How We Work

The process we use with our clients...

Artisan Interiors and Remodeling is a process based company. We depend heavily on team work and cooperation throughout your kitchen or bathroom remodeling or additions project.

Our process is pretty simple...

We work with every one of our clients to ensure a synergistic relationship and a superior quality end product for our customers. That's our number one goal!

Our Process is Based on Defining Three Things:

1. Scope 2. Schedule 3. Value — in that order...

1. Scope
Scope is simply, "What are we doing?" The more information you can provide us up front the better... so we can understand exactly what is expected of us. Don't have an idea of what exactly you want? That's ok — we work with a team of highly qualified Designers and Architects who can help you put all of your ideas to paper.

2. Schedule
Schedule is simply, "How long is it going to take?" We develop an in-depth project schedule that depicts all trades required for the defined scope of your project. This allows our client to see exactly how long their project is going to take, and when they can expect to start using the new space.

3. Value
Value is simply, "How much is it going to cost?" Once the Scope and Schedule are defined, putting a Value to your project is really quite easy.

Here's An Example of Our Entire Remodeling Process in Action...

Mrs. Smith wants to remodel her kitchen after watching a design show on HGTV. A friend refers Artisan Interiors and Remodeling to her. She calls and explains that she's inspired to remodel her kitchen.

If Mrs. Smith doesn't have blueprints or preliminary drawings of what she wants her new kitchen to look like... we'll invite along a Designer (that we regularly work with) to our first meeting. This Designer will then work with Mrs. Smith, to help her come up with the preliminary drawings. From these printsw we will be able to define scope, schedule and value.

Does it have to be our designer that Mrs. Smith works with?

Absolutly not... but, Mrs. Smith will need to have a Designer on board to provide a set of prints to prep. Ok, back to our first meeting with Mrs. Smith. We bring along our Designer. Mrs. Smith and the Designer contract directly for the Designer's services and come up with a preliminary plan for the kitchen.

This process normally takes two to three weeks to get through, but can take longer depending on the complexity of the project and Mrs. Smith's ability to pick her finishes.

Does it have to be a completely finished design that Mrs. Smith and the Designer come up with?

No, because... Construction is a fluid process and this part of our process is no different. Mrs. Smith can always change her mind, but we need to begin to hone in on what it is that we'll be doing and that's where a Designer comes into the process.

A Designer knows taste, style and function and of course they're also able to begin to get a better idea as to where Mrs. Smith wants to spend her budget. Perhaps the most important thing to Mrs. Smith is granite counter tops. That's probably where she'll choose to spend the most... and our Designer or another Designer will help her make the best choices for her taste and budget.

What next?

When the preliminary design is approved we'll put together budget numbers (Value). This is not to be confused with a bid. All decisions are most likely not final... a lot can and will change during the entire process.

That being said, the budget numbers we give are a pretty solid indicator of where the project is going to come in on a price point.

What do we provide Mrs. Smith at this point?

We provide an in depth outline of the Scope as we understand it. We provide a project schedule defining exactly when we're going to have task done based on the start date, and we provide one number for Value (what it will cost).

We don't break out numbers, for all of the items included in Mrs. Smith's budget. One number... that is it.

Why do we do it this way?

We've found that breaking down each and every single cost, completely detracts from our ability to manage the process. If Mrs. Smith were to start critiquing every number at this point — she would get caught up in cost and not the Value of what she wants.

Do we ever give Mrs. Smith an individual break-out of the numbers?

Of course we do... in our contract with Mrs. Smith. We know, to get from the budget number stage to the contract stage is a lot of work on everyone's part. So it's at this stage we would ask Mrs. Smith for a commitment fee.

What's a commitment fee?

A commitment fee is a non-refundable that will be deducted from our first billing on Mrs. Smith's contract. Typically the commitment fee is $3,000-$5,000.

When Mrs. Smith gives us her commitment fee, she'll retain our services to assist her in finalizing all of the Scope of her project.

We'll bring all of our trade partners over to her house to look in every crevice, corner, attic, crawl space, etc. to ensure there will be few, if any, surprises when we actually begin the project.

And finally she gets a commitment from us in regards to our schedule.

How long does it take to get from budget numbers to contract?

Typically it takes an average of weeks to get through our process, but again a lot will depend on Mrs. Smith's ability to make decisions about scope and actually define her budget.

So.. Mrs. Smith has gone through the introductory process of meeting with us and our Designer, or choosing her own Designer to work with. She has gone through the budget number process, the commitment process, and now finally we get to the contract stage of our process.

What's the contract?

A contract is nothing more than the same document we provided at the budget numbers presentation with the exception that all of the Scope is clearly defined.

Now let's say that Mrs. Smith could not make up her mind on the exact type of granite she wants for her kitchen, we would include a budget line item for the granite called an "allowance."

An allowance is simply, a hard number that Mrs. Smith has to spend for the granite. She can spend less money than indicated and get it back or she can choose to spend more and make the difference up with a Client Upgrade (Change Order).

However, our goal is to have no allowances when we contract with Mrs. Smith, but there are occasions when this is simply not practical.

At the contract stage we always provide the same documents to each and every one of our clients:

1. The contract itself.
2. Attachment "A" which is the Scope.
3. Attachment "B" which is the Schedule.
4. Attachment "C" which is the break out of all Values.

Please note the repetitive nature of Scope, Schedule and Value. This is key to our process!

What happens at the contract stage?

Mrs. Smith signs, we sign and a deposit is secured (less the commitment fee that Mrs. Smith paid us earlier to retain our services). The deposit is 25% of the base contract (if under $100,000). If the contract is more than $100K, the deposit will be determined on a sliding scale, but will not be less than 10% of the base contract.

Whew, we now have a contract with Mrs. Smith and will begin work on her new kitchen remodel!

So, how long did all of this take?

On average the entire process from the time our phone rings to the time we contract is typically. Now, it can be shorter if Mrs. Smith is motivated, has some spare time and can make decisions about the design of her kitchen and the fixtures she wants.

It is not wise to rush through this process! In fact, we believe the more we plan, the better we will execute. And quite frankly, this should be the time when Mrs. Smith has some fun with the Designer... by finding new ways to use her kitchen, picking out color pallets, finishes, accesories, etc...

Are you ready to get the process underway? Then give us a call today at 720.488.7567 to get the ball rolling.

Learn Why We're Different than Other Remodeling Companies you can choose to work with >>