Vague scopes
A one-page bid with a big number and no detail is how “that wasn’t included” happens six weeks in. Ours is itemized before you sign.
Home / Our Process
Your 6-step expert-guided journey
Our process provides seamless support from the first phone call to the day we hand you the keys. Each step offers expert guidance to help you reach your goals efficiently: a structured approach, tailored to your project.
01
Share your vision with us
Every great project starts with a conversation. Tell us about your space, your goals and your ideas. We walk the property, take measurements and photos, and ask the questions that surface the things people usually forget to mention, like the door that never closed right, the outlet that trips, the wall you’ve always wanted gone.
- Free on-site walkthrough, no obligation
- Honest first read on feasibility and rough budget range
02
Design & selections with our designer
This is the step most contractors skip, and the one that makes the rest of ours faster. Our design partner walks the project with you, learns what you like (traditional, modern, somewhere in between) and creates a design for your house. Then they select every material: cabinets, counters, tile, fixtures, paint, lighting. You approve a design. You don’t spend evenings in showrooms.
Design is by Suzanne Berceau Designs. See the work at @justopulencehouse.
- Included with every project, not an upgrade
- Every selection priced as it’s made, so the design and the budget agree before you sign
- Every choice made before demolition, so we order everything up front
03
Contract & payment
Once the concept feels right, we build a clear and detailed estimate that outlines every part of the project. No surprises, just transparency. The contract spells out scope, schedule, allowances and a payment plan tied to milestones you can actually see.
- Line-item estimate with allowances stated plainly
- Milestone payment schedule, never a big number up front
04
Preparation & coordination
Before work begins, we organize the moving parts: permits, trade scheduling, and ordering. Because the designer has already made every selection, we order everything at once, up front. Long-lead items are on the way before demolition starts. This is the unglamorous step that keeps projects on schedule, and it’s why ours are shorter.
- Permit review and applications for your jurisdiction
- Trade scheduling and long-lead material ordering
05
Construction
This is where everything comes together. Our team coordinates each trade, keeps the job site organized, and communicates with you throughout the process. Progress and quality are tracked every step of the way, and inspections are scheduled around the build so momentum doesn’t stall.
- Dust containment, floor protection and daily cleanup
- Written change orders, so nothing gets added to your bill by surprise
06
Final walkthrough & completion
The exciting part: reveal day. We walk the space with you, celebrate the transformation, and fine-tune any small details together. Once you love every corner, we hand you the keys to enjoy your new space, along with warranties and care notes for what we installed.
- Punch list completed before final payment
- Warranty and maintenance handoff
What this protects you from
The three ways remodels usually go wrong
Late selections
Tile picked during framing is tile that arrives after drywall. Our designer locks every selection before demolition, so long-lead items are ordered on day one, not mid-build.
Silence
The worst part of a bad remodel is not knowing. You get one point of contact and regular updates, including the bad news.
Questions about the process
How it works in practice
What does the first visit cost?
Nothing. The consultation and walkthrough are free, and you’re under no obligation to move forward. We’d rather find out early whether we’re the right fit.
How soon do you get back to me?
Within one business day of your call, text or form submission, and we’ll tell you honestly when we could realistically start.
What happens if something unexpected shows up behind a wall?
We stop, document it, price it and bring it to you as a written change order before doing the work. Old Puget Sound houses hide things; the surprise should be the condition, never the invoice.
Do I have to pick everything before you start?
You don’t pick anything alone. Our designer does the selecting with you, and yes, it all happens before demolition. That’s deliberate: with every material chosen up front, we order everything at once and the build runs weeks faster than the pick-as-you-go approach.
Step one is just a conversation
Tell us about your space and your goals. Everything else follows from there.