Process

Research & Preliminary Planning:

Exploring the internet for your likes and dislikes is an easy way to begin homing in on a look and feel you’re drawn to. It’s a good time to pin down those non-negotiables in your plan, and really get specific about your project. For example, will remodeling your kitchen really mean replacing the floors in your kitchen and dining area? This step is often overlooked early on in the process, but becomes really important in terms of setting realistic budget expectations from the beginning.

We know that good communication is the number one way to achieve a successful project and happy customers, so from the first phone call we will be asking lots of questions to learn how we can serve you best. Be sure to take a look at our Services page to be sure we can help with the project you have in mind, then read below to get a sense of what we’ll cover when we talk.

When you’re ready, reach out to tell us a little bit about your project and get the conversation started. You’ll get a response within 24 hours, and we’ll schedule this first phone call.

Exploratory Call:

This first phone call typically takes 15-20 minutes. We’ll talk about your project including both your wants and needs. We’ll also get an understanding of the type of contractor you’re looking to hire. We understand that we’re not always the right fit for everyone and each project. Let’s talk about it and find out together.

Key questions we’ll ask:

• Where is your home located and what year was it built?
• How long do you plan to stay?
• What project are you looking to complete?
  We want to make sure we are the right fit for you, so this question is important. For answers to common questions about how we run your project, please check out our FAQs.
• Why do you want to do this project?
  We love partnering with our clients to help create a home they love, so tell us the deep reason as to why you are ready to make such a significant investment in your home.
• When are you looking to have the project completed?
  Do you have a deadline? Whether it is a graduation party, or a baby on the way, let us know if you have a date in mind so we can go over how long your project design, permits and build-out may take.
• How much are you looking to invest?
  Setting the right budget is the most important part of any project. Without the numbers lining up, the project is over before it begins. Let’s talk about what you are looking to spend. If your budget is realistic, we can help come up with ideas that will provide the best value for your investment.
  At the end of our conversation we will determine if it makes sense to set up an appointment for an initial walk-through. If it doesn’t seem like we are the right fit for your project, we’ll both know sooner rather than later.

In-person Visit/Initial Walk-through:

We come to your home to get to know each other better and learn more about your vision for the project. During this visit we’ll meet for 30 – 60 minutes to:

• Talk about the big picture – your desired outcomes and non-negotiables for the project,
• Review your  inspiration images or sketches, and
• Assess general feasibility of your ideal budget range.

We’ll also

• Tell you more about us,
• Answer any questions and address any concerns you may have, and
• Walk through the construction process.

Next steps: If we’re in agreement that we’re a good fit for your project, we’ll arrange to come back to carefully inspect, measure, photograph and document the existing space. A design concept and conceptual drawings will be developed based on your target budget and information gathered during these initial visits.

Discovery Meeting:

We’ll present you with a design concept and conceptual drawings developed as a result of our first meeting.
The purpose of the Discovery Meeting is to:

• Review possible material selections and preliminary sketches,
• Review a preliminary scope of work,
• Provide a refined estimated budget/budget range. (For some projects, we’ll create a Good-Better-Best estimate so you can get an idea of how design ideas and selection choices can affect the final price), and
• Execute a Design Agreement if preliminary scope and investment range are agreed. (The fee for the Design Agreement is typically 2-5% of the preliminary estimate.)

Once the Design Agreement is signed and retainer is paid, we start the design & selections phase. We’ll set up a time to meet with you to review:

Schematic Design Ideas: We will create a few “rough drafts” of possible design solutions for you to view with us. In this phase we will narrow down the ideas you like best, and home in on a final design. Once you love the final design we move right into the selections phase.

Interior Material Selections: Now that you have essentially viewed and approved the overall design/layout of your project (the big picture design), we will start selecting all of the fine details and finishes your project will need. These include things like cabinets, counters, flooring, plumbing fixtures, tile, paint colors, etc. All of your decisions are made before the construction portion starts, making for more accurate pricing and a smoother process for you in the long run.

Estimating & Documentation: While you’re making selections, we’ll also be finalizing all of the important construction details, so that we can have a fully completed set of construction documents ready to go. This will include any additional job site visits, adding dimensions to drawings, creating wall sections, adding important notes and (if necessary) having any engineering work evaluated for code compliance.

Construction Agreement: Now that all of the details and associated costs for your project have been figured out and your selections have been finalized, we will prepare a “Construction Agreement”. This is the contract that outlines the scope of work, the schedule, and the payment terms.

Permit(s): You’ll need to prepare and submit any necessary permit applications to the appropriate building department. We can also do this step for you, if you’d prefer. Getting permit approval can take anywhere from two weeks to two months, depending on where you live. After your permit is approved, we schedule and start your project.

Pre-Construction Meeting: Prior to showing up for the start of the project, we will schedule a “Pre-Construction Meeting” where we review all of the details about your project, and make sure we are all still on the same page. This meeting includes everything from parking and dumpster location to accommodating pets. We will go over any questions you may have about the project schedule.

Construction: During this phase all demolition, new installation, and construction work will be completed. Our knowledgeable construction team is responsible for meeting the building schedule, ensuring quality and cost control, coordinating all site work, cleaning up the work site, answering your questions, and addressing any new ideas you may have. If changes occur or additional work is necessary, we’ll prepare a detailed addendum with costs and increased scheduling (if applicable) for your review prior to any changes occurring.

Final Walkthrough – we made it!

At substantial completion, we’ll meet with you to walk through the project, determine any punch list items to be addressed and discuss the final schedule for completion. We encourage our customers to call us with any questions or concerns following the completion of their remodeling project. We will be responsive, take care of any issues promptly, and we always stand behind our work. Our goal is to build a long-term relationship with each customer and grow our business on client referrals.