Star Awards Intro

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Home / Star Awards Introduction

What does it take to be a STAR Award Winner?

By Karen Rhodes

The evening of March 14, 2006, was a veritable red-carpet display of local remodeling talent, as the Remodelors Council of the Home Builders Association of Raleigh?Wake County (HBARWC) presented its annual STAR Awards Gala.

What did it take for these remodeling projects to be designated for the STAR Awards The award name, STAR, is an acronym for Showcasing Triangle Achievements in Remodeling, and the companies and individuals nominated for and receiving these awards are indeed local luminaries in the remodeling world. The Raleigh and Durham projects highlighted during this year?s presentation exemplify excellence and stand out as high-quality accomplishments worthy of honor.

The Remodelors Council is a council of the HBARWC and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelors Council. It is divided into two groups: Professional Remodelors and Associates. The former group is made up of contractors licensed by the State of North Carolina and meeting stringent guidelines for carrying insurance and financial stability. In addition, members of this group have pledged to abide by the NAHB Remodelors Council Code of Ethics.

The mission of the Remodelors Council is to promote professionalism in the remodeling industry. In addition, the Professional Remodelor designation gives home owners, or others seeking a qualified remodelor, a place to start in the search for a professional who can lead a successful project. The HBARWC?s Web site, www.hbawake.com, lists its members by local area and specialty; further information can be obtained from the HBARWC by calling (919) 233-2033.

Membership in the Remodelors Council is open to any HBARWC Builder member in good standing who is engaged in remodeling and rehabilitation of residential and/or commercial property; who has been engaged in remodeling for at least the last two years; who has worked on a minimum of six projects during the past two years; who has a good credit record with vendors, subcontractors and lending institutions; who has supplied proof of worker's compensation and general liability coverage; who pays the annual membership fee; who participates in council meetings; and who has the endorsement of at least one member of the council in good standing.

This year's Remodelors Council STAR Awards were chosen from 58 entries spanning 23 different categories. A new change in award structure allowed for more equitable distribution of the awards this year, with many categories divided according to the cost of the projects. These included the awards for best kitchen, bathroom, room addition, room renovation, whole-house renovation, attic/basement, deck/gazebo/porch, sunroom, facelift, and select interior remodel. Two categories received gold and silver honors. And a new category this year was "Best Commercial Project."

Three special awards were given this year as well. The Best Customer Satisfaction award went to Peggy and Dave Mackowski of Quality Design & Construction, Inc. Tony Lombardo of HomePro Builders took home the award for Remodelors Council Remodeler of the Year. The Remodelors Council Associate of the Year was Angela Sutton of Byrd Tile.

This year's corporate sponsor for the event was Stock Building Supply; platinum sponsors were Ferguson, Floorspec and The News & Observer.