Below are some common questions that have come up by our clients when inquiring about our services or process, with the answers you're looking for to those questions. If you do not find the answers to your questions below, please don't hesitate to contact us to help you. If you prefer, give us a call at (503) 668-0710
Design-build is an integrated process of design and construction from conception to the finished project. The design effort starts with an interview to discuss your ideas and how you will use your new spaces. Soon after, a design concept is presented. You will be included in every step of the design until the final drawings and material specifications are completed, at that time we will provide you with a firm price contract to complete your renovation.
We do not recommend working through design during construction. We prefer using fixed-price contracts that are based on specific parameters. Too many times we hear examples where homeowners were subjected to increased project costs because the initial design stage was skipped. Over the years we have learned that the best practice is to allow proper time for design prior to construction.
Every project varies depending upon the scope of work.
Part of what makes us Specktacular is that we guide you through the selection process. We find most of our clients appreciate professional assistance in making color, product, and finish selections because we know it can be overwhelming. During the design phase of your project, we listen to your likes and dislikes to help discern your style; all while remaining mindful of your budget.
For smaller projects, prior to construction, we will prepare a fixed price contract. Our fixed price contract is determined by confirming the project parameters and specifications.
The short answer is a combination of both. The advantage of working with Specktacular Home Remodeling is that we have worked with our specialized trade contractors for several years. We have built strong relationships with them and they will treat you and your home with respect. We subcontract out electrical, plumbing, air conditioning and heating work due to the special licensing required by the State of Oregon. We also use specialty trades for items such as: Granite and quartz installation, ceramic and porcelain tile, painting, cabinetry, concrete, drywall, faux painting, ornamental iron, and others.
We have sound relationships with area lenders that can work with you. If you already have a lender, we can work with them to solidity a payment schedule for your project.
Included in our contract will be a very specific payment schedule tied to measurable project milestones. Typically we have a down payment due at contract signing and progress payments throughout your renovation. We understand you work hard for your money, we do too. We strive to ensure the payment schedule is fair for both parties. Our intention is to make payments comfortable for you while meeting our obligations as well.
We do work in specific areas so we can provide the best customer service to all of our clients. Please take a look at the Oregon cities we service or view our service map below.
If you are outside of our service area, please feel free to give the office a call. We may be able to help you locate another reputable contractor in your area.
When remodeling your home, the price should not be the only factor in choosing a contractor. Often a low price in this industry is a red flag and should cause some concern. Specktacular Home Remodeling has been in business since 1992. Throughout the years, we have seen many other remodeling companies come and go; usually, because they did not charge enough to remain in business or they cut-corners to remain profitable. Both scenarios put you and your home at risk.
Mitch and Debbie are nationally certified by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and have maintained an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We choose our trade and subcontractors carefully, ensuring they share our vision for quality, work ethic, and high customer service. We believe our work speaks for itself, please take a few minutes to view recent projects in our gallery >>
We also have many clients who have volunteered to be references for you! We are happy to provide you with their information should you wish to interview them.
At Specktacular Home Remodeling, we believe thoughtful design, exceptional construction, and ecstatic clients are essential when it comes to improving your home -- which is, after all, your most important asset.
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only independent national association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. NARI Pacific Northwest is our NARI local chapter.
Specktacular Home Remodeling is a proud member of both NARI and NARI Pacific Northwest. To be a certified member of these organizations you must meet the association's stringent criteria for experience, take continuing education courses, and most importantly pledge a commitment to high standards of practice, and practice NARIs Code of Ethics.
We are happy to meet with you to discuss your project! Our first meeting will be to discuss the scope of your project. During that conversation, we will determine if our services will meet your needs and see if we are good fit for one another.
Please read more about our process >>
Many will tell you three estimates is the norm for any remodeling project. However, we believe if a home improvement contractor comes highly recommended by a trusted source, then three estimates may not be necessary.
The most important part of choosing a contractor is finding one that will best fit for you and your family, which for many of our clients is one with experience in the industry and respect for their clients.
Keep in mind that additional work or a change to the projects original scope of work requested by you (the homeowner) will typically result in a change to the contracted price. Planning for the unforeseen or putting aside extra money for an upgrade can definitely make your remodel less stressful.
We do not work in the state of Washington at this time.
Should you have additional questions, please contact us via email or call our office at (503) 668-0710.
Our office hours are Monday through Friday 7:30 am – 4:30 pm. We try and schedule all appointments during this time frame. Typically, we do not set appointments during the evenings, weekends, or holidays. However, there are times when we can occasionally accommodate an early evening appointment. We believe our employees need time to spend with their family and friends to create a healthy personal and work life balance.
Please visit our contact page to have a team member contact you.
The short answer is no. Providing a ‘free’ quote or estimate is not fair to you or to the contractor involved. We do provide you with realistic budget ranges for your specific project.
To determine the cost of any remodel project, we need to spend time carefully designing and planning the project that you want. That is the only way to provide an accurate price for each individual project. You can read more about Our Process to find out more!
The sooner the better. Remodeling takes time and there are a lot of decisions to be made along the way. The sooner you contact us about your project, the sooner we can start designing and choosing products and materials for you.
We will also ask you what your timeline is and we will be honest if we think we can meet that timeline.
We have spent over a quarter of a century in this business, our job is to help you see your vision become a reality. If we do not have a realistic starting point, then we cannot design a space that is within your budget. There is nothing more frustrating for you as the client to get a design back that you love and realize that it is double or triple what you have to spend.
If you have no idea where to start for budget numbers, we always suggest looking at the Cost vs. Value report. This report compares the Portland area average costs for 21 popular remodeling projects and what you can expect as a return for your investment in updating your home. You can see the report directly from Remodeling Magazine here.
Absolutely! Many homeowners live in their home while we renovate for them because we are able to complete their project in stages. We recommend having a thorough design plan for each space before work begins, this helps you budget for each space, and can even help you save a bit of your budget by purchasing some of your materials in bulk.
If you enjoy lists like we do, it’s also fun “checking off” your completed projects as you go. Ask us about creating a Master Plan for you when you Contact Us.
Yes and no. While we do believe in some sweat equity, there are times when we simply cannot work it into our schedule, and other times when it works great. We work on tight timelines so that we can get in and out of your home in a timely fashion. If you choose to do some sweat equity, you will also be required to work on that tight timeline. If the work you promised to be completed is not done, then we are forced to do the work which will result in a change order and added costs and time on your job.
Unfortunately, no, we only design projects that will be used by our team of professionals. If you are specifically looking for a designer we may be able to help you find one that fits your needs, you are welcome to call the office and ask us.
Working with another designer or architect prior to contacting our company is completely acceptable, we have worked with many in the past. We do recommend that you contact us so that we can also be involved in a meet and greet with the firm you have hired. Over the years we have found this helps all of us in the long run so the we can share our field experience with the designer or architect.
In most cases, if you have already designed your project and are happy with your plans, you may not need all the services that we provide. However, if you have questions, concerns, or aren’t sure if your design or plans are the right fit for you, please contact us and we can help you determine the best direction for you and your project!
One of the first steps beyond our initial meetings is to enter into a Professional Services Agreement (PSA). The purpose of this agreement is to provide you with valuable planning and design services while allowing the free flow of information and price analysis. Our design team will produce a design and working drawings for the purposes of finalizing pricing and contract details to remodel your home.
The services that are being used for your job will cover design and estimating time for our staff, as well as floor plans and 3D renderings. Specktacular Home Remodeling’s design team will also provide color and material selection services to coordinate the materials used for cabinets, counters, walls, and flooring. Upon completion of your plans and selections, we will discuss your project investment. We may also use the PSA to do any demolition and discovery prior to a project starting if we are all in agreement that there are severe structural integrity problems that are unable to be seen prior to starting a full-scale remodel.
PSA services are invoiced to the customer on a weekly basis, unless there are no services rendered that week.
Typically, yes you will need a permit. We are required to meet certain building codes when completing most projects. Our staff and our trades all work with local permitting offices. We know when a permit is required and the necessary paperwork that each office will need to issue the permit. Once we have the final design for your project, we will take care of getting the correct permits and inspections.
Each project that we complete is different and the time for design is usually dictated by how large or how complex the project is. During design there will also be several meetings, either by phone or in person to go over the design and select materials. Often, we are bound by the client’s responsiveness, our staffs work load, trade contractor’s timelines, and the timeline of product and material deliveries. Our typical design process can take 4-10 weeks. If you have more questions, you can look at Our Process page for additional details.
For more information and resources, check out our Resources page for assistance.
