Remodeling Process Guide by dRemodeling

We understand the frustrations that many homeowners go through during home remodeling process. With everything done in-house by our experienced team, we at dRemodeling strive to make the process as simple and easy for homeowners as possible. Home remodeling doesn’t need to be a stressful nightmare. We believe that with a positive attitude, the right experience, and a great team, it can be enjoyable and stress-free!

Our goal as a Design | Build kitchen and bath remodeling team is to simplify the entire remodeling process for you. We want everything to run as smoothly as possible and to ensure complete customer satisfaction on every project, every time, 365 days a year.

Below you will find a breakdown of the remodeling process you’ll experience with us here at dRemodeling. We want our customers to feel comfortable with every step of the remodel, so if you have any questions about our process, our guarantees, or just want to learn more about us, give us a call!

1. In-Home Site Evaluation

During our initial site visit to your home, dRemodeling takes care to actively listen to all of your needs, wants, and hopes for your remodeling project. Our site consultant will assess the space, discuss the project scope, and take exact measurements and photos of the space. With those measurements and photos, our team will draft a detailed proposal specific to your project.

Customers can expect our in-home site evaluation visit to take between 30 and 45 minutes.

2. Showroom Visit

One we have the details of the space and your vision, you’ll meet with a skilled dRemodeling designer to discuss options for your layout and review the many fixtures and finishes we have to offer. Your designer will guide you through the decision-making process, all the while ensuring your ideas and needs are met by the design and materials.

We want to allow time for confidence and clarity during the decision-making and design process, so please allot between 45 and 90 minutes to spend at our showroom.

At this appointment, we will discuss:

  • Project Scope: We will discuss your project scope, identify your reason for remodeling, and discuss potential solutions to more complicated design needs.
  • Design Plan: If you are looking to alter the layout of your space, we will investigate options to achieve the best function and circulation in the new design.
  • Aesthetic Preferences: We review your preferred aesthetic, desired style, required finish materials, and discuss your material options.
  • Remodeling Basics: No one should go into a remodeling project blind. Our team takes the time to teach you tips and tricks for a successful remodeling project, including everything from selecting a contractor to avoiding common mistakes.
  • Scheduling and Requirements: Once the design and material decisions are made, we will go over project duration, work schedule, permit requirements, payment schedule, and warranty.

3. dRemodeling Proposals

Once we understand your vision and preferred materials, dRemodeling sends two separate estimates to our potential clients:

  • Labor Proposal
  • Design Retainer and Good | Better | Best estimate for cost of materials

Labor Proposal

Our labor proposal includes the cost for the labor and construction materials. This document will have a detailed scope of the work and will include an approximate work schedule and payment terms. Together, clients and the dRemodeling team will go over warranties, inclusion- exclusions, and explain our rates if by any chance we encounter unforeseen issues or any change orders. This proposal amount does not include finish materials, as this cost will be dependent upon client choices and preferences.

Design Retainer and Good | Better | Best Budget

Once you decide you want to hire dRemodeling for your project, we will send our Design Retainer/Agreement. This is a flat fee and is determined by your project type, size, and complexity. Along with the design retainer, we will also send a Good | Better | Best budget for finish materials. This budget will be based on your project’s scope and size and is subject to change based on your final selections. This budget, in conjunction with the labor proposal, will provide you with a comprehensive look at the overall cost of your remodeling project.

Keep in mind that while majority of our clients will use dRemodeling for Design, Materials, and Installation services, we do give clients the options to hire us for just the design portion or design + material portion of our services. These two options are sometimes selected by clients who want a design now but are not ready for construction, or who have a preferred contractor but need a professional design and one-stop materials shop.

Should you decide you’re ready to design and build, you’re ready to move on to the acceptance phase.

4. Accepting Our dRemodeling Proposal

Congratulations! You've chosen to work with one of the best remodeling companies in Philadelphia. Before we begin the project, we require a signed copy of the design retainer and labor proposal. We will also invoice you for the design retainer, as well as 5% of the labor amount to lock your project into our schedule. After this payment is received, let the design and remodeling process begin!

5. Conceptual Design Phase and Design Documents

The design process will start with your dRemodeling designer drafting a number of initial layout options for your space for you to review. We are happy to revisit these 2D layouts as often needed, taking your feedback into consideration, until we can decide upon a single preferred option. At this point, we will provide you with a list of proposed materials based on our initial discussion and any additional inspirations/ideas you may have sent us in the meantime. We will also model the space in 3D so you can see how these proposed materials will look and feel in the space before construction even begins.

For the design phase, you can expect all or a combination of the following documents:

  • Existing/Demolition Plans
  • Proposed Floor Plan
  • Lighting and Electric Plans
  • Interior Section/Elevations
  • Design Details
  • 3-D Renderings
  • Material List Complete with Active Links, Quantities, and Pricing

We will make revisions on these plans until you are 100% satisfied with the design. Only when the Design | Build team and the homeowner both feel confident in the design, layout, and the construction specifications will this phase be considered complete.

The design process can take 2-4 weeks or longer; this timeline is dependent on how quickly clients respond to our inquiries and designs and the number of requested revisions.

6. Permit Application

When design plans are complete, we will coordinate with you and your local city/township to determine if permits need to be pulled. Should they be required, we will apply on your behalf for any/all required building, plumbing, or electrical permits.

This permit application and approval process typically takes 1-3 weeks.

7. Material Procurement

Now that all materials are approved, we will submit any orders for your project through our vendors and take care to track them right to your doorstep. Your project manager will oversee each order and coordinate deliveries with your schedule. Full client payment for materials will be required before orders are released, and we’ll take care of everything from there!

Material lead times can vary from anywhere from 1-2 weeks to 10-12 weeks or longer depending on the specific materials and items chosen. We will inform you during the design phase of any materials that are expected to carry a longer lead time.

8. Construction Begins

Once all of the project materials are on site or available for delivery, the dRemodeling team will schedule and begin work on your project. During construction we will:

  • Protect your home/furnishings respectfully with plastic sheeting, drop cloths, and zipper walls where necessary.
  • Clearly communicate the construction timeline and milestones with you on a weekly basis.
  • Schedule employees from dRemodeling with expertise and trade skills pertinent to the phase of the remodeling project at hand.
  • Provide project management updates at the end of each week based upon reports provided to the office staff by site technicians.
  • Coordinate all county and city inspections.
  • Clean up the work area daily and maintain a secure job site.
  • Utilize our own dump truck to remove debris from the site where a dumpster is not convenient.

The construction phase of our typical project can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 4 or more months depending on the size/complexity of the job.

9. Project Close-Out

Toward the end of your project, a Punch List of remaining items that need to be addressed will be drafted based upon comments from the client and the on-site project manager. dRemodeling will then schedule our team to take care of any remaining items for you, no questions asked. Since we offer a 5-year craftsmanship warranty when you utilize our full Design, Material Procurement, and Construction services, we take care to address any and all needs of our customers, both for the duration of the project and long after the project is complete. And then?

Congratulations on your beautifully remodeled space!