According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), construction companies and housing currently contribute 15 – 18 percent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Those statistics and additional housing data are available via the organization’s website, including information about membership, blogs and publications, construction codes, educational opportunities and political advocacy.

The NAHB is a federation of more than 700 state and local associations representing more than 140,000 members. Approximately 33 percent are construction companies in home building and remodeling while the remainder “work in closely related specialties such as sales and marketing, housing finance, and manufacturing and supplying building materials.” Furthermore, NAHB members are responsible for constructing about 80 percent of the new single-family and multifamily homes in the United States each year.

In its own words, the “NAHB produces in-depth economic analyses of the home building industry based on private and government data. Our economics group surveys builders, home buyers, and renters to gain insight into the issues and trends driving the industry.”

NAHB is a member-driven organization with more than 2,200 individuals serving on the board of directors. That group selects senior officers and helps set the association’s ongoing agenda.

This article provides an overview of memberships, events such as the International Builders Show, honors and awards, blogs and publications, educational opportunities, and advocacy.

Types of Membership

The National Association of Home Builders offers four distinct levels of membership to help construction companies worldwide:

• Builders, Associates, and Affiliates
• Builders include small-volume builders, production builders, light commercial builders, and remodelers.
• Associates are represented by organizations that sell supplies such as lumber, windows, or appliances or those offering services such as mortgage finance.
• Global Building Industry Professionals — home builders from more than 50 countries.
• Major National Suppliers — leading building suppliers and service providers
• Student Chapters — a program enriching the educational experience for high school and college students while offering first-hand exposure to the building industry through membership, educational programming, and networking opportunities.

The NAHB International Builders Show

The International Builders Show is the housing industry’s largest annual light construction show in the world.

The 2018 show was attended by 60,000 people from 100 countries. It included 1,500 companies and 583,000 square feet of exhibition space at the tradeshow and 140 seminar sessions in eight separate educational tracks.

The 2019 IBS will be held February 19-21 in Las Vegas.

Honors and Awards

The International Builders Show is also where the NAHB presents a variety of annual awards. Each year, a select group of housing industry professionals are recognized for their individual achievement.

Associate Member Awards include the Associate of the Year (for outstanding contributions to local, state or national associations), the Builders Engaging Associate Members award (for members who make outstanding efforts to do business with other associates), and the One to Watch Award for an “outstanding young professional.”

The NAHB also offers awards such as Educator of the Year (in categories such a Builder/Remodeler, Green Building, and Sales and Marketing) and Designer of the Year in the same categories.

Blogs and Publications

The NAHB publishes three blogs, several e-newsletters and Best in American Living magazine.

In the realm of blogs, Best in American Living covers design and development; Eye on Housing focuses on economics, analysis, surveys and forecasting; and NAHBNow is devoted to industry issues such as advocacy and regulations as well as sales, marketing and business management.

Best in American Living magazine is a “quarterly online publication that showcases the value and importance of good design through the connection between homes and community. It includes the latest information on what sells, including neighborhood, home and interior design, the value of green, best practices and project success stories, and market trends/preferences, as well as the latest policy and regulatory information and research that affect what can be built.”

Education

The National Association of Home Builders has a considerable number of educational offerings such as online courses, IBS On Demand sessions, webinars, and certifications.

For example, the “Advanced High-Performance Building: Project Management” online class includes a full-course option as well as the separate modules “Project Management Processes and Tools” and “Decreasing the Potential for Liabilities Associated with Green and High-Performance Building.”

After taking the full course, participants will be able to:

• Describe how project management processes apply to green builders, remodelers and developers
• Integrate certification to the ICC/ASHRAE 700-2015 National Green Building Standard™ into project management processes
• Use green project management to increase operational efficiency and improve the bottom line
• Identify ways to decrease the potential liabilities associated with green building

The course qualifies for 6.00 LU hours with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIA CES).

Advocacy

The National Association of Home Builders maintains an ongoing advocacy program in the US Congress and beyond.

For 2018, the Bringing Housing Home campaign included In-District Meetings (April 30 – May 5), enabling NAHB members “to conduct in-district meetings with their U.S. representatives and senators. These meetings, especially important during each election year, are key to strengthening relationships with lawmakers and to keep housing issues as a priority in Congress.”

There is also a downloadable “Legislative Priorities Brochure” and a “Legislative Briefing Video” that are intended to help spread the word about key issues among members.

Other Resources for Construction Companies

CrossCheck has over 30 years of experience working with construction companies and building supply dealers in need of check guarantee services.

For example, the Standard Check Guarantee service is a simple, cost-effective solution for mitigating risk while accepting check payments. Home builders receive an approval number from CrossCheck via phone, POS terminal, or its online Merchant Check Center, then deposit the checks in company bank accounts. If a guaranteed check is ever returned from the bank unpaid, companies mail them to CrossCheck for reimbursement in claims processing envelopes.

Download the “Free Insider’s Guide: Standard Check Guarantee” to learn how it can provide secure payment options for your business.