Contractor of the Year Awards

Pathway to CotY

Insider Secrets to an Outstanding Submission

The Pathway to CotY newsletter is your go-to resource for insider tips and guidance on creating an outstanding CotY Awards submission. Packed with valuable insights and expert advice, this resource will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to showcase your remodeling projects in the best light. View the newsletters to access the latest issue and unlock the secrets to a winning entry!

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Official CotY Rules-NARI Atlanta

Essential guidelines and regulations for participating in the awards program are detailed here and available to download. Please familiarize yourself with these rules to ensure a smooth and fair competition. Note: The official rules for Regional/National CotY Awards administered by NARI National may differ.

• The entry submission period is July 1, 2023, to September 24, 2023.

download rules

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Eligibility

• Must be a NARI member in good standing to participate.
• New entries only; projects that have been submitted to the Atlanta Chapter competition previously are not allowed.
• 2023 Project completion date range:
  • Atlanta Chapter: 7/1/21 to 9/23/23
  • National: 12/1/21 to 11/30/23 (see FAQs for more info)
• The project must be an improvement or addition to an existing structure (with the exception of Residential Detached Structure).
• Other NARI member companies that worked on the project should be included as Team Members.
• Only projects within the acknowledged Metro-Atlanta area (or within the metro area of the entrant company's business address) are eligible.

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Requirements

• The NARI member who enters must have project oversight authority. This does not apply to the Interior Feature category.
• Project costs must include all fees (designer, subcontractor, project owner, sweat equity, etc.)
• Entry fees are non-refundable, non-transferable, and cannot be carried over to subsequent years.
  • Entry fee: $175
  • Team Member fee: $75
• Each category submission requires a Project Summary, Photos, a Presentation, and Signed Forms.

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The Project Summary

Entrants must provide a Project Summary, 100 words or less, submitted during the online entry process. This is in addition to the presentation file. The same project summary can also be used in the Presentation.

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Before & After Photos

The Presentation uses these images to provide a visual narrative of the project's journey, demonstrate expertise, allow for direct comparison, and serve as tangible evidence of success, leaving a lasting impression on judges.

Before & After photos are not required for the Interior Feature category.

Before and after photos must be uploaded individually in the online entry submission (these are for use in the awards night slideshow and on social and print media).

• The format must be .jpg or .jpeg
• Minimum size 1200x1800 pixels, no larger than 12MB each
• Photo enhancement is limited to brightness, contrast, or sharpness adjustments only. Avoid adding or removing items or making any alterations that may impact the project's perceived value.
• Photos cannot contain anything that could identify the entrant company, homeowner/client, etc. (This includes but is not limited to: faces, logos, yard signs, etc.)
• Minimum of 10 images is required on upload (up to 20 images). If the minimum is not reached, repeat one of the images to meet the upload requirements.

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Presentation

The judges will only review the Presentation file that you upload. It is strictly prohibited to include any NARI member's or project owner's company name, logo, individuals, or any other identifiable information in the Presentation, images, or filenames.

A separate entry and Presentation file is required for each category if a large project, like an Entire House, is entered into multiple categories. Each Presentation should accurately reflect the cost associated with that specific category.

• File Format
  • The file must be submitted in PDF format.
  • Up to 30 pages and a maximum file size of 20MB
• Content
  • A category title page can include the Project Summary.
  • A Project Summary that summarizes the project in 100 words or less.
  • Drawings/floor plans with concise captions to show before/after; not required to be scaled.
  • Before & After Photos with concise captions for each.

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Signed Forms

When submitting your entry, including the required signed forms is essential to ensure a complete and valid submission. 

• Project Owner Agreement
• Photographer's Release

download pdf forms

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File Naming

Including any NARI member's company, project owner's name, individual’s name, or any other identifiable information in the submitted filenames is strictly prohibited.

Feel free to use the suggested file naming instructions below:

1. Start with the entry category abbreviation: Begin the file name with a shortened abbreviation representing the specific entry category. (e.g., KIT for Residential Kitchen, COM for Commercial, LAN for Landscape Design)
2. Specify the file content: Provide a brief but clear description of the file content to identify its purpose easily. Use underscores (_) to separate words. (e.g., BeforePhoto, AfterPhoto, Presentation, ProjOwner, Photog)
3. Indicate the file format: Include the file format extension to denote the file type. Use standard file extensions such as .jpg or .pdf.

Example: KIT_Presentation.PDF, KIT_BeforePhoto1.jpg

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CotY Award Categories

In 2023, a task force of NARI members from across the country came together to focus on the Contractor of the Year (CotY) Awards program. Among several goals, the group explored ways to refresh the list of CotY categories. Some changes include updating the price ranges for the Kitchen, Bath, and Residential Addition categories, and eliminating others such as the Green categories. Please note that price ranges in some categories in the Atlanta CotY Awards competition may differ slightly from the National competition.

download award categories list

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What is the CotY judging process?

This is the judging process for the Atlanta Chapter CotY Awards competition. The judging process for Regional/National CotY Awards administered by NARI National may differ. Only active NARI Members are eligible to serve as judges, and they cannot judge entries from their Chapter.

• NARI Atlanta staff provides judges access to the Presentation entries and exclusively manages communication with the judges.
• A minimum of 3 judges review each entry, and the same panel reviews all entries within a category.
• The judges' scores are tallied, and the winning entry is determined based on the highest average score. There is no winner if the highest average score does not meet the minimum required score for the category.
• Categories with only one entry are judged using the same process.
• The judging period for the 2023 competition is scheduled from September 25, 2023, to October 13, 2023.

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FAQs

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