Contemplating a home remodeling project but unsure of what the process entails? Allow us to walk you through each step from initial encounter to job completion.
Pre-Construction
The first step in any remodeling project is reaching out to a contractor. Bennington Builders accepts both general inquiries if you’re unsure of how best to go about updating your home and specific requests if you already have a vision in mind. Once we’ve reached out and chatted about your goals for the project, we’ll set up a walkthrough of your space. This walkthrough process allows contractors to gain a more detailed understanding of the layout of your home and identify any logistical factors that may come into play during the construction process.
At Bennington Builders, our architect accompanies us on the walkthrough in order to take preliminary measurements, draw up rough sketches to confirm your vision, and give you a more accurate estimation as we discuss your budget. While some clients are nervous about having an open conversation about their budget, our team will never string you along or introduce surprise fees down the line. We pride ourselves on setting realistic expectations from our very first meeting with you.
After the walkthrough takes place, we move into the design phase. Though our team is adept at finding creative uses for your existing space and making suggestions to create the most value out of your project, we want to make sure we are staying true to your goals above all else. Once we have compiled all of your project information and feel confident we understand your needs, we create your architectural drawings. These drawings are made by a licensed architect and require meticulous attention to detail and understanding of local building codes. Bennington Builders is a design-build firm, which means that we conduct every step of the remodeling process in-house and communicate seamlessly with our architect during the design phase. One benefit of hiring a design-build contractor for your home project is that they are immediately able to remedy any concerns that arise giving them greater control over the timeline of your project. Once your drawings are finished, our team will offer you a contract complete with a final price estimate and detailed timeline of your project.
Building
Now the exciting part can begin – construction! Before any actual building is done, we prepare your home by installing protective equipment such as floor coverings, dust barriers, and silt fencing. We’ll also discuss logistics such as placement of a lockbox or a dumpster on your property depending on the nature of your project. Don’t worry about keeping track of all of the details – once the project begins, you will gain access to our personalized client software, BuilderTrend, which lays out your project build schedule alongside a comprehensive task list. We update your project weekly so that you are always up to date and can view your project information and relevant deadlines – such as material selections – in a consolidated, organized space. The selection of materials such as tiling and lighting fixtures certainly can become overwhelming, but Bennington Builders is happy to make suggestions based on your needs and offer our insights on the benefits and drawbacks of specific items. We always want you to have the highest quality materials within your budget, and we can help you avoid purchasing materials that won’t last or aren’t appropriate for your specific project.
Your project may not move through all of these phases depending on its scope, but here's a quick summary of the steps of the construction process.
Post-Construction
As the building process draws to a close, our team turns our efforts towards removing all construction debris and beautifying your space. Once we have a clear view of the space, our field team collaborates with you to make a “punch list” of final items that need to be addressed to ensure that the project is completed to your satisfaction. Even after our team has closed your project, we offer a one-year warranty on our work. A member of our team will walk through your space with you and take note of any small adjustments needed. Because Bennington Builders prioritizes client satisfaction and upholding the integrity of our work, you will never struggle to get your concerns addressed. Our founder notes that there’s “no fooling around” if you encounter an issue – “we just take care of it.”
We hope this article successfully demystified the home remodeling process for you! Beyond your project, we hope you’ll choose to support the work that Bennington Builders does by subscribing to our email newsletter, following us on social media, and leaving us a review!