26 - Friday, July 17, 1987 - North Shore News PROFESSIONALISM PROMOTED Renovators council formed THE GREATER Vancouver Home Builders’ Association (GVHBA) has established a Renovators’ Council to promote professionalism in the residential renovation market. The GVHBA program is modelled after similar programs established in various Canadian cities, star- ting with Victoria Iwo years igo. The program was set up partly in light of a recent survey of consumers that rated home improvements to be the most difficult product or service to buy. The survey was quoted by George Anderson, head of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the federal government’s housing agency, ut a national conference on renovation held in Toronto. “Can it be that the (renovation) industry is not held in high regard?"’ asks Anderson, who agrees that the bad reputation is the result of only a few unscrupulous, or just incompetent, contractors. ‘‘Fair or not, almost everyone has heard about a neighbor or friend who has been stung by a Ny-by-night or ir- responsible repaic firm.”* . According to Ken Sawatsky, chairman of the renovation program for the GVHBA, the program’s first task will be to inform the public that there is an association of reputable and reliable contractors that stand behind their work. Members of the GVHBA, both builders and renovators, are bound by a code of ethics designed to protect the consumer and the association itself from unscrupulous business practices and sub-standard construction. SURREY m 14625-108th AVE. M4 blks. north of Guildford m Phone 585-8877 NORTH VANCOUVER 1400 MARINE DRIVE 984-0341 Sawatsky, who is president of Kenorah Construc- tion, a Vancouver construction company that deals in both new construction and renovation, suggests that one of the most important aspects of being a reliable renovation contractor is good business practices. “Sometimes all that a customer wants is for a con- tractor to keep his promises. Start dates, completion dates and final cost are very important to homeown- ers. “The program is designed to benefit not only con- sumers, who want access to good, reliable renovation contractors and trades, but also the contractors themselves. Some of them are tired of being cast in the same shadow as some less-reputable companies. Through membership in the association, reputable contractors can show customers that they care about the industry’s reputation. It’s a good selling point.”’ The GVHBA is part of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), a national organiza- tion representing the residential construction industry. The CHBA participates in changes to building regula- tions, government housing programs, and generally influences the direction of Canadian housing: its members are builders, suppliers, trades, design pro- fessionals, manufacturers, and consultants across the country. Nationally, the home renovation industry has grown steadily for the past several decades, now out- pacing expenditures on new residential construction. Total reported expenditures in 1968 were $876 million, while spending last year totalled $11 billion. Applies to all Fixtures at Regular Retail Prices BURNABY 4700 E. HASTINGS Cnr. of Hastings & Beta Phone 294-5256 natural or dark finish. (We now have ‘wash white finish for $219) 199