Contractor of the Year

Local New Jersey Awards Program: Contact the Chapter office (973-323-2128) to obtain a binder or attend the chapter meetings. Submit payment prior to obtaining the binder. No payments will be credited or reimbursed.

Entry to the National NARI CotY Awards program is separate from the chapter program. Those deadlines, fees, and rules can be found at www.nari.org. The rules are basically the same, except the entry is uploaded to a special CotY Awards portal via pdfs. These entries are judged by region (NJNARI is in Region 1) and the entry with the highest score is the Regional Winner. The Regional Winner in each category is then judged against the Regional Winners in the other six regions of the country to ascertain the National Winner. Winners are named per category. No Overall National Winner is named. National Categories are different this year from the NJNARI Categories. A video is available online to assist entry to the National CotY Awards.

• Entrants must be NARI members in good standing.
• The NARI member company must have had complete oversight of the project.
• Team Members must be NARI members in good standing. Team members must have participated in the project [electrical, HVAC, masons, flooring installers, etc.]
• Projects must have been completed between December 1, 2018 and November 30, 2020. Completed! A project could have started December 1, 2017 and due to the size of the project, or change orders, etc., it was not completed until December 30, 2018 — it can be entered in the CotY Awards.
• Project costs must include ALL fees. This is defined as: Contract price, all extras, change orders, professional services (including but not limited to design work, architectural and engineering services, etc.) permits and application fees, fair market value of materials and products that were purchased, sweat equity and in-kind services, third-party services, and/or subcontracted work. The cost of all homeowner provided products, services, third-party professional services, or labor should be included in the cost. All markups and profit should be included in the costs provided. For member-owned projects, costs should include normal markups of the project as if the project was contracted to an outside company.
• Only projects never previously submitted to the CotY Awards are eligible
• Client/Contractor and Photographer’s release forms must be completed and returned for each entry. These forms will not be seen by the judges and are the only area where the member’s identity (or anyone involved with the project) can be revealed. Forms are provided in the binder.
• The entry must be submitted in a specific category. Read the category descriptions carefully. All projects must be an improvement or addition to an existing structure EXCEPT where specifically noted in the category description.
• The same project may be entered in one category or in multiple categories with additional fees. If you have a large, multi-area project, and would like to enter just a portion of it, it’s fine to break it down. For example, if your project included the remodel of an entire house, you can enter an Entire House category and enter a Kitchen category, an Interior category, and two Bathroom categories, etc. Keep in mind you will have to break out costs for each project on each entry form.
• A project description must be included explaining: To what degree the expressed needs of the client were met; To what degree the project enhances the existing structures functionally. Also, aesthetically. What evidence of superior craftsmanship is shown? Explanation of innovative materials and/or methods of construction must be included. The judges will base their scoring on these criteria. The judges Scoring Criteria will be included in the binder. Use the criteria to write the project explanation and caption the photos. Each of the 5 criteria is worth 15 points. A total score of 50 must be achieved to be considered as the winner in a category. Categories with multiple entries will name as winner the entry with the highest score, but other entries with a score of 50 will be named meritorious winners. If no entry achieves 50 points, no winner will be named.
• Before and After pictures are required for judging. Drawings and layouts may be submitted to explain the nature of the project and the details accomplished. Photo enhancements are invalid except when related to brightness, contrast or sharpness. No items may be added or removed. Do not place images of shrubbery on exteriors to enhance the look of an exterior remodel, etc. No persons are to be visible in the photos as well as company trucks, etc. as the person or company logo may be known by the judges and may have an impact on the judges.
• 16 Slip sheets are included in the binder. The first one is the title. Behind the title sheet place the contract and photographer release. The next 15 (two-sided) are to be used to describe the project. Use them all if necessary. Do not add any sheets. Caption photos if possible and point out any part of the photo that illustrates an important point, such as opening a wall and finding a problem that must be rectified. Point out craftsmanship, such as turned stiles on a staircase made to match existing ones.
• A memory stick with jpgs of the photos will be submitted to the chapter with the binder. These are for use at the Chapter Evening of Excellence and on the chapter website. Explain to the photographer that these images will be used for marketing the CJNARI Contractor of the Year Awards Program. Attribution to the photographer(s) is not the responsibility of the chapter.
• The CotY Judges reserve the right to disqualify, adjust the category, or deduct points from an entry that does not follow these rules and guidelines, without prior notice. The Executive Director or Committee chair may contact the member company for clarification if a question arises, such as “How did you do this kitchen for under $75,000?” Remember: All Costs — even homeowner supplied materials — must be included in the contract price as submitted for judging. The Contract cost may be different from the Category Contract Price.

• Caption Photos
• Take Before and After photos from the same angle
• Use horizontal and vertical shots when necessary. Crop out unwanted people, company logos, even pets.
• Read the Categories carefully. Remodel/renovation is qualified. New construction is only permitted where the categories state it is.
• Remember to attach a memory stick with photos as jpgs – not pdfs of the pages

• CotY judges will consider the following questions when reviewing the entries. Be sure your presentation addresses these points when applicable. Points will be awarded on a scale of 1-15. Scores will be made available to the entrants after the winners are announced.
• To What Degree Were the Expressed Needs of the Client Met?
  • Did the entry describe the client’s needs and desires?
  • Did the contractor show that those needs were met?
• To What Degree does the Project Enhance the Existing Structure’s Functionality
  • Do the Room(s)”s new floor plans function well?
  • Is the counter space or work area adequate to perform necessary tasks?
  • Is there good traffic flow?
  • Is safety addressed adequately?
  • Are materials functional?
  • Is lighting addressed? Both general and task.
• To What Degree does the Project Enhance the Existing Structure Aesthetically?
  • Line & rhythm, continuity & repetition, texture, color & contrast, symmetry & balance, emphasis
• Is there evidence of superior craftsmanship?
  • Moldings, woodwork, stairs, cabinetry, countertops, tile, glass, marble, metal, stone, masonry, etc.
• Were Innovative uses of Materials and/or Methods of Construction used on the Project?
  • Are innovative uses evident, or were any described and noted?
  • Were difficult obstacles encountered and overcome, or were any described and noted?

Residential Historic Renovation/Restoration will also consider the following:

• Were Original uses of Materials Duplicated on the Project?
• Were Methods of Application used to Improve of Enhance the Original Style of the Structure?