Professional services–which add tremendous value during pre-construction–will give you a wealth of critical information about the feasibility of your project, its estimated cost, and a realistic timeline for completion before you even hire a contractor to actually start remodeling your home.

By getting a comprehensive understanding of everything that’s required to complete your project on time and within budget, you’ll rest easier knowing you’ve minimized the likelihood of project headache s while you’re away.

For starters, you want a contractor that’s bonded, licensed, and insured. It’s also a good idea to see how well the person handling your project communicates in person.

Can you communicate with them easily? Do they inspire confidence? Is it someone you can imagine working closely with for months at a time? While these things kind of come down to doing a gut check, it’s also a good idea to ask to speak to one of their long-distance clients for a reference.

While you might not know all the ins and outs of remodeling, your contractor should. That’s why it’s so important to choose a contractor that has an overall system in place–like our Total Homeowner Experience™–to ensure that your long-distance remodel goes off without a hitch.

For instance, at elevation 6225, our Client Strategists handle all planning and communications, so you always know exactly where your project stands. In particular, they’ll walk through your home with you before construction begins, reviewing all the essentials with you before you leave town.

They’ll identify utility shut-offs, get special instructions from you to give to the crew (like where workers should park!), arrange for climate-controlled storage for items you can’t remove prior to the remodel, and fill you in on our very advanced dust control system.

It’s all part of our Interior Home Protection plan, designed to keep your home safe, while putting your mind at ease.

During a remodel, technology is your best friend. It’s a great way to keep current on everything that’s going on while you’re away. For instance, at elevation 6225, every client has access to their Client Resource Guide through Google G Suite. The Client Resource Guide is a quick reference guide that includes information like: contact lists for preferred vendors, remodeling checklists, product & material guides, warranty information, and expert tips on home maintenance.

We also offer our clients our highly-rated Remodeling app. With the app, our clients have access to:

• Better Communication–No more text messages, emails, and phone calls! All project communications are stored in the app, making it a piece of cake to keep track of all project-related messages.
• Selection Management Made Simple – Homeowners have to select thousands of different finishes for their remodels. Our Remodeling app lets clients know the date they need to make a selection by, and then keeps track of those selections for all project members to see.
• Photos – We like to keep our long-distance clients in the loop! We take photos each week of the work done at the job site, then upload them into the app, meaning our clients always have visuals of exactly what’s going on with their remodels.
• Real-Time Budget Data – Let’s say a client’s budgeted $30K for tile and labor. With our app, each time tile is ordered for their project, they can see what percentage of their budget’s been used in real-time.
• Progress Reporting – Our clients have 24/7 access to the status of permits, job site activity, and change request logs. They can even approve change orders using the app, making sure there are no unnecessary project delays.

If possible, it’s a good idea to visit your remodel four times: (1) to meet your contractor in person to review the project scope, construction costs, and job schedule before signing a contract, (2) after demolition and before framing, (3) after cabinets and floors have been installed, but before finishes like counters and appliances have been put in, and (4) at final walk through to create a punch list of small items in need of correction.  These visits will allow you to make sure the project’s running smoothly, while putting your mind at ease.

Sure, a long-distance remodel can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. By following our tips, you can rest easy, knowing your remodel is proceeding exactly as planned.