Introduction:

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is the premiere association for kitchen and bath professionals. Nearly 50 years after its inception, the Association now has a membership of over 40,000 members. NARI is the proud owner of the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), the world’s largest trade show dedicated to the kitchen and bath industry. NKBA Education is provided across North America. More than 200 professional development courses are held annually. The NKBA offers a free Kitchen and Bath Consumer Workbook to help educate clients on remodels they are planning to undertake. The Association serves as a content advisor and information source for magazines, newspapers, radio shows and television programs.

The demand to create ecologically responsible and healthy kitchens and baths that don’t sacrifice style or comfort has reached the mainstream and is spreading to all segments of the industry. The NKBA is committed to helping fellow kitchen and bath professionals understand their options for creating more energy-efficient living spaces. As industry professionals, our responsibility is to use products that are environmentally responsible and share with our customers the importance of sustainability in their kitchen and bath projects.

Standards of Conduct have been adopted to promote and maintain the highest standards of business conduct and professional service among the members of the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

Adherence to these Standards of Conduct is required for membership in the association and serves to assure public confidence in the integrity and service of members of the NKBA:

• Conduct all work and business affairs with fairness to all concerned, fidelity to clients and suppliers, and devotion to high ideals of personal honor
• Accept compensation for a particular service or in particular business dealings from one source only, except with the full knowledge and consent of all interested persons
• Make no false or misleading statements to the public, to employers, to employees, or to those with whom we maintain business relationships
• Disclose all interest charges, carrying charges, and fees, and to uphold all laws and regulations pertaining to the business and professional activity
• Assist the client in understanding and obtaining the full measure of the services and rights expressed or implied in contracts, agreements, or warranties
• Conduct all business activity without prejudice as to age, race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, handicap, or veteran status;
• Refrain from using unfair means to win professional advancement by disseminating any malicious information concerning any person or firm, or using improper or questionable methods of soliciting professional work or sales
• Cooperate in advancing the kitchen and bath industry by voluntarily exchanging information and experience with fellow members and by contributing to the work of educational groups, schools, and public and trade press, without disclosing confidential matters.

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Introduction:

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry is the nation’s only not-for-profit trade association dedicated exclusively to the professional remodeling industry. NARI promotes ethical and sound business practices for the benefit of the industry and America’s homeowners. Their core purpose is to advance and promote the remodeling industry’s professionalism, product, and vital public purpose.

NARI’s member follows a Code of Ethics. Each member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry is pledged to observe high standards of honesty, integrity and responsibility in the conduct of business by:

• Promoting in good faith only those products and services which are known to be functionally and economically sound, and which are known to be consistent with objective standards of health and safety.
• Making all advertising and sales promotion factually accurate, avoiding those practices which tend to mislead or deceive the customer.
• Writing all contracts and warranties such that they comply with federal, state, and local laws.
• Promptly acknowledging and taking appropriate action on all customer complaints.
• Refraining from any act intended to restrain trade or suppress competition.
• Attaining and retaining insurance as required by federal, state, and local authorities.
• Attaining and retaining licensing and/or registration as required by federal, state, and local authorities.

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HomeTech Renovations recently became a part of an organization known by the name of soles 4 souls. This non-profit organization collects ‘gently worn’ shoes and distributes them to people in need all over the world. Below is a small excerpt from the website telling the story of this organization: 

“In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls® Inc., felt compelled to do something. Like many of us, he did not know what to do. He was at home one night, watching TV and he saw a picture of a single shoe washing up on the beach. That triggered a few calls to some other executives in the footwear industry and the subsequent donation of a quarter of a million shoes to victims in the devastated countries.

A year later when Katrina hit, Wayne called the same group of friends, and they sent over a million pairs of shoes down to the gulf coast communities affected by the hurricane. In all honesty, he admits that he did not expect such an immediate and successful turnout. This left him wondering, why not start a non-profit and do this all the time? One year later, Soles4Souls was formally created.

Soles4Souls receives large donations from footwear companies, retailers, churches, nonprofit ministries, civic groups, schools, and individuals and saw that this could become a full time organization. That’s why Soles4Souls was created – to facilitate the donations from these groups to the people who desperately need footwear.”

To learn more about this organization and how to participate visit their website: Soles4Souls

Any remodel project whether big or small is an investment that should be well planned to meet your expectations when completed. When deciding on a long term investment such as a kitchen or bath renovation; there are generally 2 BIG questions: Will I get pleasure and enjoyment from the investment? Will it increase the value of my home? The answer should be YES!

Homes increase in value when rooms are updated, especially kitchens and baths. The proper improvement will increase the desirability of your home compared to others in your neighborhood. This aspect is very important if and when you go to sell your home in the future.

In the early 1900’s people did not live a fast paced, hectic lifestyle nor did they celebrate holiday’s as we do today. Early kitchens were segregated from entertaining spaces and would never have been thought of as a space in which to welcome guests. Traditionally kitchens were utilitarian; a wall hung sink, a basic free standing range, and an old ice box were the norm. Bathrooms were not much different with hot water being a real luxury. As time passed a shift within the home happened. People were met with stresses and challenges they hadn’t faced before; they needed an escape. Their escape became their home. House’s started to de designed and constructed differently. Interior spaces were enlarged and reconfigured.  As household income increased and life’s pace quickened, interiors including kitchen and bath space further evolved to compliment new lifestyles.

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