Who do you Trust?

By Ed Stewart

As I pondered the passing and the career of legendary comedian Johnny Carson and all that he brought to the world of laughter, I recalled a TV show he made famous called “Who Do You Trust”?

The TV show aired so many years ago that it has become a trivia question in many circles today. The now famous TV show became a stepping stone for Johnny Carson’s long and illustrious career. As in most humor, there is typically an element of truth involved. When it comes time to maintain, remodel, or build and addition to your home, the all-important primary question for most of us will become “Who do you trust”?

After all, trust is the most basic tenant in any relationship. Especially when someone you just met is asking for thousands of dollars up front; and for work not performed yet.

One of the most contentious topics for the new legislature to consider this year is state licensing for contractors; not surprising, when you consider we are and have been in the midst of the most lucrative remodeling market in this country’s history. All of which increases exponentially the opportunity for those less than diligent homeowners to chose an unscrupulous contractor, creating yet more victims stories and headlines.

Most likely, legislators of the famous Live Free or Die state will succumb or yield to the wishes of a few constituents and endorse or co-sponsor some sort of licensing for contractors, believing they have done what is best for all in the name of the few. Either way, many will be upset at the outcome of their legislators’ voting record as it relates to licensing.

Not much remedy is likely to come from having passed inadequate, toothless legislation. Unstudied, ill-prepared legislation will surely provide newspapers with yet more to write about. It has been suggested the consumer will not likely realize any benefits from new licensing laws. For instance, the fact that currently no statewide building code to work from exists, makes it difficult to create an education and testing system to weed out those that have enough money to pay for a new license from those that have enough knowledge and work experience history to take and pass a written contractor’s exam. Such a building code would go a long way toward separating the ‘wheat from the chaff’, so to speak. In short, any such legislation will surely not address the primary question: who do you trust? If not licensing, then the question of what or how best we could insure a high degree of probable success for the consumer becomes paramount.

Perhaps the Home Builders and Remodelors Association of New Hampshire, in conjunction with its federated counterpart, the National Association of Homebuilders, has the answer. They have for over 15 years offered certified educational courses, creating opportunities for contractors and associated members to achieve certified designations in their respective fields of endeavor.

Given my own 35-plus years of experience, and having been a student of these courses, I can offer firsthand that any homeowner considering hiring an Association graduate would quickly see why those who participate and graduate would easily satisfy the ‘Who do you trust?” question.

Education is the antidote to licensing. To learn more, call the Home Builders and Remodelors Association of New Hampshire office in Concord at 603-228-0351 or visit NAHB.ORG.