Most home renovation horror stories trace back to the same thing — unclear ownership of the next decision. We've designed our process around eliminating that. Here's exactly what working with us looks like, start to finish.
Whether the project is a kitchen refresh or a whole-home renovation, the eight phases below are how we run every job. The phases scale — a small bath remodel may compress phases 4 and 5 into a few weeks; a whole-home addition may stretch the same phases across months. The structure is the same.
We believe in open communication, transparency, and a collaborative approach that puts your needs and desires at the forefront. From the initial design consultations to the final walkthrough, we're with you every step of the way.
You tell us about the project, the home, the family, and the constraints. We ask the questions that surface what's actually being built — not just what's on the wishlist. By the end of the call, you'll know whether we're a fit and roughly what to expect on cost and timeline. If we're not the right team for the project, we'll say so and recommend someone who is.
Owner-led walkthrough of the property. We measure, photograph, look behind, under, and above — checking the bones the way a builder does, not just the surfaces a homeowner sees. We listen to how you'll actually use the space and ask questions that shape the eventual design. You learn how we work; we learn what we'd be building.
For most projects, an architect or designer is involved. We collaborate with the firm you've chosen or bring in partners we trust. For smaller projects, we can lead the design ourselves. Either way, we're translating the design intent into something that can actually be built — flagging buildability issues early, not at framing.
Line-item pricing for materials, labor, allowances, and identified risk areas. Realistic schedule with permitting buffer. Payment milestones that match progress, not the calendar. No boilerplate, no "TBD," no vague allowances designed to win the bid. What you sign is what you'll spend, with a written change-order process for the inevitable surprises.
We handle every permit application, plan-check revision, and inspection coordination with Marin County and the city building departments. For design-review districts (Tiburon, Ross, parts of Mill Valley), we manage the design-review submittal too. You see the timeline; we own the work.
Single project manager from start to finish. Weekly client updates with photos. Owner walkthroughs at every major phase — pre-drywall, post-cabinetry, pre-paint. Site is protected, cleaned daily, and managed so the home stays liveable around the work. In-house trades for plumbing, electrical, and finish carpentry — no subcontractor handoff confusion.
Owner-led punch list. Every item documented and tracked until you sign off. We don't close the project until you've used it for a few days and surfaced anything that wasn't right the first time. Final cleaning, photographic record of completed work, full warranty documentation.
Written one-year workmanship warranty on everything we touch, in addition to manufacturer warranties on materials. We come back at month one for adjustments, at month six for any seasonal settling, and at year one for a full follow-up walk. After that we're a phone call away — we want to be the contractor your family calls for the next twenty years, not just the next project.
