Finding and hiring the right renovation partner is crucial to the success of your home remodel. You need someone you can trust to work in your home, listen to your needs, accommodate your timeline and budget, and deliver a high-quality product. On the bright side, if you’re looking for residential design-build remodeling services in Atlanta, Georgia, you have plenty of options to choose from. The tricky part is narrowing them down.
As a design-build remodeler ourselves, Copper Sky Design + Remodel has been evaluated by numerous prospective clients and, in this blog, we’ll share some of the best questions we frequently get asked.
1. What is Your Process?
Having a defined and documented process for the design and construction phases is crucial to the success of a project. That’s why it’s always a good idea to ask a contractor for an overview of their design-build process steps. Make sure you have a good understanding of their process; then evaluate whether their process will work for you and your project.
2. Where Can I See Your Work?
Does the company have a portfolio of their work on their website, on Houzz, or on social media? Describe what you have in mind for your remodel and ask to see anything they’ve done in the past in a similar capacity or aesthetic. A good design-builder will have a portfolio of projects to show you. They may even have a model home or current project available for you to tour. However, if they aren’t able to show you much in the way of their past work, that’s a red flag.
3. Why Should I Choose Your Design-Build Firm Over a General Contractor?
Generally speaking, the advantages of design-build vs a general contractor are faster project completion times, better teamwork and communication, a simpler process, and enhanced client experience. A quality design-builder will be able to explain how these benefits are generated by their process, and you should ask them to tell you. Listen to their pitch on the advantage of the design and remodel construction services they offer and evaluate accordingly. Only you know exactly what type of builder works best with your personality and lifestyle, but generally speaking, you want someone who is passionate about their process and fervently believes in the benefits and results they provide their clients.
4. Can You Work Within My Timeline and Budget?
Before asking this question, you need to know what your timeline and budget restrictions are. That means you need to look at your finances to see how much you can spend. You may even consider researching loans or other financing options. You should also look at your calendar to see when you can and can’t afford to have a home remodel interfering with your daily life.
The next step is to meet with your prospective design-builder and explain your project. Once they have a good idea of what you want for your remodel, ask them how long they think it’ll take to complete the project and how much they estimate it will cost. This is early in the process, so it’s impossible to know exactly what’s needed to complete the project, so understand that estimates shared at this point are just that: estimates. However, this is still one of the best questions to ask at this juncture. You need to make sure your design-builder is capable of working within your timeline and budget requirements; if they can’t, they probably aren’t the builder for you.
While you’re at it, ask about any timeline delays or additional costs (relating to the housing development, construction, etc.) that may occur during your remodel.
5. Are You Licensed and Insured?
This question is about making sure you have all your bases covered. Working with an unlicensed or uninsured builder is dangerous; liability falls on you if your home construction runs into an issue or your builder doesn’t adhere to building codes. For this reason, it’s one of the most crucial questions to ask contractors. You should also ask about what kind of warranty they offer since warranties vary based on each contractor and home feature.
6. What sets you apart from other builders?
You deserve a builder who cares deeply about their clients, work, and employees. They should be passionate about helping you create a home to fit your family, lifestyle, and needs; and they should go above and beyond to make your vision happen. That’s why we also recommend asking this question. It gives a design-builder the opportunity to differentiate themselves and show what they have to offer. It also allows you to evaluate their character and work ethic. In the end, trust your gut and pick a builder that you feel fits your personality, communication style, and remodeling goals.
Ready to try these questions out? Contact Copper Sky Design Build’s award-winning team today.
