I’ve worked with many contractors before. I liked them well enough, but didn’t love them. Currently, I’m working with five contractors in my other vacant home. Three of them are doing a complete bathroom remodel, the fourth is painting my entire house, and the fifth is doing a bunch of odd jobs like tiling, electrical, plumbing, and attic insulation.

Besides the quality of work, what separates great contractors from so-so contractors is attitude. The difference between like and love is referrals.

Surrounded by contractors – who will I refer?

Paint contractor – I told him I wanted the entire house painted except for the ceilings. He gave me a flat-rate quote, including paint. He didn’t have a checklist and he didn’t ask me any questions, except for how many colors I wanted. I told him he had two weeks to get the job done because I had bathroom contractors lined up for the following week and hardwood floor installation after that. (more…)

The demand for sustainable building is pushing architects, commercial developers, contractors, designers and others in the industry to look for ways to gain or increase their knowledge in green building.

The competitive arena in the green building market is rapidly expanding and in order to keep up you need to achieve accreditation under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and become LEED certified.

Finding the time to take classes isn’t always easy. And, if you want your employees to become LEED certified, it can cause job delays and travel expense. So, what can you do?

The most convenient way for you and your employees to become LEED certified is via online classes. There are several LEED educational classes available online, including the LEED AP test prep class. Both the Green Building Council and The Association of Interior Designers offer classes or webinars and LEED AP study guides online.

Earning a LEED AP designation or getting your feet wet with the LEED Green Associate accreditation? You can do it all online.

• As a LEED AP your clients automatically earn an Innovation in Design point when working with them on a LEED Certification project – automatic point. As a General Contractor with a LEED AP designation, you’re able to handle the entire LEED Certification process for your client. This designation also enables you to gain recognition as a LEED AP on the USGBC web site. Their online accredited professional directory is where consumers will go to identify and contact qualified service providers.
• The LEED Green Associate accreditation is a great place to start and provides an excellent platform in which to grow.

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