Q: How many estimates do I really need?

A: Only one, if you are comfortable that your remodeling contractor will get the job done to your satisfaction and your budget. These days just getting an estimate is a task in itself. Trust is very important in choosing a construction company! One of the biggest myths today in remodeling is that you need three estimates. Find a contractor you can build a relationship with.

Q: Do I really need to permit my project?

A: Absolutely! Permitting makes sure that your project is being built to National Building codes. City inspections could be viewed as an insurance policy. Inspections of the work performed insure that the project is being built for your safety.

Q: Why should I remodel my home?

A: As property values multiply, millions of homeowners are remodeling to protect their investment while improving their space, upgrading laminate countertops to granite and turning their bathrooms into spas.

Q: What could increase the value of my home?

A: A nationwide statistical study released in May adds further weight to existing evidence about the correlation between certain house components and the price of the home.

Q: I thought architects just designed homes from the ground up? How can they help me with my home improvement project?

A: Architects can do much more than just draw a set of blueprints. They are highly-trained professionals who have expertise in every area of home design, including renovation, construction, interior design, space planning, and product selection. For example, architects can not only design an addition to your bedroom or remodel your kitchen, they can also pick out floor finishes and paint colors, redecorate your living room, and reorganize your closet space.

An architect will help you define what you want to build, present options you might never have considered, work within your budget to incorporate good design elements in your project, and save you money on construction costs.

Q: We know we want to remodel our house (or build a new home). Where do we start?

A: We are happy to meet with you, inspect your home or land, and give you recommendations on how to proceed. While we don’t do architectural design, we have names of a number of competent architects that we would be happy to refer to you.

Q: Before work begins on our project, how will we know how much the project will cost?

A: Once we have viewed your site, talked with you to get a sense of your goals, and reviewed the plans, we will do an initial evaluation of your project that includes a rough estimate of the costs to build your project. This pricing is arrived at by comparing your project with similar ones we have built in the past and by establishing budgets based upon the intended size and finish level of the project. The purpose of this ‘rough estimate phase’ is to give you enough feedback for you to determine the project's feasibility and what you want to incorporate into the plans.

Assuming the project is a 'go', next comes the in depth ‘full estimate phase' which allows us to get much more detailed information and get a more exact idea of what the project costs will be. This includes a site inspection with a number of subcontractors, both to establish costs and to troubleshoot existing impediments. This phase also requires finish selections (plumbing fixtures, lights, countertop material, etc.) from the customer. After this work, this process often involves value engineering and prioritizing to determine what package best fits the customer's needs. This evaluation and research helps to guarantee a smooth construction process.

Q: If I have rough ideas on a home remodel, who should I contact first: an Architect, Designer, or Contractor?

A: An architect is a licensed professional who graduated with an architecture degree from an accredited college or university. They typically had 3 to 5 years of experience before taking the licensing examination.

A designer could be anyone who decides to call himself or herself a designer. They do not necessarily have any type of degree and they do not need to take any examinations. This does not mean that designers are any less qualified to do the job that you need them to do. There are good designers, poor designers, good architects and poor architects. Some designers have worked for years in architectural offices and have excellent skills.

When looking for either one, interview more than a few and check their qualifications, experiences, and samples of their work. It is also important to note how you relate to the architect/designer. You do not want somebody whose personality will clash with yours. Look for somebody who has more compatibility with your ideas and personality. But before you even begin interviewing, ask your local building department if the plans you submit will require an architect's stamp. If so, start directly with an architect.

A contractor is more focused on building the project from existing plans. There are a lot of design-build contractors who have either architects and/or designers on staff and will take your ideas to them in order to get the plans prepared. Also, a lot of contractors have significant experience building projects similar to yours such that they can prepare the necessary plans themselves.