If you’ve been researching or shopping around for the best remodelers for your home, you’ve likely heard horror stories. From the unlicensed and uninsured to those with poor communication and unrealistic expectations, there are a lot of things to avoid.

So, how can you make sure you’re in good hands with your long-desired home remodel?

Adam Smith, Slate Design and Remodel founder, answers key questions to help you have the best home remodel experience possible.

Q: What are the most common challenges homeowners face when doing a basement remodel?

A: Not enough information provided to the homeowner. You want to set realistic expectations about:

• How dusty it will be.
• How loud it will be.
• How long it will take.

Setting realistic expectations is key to a good relationship with your remodelers. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Q: Are there any red flags homeowners should be aware of when selecting a remodeler?

A:

• Poor communication. If the remodelers you contact are not responsive, are not great listeners, or drop the ball on returning calls, it’s a bad sign! Seek out great listeners who reliably follow up.
• Rock-bottom pricing. Avoid looking for the best price. Instead, focus on the best outcomes. Base this on past projects, customer reviews, and personal recommendations from friends and family.
• Poor projections. If the remodelers make the project seem like a breeze or insinuate it will have no hiccups, they are probably setting poor expectations.
• Bad personality fit. The relationship with your remodeling team matters because you will be seeing them a lot throughout the project. If you don’t enjoy being around them, that’s a bad sign.

Q: What sets a professional remodeling team apart from your average remodeler? How can homeowners make sure they are in good hands?

A: A great home remodeling team must have:

• Established systems and procedures.
• A history of great references, reviews, and successful projects.
• Good organizational skills, professionalism, and communication.
• The ability to communicate what it’s like to work together.
• Technology, including apps to share designs and to communicate with clients.
• Likeability. They must be easy to work with because you will be partnering with them for weeks, months, or even more than a year.
• All proper licensing and insurance, including a license that’s active with the state licensing board. (Check!)
• A clean business record. (Search for complaints.)

Q: What steps do the best remodelers do to help clients feel heard and to get the best results?

A: “The passion should come through. You should be able to get the sense that they really care about what they do.”

Great remodelers:

• Actively listen to clients. They listen more than speak.
• Take notes.
• Document everything.
• Recap conversations.
• Show passion.
• Genuinely care about their work.

Q: Tell us how Slate Design and Remodel has helped clients transform their houses? Can you share a favorite story or two?

A: This year, the Slate team finished a basement remodel. We later received a personal email thanking the entire Slate team. The client told us the remodel actually improved his marriage by creating a space to spend time together as a couple.

The couple now has a place to play pinball and cards, to watch movies, and to have fun together and with friends. That kind of message makes the work worthwhile.

Also, last week, the entire Slate team was invited over for tea to a client’s house. The client was so pleased with the work that he wanted us all to enjoy the newly updated kitchen.

The client was so thrilled about being able to host all three generations at the house now. This remodel created opportunities for closeness in their family, and that created a relationship of trust between us, the remodel team, and the client.

Q: Do you have any last tips for finding the best home remodelers?

A: Homeowners have lots of options.

• Ask people you know for home remodeler recommendations.
• Read about a potential remodeling team and their team members.
• Go to home shows equipped with questions, and meet different companies. Make sure they are likable and trustworthy.
• Don’t price shop, or you could become the next horror story. Remember, you get what you pay for.
• Look at the company website. Do they look professional?

Q: How does Slate Design and Remodel seek client feedback?

A: “It’s important to get that feedback in the middle…so we can fix it and get back on track really quickly.”

Client feedback is crucial. We survey at the midway point and at the end of the project. If anything is off target, the midway survey gets everything back on track. The follow-up survey helps us find room for improvement.

As the company founder, I call every client personally to get feedback.

Are You Ready to Transform Your Northern Virginia Home?

We wish you the very best experience finding the right Northern Virginia home remodelers for your project.

Please contact us if you are interested in discussing your kitchen, basement, or bathroom transformation