Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Question 1

What Areas Of Phoenix Do You Serve?

Accepted Answer

Phoenix Home Remodeling services Ahwatukee, Sun Lakes, Chandler, Gilbert, and Tempe. For more information on where we service and if we will be a good fit, check out our good fit page.  The areas we service are very important due to efficiency and providing homeowners with the best service possible. If we had to run around from north Scottsdale down to south Chandler several times a day, we couldn't get to our homeowners nearly as fast and a lot of time would be wasted in the car instead of with the homeowner or working on the remodel project.

Question 2

What Type Of Remodel Services Do You Offer?

Accepted Answer

We do remodel projects that are inside the house, so no exterior projects.  Visit this website to see a list of the types of projects we offer and the ones we do not offer: home remodel services we offer

Question 3

What's Your Sales Process Like? (Am I Going To Be Pressured Into Moving Forward?)

Accepted Answer

We do remodel projects that are inside the house, so no exterior projects.  Visit this website to see a list of the types of projects we offer and the ones we do not offer: home remodel services we offer  What's Your Sales Process Like? (Am I Going To Be Pressured Into Moving Forward?) We hate the sales pressure felt in different scenarios like buying a car or getting new windows.  We are big on helping and education since homeowners only remodel 1-5 times in their life on average.  Not to sound boastful, but we get a lot of referrals and don't need to spend money on advertising so we don't need to pressure people to move forward.  We want people to want to move forward with us. Remodeling is a relationship driven service and we will be working closely together.    We need to make sure that we both want to work together. If there is pressure or a lack of respect, it hurts the relationship, and there is no reason for that.  You can learn more about how serious we take respect, our process and you can schedule a call to see if we are a good fit for each other: Remodel process & schedule a call

Question 4

Why Do I Need To Make Sure A Remodel Contractor Has Workers Comp & Liability Insurance?

Accepted Answer

If the contractor doesn't have these and one of their workers is hurt you could be liable.  This could mean an increase in your insurance policy or you getting sued for any injury they occur or if they die.   If you are considering not using a licensed contractor that has the proper insurance, check out this article:  https://www.landesblosch.com/blog/hiring-a-contractor-without-insurance-what-are-the-risks/  Here is an excerpt from another article:  'Many contractors say it is not a big deal, and they would never sue you, but if a life changing event occurs, they are looking for someone to make them whole. Do you think a permanently disabled contractor would pass up the chance to sue your homeowners insurance policy for $300,000 or $500,000? These contractors do not take the time to protect themselves and their families before a claim happens. Yet, they are looking to protect their families after the fact with your insurance coverage. What if the contractor dies on the job like in my doctor scenario? Don’t you think the family would want to replace the lost income of the wage earner?'

Question 5

Why Do I Need To Make Sure The Remodeling Company Is Licensed?

Accepted Answer

One of the large problems with using an unlicensed contractor is there's very little recourse you or the ROC can take. If they aren't licensed, the ROC doesn't have a license to suspend or revoke.  There is very little recourse a homeowner has when an unlicensed remodeler walks away from a project or won’t fix their problems.  Here is a news article of it happening to 2 sisters in Ahwatukee: https://www.abc15.com/news/let-joe-know/when-a-renovation-goes-terribly-wrong

Question 6

Where Do I Go To Check If The Remodel Company Is Licensed And It's Really Them?

Accepted Answer

As shown in the last FAQ, there are unfortunately 'contractors' in the Phoenix area that use fake licenses and insurance.    It's absolutely horrible, but you can check their license and make sure it is really them. You can also see if they have any complaints with the ROC: https://roc.az.gov/  You can put our ROC# in there to check it.  Our ROC# is 313636.

Question 7

Should The Contractor And I Sign A Contract?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely.  It protects you and the contractor. In theory, it should be considered more like an agreement where things are out on the table so there is less chance of confusion down the road.  If they aren’t willing to provide an agreement or contract to you then they are either rookies or are hiding something.   BY ARIZONA LAW: Projects over $1,000 require an agreement. If they don't require you to sign an agreement, then it's time to run away from them.  You want to work with a company that spells everything out.

Question 8

Why Are Homeowners Choosing The Design Build Model?

Accepted Answer

Design Build Model is where the contractor helps the homeowner with all of the panning, design and feasibility of the project without the homeowner being obligated to do the construction part with them.  This is called the Feasibility, Planning and Design Package.  In the design-build business model, we plan everything out in advance before starting construction, which drastically reduces the issues that would often come up.  Planning is the most vital part to a construction project and unfortunately many companies do this poorly which inflict undue stress on homeowners.  This is an important article on the Design Build business model VS General Contractor business model.  That info in the link above explains the difference between the 2 and after reading it, we are confident you will see how much better the design-build process is for homeowners.  Design-build model ensures the exact costs are calculated due to a detailed scope of work and ensures you don't have the common contractor surprises.

Question 9

How Do You Keep The Dust Out Of Other Areas Of My Home?

Accepted Answer

Obviously construction is a messy job with a lot of dust.  We want your experience to be as pleasant as possible. We combat that with plastic zip walls (imagine blocking off an area with plastic walls - floor to ceiling), the industries best air filters called BuildCleans, and we ask that all items are removed from the construction zone and near it.   That being said, we do try to prevent but cant always eliminate all the dust. We will keep the job site as clean as possible but there are times it will get messy. In certain cases we will wait until the end of a part of the project for the end to do a final clean. If someone in the household is sensitive to odors or dust, they may consider being out of the house or allowing time for proper ventilation.  A little extra preparation goes along way to keep out dust and make your remodel experience a little better!

Question 10

Do You Guarantee Your Work With A Warranty?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We provide a 2 year warranty on all services, labor, and workmanship.  1 year warranty on materials. Appliances and fixtures are dependent on manufacturer's warranties which usually range from 1-3 years.  The exception is if we reinstall a used item such as an electrical light you like and it breaks 6mo later, it's the lights age and not because of us.  It's rare because the majority of people have us install all new items.

Question 11

I've Heard Of Contractors Leaving The Project Unfinished, Will You Do That?

Accepted Answer

This makes me sad when hearing about this. It recently happened to 2 nice sisters in Ahwatukee: https://www.abc15.com/news/let-joe-know/when-a-renovation- goes-terribly-wrong  We have never left a project.  I've heard some of the main reasons contractor leave a project are because:   - They didn't quote the job right in the beginning and can't finish it  - They lowballed the quote to get the business and then when they ask the homeowner for more they said no.  So they couldn't finish.  - They are bad with their finances (business cash flow, expense management, they can't read their P&Ls and balance sheets, buy nice things they can't really afford, etc)  To set your mind at ease: The co-owner Jeremy went to the Owen college of Business and has a bachelors degree in Finance and he also owns a personal finance & credit education company.  Phoenix Home Remodeling has no debt - not a single debt on a car, tool or equipment.  We run a very lean company and the majority of expenditures are around the client experience - software for efficient processes, the industries best air filters, the best laborers and a dedicated Project Manager as one point of contact for homeowner from beginning to end.

Question 12

How Do I Know I Will Get Quality Work At A Reasonable Price?

Accepted Answer

We could discuss all the ways we are different from many contractors out there but the best way is to look at our reputation.  Client reviews speak volumes about a contractor and doing what they say they will do.   We suggest looking at several review websites to check out what your neighbors are saying about any contractor you are considering.  As of writing this we have dozens of reviews on 3rd party websites and every single one is a 5 star. This is construction which is a hectic business, so at some point I'm sure we may not get a perfect review but that hasn't happened yet. That should speak volumes about who we are as a business, that we truly care and we do what we say we will.  We are not the most expensive because of our lean business approach mentioned above, but we are certainly not the cheapest because you can always find someone cheaper. If you keep asking for proposals and reducing the amount you tell them you will pay, you will find some guy (we like to call 'Chuck in a truck') who will underbid to get the job.  Then all the issues you hear about will come true. If you haven't heard about these types of issues, just type into Google: 'issues with contractor'.  Being candid: If price is the most important thing to you in a remodel, you are going to have a terrible experience with the cheapest contractor. Check out this guide on How To Avoid Choosing The Wrong Contractor.

Question 13

I’ve Heard Horror Stories Of Not Having Someone To Reach During The Remodel, Will I Have To Deal With That With You?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely not.  One of the things you'll notice about our reviews is people love how we are always letting them know what is going on. Some of the areas we provide ourselves on communication:  - What to expect next (We have emails, print outs and project management software to let you know)  - You have a dedicated Project Manager for any questions or concerns.  They are your main point of contact from start to finish!  - We use a software called BuilderTrend that allows for amazing communication for everything from financials, scheduling, selection items (your shopping list!) ,change orders, progress photos, daily logs of work done and much more.  Homeowners love this especially if they are on vacation or gone for a few days they can still see the progress)

Question 14

Why Do You Require A Phone Conversation Before We Meet?

Accepted Answer

There are some projects that do not fit our company's profile and process and we would rather have a conversation first so we don't waste your time or ours with a meeting.  The 1st call is good because you don't have to leave work or something else to be at your home. We discuss your remodel project, what you want to accomplish and we get to know each other a little better  If it is a good fit for both of us, we schedule the in-home evaluation at the end of the phone call.  If it is not a good fit we can often point you in the right direction and help as much as possible. We want to make sure you do not have the contractor nightmares that the co-owner Jeremy went through. It's the reason he started Phoenix Home Remodeling with Mark and Ben.   Another great aspect about the call is we type up everything you are looking to do over the phone, so it makes the in-home evaluation more effective and it saves time when we are there. We are all so busy these days, this process helps reduce your time.  If you would like to schedule the phone call to see if we are a good fit to then potentially do the in-home visit, check out our processes and schedule a phone call here:  Remodel process & schedule a call

Question 15

When Can We Meet For An Appointment?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely.  We do the first initial phone call as described in the above FAQ.  Then we come to your home to take measurements, pictures, and review your needs in more details.  We do not sell at the the in-home evaluation or at any point in the process.  The in-home evaluation is fun because you get to discuss your dream remodel and we talk & work together on how to make that vision a reality. We discuss colors and styles you like along with the functionality of the space.  If you would like to schedule the phone call to see if we are a good fit to then potentially do the in-home visit, check out our processes and schedule a phone call here:  Remodel process & schedule a call

Question 16

Do You Provide A Free Estimate?

Accepted Answer

Yes we do. On the initial phone call we will review your remodel needs and then provide a rough estimate range over the phone. If it seems like a good fit for both of us and the range is within your target investment than we schedule the in-home remodel.  Once the in-home is completed we create a more detailed scope of work and setup a second meeting.  This next meeting is to go through your detailed scope of work, the pricing and make adjustments to fit your needs.  We then discuss the Feasibility, Planning and Design Package.  This is the design-build business model where we plan everything out in advance before starting construction, which drastically reduces the issues that would often come up.  Planning is the most vital part to a construction project and unfortunately many companies do this poorly which inflict undue stress on homeowners.  This is an important article on the Design Build business model VS General Contractor business model.  That info in the link above explains the difference between the 2 and after reading it, we are confident you will see how much better the design-build process is for homeowners.  If you are ready to move forward with us, we sign the Feasibility, Planning, and Design Agreement, this gets the ball rolling to start the design process along with the planning.   This ensures the exact costs are calculated due to a detailed scope of work and ensures you don't have the common contractor surprises.

Question 17

Will You Look At A House We Are Considering Purchasing?

Accepted Answer

Once you have signed a contract on a house, we would love to get the ball rolling. We have found from our years of experience that looking at houses that are not under contract can be a huge time commitment. We had to make the decision to progress the conversation once a contract has been signed.  If you are looking to get a ballpark number, check out our online kitchen and bathroom cost calculators.

Question 18

Should I Get More Than One Estimate Before Making A Decision?

Accepted Answer

Comparing different estimates can certainly help, but judging their workmanship, how well they run their business and customer service can be tough.  We believe you should 'interview' at least a couple contractors not only for how much they will cost but much more important issues and items in the long run.  We created this guide to help with this specific type of thing.

Question 19

Can You Create The Design Render For My Project?

Accepted Answer

We do once we get to the design phase of the project. There is not point in creating a render after spending 30-60 minutes going over your goals. It's like a surgeon doing surgery without knowing what's wrong with the patient.  You can hire us first to do all of the design and logistics for your project without the obligation of the construction.  This is called the Feasibility, Planning and Design Package.  This is the design-build business model where we plan everything out in advance before starting construction, which drastically reduces the issues that would often come up.  Planning is the most vital part to a construction project and unfortunately many companies do this poorly which inflict undue stress on homeowners.  This is an important article on the Design Build business model VS General Contractor business model.  That info in the link above explains the difference between the 2 and after reading it, we are confident you will see how much better the design-build process is for homeowners.  If you are ready to move forward with us, we sign the Feasibility, Planning, and Design Agreement, this gets the ball rolling to start the design process along with the planning.   The design renderings are all part of this design process where we can actually place the exact items you pick into the rendering and provide the exact cost with everything planned out.  This ensures the exact costs are calculated due to a detailed scope of work and ensures you don't have the common contractor surprises.

Question 20

Why Do You Ask Us To Pick Out Our Selection Items Before We Start The Project?

Accepted Answer

This may seem strict at first, but boy does this make a difference in the experience you have and the timeline on how fast your project is completed. (No one wants construction people in their house any longer than is necessary!)  We ask that the selection items such as faucets, light fixtures, etc are picked out before we start the demolition. We can move pretty fast and we don't want things holding up the project. It also can hinder having a trade person complete their task.  Here is an example: You chose a contractor you didn't know was unorganized. They are redoing your kitchen or bathroom and they didn't make you choose your sink or faucet beforehand.  The countertop fabricator shows up at your house to take measurements before they cut the countertops.    The countertop fabricator asks for the sink and faucets to be able to template it correctly but the unorganized contractor didn't make you pick it out. Countertop fabrication appointments are usually 1-1.5 weeks out.  So now your project just went from, let's say 4 weeks up to 5 to 5.5 weeks.  And if you are having a busy week and you can't pick the those 2 items before that time-frame then it pushes it out farther.  That's just one example of simply not having the sink and faucet picked.  Everything in our process we ask homeowners to follow is for their benefit.  Many homeowners like the fact that they can lean on us to let them know what needs to be done and then they don't have to worry if things are going to be done, completed on time or the other issues unorganized contractors inflict.  To learn more about our process review this page with a video from the co-owner Jeremy, showing behind the scenes on the process we are known for.

Question 21

Do You Accept Credit Cards?

Accepted Answer

We accept credit cards and there is a 3% fee for Visa, MasterCard, & Discover and 4% for AMEX to cover our merchant account fee.

Question 22

Are There Options For Other Remodel Financing?

Accepted Answer

There are many options for remodeling financing.    Jeremy has his bachelor's degree in Finance and wrote up an article on the pros & cons of remodel financing options.

Question 23

How Much Does The Average Bathroom Remodel Cost?

Accepted Answer

Bathroom remodels can vary in cost due to things like the size of the room, wall removals, how long the shower is, how high the shower tile is going up, how long the vanity is (cabinets and countertops), what you want done with lights or other electrical and so much more.  A complete master bathroom remodel is usually $30-$55k, depending on many factors.  A guest bathroom remodel is usually $18-$25k, depending on several factors.  Since there are so many different factors, we created an estimator where you can choose your scenario and it provides a rough number to get an idea of what the cost would be:  Bathroom remodel cost estimator

Question 24

What Is The Biggest Cost Factors To A Bathroom Remodel?

Accepted Answer

The biggest factor in a bathroom remodel is usually the shower.  Shower floors are the most expensive aspect because they are the biggest liability.  Many people might think the largest liability is something like electrical because of fires.    Shower leaks are unfortunately very common and we get a lot of calls from homeowners who need help remodeling because of a leak.  Here's our shower remodel process: Shower remodel process  If you are looking to do a bathroom renovation, we highly recommend reviewing these bathroom remodel tips.

Question 25

How Much Does The Average Kitchen Remodel Cost?

Accepted Answer

As mentioned above about bathrooms remodels, kitchens have a lot of variables involved too like the amount of cabinets, the style of cabinets you want (huge variation of cost in the type of styles), if we are removing any walls, how large the kitchen is, how much countertops, what plumbing or electrical you want moved or changed and several other factors.  Since there are so many different factors, we created an estimator where you can choose your scenario and it provides a rough number to get an idea of what the cost would be:  Kitchen & bathroom remodel cost estimators

Question 26

Should I Tell The Remodeling Company What My Budget Is?

Accepted Answer

I understand if you do not want to tell a remodeling company your budget for your project.  You don't want them working backwards and charging you more than they should.  It is very important for a remodeler to know roughly what your budget is because just the type of materials you pick could literally double the price of the project.  Even though that is not common it is not an exaggeration.  Remodels vary so greatly because it is all based off of measurements, what you want removed, what you want added and your tastes. (Some people want kitchen cabinets that are basic and some people want to spend 40-50k just on the cabinets themselves)  Another reason it is important to make sure your expectations are correct.  Part of our job is to balance your wallet with your wishlist. If you want to do a full kitchen remodel that is going to be around $40,000 and you only want to spend $10,000 than its not realistic.  There's no fault, it's just not realistic.  Luckily we have found a good solution to all of this: On the first call we ask for basic measurements of things you want replaced and we provide a range of what that could cost. This way, you don't have to provide your budget but we can make sure what you are looking to spend, verse what you want is realistic and doable.  If you would like to schedule the phone call to see if we are a good fit to then potentially do the in-home visit, check out our processes and schedule a phone call here:  Remodel process & schedule a call

Question 27

If I Want To Make A Change Once The Project Started, Is It Possible And How Is It Handled?

Accepted Answer

As long as the work has not been done then we can usually make the change.  If the project hasn't been started then that is much easier.  It is common to want to make a couple small tweaks before the project starts and that is normal.   If there is a change you want to make, or something we find after doing demo that is new, we explain it to you, review it and then do what is called a change work order.  The change work order makes everything very clear and it is inside the homeowner portal so you always have access to it.  You approve the change order inside the software so there are no financial surprises.  Check out the software we use for change orders and why it is vital you choose a company that uses some type of software like this.

Question 28

Will You Provide Me With The Schedule?

Accepted Answer

Inside BuilderTrends online portal, there is a calendar feature.  Because construction is so dynamic we have found the best homeowner experience is having our Project Manager keep you up to speed with the schedule. This way you are informed quickly and more personally.  You'll know when different aspects of the project are being completed, when you would want to be out of the area (such as demo day, cabinet install day ,flooring).  Communication is very important to use and we want you to have the best remodel experience possible.

Question 29

How Long Will My Project Take To Complete?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the type of project, how large the rooms are, if we are removing walls, what materials are being used, how much electrical is being changed, how much plumbing is being changed and many other factors.  For this reason it is very specific to each project.    We like to finish the project as fast as possible.  Every day that there is a delay costs us money, so we don't want it going any longer than it needs to.    Luckily we use project management software with Gantt Charts, automated to-dos, messaging and other advanced features to progress the remodel project as fast as can be safety done, while still providing high quality work.

Question 30

Can You Tell Me Who Will Be In My Home?

Accepted Answer

All of our tradesmen are licensed and insured and they uphold the same values as the 3 owners of Phoenix Home Remodeling.  It is very important to us that you feel comfortable in your own home.  Your Project Manager coordinates everything with our tradesmen and you always know what is going on and who is in your home.  You'll notice many of our reviews mention how we keep the house clean (as much as possible considering it's construction), we are polite, respectful and it is easy working with us.

Question 31

Can I Pick My Selection Items For My Project?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Selection items are those items that the homeowners pick out like a kitchen sink, faucets, backsplash, shower tile for the floor and walls, countertops, flooring, electrical fixtures, etc.  Our proposal includes the cost for them with an allowance so you aren't surprised with an additional cost for all of those items.    All of the items are in the online portal so you have a shopping list to pick out what you like.    You can pick your items from anywhere you want but we have several places we know have the higher quality items at the best prices.  We provide you a paper with all of the best places to find your selection items for the remodel and we help you ensure they all go together and fit well in the space.  This video shows the software where you easily tell us which it's you want to pick and how we help you with picking your selection remodel items.

Question 32

Do I Need To Move Out Of My House While The Remodel Project Is Happening?

Accepted Answer

As you can imagine, construction can get pretty messy.  There's a few phases of a remodel that are best to have homeowners out of the house (not necessarily moved out, but just not in the house) such as demo days, flooring in multiple rooms where you can't walk on it, cabinet install days in a kitchen or multi room remodel or if we are painting the entire inside of the house.  If it's just one bathroom then there is usually no need to be out of the house.  The larger projects are best for the homeowner not to be around and it's in everyone's best interest.  If there are any scenarios where you may want to be out of the house, your Project Manager will let you know ahead of time to decide on what you would like to do.

Question 33

I've Heard Some Contractors Leave Scuff Marks On The Walls After They Are Done With The Project, Will That Happen With You?

Accepted Answer

We like to paint towards the beginning of the project and then we do touch ups at the end so this isn't an issue. Sometimes we paint at the end depending on the situation.  Homeowners love that we do this, so it's one less thing to worry or think about. We just have to let homeowners know ahead of time so they know it will fixed before the project is completed.  Even with due diligence and being careful during a remodel, things can still get scratched/hit. Some touch-up might be required. A lot of times we are painting the area where the project is occurring and we are already painting the area.  If we are not painting the area where a scratch occurs, then we ask if you have extra recent paint or we use paint match technology. Paint match is where you take a sample to Dunn Edwards, Sherwin Williams, Lowes, etc and they match the paint.  The challenge is in some instances the sheen or hue may be slightly different to where it may not be an exact match.  This isn't something on our end, it's all paint companies.   We do everything in our powers to be careful, respect your home and work out and challenges like paint matching.

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