Because many homeowners have become hip to the change-order hustle that many contractors run (see Change Orders: The C-Word, Part 1), there is often no better way to alienate a client than to start throwing the C-Word around during the course of a renovation. The truth is that outside of often being unethical, change orders are simply bad business. If adequate time an...

A Change Order as loosely defined by Wikipedia is: A component of the change management process whereby changes in the scope of work agreed to by the Owner, Contractor and Architect are implemented. When executed appropriately, a change order can be a valuable (and necessary) tool. Frequently however, contractors use change orders to exploit their clients as is illust...

In the remodeling industry, building a stable of trusted trade partners is essential. Every renovation we do in Washington, DC – be it a small kitchen project, or a full-scale addition – will involve some electrical, plumbing, HVAC or other specialty task(s). Furthermore, trade specific permits are often required, which a licensed professional must obtain. Most DC con...

In the world of home remodeling, no two jobs are exactly alike. Even in projects such as kitchen renovations that seemingly involve all the same basic elements (cabinets, appliances, countertops and backsplash), subtle, and sometimes not so subtle differences present themselves and have to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. That being said, we have worked to system...

On many occasions we’ve heard the following or similar sentiments expressed by a homeowner after consulting on a bathroom renovation in an older home in the Washington, DC area: “But my bathroom is only eight feet by five feet. How in the world can such a small space possibly cost thirty thousand dollars to remodel? That’s crazy!” And yes, it is crazy but it’s also tr...

Introductions and an Overview of the Existing Space Bathroom walk-through, together with you. We would like you to tell us what you like and dislike about the space. Walk through basement and other relevant areas of the house to assess existing infrastructure including the water heater, electrical panel and heating/cooling system(s). Measurements and quick sketch: We ...

Choosing the Right Remodeling Contractor: Without a question, the most important decision you will make when planning a remodeling project is which company to hire. Most everyone has experienced or heard of remodeling nightmares. Believe it or not, these horror stories do not always come about because of “bad” contractors. Although genuinely unscrupulous outfits do ex...

Everyone’s time is valuable, so we try to approach every phase of each remodeling project in the most efficient manner possible. From the first visit onwards, we take an organized approach in all our interactions. If you were to have us out for an initial consultation (for a kitchen remodel) the meeting agenda we send you in advance would look something like this. Typ...

As described on their Twitter page, “DC Magazine, published by Modern Luxury Media, highlights the chic and unique stories breaking in the greater metro area.” Although we receive requests from time to time to contribute to print or online publications about design or the process of remodeling, we often turn them down as they simply are not a good fit. We live in a ci...

Remodeling is a dirty job and anyone who has been through a renovation project will know that the demolition phase can produce an almost unbelievable amount of debris and dust. Many of our projects require us to completely demolish the area, removing cabinets, plaster, tile, concrete, flooring, and anything else that won’t be used in the new configuration. Since many ...