UNDERSTANDING HOUSING MARKETS & CONSUMERS (IRM I)

Date: Wednesday & Thursday,
October 13 & 14, 2010
Place: TBA
Time: 8:00AM to 4:00PM
Instructor: Hal Von Nessen
Fee: Members $310 /
Non-Members $330
(includes both days)
Designation Credits:CMP, MIRM
Continuing Education Credits: CAPS, CGA, CGB, CGR, GMB, CSP, CMP, MIRM

Earn 16 MB credits

Learn how to find the information that's critical to your business. You'll gain knowledge of the demographic, economic and psychographic factors that affect housing supply and demand. You'll also learn to employ a model that projects opportunities for specific local markets. As a graduate of this course, you will be able to:

  • Affirm the importance of market research to new home sales marketing and sales programs
  • Recognize the essential elements of market research
  • Use an absorption model to predict potential new housing demand and absorption rates in a defined target market area

MINIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS – 10

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS & LAW

Date: Wednesday,
November 17, 2010
Place: TBA
Time: 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Instructor: Christine Fortenberry
Fee: Members $225 /
Non-Members $250
Designation Credits: CGA, CGB, CGR
Continuing Education Credits: CAPS, CGA, CGB, CGR, GMB, CSP, Master CSP, CMP, MIRM

Earn 8 MB credits

Protect your business against legal problems with well-written contracts. Many construction or remodeling companies are too small to hire full-time legal staff so it's important to understand basic contract law. This course provides a step-by-step explanation of how contracts sustain positive customer and supplier relations, provide for resolution of disputes, and minimize the risk of litigation. You will learn about mandatory and optional provisions, warranties, and arbitration procedures. Special emphasis is given to troubleshooting contracts for unfavorable positions.

As a graduate of this course, you will be able to:
• Identify the basic elements of a contract
• Identify the benefits and advantages of written contracts
• Define the guiding principles of contract interpretation
• Define and distinguish between the different elements of a sales agreement
• Identify the risks of building on the customer’s lot
• Recognize the differences between construction contracts and sales agreements
• Recognize the importance of a mechanic’s lien contract
• Identify some of the risks associated with modifying an existing structure on the customer’s lot
• Identify the rights and responsibilities of Contractor and Owner during construction
• Identify differences between remodeling and other residential construction contracts
• Describe the differences between an express and implied warranty
• Describe the benefits of written warranties
• Understand the importance of identifying independent standards for construction
• Describe the steps in a typical warranty claim process
• Identify general requirements of a subcontractor agreement
• Be aware of special causes and explain when to use each one (conduit, paid if paid, and dragnet clauses)
• Establish criteria for hiring a construction lawyer
• Discover resources for construction law
• Recognize the advantages and disadvantages to: negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation