Every contractor has a different mode of operation. At Northwood, we do our best to minimize disruption to you and your family. We take your concerns seriously as we plan and carry out our construction. Below we outline the four phases of a typical engagement.
Orientation
It’s your home, and naturally you want to work with a company that inspires trust and confidence. So before any contracts are signed, we like to sit down with you and your spouse and give you an opportunity to get to know us. And to tell us about your project. We’ll explain our process in detail and give you honest answers to your questions. At Northwood, we’ve built our entire business on trust. And gaining your trust is important to us.
Design
Our goal is to make your remodeling project painless and free of surprises. One of our designers will come to your home to see the future worksite firsthand and to help you define the parameters of the job. If you like, show us pictures from design magazines or books — these help us understand what you hope to achieve. Based on your input, we’ll develop a design and a detailed scope of work. We know that cost is a concern, so we’re happy to discuss your budget and offer suggestions to keep the budget in line. Once you are satisfied with the design and price, we’re ready to begin building!
Site Preparation and Construction
We go out of our way to keep the construction site — and the rest of your home — clean and safe. That means the site is cleared at the end of each day and debris is hauled away each evening or deposited safely in an on-site dumpster or dump truck. We do everything we can to minimize disruption to your lives. A project manager (usually the lead carpenter) is on-site daily. He is happy to walk you through the worksite and answer any questions you have. But please keep in mind that he is there to work on your home.
We begin by clearing affected rooms and depositing any personal items in a designated place in your home. Then we will dismantle and dispose of any existing cabinetry, fixtures, and old appliances. We will secure all of the permits needed for the project, and all aspects of the construction are guaranteed to meet or exceed local building codes.
Handoff
When the work is completed, we will do a final walk-through with you to make sure that you are happy with every detail. Just in case a problem surfaces later on, we protect our customers with a 2-year warranty. If you discover a problem with the work we’ve done, we’ll repair it quickly at no cost.
