Before You Call
Are We a Fit?
We are a very good fit for a specific kind of project and a poor fit for plenty of others. It is better to sort that out before either side invests much time. Here's how to tell.
The Honest Answer
Two lists. One of them is you.
Most people know within a minute of reading these which side they land on. If it's the right-hand column, we'll still point you somewhere good.
A great fit
You're likely a great fit if:
- You're planning a real project: a kitchen or primary bath renovation, whole-home scope, an addition, or a custom build.
- You want a fixed-price contract and you're willing to pay for the pre-construction planning that makes that possible.
- You care about the planning and management of the build, not just the photography at the end.
- You're planning to move out during construction, or you're comfortable with what staying in a large-scale job site actually involves.
- You want the builder involved early enough to keep design, constructability, budget, and schedule connected.
- You can give us 6 to 8 months of lead time before your ideal start date, especially for a custom build.
Probably not a fit
You're probably not a fit if:
- Your main goal is to collect the lowest preliminary number. Our process is built around developing the most defensible number, not the most attractive first one.
- You want a free, detailed estimate before committing to any planning cost. We don't offer that. An accurate number needs a defined scope, and defining scope takes real, paid planning work.
- You want a light cosmetic update: paint, hardware, a countertop swap. There is no real construction in it, and a smaller contractor will serve you better.
- You need to start construction in the next few weeks. Good pre-construction takes time, and we won't skip it to hit a rushed date.
- You're not planning to involve an architect or designer on a project that needs one. We build with a matched design team for a reason: it's how we avoid surprises.
Due Diligence
What to ask any builder before you hire them.
With us or with anyone else, these five questions are worth asking before you sign anything. A builder who can't answer them clearly has told you something.
Our answers are written down: the seven commitments on our guarantees page, and the seven steps on our process page. The full list of questions, with what a good answer sounds like, is in Ten Questions to Ask a Luxury Builder.
- Is your price fixed, or built on allowances that can grow?
- Who is my actual point of contact once construction starts, and how fast do you respond?
- How will I see progress day to day, not just at a scheduled site visit?
- What happens if my project needs a change once we've started? What does that cost, and how is it documented?
- What's your warranty, and what actually happens if something needs attention a year after we move back in?
Sound Like You?
Think you're a fit?
Tell us about your project. If it's not a fit, we'll say so plainly and point you somewhere that can help.