HousingMadeSimple.com
Title
Remodeling, contractor, construction, home additions - Housing Made Simple - Remodel Kitchen, Certified Home Inspectors, FHA Certified, HUD Consultants - Lead Assessment, Water Analysis, Termite, Radon Testing, Roof Certifications, New Home Inspections, Fairfax County, McLean, Chantilly, Falls Church, Loudoun, Leesburg, Prince William, Northern Virginia, VA
Description
Housing Made Simple (HMS) was founded in 1993 as a home inspection company. In 1995, HMS started providing renovation construction consulting services for residential and light commercial construction though a program we created called Renovation-Plus™. The Renovation-Plus™ system mandates that the Housing Made Simple consultant act as a “modified construction manager” whose primary role was to be a “watch dog” on projects in order to protect the investment of the lender. Through our Renovation-Plus™ product, HMS conducted reviews of the project including architectural design, pricing, work scope and specification generation, construction and draw scheduling and dispute mediation. The contractor, or builder, was thoroughly investigated for licensing, insurance, capability, etc. HMS then conducted draw inspections throughout the construction process. As a matter of procedure the Renovation-Plus™ system would release funds only for materials ordered or work completed to customer satisfaction.
In 1995, Ken Crandall head architect for Housing and Urban Development (HUD), wanted to revive the 203(k) program. He knew that the 203(k) concept was a great idea; however he also knew that it needed an overhaul. The loan was not flourishing because of the process. At that time the loan required a HUD employee to review the project. The process then required that a contractor be called in to bid on the job. Because the Renovation Contractor in the United States was, according to HUD “unreliable”, Mr. Crandall knew that the process needed a “facilitator” and “watch dog”. HUD felt that the average contractor is penchant for being untimely and their legendary inability to price jobs fairly or accurately, were the chief reasons why the loan took an average of six months to close. Realtors would not promote the program because they did not want to spend six months working on a project. The lack of a viable process without proper safeguards in place to monitor the construction project was the reason why loan production was quite low.
Coincidently, Housing Made Simple was creating the Renovation-Plus™ program at the same time the 203(k) was being revamped. In our marketing efforts we sent a product outline to the Vice President of Renovation Lending at Fannie Mae, Herb Mosses. Mr. Mosses contacted Housing Made Simple and arranged a meeting with Fannie Mae and HUD. The result was the realization that HUD’s consulting concept and Housing Made Simple’s Renovation-Plus™ program were identical. HUD requested that Housing Made Simple design the feasibility study process and write a consultant training manual and create a consultant training class for Countrywide and Crossland Mortgage companies in order to train consultants nationally. Since that time, Housing Made Simple has trained and certified for HUD one third of the consultants nationwide.
Contact
- Housing Made Simple
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- Fairfax VA
- United States 22031
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- NULL
