HERE

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Legal News

 Law Office of Bryant H. Byrnes  

Good Grief, the Going Just Got Worse
(part 2)

 In our last article we referenced a new law effective January 1, 2018.  It is Labor Code Section 218.7.  It goes as follows:  For all contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2018, this law requires a “direct contractor” (the general contractor) be liable for unpaid specified debt owed to a wage claimant that is incurred by a subcontractor.  The direct contractor’s liability to the      wage claimant shall be limited to unpaid wages, including any interest owed.  However, it then goes on to state that a third party may bring a claim on behalf of a wage claimant and liability to a third party owed fringe or other benefit payments or contributions on a wage claimant’s behalf can include any unpaid wage, fringe or other benefit, payment, or contribution.  (This can include attorney’s fees and costs.) 

This law also authorizes the Labor Commissioner to bring an action. 

The law requires a subcontractor, upon request from the direct contractor, to provide specified payroll information.  Who is behind the law?  It is pretty clearly the labor/trade unions. 

What are the problems?  In addition to new liabilities, one can wind up in front of the California Labor Commission.  The reason the Labor Commissioner is a problem is that it is, in the writers’ opinion, the most pro employee forum that they know of.  Employers - and now potentially indirect contractors - that appear before them typically lose, or are forced to offer some money to settle, almost regardless of the merits of their case.

There are a number of possible ways to approach this new statutory liability.  They include the following:

• Include new strong and specific indemnity language in all subcontracts, including supply contracts;
• Require personal guarantees from owners, partner, and/or key personnel;
• Require a Declaration under penalty of perjury of the subcontractor’s compliance;
• Require all subcontractors to be bonded on each project; and/or

Monitoring subcontractors and suppliers by demanding payroll records.

These above approaches are listed in the sequence - starting from the top - that we think are most workable to least workable, most practical to least practical.  After the first proposal of new strong and specific indemnity language in the subcontract, none of them seem particularly practical.  And really, the least practical is requesting and viewing payroll records.  Could there be a bigger nightmare?

These above approaches are listed in the sequence - starting from the top - that we think are most workable to least workable, most practical to least practical.  After the first proposal of new strong and specific indemnity language in the subcontract, none of them seem particularly practical.  And really, the least practical is requesting and viewing payroll records.  Could there be a bigger nightmare? 

I recently attended a meeting of general contractors to discuss this new law and we went through these “solutions”.  The consensus was . . .  there was not much by way of any solutions.  And except for the first provision, not very practical.

The mien of this small focus group was grim – they are now faced with yet another burden and more possible liability.  However, it was also the consensus that the best protection - in addition to some contractual language - would be to know the subcontractor and have worked with it before.  If the subcontractor is a known and reliable player, the likelihood of a claim is greatly diminished.

             You are now on notice.  You should speak with your counsel.  Good luck.

  Bryant H. Byrnes, Esq. practices construction law in the San Francisco Bay Area and is counsel to the San Francisco NARI Board of Directors.

 Brian J. Trowbridge, Esq. of Trowbridge Law Office practices construction law, business law, succession and estate planning, and employment law in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

 Questions? Bryant’s website is www.bryantbyrnes.com. Feel free to contact him by email at Bryant@bryantbyrnes.com.  Brian’s website is www.trowbridgelawoffice.com and you can email him at btrowbridge@trowbridgelawoffice.com.

 For Bryant’s previous articles, please visit SFBA NARI’s website and click on the link “In the News/Newsletter” under “For the Trade.” They are also available on his website under “Articles,” and on Brian’s website under “Publications.”

 As always, these articles are summary discussions only - to simply give you a heads up on various construction topics.  The information contained herein is not legal advice.

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Savings for Members

Savings are for members in good standing only.  These are just a few of the money saving opportunitues available when joining NARI.

NARI BUILDINGBUCKS
Increase sales with NARI BuildingBucks™. This exciting new partnership between NARI and EnerBank USA, provides easy-to-use payment options and will help members increase close rates and job size while lessening cancellations and discounts. The BuildingBucks™ program offers four payment options to help customers say yes. 

THE HOME DEPOT REBATE PROGRAM
Receive a 2% rebate based on purchases you make at The Home Depot.  All NARI members in good standing are eligible for this rebate. Accounts must be registered/enrolled through the website to receive rebate credit. Minimum rebate period spend of $12,500 required to receive a rebate. Rebate payments are issued direct to the member twice a year, within 60 days of 6/30 and 12/31.

TOWNSQUARE INTERACTIVE
NARI members receive $100 off all inbound, outbound and retention marketing packages including: website design, search engine optimization, reputation management, social media strategy, mobile applications and more. NARI remodelers have access to a Dedicated Marketing Specialist – a single point of contact – who consults with you about your campaign, provides monthly reporting, makes recommendations for improvements, and gives you access to a direct phone number where you can reach them at your convenience.  

 Nearly 2,000 homebuilders, remodelers and contractors rely on GuildQuality to measure and improve their levels of customer satisfaction. As a NARI member, you can survey up to 50 of your past customers through GuildQuality at no cost. The GuildQuality team will survey your customers via phone, email and mail card and will share the responses with you in real time, allowing you to resolve issues immediately, find out where your team is excelling, and where you have room for improvement. To begin your free trial of GuildQuality, visit www.guildquality.com/freetrial-nari.

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Newsletter Publishing Information

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