Have you ever heard the expression “fake it till you make it?” It’s a strategy of modeling the skills or behaviors of others who actually possess the abilities you wish to acquire. It helps some people overcome the fear or anxiety of doing something outside their comfort zone or area of expertise. How does this apply to remodeling your home in the DMV? I’m going to share some “insider” information with you.
We have offices in DC, MD and VA. We’ve been in business since 1961. We’re pretty well known in the community. As a result, we visit with hundreds of people every year that are considering remodeling their home. While each situation is different, there are some general trends we have discovered. Here’s the “insider” part, people that have never remodeled before ask very different questions than people that have previously remodeled their home. I’m hoping some of this information might help you “fake it till you make it” when you are considering a project.
At an initial visit, we typically review some big picture topics: what’s possible/ideas for the project, timelines involved, and finally, budgeting information for the project. We also review our process for turning this conversation into a finished project. All of that happens at most initial consultations. But from there, things change.
Most first time remodelers want to spend more time discussing the project. Layout ideas, how big something should be, various materials they are interested in using, those types of questions. Having never remodeled before, it seems logical that these are the items to discuss. But veteran remodelers are different…
Seasoned remodeling clients ask different questions. They have done this before and while certainly interested in the project, their questions are often much more about the process, the business, and who they will be working with on their project. Let me give you 10 examples of question they might ask:
- Will you (representative of the remodeling company) be involved throughout the entire process?
- Is design time included in the budgeting? Is this time paid for on an hourly basis or some other way?
- What expectations should I have during the design step? Multiple options? Collaborative? Something else?
- How are material selections made? Do you have designers that will help me with these decisions?
- Will we make actual decisions before a contract or will allowances be used?
- What steps are taken to minimize surprises on the project?
- Who handles permits and inspections? Do I, the homeowner, play any role?
- Is the contract a fixed price? How are payments structured?
- Who manages the construction of the project? Will I have a dedicated team?
- What is covered in your warranty and how long does it last?
There you go- a peek behind the curtain of an initial consultation with a veteran remodeling client. Raise the bar! If you are a first time remodeler, learn what you need to know about the project, but ask more questions about the experience. You will be glad you did.
Want another tip? Great projects typically involve great clients.
