Our Home Remodeling Process

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We believe in transparent communication before construction. It is important to listen to your concerns, expectations, ideas, and opinions. We have found it is the best way to turn wood, plaster, and tile into a place where you and your family will feel comfortable at home. And because your satisfaction is important to us, we make it a point to stay in touch throughout the life of the project. It’s just the way we do business.

Our initial consultation takes place in the comfort of your home and typically lasts 45–90 minutes. This meeting allows us to have a focused and effective conversation about your project. During this time, we’ll assess the scope of your goals and share examples of projects of similar size and complexity.

We’ll ask questions to understand why you’re undertaking the project and identify the specific challenges you aim to address. Our team excels at creating innovative solutions tailored to your needs. We’ll also discuss your expectations regarding the project timeline and your budget for the investment in your home.

Finally, we’ll walk you through our Design-Development Process and address any questions you may have. At the conclusion of the meeting, the only decision you need to make is whether our design-build process aligns with your vision. If it does, we’ll schedule a follow-up consultation to take the next steps together.

The Design Agreement serves as a blueprint for the project’s design phase. It outlines a high-level scope of work, the design budget, and the Design Retainer Fee. This agreement provides details about the work conducted during the design phase, including scheduled meetings and support throughout the process.

• Meetings and Coordination: The design phase includes three meetings with the Architectural Designer or Draftsperson, four meetings with the Design Coordinator, and multiple trips to showrooms to assist with product selection.

• Initial Design & Style Meeting: This phase begins with a site visit to your home, where our Draftsperson and Design Coordinator will familiarize themselves with the space, confirm measurements, and discuss design aesthetics.

• Concept Development: Following the initial meeting, we will create four to five conceptual layouts for your consideration. These will be refined into one or two variations as we finalize selections and incorporate spatial planning, such as furniture placement.

Timeline: The Design Development period typically spans 6 to 14 weeks, with meetings approximately every 10 days. The schedule may vary depending on your availability and the amount of work required between meetings.

Deliverables: The Design Retainer Fee, which ranges between 6% and 10% of the Opinion of Probable Cost (OPC) based on project complexity, covers the following:

• Exploration of design options
• Development of plans, elevations, and perspective drawings
• Creation of 2D renderings
• A detailed scope of work
• Coordination of a trade walkthrough
• A GANTT construction schedule
• An estimated project cost

This structured process ensures a comprehensive and collaborative approach to designing your project, laying the foundation for a successful construction phase.

 Approximately two-thirds of the way through the Design Development period, we will perform a Trade Walkthrough with our production staff and team of trade people specific to your project. During that visit, we will peak behind walls and discuss mechanicals and make sure it’s constructible.  

We don’t like surprises and neither do our clients. By doing this, we are confident that we can give you a firm price for the scope of work. 

Customers should expect an initial meeting to review the construction schedule, milestones, and any necessary preparation (e.g., clearing furniture or securing permits). 

Element Home Creations will be obtaining the required permits and approvals once plans are finalized. We will give you a clear understanding on what is needed and provide access or documents when necessary. Understanding the Scope: Ensure all parties agree on the scope of work, materials, designs, and timelines before construction begins.

    • Apply for permits once plans are finalized. 

• Design confirmation meeting. 

• Consolidation meeting. 

• Pre-Construction Meeting. 

Pre-construction is a 5–6-week period where we plan the execution of your project. There are four essential parts to the pre-construction phase.  

A. Permits and Engineering- We finalize any structural engineering required prior to submitting for permits in this part of the process. Once all plans are finalized, we apply for the necessary permits with your county.

B. Design confirmation meeting in our office- We will review and finalize design selections so that long lead items can be ordered.  

C. Consolidation Meeting-  This ‘behind the scenes’ meeting happens at our office. It’s during this meeting that the baton is passed from our design department to our production staff. This is a critical meeting as it is when the necessary resources are identified and scheduled to ensure that your project is completed on the timeline you have requested.  

D. Pre-construction meeting scheduled to take place at your home- This is the meeting where our production team will walk you through the construction schedule, identify where the temporary kitchen will be set up (if necessary), and discuss locations for the lockbox, dumpster, and material deliveries. 

We also review any other special accommodations which need to be made for household members, even the furry kind. 

In the remodeling business, substantial completion refers to the stage in a project when the work has been sufficiently completed according to the contract terms, and the space or structure can be used for its intended purpose, even if minor details or "punch list" items remain unfinished.   

Usability

• The remodeled area can function as intended, even if some minor work, touch-ups, or adjustments are still pending.

Defining Punch List Items

• A list of minor items (e.g., paint touch-ups, cleaning, or minor adjustments) that need to be completed is typically created at this stage.

Warranty Start Date

• Substantial completion often triggers the start of warranties for workmanship, materials, or equipment provided as part of the project.

Final Payments

• While not all payments may be due, substantial completion typically allows the contractor to receive a significant portion of the remaining balance, with a smaller amount withheld until punch list items are resolved.

Legal and Contractual Implications

• Substantial completion may define when responsibilities for insurance, utilities, and damages shift from the contractor to the owner.

Payment Note: Your two final payments will be for Substantial Completion and Punch List to ensure that we have completed the project and Punch List work to your satisfaction.