It’s Not Too Late: Register for RenoMark® Today

The RenoMark® program serves to connect homeowners to professional renovators and contractors who are committed to quality workmanship and customer satisfaction. The online verification system makes it easy for Renovators and Trade Contractors to provide the necessary information and documentation needed to comply with the RenoMark Code of Conduct. Online verification is a simple 3-step process that should take less than 5 minutes with the proper documentation at hand. Once complete, RenoMark members will receive immediate access to a full suite of marketing materials to promote their designation. Visit www.chba.ca/renomarkverify to register today! 

CHBA Advocating for Policies to Support Renovation Activity

CHBA’s big win on 30-year amortization periods for insured mortgages for first-time buyers of existing homes (in addition to new construction) is a big win for renovators, given the extensive renovation market that comes with preparing to sell a home, and the even bigger renovation market associated with buyers of existing homes. And more first-time buyers of existing homes will also mean more move-up buyers in the market. Getting more buyers into the market leads directly to more business for renovators.

This is particularly important since building permit and construction cost data for the first half of 2024 show that renovation activity continued to decline, despite renewed interest from multi-unit homeowners. While a record high $37.7 billion was spent on residential renovation in the first six months of the year, this was primarily driven by multi-unit renovations in Quebec. In reality, a combination of still-rising construction costs, high interest rates, and the relatively higher price of renovating condos and apartments compared to single-family has a profound impact on the industry’s actual output. Second quarter 2024 GDP for residential renovations, which measures the volume of work put in place by using statistics to remove price growth, fell to $50.8 billion valued in 2017 dollars. This level of GDP output was last seen in 2013 and is 18% below where industry output would be if it had followed growth trends from the past decade instead of the pandemic-driven swing in renovation activity. CHBA is using this data to advocate for government policies that create a renovation supportive environment, which is critical for the upkeep of Canada’s housing stock and retrofitting existing homes to support Canada’s goal of a low-carbon future.

COMING SOON: Call for Renovation Entries in the CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence          

It’s not too soon to be planning your awards entry, as the 2025 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence will open for entries in October. The competition recognizes the best in renovations in 12 categories: Best Kitchen Renovation (x3), Best Bathroom Renovation, Best Basement Renovation, Best Exterior Renovation, Best Single Room Renovation, and Best Whole Home Renovation (x5). Those who are looking to get a jump on preparing their entries can look at last year’s entry forms for reference here. All members will be notified when the entry period opens. If you have someone on your staff you’d like added to our contact list, please email us their name and email address.

Learn More About Net Zero and Net Zero Ready Renovations 

The CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program is all about Energy! Net Zero Homes produce as much energy as they consume annually by using onsite renewables. A Net Zero Ready Home has achieved the same standards as Net Zero, but without the renewable energy component.  Renovation to Net Zero is often more challenging than new builds as many characteristics of the home have already been decided such as orientation, claddings, windows, and airtightness. Net Zero may sound futuristic, but it is not only achievable, its necessary. Canada has committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. But the country won’t be able to get there without significant energy efficiency improvements to Canada’s existing homes. Check out CHBA’s blog on Net Zero Renovations here.

Training to Elevate Your Business 

Home renovation is more than just a craft; it’s a business. The ability to effectively manage and grow a renovation business involves understanding various business principles and practices. For those looking to elevate their renovation business, specialized training courses can provide a significant advantage.  Luckily, there are a number of high-quality training opportunities that adhere to CHBA National Education Benchmarks for Renovators. The first step is to check in with your local and/or provincial HBA to see if they offer any upcoming courses. Looking for more? Check out the latest issue of CHBA’s Building Excellence magazine here (page 22).

Adaptiv Home Renovation VIRTUAL Course  

NOVEMBER 19-20, 2024 | ONLINE 
The Adaptiv Home Renovation Course provides knowledge and tools for professional renovators to better support Canadians who wish to live at home for as long as they can. The course includes an overview of the Adaptiv Home market, including specific design approaches and business opportunities. Renovators will learn about ramps and slopes, zero-step thresholds, curbless showers, accessibility equipment and home automation solutions. Don’t wait, register today!