Interviews are an important piece of the hiring puzzle, whether you’re hiring a new employee or choosing a design-build firm to work with on your home remodel.
No employer would welcome a new hire into their organization without an interview and vetting process. Why would your home remodeling project be any different?
A home remodel, whether it’s a kitchen remodel, a bathroom remodel, or a whole-home remodel, is a very personal endeavor, and choosing the right design-build firm is going to determine whether you get to the end of the project filled with joy or in tears.
We’ve all heard horror stories about home remodeling. The design-build interview is a great opportunity for you to avoid those experiences. The opportunity to be face to face with someone is irreplaceable. Not only is the interview a great opportunity to determine if the design-build firm is the right one for you, but it’s an opportunity to start building a relationship, discussing your budget, clarifying expectations, learning about the design-build firm’s expertise, and discussing any concerns you might have.
How Do I Conduct an Interview with a Design-Build Firm?
First of all, the interviews you conduct in the process of finding the right design-build firm for your home remodeling project should be in person.
This is not a conversation to be had over the phone. The interviews with your final selection of design-build firms can occur in your home or in their offices, but an in-person meeting will help you determine if the right chemistry exists.
These are people who will be in and out of your home for four to eight months on average. You need to like them. A personal meeting will also assist in identifying red flags, especially as questions are asked and answered.
Get to Know the People on the Design-Build Team
Your interviews should certainly include whether the design-build firm can stay within budget and meet deadlines. But more importantly, do they listen to you? Do they answer your questions with a passion for their trade that is balanced by their desire to bring your dream home to life?
Does their vision match yours? Are they willing to advocate for you and tell you when something you envision is structurally unsafe? If there are architectural challenges, can they offer alternatives that inspire you?
An in-person interview gives you the chance to ask personal questions, such as why they are in the business, what they love about it, and what their favorite projects are. A simple conversation will reveal which design-build firms truly take pride in their work, and quickly separate the design-build firms that are only interested in the check.
Understand the Purpose of Choosing a Design-Build Firm
Meeting in person is so important, because when you work with a design-build firm, you’re choosing to work with one company that will manage all aspects of the home remodeling project. They will have a team in place that includes designers, contractors, construction workers, and project managers. They take on the project management so that you only have to communicate with one person instead of juggling multiple contracts.
Homeowners who choose to work with a design-build remodeling firm spend 3.9% less on projects that are completed 13% more quickly. When you choose a design-build firm, you are choosing to work with and trust one team to manage your entire project. Design-build is more efficient, and it will save you money.
As one firm, we guide you from the initial design phase in which ideas are developed and turn them into your newly remodeled home during the build phase. In this way, we can more accurately calculate the financial investment and the time necessary to complete the project. Learn more about our process.
A Perfect Match?
The in-person meeting is much like a job interview for both you and the design-build firm. You’re making sure that the firm is the right choice for you, but they are also evaluating your needs and wants for your home and ensuring that it fits within their area of service. The interview is an important building block in the steps toward identifying who would best meet your needs. You may love the work of one design-build firm, but you mesh well with the personality of another. Although staying within your budget is always the goal, paying more for the right firm provides long-term benefits, like being able to sell your home down the road for much more than you expected. The in-person meetings will guide your end decision, offering a ton of information to help you to make the right choice.
“Part of being a professional is taking great care of our client’s homes and loved ones.”
Choosing the right design-build firm is about more than finding someone who can install new cabinets in your kitchen. This professional will be enmeshed in your daily life likely for months. They will regularly see and engage with you, your family, and your pets. They will exist inside your home until the project is complete. In order to choose the right design-build firm, you really must conduct an interview. No phone call or website will be able to offer the information you need to choose the right contractor. With a well-planned in-person meeting, you can find the right professional to create your dream home.
We’re excited to meet with you and learn about your home remodeling plans – or help you determine the next step in your remodeling journey. Give us a call today!
What Makes Nip Tuck Remodeling Unique?
- Nip Tuck Remodeling is a woman-owned design-build firm.
- We are expert planners that use a purposeful method to produce reliable, predictable results.
- We limit the number of projects we run concurrently to provide better service and communication with clients.
- Nip Tuck, April Bettinger, and several members of our team have been regularly recognized for their beautiful and unique designs, responsible corporate citizenship, and being among the best – not only in the greater Seattle area, but nationwide.
- In 2020, we founded Nip Tuck Cares, donating $30,000+ per year to volunteer, fund safe housing programs for homeless and low-income families, and support workforce education and development in our community.
