May is National Home Remodeling Month. The Builders League of South Jersey has compiled a list of resources, tips and guides to help residents in southern New Jersey make the most of their home improvement projects. The League is also developing a Home Remodeling Guides with a list of resources for various types of remodeling projects. Click here to find more information on the following:

• How to Hire a Remodelers
• Press release - Check Credentials When Hiring A Professional Remodeler
• Home Remodeling Etiquette
• Selecting and Designing a Home Remodeling Project
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Remodeling Dos and Don't
• Aging In Place information
• Green Remodeling Fact Sheet

Green ordinances present new building standards and unique opportunities

The recent passage of green legislation and numerous local green building ordinances is not a trend. These changes reflects society’s adaptation to a changing environmental, economic and political landscape. As the economy begins to improve, the development community can expect to see more comprehensive and demanding green requirements.

Click here to download the latest white paper by Henry T. Chou, Esq., of Hill Wallack, LLP explaining the three types of green ordinances being introduced in New Jersey. 

Henry T. Chou is a partner of Hill Wallack, LLP. He concentrates his practice in the land development application and permitting process and in the litigation of land use matters. He has represented developers, public entities, property owners and non-profit organizations in a wide variety of environmental, redevelopment and construction matters involving residential, commercial, industrial and public projects. He is a regular contributor to the New Jersey Land Use Law blog.

Home Improvements Lecture series offered free to South Jersey homeowners

CHERRY HILL, N.J. March 21, 2011 – As warmer weather approaches and homeowners begin making plans for their home maintenance and improvement projects, the Builders League of South Jersey Remodelers Council is cautioning the public to conduct the necessary background checks on any contractors they hire to work on their homes.

The Builders League Remodelers Council is offering a Home Improvements Lecture series free to any neighborhood or community group or municipality in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.  The hour-long lecture will review the New Jersey Home Improvement Contractors Registration Act, how to search for a remodeler, what to look for, references, evaluating your remodeler choices, reviewing the contract and how to be a good neighbor during a remodeling project.

“People work their whole lives to own a decent home that they’re proud to come home to. Yet, it is so frustrating to us when we hear story after story about owners who have been taken by contractors that either didn’t do the job properly or weren’t professional in their business practices,” said Remodelers Council President Bill Cappuccio of MarJam Supply. “Often times these complaints are against companies that aren’t even registered as a Home Improvement Contractor. The homeowners didn’t know how to do the necessary background checks. They didn’t know what to ask. That’s frustrating to professional contractors, too.”

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Homeowners, Got Questions?

The New Jersey Builders Association has launched a blog to answer your toughest questions on home building, remodeling, design, green energy, permitting and legislation. Just e-mail association officials your question and they will ask experts within the membership to answer your question and post it to the blog. Where else can you get this much free professional advice for your home?

The blog includes categories in interior home design, do-it-yourself (DYI) projects, legislation, building permits and green energy. There are a few rules to the blog that are worth checking out first.

Ask.NJBA.org is a service provided by the members of the New Jersey Builders Association. The New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA) is the leading trade association for the construction industry. Members include residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, subcontractors, suppliers, engineers, architects, consultants and other professionals. NJBA serves as a resource for its members through continuing education and advocacy. NJBA and its members strive for a more vibrant, greener, and affordable housing market in New Jersey. Additional information is available at http://ask.njba.org 

Spring Into Action - Now that the cold and snow drifts are beginning to melt away, it's time to get your house in tip-top shape

SJ Magazine features the top spring home maintenance tips of 2011 with Builders League of South Jersey Remodelers Council President Bill Cappuccio of MarJam Supply. Read the whole story here.

Builders League of South Jersey Scholarship Foundation

Since 1999, the Builders League of South Jersey has offered educational scholarships to students from southern New Jersey to pursue careers in fields related to real estate, construction and home building.  The scholarship application process opens each year in February and the deadline is typically the first week of April. Winners are announced each May.  To view our privacy policy here. To learn more about the Builders League of South Jersey Scholarship Foundation, click here.