Our Design Build Process

Initial Walk-through

Once at your home, we will spend 30-60 minutes getting to know each other better.  We will hear what you have in mind, give some advice, and talk through your goals, desires, and any fears you may have regarding the project. We won’t get into the small details, but we will talk about your vision on a higher level. We will discuss the feasibility of your ideal budget range.  While we won’t know the exact cost of your project at this point, by starting this discussion and talking about some practical numbers will go a long way in helping our team direct you in the best way forward.  Inevitably you will have lots of questions for us and we will leave time to answer those. We will also talk over our process and the next steps.

There are 3 possible outcomes from this meeting:

OUTCOME 1:  We set up a meeting in our showroom to meet our team, go over some pallet selections, basic layout, and a 3D drawing. We provide these details by executing a Discovery Partnership Fee, which is typically 1% of the projected cost of the project.

OUTCOME 2:  We move to a partnership Design Agreement, and a retainer fee is typically 5% of the preliminary estimate. If we agree that you are ready to start this step, we will set up a meeting with the designer, we will also inspect, measure, photograph, and document the existing space.  In some cases, people bypass this step and move right into a contract (we will discuss options that fit each individual project). During this step, we will review material selections appropriate for your project, review a preliminary scope of work, and provide a refined estimated budget.  For some projects, we will create a Good-Better-Best estimate so you can get an idea of how your selection choices can affect the final price.

We will talk about design ideas that could affect the price.

We will review a demo of the online project management scheduling and communication system we use.

If the preliminary scope of work and investment range is agreed upon, we execute a fee-based partnership agreement to move to the Design & Selection Phase. This fee is typically 2-5% of the preliminary estimate.

OUTCOME 3:  We agree that we are not the right fit for your project.

Explore Ideas & Formulate Must Haves

Start your journey by exploring the internet for your likes, dislikes, and everything in between.   Take a look at our project portfolio for ideas.  You can also check out our idea books on Houzz.com.  Our blog has many great articles on design trends and tips on hiring a contractor.

Get Specific About Your Project

What type of project are you looking to start?  Is it a kitchen only or is it actually the kitchen and hardwood floors throughout the first floor?  Getting specific about how you plan to use the space before the next step will help you get real with a budget before talking with a potential contractor.

Formulating a Budget

Use the must-haves list you just created to understand what a realistic budget would be.  There are great tools online to help with getting a general idea or remodeling costs.  Check out the Cost vs Value Report and our Pricing Guide page.

Research Contractors

Start researching sites like the Better Business Bureau, AngiesList.com, Houzz.com & Yelp.com to help in your search for the right design-build contractor.  We wrote a blog article to help you, research contractors, using online review websites.  It’s very helpful, so check it out.

Before Calling Us

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.  So to prepare for our first conversation, take a look below about what we will discuss.

During our first phone call, we’ll talk about your project including both your wants and needs. We will also talk about 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.

• This initial call will take 15-20 minutes
• Items we will discuss during our first phone call:

Your Key Information:

Where is your home located?

• We have a very specific area we serve because we want to make sure we can manage your project with a high level of customer service and attention. Take a look at our service area page to find out if we work in your area.

What project are you looking to complete?

• We want to make sure we are the right fit for you, so this question is an important one. For more information on how we run your project check out our FAQ page.

Why do you want to do this project?

• We love partnering with our clients to help make their home a place to make lasting memories. So tell us the deep reason 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 of when you are looking to complete your project? Whether it is a graduation party or an expected newborn, 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, you’ll be wasting your time. 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.  Check out our pricing page for guidance in setting a realistic budget.

Some other questions we will ask:

• What year was your house built?
• How long do you plan to stay?
• The primary reason for the project?
• Are you planning to get a permit?
• Have you ever remodeled your home before?  How was that experience?
• What is the number one thing you are looking for in a contractor?
• During your research for this project, are you talking with other contractors?
• How are you planning to determine who to work with?

At the end of our conversation together we will determine if it makes sense to set up an appointment for the discovery meeting.  If it doesn’t seem like we are the right fit for your project, we will try to refer you to another qualified contractor that can serve you better.

Once the Design Agreement is signed and retainer is paid we start the design & selections phase.

Schematic Design Ideas

We will create for you 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 hone in on a final design.  This is an exciting step because we show 3D renderings of designs for all cabinetry in kitchens, bathrooms, and basement bars.  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), at this point in the process we will start selecting all of the fine details and finishes your project will need. These include things like cabinets, countertops, flooring, plumbing fixtures, tile, paint colors, etc.  All of your decisions are made before the construction portion starts, making the process go much smoother for you in the long run.

Estimating & Documentation

While you are working with our designer, our team will also be hard at work 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 jobsite visits, adding dimensions to drawings, creating wall sections, adding important notes, and (if necessary) having any engineering work evaluated for code compliance. After this phase, you are ready to start construction!

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 for you a “Construction Agreement”. This is the contract that outlines the scope of work, the schedule, and payment terms.

Keep in mind, as long as you sign the fixed price Construction Agreement before the expiration, any design fees that you paid previously will be credited towards the first payment.