Frequently Asked Questions

A phone call to our office will almost always result in an initial meeting. Typically, this first meeting will last about an hour. It’s helpful to meet face-to-face. We want to learn as much as we can about your project, and we want you to get to know us a little, too. Typically, we’ll take what we learn, then determine, as best we can, the scope of the work and how best we can help. We’ll also provide you, at no charge, with a proposed fee structure and schedule from pre-construction right on through to completion of the work. If that meets with your approval, we will typically proceed to some form of contract. Or if you want to get started right now, just fill out the form in the side bar, and we will respond as soon as we see it.

It’s never too early to contact us. Sometimes, it can be appropriate to be talking to us before you’ve selected an architect; or even decided whether you need an architect for your project. What we can bring at the earliest stage is the ability to help you to develop a realistic budget and timeframe for what you want to do. If we come aboard early, we can supply you with accurate costing and scheduling information. We can identify long-lead items for your project. This is far preferable to getting involved just prior to the beginning of construction. Essentially, the earlier you involve us in your project, the more value we can provide.

That’s a question people start asking at a very early stage when the contractor can’t know for certain. There are too many unknowns. And that’s part of the expertise a contractor brings to the team: the ability to forecast costs. Estimating is a not a science, it’s an art. Some people are better at it than others are, but you can’t provide a firm price until the drawings and specifications are complete. If you authorize your architect or designer to complete a set of documents without really knowing what it’s going to cost, and it comes in over budget then what do you do? It’s back to the issue of the art of being able to realistically project costs and we think we’re better at it than most contractors. If we don’t get the job because someone else came up with a lower number, it’s likely because their guess wasn’t as thorough as ours. And be aware that the lowest number doesn’t generally equate to the cheapest price.

Absolutely yes. And we’ll be happy to demonstrate it to you. A contractor’s financial strength has a great deal to do with the final outcome of the project. It’s not unheard of in this industry for a contractor to get two-thirds of the way through a project, then go belly up. At that point, the owner really has a problem. If there’s a lending institution involved, they will do some careful looking, but we recommend you personally take a look at your contractor’s financial well-being. Ultimately, it comes down to track record and reputation.

If it’s a major renovation, and you can make it happen, it’s much better to do so. While we strive to create a safe, clean environment and always remain responsive to our clients’ needs, construction is a dirty, noisy environment. Particularly when we’re working in someone’s home, there’s the element of lost privacy during the entire project. There’s just no way to stop the noise; stop the personal disruption. Especially in a kitchen remodeling, it’s nearly impossible to keep a kitchen functioning throughout. So, if people can free up the space, it reduces their stress and is frequently the most economical approach as well.

Of course, if you need to stay in your home while your project is going on (and many people do), we will do our utmost to accommodate you. Our workers and subcontractors are courteous and reliable. We will install temporary protection, dust barriers, filters on registers, padding, etc., to minimize the impact on the rest of the house. We’ll look out for your kids, and even take care of your dog.

The first thing that makes Perkins unique is that the people we put in your home, especially the laborers and carpenters, are people who are actually on our payroll. They are handpicked by us and we’re very selective about who we hire. We’re also very selective about who we hold onto. In many cases, these folks have been with us for a long time because they’ve proven that they can do the work and be highly responsive to our clients. Our subcontractors are hand picked and chosen for their reliability and their dedication to our philosophy.