Design-Build Process FAQs: Everything You Need to Know Before Starting

Common questions about the design-build process

No matter how excited you are to renovate your home, the idea of people that you just met breaking down your living room walls may be a little unnerving. Most people have many questions before they begin: What can I expect from the construction process? How will it affect my day-to-day life? What will I be responsible for? That is why I started this series: to answer some of the most common questions we hear and hopefully make your road to a better home a more straightforward one.

How long will renovations take?

While the design and preconstruction phases are the most involved for you, the construction phase is the most life-altering, especially if you are renovating the home while living in it. It is an intrusive process: people remodeling your kitchen cabinets makes it near impossible to work in your current kitchen. So how long does it last?

It depends on the project. Most bathroom renovations take around 3-4 weeks, while kitchen renovations take upwards of 3-4 months to complete. Full-house renovations and additions may take even longer, but keep in mind that it entirely depends on the size of the project. Fortunately, we can give you a timeline for your construction, letting you know in advance how long each phase will last. So how do you manage while renovations are underway?

How do I adapt to renovations in my home? 

Many families still live in their houses during their renovations. So, how do you get around our house with construction in your way?

Bathrooms are the simplest to adapt. Most houses have at least 2 bathrooms, so contractors renovate one while your family uses the other, and once the first is finished, you switch. Kitchens are not as simple: you tend to only have one! Most families opt to set up camp either in their basement or their garage, making use of plenty of crock-pot meals and camp oven recipes. Our estimator, Kevin, had his kitchen remodeled by Vatter Construction months before he started working here. He and his family set up an alternate kitchen area in his family room, with all his appliances set up on folding tables. It certainly wasn’t a Michelin star setup, but they had to adapt, so they did! Kevin said the end product was worth it in the end.

Living during renovations

The process will take time, and it will change how you live your life for a short period. We know that. We do our best to accommodate the needs of our customers and help them enjoy the renovation process. It doesn’t need to be grueling, it can actually be exciting! For short time, your life is a little bit upside-down. Speaking from experience, those types of upside-down times can bring people together the most. They also create a sense of novelty: there’s something fun about doing things in a completely different way, even when it’s for a short time. It’s something you will most likely never experience again, so why not enjoy it? And even if you don’t enjoy the novelty, the end product sure is worth it!

Is HGTV realistic?

Brand new homeowners

It is surprising how often we get this one! I love Joanna Gaines and shiplap as much as the next gal, but it’s not a secret that most of the shows on the channel are staged. What many prospective homeowners don’t know is that the prices are artificially lowered as well. HGTV is fun entertainment, but its goal is to create a fantasy version of homeownership. Part of this is achieved by making crazy projects seem achievable on a small budget. They have been accused of hiring subpar contractors (allowing them to charge less) that ultimately damaged the homes they worked in and subsidizing costs to artificially lower them. Furniture and other fixtures are often not included in the budget.

All and all, HGTV may show you inspiring design ideas, but don’t listen to the prices! Get quotes from local contractors to find out what your dream home would realistically cost. 

What do I have to do in the Design/Build process?

Some homeowners want to be intensely involved in the renovation process. Some want to hand it off to a good team and be done with it. No matter where you are on the spectrum, you still have a few responsibilities to keep in mind.

One of the ways you’ll be involved is in the design choices. While our design team will guide you through the process, you ultimately will be the one choosing what type of hardwood floors and appliances you want. If you have a vague idea of what you want, we can offer you several options at different price points and styles, then you get to choose your favorite. The most important part of the process is to make decisions promptly. This allows us to order things on time and keep the process going as smoothly as possible. 

Another pre-demolition responsibility is clearing out the job site before any work is done to it. This involves clearing out kitchen cabinets, bathroom closets, and anywhere you keep personal belongings. This allows us to start work as soon as we get there.

During renovations, be sure to keep your pets in a safe place where they can’t wander into the construction site. Be sure to tell our field team, too, and they will keep an eye out for any loose animals. Keep small children safe too! 

One responsibility that you have for the whole process is open communication. If you have a concern, question, or spot a problem, let us know right away! This allows us to resolve issues as quickly as possible. It also lets us stay on the same page throughout the entire project - making the process much smoother for both of us. 

With us, you won’t have to file permits for your township or figure out any other of the crazy logistical issues: we have that covered for you. 

If you still have questions, send us an email and ask away! We will be covering pricing-related questions soon, so stay tuned.