Home Improvement Contractors With A Plan
Learn About Our Process For Your Pacific NW Home
Step 1: Initial Meeting
When you contact our office, we’ll ask some basic questions about your project and then schedule a time to meet with you and your spouse. Because of Covid19, we will be meeting with you via Zoom first to be safe. Our owner, Ryan, takes a personal interest in every project we complete.
You can take Ryan on a walk through of your home if you like, and you will discuss your ideas for the project so both parties can get a good idea of its scope. Here’s what to expect during our initial meeting:
Come prepared with a list of Must-Haves and Wish-to-Haves. We may also ask you to provide a plat and legal description so that we can be aware of any legal or lot limitations. We will walk through your home, review your wish list, discuss all of your possibilities, and determine your target investment amount. At this point, we can give you a very general range of what we feel the project may cost and how that fits into your budget (keeping in mind that your selections and the final design determine the final cost.) We strive to deliver a quality project at a cost that works for you. Our first candid conversations help prevent surprises in the estimate and ensures that we’re all on board with the target investment amount and your desired end result. At this initial meeting we’ll discuss our design process and, if you would like to proceed, go over our design contract. This isn’t a construction contract - instead, it’s a design contract, with a fee that covers a small amount of the significant costs associated with the design and planning of your project. This will begin the process of formally designing your project , which will include:
A full, detailed plan that includes the existing structure, new layouts, and other important features (such as cabinet drawings)
Any engineering that may be required
A detailed scope of work, communication, and visits to the County/City for permit purposes
All of your materials selections for the project
We charge a fee for our Design Contract because we spend a significant amount of time and money making sure that we give you an accurate estimate. In our experience, this helps both parties to make informed decisions from the beginning while still keeping a variety of options open. Step 2: Follow-Up Meeting
Within 1-2 weeks of our initial meeting, we’ll schedule a second meeting in your home or on your land with our design team. We’ll use this time to take laser measurements, ensuring that our measurements are accurate. Then, we’ll use those ultra-accurate measurements to create a preliminary design for your project. The 1-2 week wait between meetings gives you a little time to digest our initial meeting notes and start thinking about the materials you want. Step 3: Product Selection & Design
After the follow-up meeting, our team will get to work drafting plans and writing up your project’s scope. We use this information to create a detailed estimate that is as accurate as possible. We can then provide options to stay within your budget while still creating a result you will love. In the meantime, you’ll be making your product selections! These may include carpet, flooring, light styles and fixtures, cabinets, countertops, and more. We know that the many choices available can seem overwhelming, and are happy to assist you in making these decisions if you would like. We recognize that our clients are all unique. We have have many options available from our local suppliers. Step 4: Subcontractor Preview
Depending on the scale and scope of your project, we may schedule a subcontractor preview at your home. This gives our home improvement contractors a chance to see your home, plan for their part in your future Project, and answer any questions you may have. Our craftsmen will provide valuable feedback for your project, suggestions for improvement, and cost-saving ideas. In our experience, this has been a useful part of our process that results in an accurate estimate and a more efficient job. Step 5: The Scope Meeting
This meeting generally takes place 2-3 weeks after the subcontractor preview to give both parties time to make any final considerations and decisions. We’ll meet together to discuss the schematic budget, updates on our scope of work, and the selections you’ve made. Together, we’ll review our plan and make necessary changes. Once plans are finalized, our subcontractors will review them again and revise their estimates if necessary. Step 6: The Bidding Process
Once we’ve established expectations on both sides of the project during the scope meeting, we’ll move on to the bidding process. Our estimating team will create an accurate bid for your custom project by gathering current prices from our vendors and subcontractors. We spend a lot of time making sure our bids are accurate and thorough so that you can know exactly what your project will cost and can plan for the future. Step 7: The Proposal Meeting
During this meeting, our main purpose will be to review your bid. We will also use it to answer your questions, discuss your project more in-depth, and make any adjustments that are needed. Step 8: The Start Meeting
If our bid and the scope of your project matches your expectations and meets your needs, then this is the final step before we begin construction! During the Start Meeting, we will sign a contract, review your timeline, discuss expectations, answer questions and set a date for our home improvement contractors to begin bringing your vision to life. During our many years in the industry, we’ve found that spending time establishing a solid plan, budget, and expectations helps eliminate most surprises. This results in faster build times, better projects, and satisfied clients. Our in-depth process helps us meet our #1 goal: earning Clients for Life. To us, you are family, and we will treat you that way. Once you’re adopted into our Spruce & Stone family, we will be around to handle all of your needs large or small for years to come!
