10 Questions to Ask Your Contractor Before Your Renovation Begins

Ok, so you secured the right contractor for your remodeling project thanks to our 10 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Remodeler. You have your inspiration board ready to go, and a reasonable renovation timeline. Now it’s time to start collaborating with your contractor! Every residential contractor is different, but at Ashmore Builders we implement a Design-Build Process to organize and execute every renovation project. Below, you will find 10 questions that will help you get an idea of what to expect for your chosen contractor’s renovation process. Click the “+” to read our own answers!

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Organization

Yes! As a design-build construction company, we do all of our selections and designs in-house.
We have a Selections Coordinator on our team that is available to aid our clients in their selections. However, clients are responsible for making their own decisions, and we always encourage clients to work with an interior designer- especially if they are not confident making selections.
The initial design phase will require several meetings over the course of a few months- both in the client’s home and in our office. Clients do need to be available for meetings, as well as plan on the selections process taking a day or two. We find that making all the selections within a short period of time cuts back on decision fatigue and second guessing.
Once construction begins, our build team will need access codes, or a spare key to get in and out of the house. In addition, the space(s) being renovated need to be cleared and ready for demo.

Communication

Our team is available by phone and email, and the client can plan on several in-person meetings. Clients will be invited to create an account on our project management software once their job is in progress to see all the renovation’s documentation in one place.
Clients can expect consistent contact between our team throughout the renovation process. Initially, contact will be a bit more sparse while our team is working on designs, but once the project is officially underway, clients can expect to have frequent interactions with the team and project manager.

Budget

Yes. All of our renovations are custom, which means that every project gets its own detailed estimate based upon the space's measurements and material selections.
The initial budget considers the scope, selections, and size of the project. We determine this by the floor plan that the client chooses and materials that are selected by the client in the initial design phase.
As much as we try to mitigate surprises with a thorough design phase, change orders are inevitable. The budget will be updated to show a balance or credit depending on the switch.

Timeline

This question is tricky, and depends on the size and scope of your project.
Check out our Kitchen Renovation Timeline for a better idea!
Ok, so don’t panic if they can’t get to you immediately. Do you really want a remodeler that is sitting around waiting for the phone to ring?
Our start dates are typically 6-8 months out. HOWEVER clients have to get through the Design Phase before we will begin construction.
Once everything is signed and agreed upon in the design Phase, the start date is typically scheduled 2-3 months out. This allows time for selections to be received and cabinets to be assembled.