Since we began Remodeling Designs, Inc. in 1990, we have seen numerous examples of potential clients being uncomfortable with the task of choosing a remodeling company.

We agree that this can happen very easily. Try to do some basic research on companies and then call 2 or 3 companies. First impressions mean something. Picture the person on the other end of the phone in your home for an extended period of time. Comfortable?

Your home is usually your largest asset. It's where you feel safe. Comfort with the company you choose will be the smartest factor in deciding whom to have do the project for your home. A company that has friendly, pleasant looking, professional people is very important. Most of our clients feel our Project Managers become a member of the family. And if they are repeat clients, they ask for the same Manager again. Our Client Comments reflect that.

The feeling of losing control will come from transferring control to someone else, and then the company lose control. We do control most aspects of our projects. With constant supervision, systems for monitoring, and consistent communication, we keep our clients informed and comfortable with the progress of their project.

If a company is pushing you hard to make big decisions, then maybe it's time to step back and breathe a little. When you read Our Process, you'll see that we take a 'baby first step' of looking at the design first, then moving to construction. It takes time to become comfortable with a company and to develop a level of trust. More often than not, we might 'put the brakes' on a client if we feel they are rushing and would be prone to make mistakes they would be sorry about later.

Making suggestions to someone's home can be a touchy process. They can be very proud of their past work. We feel it is our job to ask questions and listen to your answers regarding your home. We have certainly touched a few nerves in the past. But, we have also uncovered the 'real' problems with a home by asking difficult questions. Recently, we saw a client about enlarging their master bedroom closet. As we talked, they discussed how they hated most all rooms in the home, but didn't feel there were any options. We were able to show them solutions to most of their problems. In the end, the client was extremely pleased with their home, and enjoyed the experience of making their old home new again. We feel your project cannot be successful without everyone being on the same team. If the client feels like an orphan on the project, or we feel the client relationship would be adversarial, then the relationship needs to be either modified or terminated.

If a company doesn't get all the information they need, they can't give you the best possible solutions to your problems. Yes, we do ask some uncomfortable questions, but if you and your significant other take your shower together every morning, then it would be a waste of time to present a design with a 3' shower. We strongly feel that we aren't doing our job unless we thoroughly investigate all aspects of your projects. At the end of the project, when we ask you "If you had it to do over, what would you change?", we want you to answer "Not a thing!".

A good company will present different possible solutions to your situations. Based on your budget and your home's limitations, many solutions are possible. Some clients desire a complex solution to produce extraordinary results, while others prefer a purely functional solution. Upfront communication is the key. A key component to considering the project a success is providing you with a proper solution... not just any solution.

The home improvement industry has a checkered reputation. Two of the most important clichés to remember are, "You get what you pay for" and, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". We work hard to educate our clients on why it is important to work with a professional company who cares about your project. Some people will not see value in consistent communication and constant supervision of their project. That's OK. Remodeling Designs, Inc. may not be the best fit for them. Checking references, reading about the company, asking friends about the company... Your skepticism will fade with your comfort level with the company.

This is a feeling indicative of meeting with a company who doesn't listen and only talks. These companies are uncomfortable with suggesting anything other than what they have done before. We thrive on challenges. Our Project Managers are experts at developing solutions to difficult tasks. You will find our designs innovative, yet engineered to last for years and years. When we meet, keep in mind how much you talk vs. how much we talk. We heed the old adage, "You've got two ears and one mouth... listen twice as much as you talk".

This is a feeling that requires some work on your part to alleviate. You need to speak directly to this issue with your remodeling company. By setting expectations about how "you are to be dealt with", this will do one of three things. You might get a response from the company that they can't meet those expectations, and will choose to end the relationship. You could get a positive response from the company, to get the job, and they have no intention of following through. Or, you get a positive response from the company, and they do follow through on the expectations set. When interviewing references from the company, you should address specific questions regarding this. We try to address this issue of "How you will be treated" early in the process. Hopefully, the expectations of service we set, and your expectations will be parallel.