+ I’ve heard that you’re more expensive than other companies in the area. Why is that?

We have a reputation for 2 things: being more expensive, and for high quality work that is done right the first time.

We disagree with the first assessment and agree with the second. We get things right the first time because we have a defined process that discovers what a project actually entails and will actually cost, and that number is often higher than what others quote who haven’t done their homework.

What that process does for you is eliminate the crazy stress of a project coming in over budget, last minute decisions being requested or required because of a disorganized contractor, or quality tanking and corners being cut because the contractor is pressured by the completely inaccurate number they gave.

As a homeowner in this situation, you wonder “Why is my contractor stressed, why is this taking longer than it should, why am I getting a bill for 30 - 40 - 50% more than I was quoted?”

That all goes back to the fact that most contractors have no process and do not take the time to accurately and realistically estimate the scope and requirements of the job upfront.

All of that makes us look more expensive up front, but we often end up costing the same or less than other companies in our area. And that's without the lost time and stress you get when another contractor comes in, hacks the job, and then you need to pay someone else to come in and fix it.

Everything in our company is set up to provide certainty upfront about what to expect, what your home will look like, and what it will cost.

Because we use a Fixed Bid pricing model, you get a guaranteed all-inclusive final price for your project before work is started. Our pre-construction design process gives you layouts and 3D models of your space with selections you choose. Hiring us comes with a level of service, craftsmanship, and clarity of expectations that most contractors can’t provide.

To learn more about why we used a fixed price model, read our blog article “Comparing Contractor Pricing Models.”

+ Why don’t you charge an hourly rate for your workers?

We used to do this and have seen it fail for both the client and us too many times.

The typical pitfall with hourly billing comes when neither you or the contractor are able to keep up with all the costs, and both get “surprised” at the end of the job. In the worst case scenario, contractors using this model are not motivated to complete the job quickly or efficiently, because they’re getting paid for any extra hours their employees and subcontractors spend on the job.

Providing a fixed-price contract puts the burden on us to do our homework ahead of time and gives you certainty in what you are getting.

To learn more about why we used a fixed price model, read our blog article “Comparing Contractor Pricing Models.”

+ My last contractor gave me a low estimate and then ruined my budget with a surprise bill at the end of the job. Am I going to have to deal with surprises down the line?

Because our contracts are fixed-price, we give you one all-inclusive price for your job. If the project costs us more than we expected, we cover the overage ourselves. You will never pay more than you agreed to for the scope of work in your contract.

We have a defined change order process so you're never hit with unexpected charges at the end of a project.

If something unexpected comes up, we stop work and communicate with you immediately with plans to correct the issue. We then request signed permission to proceed. We will never do any work on your home that you do not sign off on.

To learn more about our construction process, read our "Approach to Remodeling" page.

+ What if costs change in between receiving a quote and starting the project?

Depending on the scope of your project, your proposal will be clearly marked with a date range of 30 to 90 days that it will be valid for. If an agreement isn’t signed within this date range we may need to review job costs before proceeding.

+ Do I need to bring my own construction plans? What if I have plans from my own architect already?

If you already have construction plans, that’s not a problem. We love working with architects and will walk through the entire project value engineering to align your budget with where it can be spent most effectively.

Most of our clients do not hire their own architect. We usually advise against it for smaller scale remodels, as the cost savings of working with us during the design process can be passed on to your remodel budget.

Our design-build process is structured to walk through discovering your needs and wants for your home, creating and selecting from several layouts, and choosing materials and finishes.

At the end of the pre-construction process you’ll receive build ready construction plans along with a list of material selections and an exact price to complete your job.

Typically, these services represent 3%-4% of the total project cost, and are included in the price range that we quote during the discovery process.

+ When should I start planning my project?

Our pre-construction process walks you through planning, designing, and approving plans for your remodel. At the end of the process you'll have clear expectations of what to expect with 3D models of your new space and a single all-inclusive price for your remodel.

On average this takes 90 days from start to finish, though we've had clients move through it much faster with quick decision making.