Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How long has Del Sol Construction been in the remodeling business?
Answer: Del Sol Construction has been remodeling homes in and around Atlanta for more than 30 years.Question: Do you guarantee your work?
Answer: All of the work we do is guaranteed for a full 2 years! If there are any defects in our workmanship, we come back promptly – for FREE!Question: Do you do "free" estimates?
Answer: Our initial consultation is free of charge. This usually takes place at your home where we'll discuss your plans and what possibilities may exist with respect to your specific situation. From this initial consultation we can generally provide you with a "high-low" budget range either during that initial visit or after some time spent estimating back in our office. This, along with some due diligence is generally enough information for you (and us) to determine if we are a good fit as your contractor.We do charge for all design, estimating, specifying and feasibility work beyond this point. This work is almost always required in order to determine an accurate cost for your specific project. If you and your spouse or partner feels that you would like to move forward, we will generate a Design/Build Agreement or a Just Build Agreement based on your specific goals and budget. This allows us to do the work necessary to thoroughly design and estimate the cost of your project without any obligations to the actual construction of the project.Question: Do you guarantee your prices?
Answer: The price we quote is guaranteed as long as the scope of work and specifications don't change. If you ask for different materials or additional work is needed, the price will change. You will be informed immediately if and whenever this occurs. In order to know whether something has changed requires that every task and item be clearly spelled out in writing so there is a clear record of the agreement. Del Sol Construction provides very detailed proposals so you will know exactly what was included and what wasn't. As a result, we rarely have any misunderstandings.Question: How can I be sure I will get a quality job at a fair price?
Answer: This is closely related to the question above. However, bear this in mind - REPUTATION, REPUTATION and REPUTATION! If you have chosen a contractor that has an impeccable reputation for doing quality work in the community, chances are high that you will get a good job at a fair price.Again, words of caution though – check references and visit jobsites to see the work first hand. Any reputable contractor will welcome the chance to show off his work.
Although remodeling can be and often is very dusty and dirty, we take measures to reduce the mess while your project is under construction. We install plastic dust barriers and drop cloths to isolate the construction area as much as practicable. We cover any HVAC registers in the work areas. We often incorporate "negative draft" practices to help further reduce the migration of dust to other areas throughout your home.
The bottom line is we are very sensitive about dust control and all of us are very conscientious. We will do what we can to make sure your experience is as pleasant as possible.
Question: How do you handle Change Orders?
Answer: All work that constitutes an additional charge will be done through a written Change Order. These are done weekly and if for some reason that is not possible you will at least be kept informed until we can produce a Change Order. This way you will always know what we are doing and where you stand financially. This eliminates the "surprises" at the end of your project and allows you to make sound financially decisions, upgrades for example, along the way.Question: I've had incompetent and unfriendly workers in my home before. Can you tell about whom you plan to have in my home?
Answer: We have been told numerous times by our clients that they will "miss us when were gone." In fact I've been asked several times by some of our suppliers (local lumber yards) "how have you managed to find such a good group of guys?"All of the people we employ are clean, enjoyable people with very friendly personalities - all of which you will gladly welcome into your home. Just ask any of our references and they'll gladly confirm this.
Question: I've had projects completed in the past that seemed to be "designed" as the contractor went along; we didn't really know what we were getting nor what it was really going to look like until the end and the whole project seemed very inefficient. How can I
Answer: All of our projects are carefully designed and planned through our integrated design process. We design your project thoroughly, plan it out thoroughly, estimate it, specify it and quote it thoroughly – all upfront, before we start.You will know EXACTLY what we are doing and what it will cost before we even get the permit.
Question: I've heard stories of contractors starting a job and then leaving before it's finished or taking forever because they come and go. When you start my job will you stay until it's finished?
Answer: We have heard these stories too and we do absolutely everything possible to keep your project moving along quickly. Many of these stories stem from contractors spreading themselves too thin. We never take on more projects than we can handle at any given time and therefore our projects rarely sit idle. If there is work that can be done on a given day, someone will be there working.Question: Should I anticipate any costs beyond the contract price?
Answer: Most remodeling projects do cost more than the original contract price. This is caused by several factors including; unforeseen conditions like decayed framing, hidden pipes or wires, etc… Other causes included changes in the design or plan, upgrades or additional work requested by the homeowner. Given our level of experience, we normally anticipate many problems ahead of time; problems often overlooked by other contractors, and do our best to factor these into our price.However, despite our best efforts to control costs, our clients typically spend between 5-12% more than the original contract amount. Therefore we recommend that you have this amount in additional funds set aside to afford you the flexibility to make changes and upgrades as you see fit as the job progresses and to allow for unforeseen costs. It's important to note that Del Sol Construction will not charge more than the original contract price unless we do additional work or incur addition costs beyond what is stated in our contracts.
Question: Should I consider moving out of my house during the remodel?
Answer: Remodeling can be a little inconvenient and messy, especially when it comes to interior living spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. However, most of our projects are completed while our clients occupy their homes. Our clients find our team of mature craftsmen and professional tradesmen to be very courteous, conscientious and accommodating. But, if your project is extensive, it may become more practical for you to temporarily move out. You can discuss you specific situation with us prior to scheduling your project.Question: Should I get other estimates before proceeding?
Answer: Getting other estimates is a personal decision. Only you can decide if will you feel comfortable having not gotten other estimates. It's very easy to compare prices but very difficult to compare scopes of work and specifications and even more difficult to compare service and craftsmanship. All too often people are tempted by a lower price and live to regret it when they don't get the job they expected or worse, things start falling apart. Our advice has always been - hire a contractor you trust and feel confident will do a profession job for you. Gain this confidence by doing your due diligence – check references and ask lots of good questions.A recent report published by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry confirmed that 91% of the homeowners that "seriously considered only one or two remodeling contractors" were completely satisfied. Satisfaction rates dropped significantly for those considering several contractors.
