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BRCE 101 - The Ethical Difference: Developing a Strong Home Professional Business through Ethical Practice

Knowledge of ethical business practice is a requirement for most professions and is often included as a requirement for programs of continuing education. In the home building industry, home professionals such as builders and remodelers are often required at least one ethics credit as criteria for maintaining a satisfactory professional status in many states. However, ethical business practices also can help the home professional to build a more reputable and profitable business. This course will guide you through the principles of ethical business practice in the home building industry while also helping you realize the potential of ethical practice in growing a profitable enterprise.

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BRCE 102 - Swimming in Calm Waters: Effective strategies for residential warranties and risk management

No one would intentionally put their life at risk by swimming in waters known to be dangerous. Most often, those that do so simply swim without knowledge of the dangers hidden under the surface. Likewise, most residential builders wish to avoid risky projects; but often find that due to a lack of knowledge find they have more risk exposure than desired. This course will yield a firm understanding of a builder’s responsibilities to the consumer by providing effective strategies for dealing with residential warranties and managing business risk.

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BRCE 103 - The Level Playing Field: Understanding performance standards and building code compliance in residential construction.

When a potential home owner decides to build a new home, they are excited about the prospect of a home that is built to their expectations. However, these expectation are often unspoken and can be a source of misunderstandings between the home owner and the builder. Part of the responsibility of a professional home builder is to educate the home owner about quality standards, determine expectations and then ensure that those standards and expectations are met by everyone working on the project. Residential building standards were developed as a method of communicating to all parties involved the minimum acceptable performance required in all aspects of the building process. Use of standards along with applicable building codes can also help clarify the expectations of both the home owner and the builder so misunderstandings may be avoided. This course will review standards as outlined in the 2006 edition of the International Residence Code and provide builders with strategies for improving both quality and customer satisfaction with every residential project.

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BRCE 104 - This Side of the Fence: Principles of “green” home construction

It could be argued that since the beginning of history, mankind has worked to control its environment. Home building itself is a way of potential home owners to have a controlled, predictable environment in which to live and prosper. As such, it is impossible to build a home without effecting the environment. However, there are methods that can be employed to minimize negative environmental effects during the design, construction and ongoing management of a new home. This course will provide a solid foundation in the principles of ecologically friendly “green” construction and help designers, builders and home owners utilie the principles in the most effective and cost efficient manner possible.

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BRCE 105 - More than Builder: Expanding the role of home builder to that of community leader

Many of those who enter the home building profession do so from their love of building something of beauty that is both pleasing to the eye and functional. However, as a builder’s business develops a builder often finds that the very visible nature of new home construction provides opportunities of service beyond that of managing the business. By becoming a community advocate, the builder will not only have the opportunity to increase the potential of their business, but also improve the quality of life for those in the communities where they build. This course presents key principles of leadership and how leadership is more than management. With this course, builders will be prepared to expand the vision of their business beyond that of builder of quality homes to that of community leader.