Learn how green homes provide buyers with lower energy costs and higher value. This 2-day course for building professionals discusses strategies for incorporating green-building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction. You will learn how green homes provide buyers lower maintenance, better indoor air quality, and better long-term value. Techniques are also discussed for competitively differentiating your home products with increased indoor environmental quality as well as energy and resource efficiency.  Designation Credit(s): CGA, CGB

A merchandised model is more than a sales tool.  It’s a showcase for the lifestyle a buyer can expect to enjoy in a new home. This course offers you an array of advertising, public relations and marketing ideas, including the design of models and sales centers that appeal to a target market, optimize traffic flow and impress prospective customers. Designation Credit(s): CMP, MIRM

Learn how to find the information that's critical to your business. You'll gain knowledge of the demographic, economic, and psychographic factors that affect housing supply and demand. You'll also learn to employ a model that projects opportunities for specific local markets. Designation Credit(s): CMP, MIRM

Learn the multiple and varied roles of the superintendent. Topics include managing production operations through the planning, action, and review (PAR) method as well as understanding estimates. Offers an overview of the many facets and responsibilities of a superintendent. This course satisfies requirements for the Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS) Designation.

Pass your knowledge on to your peers. You’ll learn how to prepare and present The NAHB University of Housing curriculum and get a chance to practice your presentation skills in the classroom. As time is limited, participants will be given a pre-course assignment for a two-minute presentation. Materials for visual aids will be provided in class, so participants should not bring laptops with them to class. Class size is limited to 10 participants, so please register early. Due to the limited class size, registration must be completed ahead of time and may not be completed on site.

Cancellations for Train the Trainer will be assessed a $100 fee per cancellation if requested prior to January 2009. After that time, fees are non-refundable.

Become a better industry partner by learning about the residential construction process—from the builder/remodeler’s point of view. Associate members, builder/remodeler company staff, REALTOR® and others will learn the basic fundamentals of what it takes to build or remodel a home. With that knowledge, you will be able to see how your own interests, requirements, and processes affect—and are affected by—those of the builder/remodeler. Designation Credit(s):  CGA

Learn the management skills that give industry leaders the edge. This course will give you a solid foundation in those best business practices so valuable to smaller businesses: planning, organizing, staffing/directing and controlling. By using case studies and sample forms, your instructors give you practical and applicable tools for management  success. Designation Credit(s): CAPS, CGA, CGB, CGR, Master CSP

By the year 2014, there will be 85 million active adults ages 55 and older living in the U.S. and more than 40 percent of all households will be headed by someone in the 55+ age group. These market segments are defined by lifestyle, community, and amenities/product design preferences. This one-day course gives you an overview of design considerations to take into account when planning single-family and multifamily housing for active adults. Learn how to meet the needs of this growing market and how to provide them with a variety of housing options. Designation Credit:  CAASH

Improve planning and scheduling skills to increase profits, effectiveness and on-time deliveries. Learn five fundamental scheduling methods to help manage a project successfully from start to finish. This course satisfies requirements for the Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS) Designation.

How does the superintendent impact the profitability of the company? Learn the importance of the superintendent’s role regarding profitability, as well as how to control the critical elements of job costs. Includes tips on identifying the costs to everyone when a job is not done right the first time. This course satisfies requirements for the Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS) Designation.

Pass your knowledge on to your peers. You’ll learn how to prepare and present The NAHB University of Housing curriculum and get a chance to practice your presentation skills in the classroom. As time is limited, participants will be given a pre-course assignment for a two-minute presentation. Materials for visual aids will be provided in class, so participants should not bring laptops with them to class. Class size is limited to 10 participants, so please register early. Due to the limited class size, registration must be completed ahead of time and may not be completed on site.

Cancellations for Train the Trainer will be assessed a $100 fee per cancellation if requested prior to January 2009. After that time, fees are non-refundable.

A good foundation in the basics of finance is vital for sustaining growth and profitability in your business. This course provides an explanation of basic accounting terms, job cost analysis, financial reporting and other controls needed to manage a small business.  A good foundation in the basics of finance also helps builders communicate with bankers, accountants, and other financial professionals with whom they must deal on a daily basis. Designation Credit(s): CGA, CGB, CGR

Learn the management skills that give industry leaders the edge. This course will give you a solid foundation in those best business practices so valuable to smaller businesses: planning, organizing, staffing/directing and controlling. By using case studies and sample forms, your instructors give you practical and applicable tools for management  success. Designation Credit(s): CAPS, CGA, CGB, CGR, Master CSP

Learn how to develop winning bids and use estimates as a powerful business management tool. This course for remodelers and small-to-mid volume builders addresses one of the toughest topics in building today – estimating. Topics covered include insurance and profit, quantity takeoff for various materials, labor and equipment productivity issues, and subcontractor bid considerations. Leave with information you can use in your business the very next day.  Designation Credit(s): CGA, CGB, CGR

Three stages must precede any development: site planning, government approval, and site improvements. Get the essential overview of these critical processes, plus a detailed description of each individual step. This course is designed for the newcomer to land development. Designation Credit(s): CGA, CGB

To improve your sales success with the active adult home buyer, it’s critical to have sales strategies specific to this complex customer. This course is designed to give you techniques to more effectively communicate with, qualify, handle objections from and close sales with your potential active adult home buyers. Designation Credit(s): CAASH

Learn how green homes provide buyers with lower energy costs and higher value. This 2-day course for building professionals discusses strategies for incorporating green-building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction. You will learn how green homes provide buyers lower maintenance, better indoor air quality, and better long-term value. Techniques are also discussed for competitively differentiating your home products with increased indoor environmental quality as well as energy and resource efficiency.  Designation Credit(s): CGA, CGB

Do you want to find and exploit market opportunities for your company? Designed for mid- to large-volume builders, this course will show you how to maximize results from every dollar you spend on marketing. Learn how to find the best market opportunities for your company – and develop the plans and budgets necessary to make your projects a success. With optimum product placement, pricing and promotional tactics, you can plan future results with confidence. Designation Credit(s): CMP, MIRM

Improve your business operations, REALTOR® relations and customer follow-up by integrating your sales force into an overall marketing plan. This course emphasizes five basic principles of strategic sales management and teaches you how to get the most from every member of your team. Designation Credit(s): CMP, MIRM

Understand the human and business needs of customers. Learn how to meet and exceed expectations by avoiding the “seven deadly sins” of customer service. In addition, learn how to effectively deal with the difficult customer. This course satisfies requirements for the Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS) Designation.

Protect the job site by learning the essential components of a safety program. Examine the most common OSHA citations and how to prepare for an OSHA inspection. Review a superintendent’s responsibilities to adequately protect the job site. This course satisfies requirements for the Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS) Designation.

Pass your knowledge on to your peers. You’ll learn how to prepare and present The NAHB University of Housing curriculum and get a chance to practice your presentation skills in the classroom.  As time is limited, participants will be given a pre-course assignment for a two-minute presentation. Materials for visual aids will be provided in class, so participants should not bring laptops with them to class. Class size is limited to 10 participants, so please register early. Due to the limited class size, registration must be completed ahead of time and may not be completed on site.

Cancellations for Train the Trainer will be assessed a $100 fee per cancellation if requested prior to January 2009. After that time, fees are non-refundable.

Looking for a smart way to position your business to stay profitable during the residential housing downturn? Attend “Build Outside of the Box: Opportunities in a Down Market Beyond the Single-Family Home,” an all-day, pre-IBS course that gives residential builders the tools they need to make the decision to diversify into light commercial construction, multifamily building, and remodeling. You’ll hear from builders who have successfully diversified into these areas and find out what factors contributed to their achievements. A panel of builders, developers and remodelers will present an overview of the options and discuss types of projects and the basic differences between residential construction and specialized areas like light commercial, commercial remodeling and multifamily construction. See how you can develop your business plan to broaden your scope. The course shows you how to take advantage of a wide range of diversification opportunities. You’ll come away with a whole new outlook on the market and options for success!  This session is not a designation course but does provide continuing education credit for NAHB’s CAPS, CGA, CGB, CGR, GMB, and GMR designations.

Navigating through building codes, standards, and guidelines is critical to the success of any builder, remodeler, construction manager, and trade partner. This course is based on the current International Residential Code (IRC) requirements and includes a section on standards. Leading edge trends in code development and NAHB’s popular Residential Construction Performance Guidelines will be discussed.  Designation Credit:  CGA, CGB

Improve productivity and increase profits by applying essential financial management techniques used in successful businesses. This course for building professionals discusses financial tools you can apply immediately to achieve financial success. Learn how to work with annual operating plans and budgets, financial reports and operating ratios, and revenue forecasts that control profitability and identify adjustments. Designation Credit(s):  GMB

Learn how the land acquisition process works from market analysis through property acquisition. This course will show you how developers assess markets, acquire land, and devise site plans that are most likely to attract financing on optimal terms. Designation Credit(s): GMB

A diverse population with discriminating tastes, the Boomers are influencing everything about planning active adult developments.  Learn how to better identify and serve the needs of this unique aging population. This course assists builders, developers, and other housing professionals in gaining a greater and more in-depth understanding of planning for the active adult community and the importance of market research before development.  Designation Credit(s):  CAASH

The BAR is the required first step in obtaining your Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) designation. This 135 question multiple choice assessment measures your knowledge in the five core areas of building business management: Building Technology; Business and Finance; Project Management; Sales and Marketing and Safety. Candidates do not pass or fail the BAR. The results determine your course of study.

The PREP is the required first step in the process of becoming a Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR). It is a three hour 130 multiple choice question assessment that measures a candidate’s knowledge in five core areas of remodeling business management: Marketing and Sales; Business Administration; Design, Estimating and Job Costing; Contracts, Liability and Risk Management; and, Project Management. Candidates do not pass or fail the PREP. Results determine the course of study for CGR candidates.

Define quality within your company by identifying five essential quality components. Learn to set performance expectations based on this quality foundation. This course outlines a superintendent’s responsibilities regarding codes and provides tips on how to enforce code compliance on the job site.

This course examines the common mistakes made during the interview process and outlines a series of steps to help ensure each subcontractor and/or employee is the right fit for the company. In addition, tips and tools for setting and measuring performance expectations are explored. This course satisfies requirements for the Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS) Designation.

Learn to spot promising characteristics in workers and subcontractors. Offers tips for creating a win/win partnership with internal customers and provides a proven strategy for dealing with conflict. This course satisfies requirements for the Residential Construction Superintendent (RCS) Designation.

The BAR is the required first step in obtaining your Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) designation. This 135 question multiple choice assessment measures your knowledge in the five core areas of building business management: Building Technology; Business and Finance; Project Management; Sales and Marketing and Safety. Candidates do not pass or fail the BAR. The results determine your course of study.

The PREP is the required first step in the process of becoming a Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR). It is a three hour 130 multiple choice question assessment that measures a candidate’s knowledge in five core areas of remodeling business management: Marketing and Sales; Business Administration; Design, Estimating and Job Costing; Contracts, Liability and Risk Management; and, Project Management. Candidates do not pass or fail the PREP. Results determine the course of study for CGR candidates.