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Graduate Master Builder (GMB)
Certified Graduate Builder (CGB)
Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS)
Certified Green Professional (CGP)
Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH)
Graduate Master Builder
Casey S. Butaud of Estate Craft Homes became one of the few professional builders nationwide and one of the small percentage statewide to attain a Graduate Master Builder (GMB) designation, identifying him as one of the building industry’s top professionals. Administered by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) University of Housing, the GMB program is sponsored locally by the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA).
To qualify for the GMB designation, a builder must have the CGB designation, the CGR designation, or the CGA designation with five years of building experience, or ten years of building experience and have completed three CGB/CGR/CGA courses. GMB courses are more advanced with in-depth instruction geared for experienced building professionals. The ultimate symbol of the building professional, the Graduate Master Builder (GMB) designation is for experienced veterans only. All GMB graduates complete and extensive series of courses on business management techniques, and the newest trends and technology in the building industry.
When choosing your custom home builder, be sure to ask if they, like Casey, have earned the highest designation in the industry regarding trends and technology, Graduate Master Builder!
Certified Graduate Builder
Casey S. Butaud is one of the select group of professional builders who have earned the Certified Graduate Builder (CGB) designation, identifying himself as one of the building industry’s top professionals. Only two other builders in Montgomery County, Texas and only 820 builders nationwide have earned this designation.
Administered by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) University of Housing, the CGB program is sponsored locally by the Greater Houston Home Builders Association (GHHBA).
Why Choose a Certified Graduate Builder?
Your home may be the most significant investment you will ever make. Naturally, you want to pick the right builder. One who can reliably accomplish your plan, within your budget and on time. The hardest part is knowing what criteria to use when selecting a builder, and then finding a builder who will do the best overall job. There are no federal requirements for training or licensing, and very few states have such standards. We hope the following information will help make what could be the biggest decision of your life a little easier.
When you hire a Certified Graduate Builder (CGB), you can expect an experienced builder committed to delivering a quality product. Designations like the CGB are voluntarily earned and not required by law. They provide benchmarks of business achievement consumers can use to measure builders.
Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist
Casey S. Butaud is one of the select group of professional builders who have earned the CAPS designation – 106 in Texas and 1,110 in the United States.
What is CAPS?
The Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation program teaches the technical, business management, and customer service skills essential to competing in the fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry – home modifications for the aging in place. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelors Council – in collaboration with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), NAHB Research Center and NAHB Seniors Housing Council – developed this program to provide comprehensive, practical, market-specific information about working with older maturing adults to remodel their homes for aging in place.
What is aging in place? In plain English, aging in place means remaining in one’s home safely, independently and comfortably, regardless of age, income or ability level. It means the pleasure of living in a familiar environment throughout one’s maturing years, and the ability to enjoy the familiar daily rituals and the special events that enrich all our lives. It means the reassurance of being able to call a house a “home” for a lifetime.
Why develop a special designation?
The AARP landmark study Fixing to Stay was a wake-up call to the residential remodeling industry. The results of the study sent two messages loud and clear:
- Americans prefer to remain in their homes as they mature rather than seek assisted living and other arrangements
- Older consumers want a reliable means of identifying professionals they can trust to remodel their homes
Overview of CAPS
The 77 million Baby Boomers that will reach retirement age in the first years of the 21st century are the first wave sweeping this new American demographic tide. The CAPS program has been developed to help home remodeling professionals meet the needs of this burgeoning market. For more information logon to www.nahb.org/caps
Certified Green Professional (CGP)
The National Association of Home Builders’ Certified Green Professional™ designation recognizes builders, remodelers and other industry professionals who incorporate green building principles into homes— without driving up the cost of construction. Classwork leading to the designation provides a solid background in green building methods, as well as the tools to reach consumers, from the organization leading the charge to provide market-driven green building solutions to the home building industry.
The Certified Green Professional (CGP), an exclusive designation offered by the National Association of Home Builders, is designed to teach the building industry professionals strategies for incorporation green building principles into homes using cost-effective and affordable options.
When Estate Craft Homes became a CGP, it gained a greater understanding of sustainable building techniques, knowledge of methods to achieve higher energy efficiency, marketing and sales tools specifically tailored to green building, and the business practices that foster success. Estate Craft Homes will be able to demonstrate to consumers the enhanced environmental impact, increased performance and health benefits of green homes to potential buyers. Earning the CGP shows customers your commitment to staying current with industry innovations-including green building.
The exploding market for sustainable, environmentally friendly building products—along with expanding educational opportunities for builders and remodelers—has accelerated green building y home owners and the building industry. A recent NAHB-Mc Graw Hill Construction Survey indicates that more than 80 recent of the homes in this country—will incorporate green practices into the development, design and construction of new homes in the next two years.
Green building is more than just a checklist. It’s the use of quality building practices that promote sustainability to make a home healthier and more efficient. The CGP provides a solid background in green building methods and the tools to each consumers and to provide market-driven green building solutions to the home building industry.
Earning the CGP designation demonstrates to our Estate Craft Homes clients and peers that we are commitment to the best and latest in green building practices and techniques and that we hold ourselves and our work to the highest standard of professional ethics.
Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH)
The active adult market is the fastest-growing segment of the housing industry today and into the foreseeable future. The Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing designation gives housing professionals serving this rapidly burgeoning market the essential knowledge, tools, and skills that will help them succeed – from conducting initial research to design considerations and features to servicing the customer.
Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH)
Code of Ethics
As a Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing in good standing, I believe in, and accept, the responsibilities and obligations inherent in providing services to the 50+ housing market. Basic to these ethical beliefs, I aspire to abide by and support the following objectives:
- Keep informed regarding 50+ housing best practices and other essential information, which affect 50+ consumers and those of the housing industry as a whole.
- Promote easy living lifestyle design.
- Promote positive living across the lifespan.
- Endeavor to best serve the 50+ housing consumer.
- Conduct my business affairs with professionalism and skill.
- Use practices backed by integrity and service.
- Meet all of my financial obligations in a responsible manner.
- Comply with the spirit and letter of my business contracts, and manage all of my employees, subcontractors and suppliers with fairness and honor.
- Seek to resolve any controversy which I may become involved in through non-litigation dispute resolution mechanism.
- Not to intentionally injure, with malicious intent, either directly or indirectly, the professional reputation, prospects, practice, or employment of others.
As a Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing, I assume the full responsibilities of this Code of Ethics freely, and I am solemnly mindful that these responsibilities are part of my obligation as a Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing.
Many conscientious builders will belong to a local home builders association as well as the National Association of Home Builders, however few builders, such as Casey, will elect to take the initiative to earn their CGB,GMB and CAPS, voluntarily adhering to a higher standard.
When searching for your custom home builder be sure to ask if they, like Casey, have the experience and have earned their industry’s highest professional designation, Certified Graduate Builder (CGB), Graduate Master Builder (GMB) or Certified Aging Placement Specialist (CAPS)!
Program Totals as of June 2007. Totals may vary daily due to continuing education requirements. This information is provided by (NAHB), National Association of Home Builders and is updated monthly. |
