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.

Graduate Master Builder

Casey S. Butaud of Estate Craft Homes became one of the more than 600 professional builders nationwide and only more than 250 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 Aging Placement 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:

1. Americans prefer to remain in their homes as they mature rather than seek assisted living and other arrangements
2. 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

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)!