Frequently Asked Questions
How much does remodeling cost?
This may be the most important question in your mind as you begin your research on remodeling your home! Because every project is different you will need to speak with one of us to help you answer this question. When you contact us, we will be able to discuss some basic information with you and then give you a general range of costs for the type of project you are considering. If you wish to move forward, we will be happy to schedule an appointment to come take a look at your space and discuss your ideas. At that time, we may be able to give you more information on cost. Finally, if we are a good fit for you, we will create a formal proposal for your project which will be a detailed description of the work to be done and an exact project cost.
Why do bids take so long when other contractors give us a price right away?
Our project proposals are extremely detailed. We receive many compliments on the thorough and complete nature of our proposals and contracts. Additionally, we complete our work based on your accepted proposal. Our team uses these documents to assure we are completing the work exactly as you have agreed upon. For these reasons, it may take several weeks for you to receive a proposal from us. We encourage you to check in with us any time in the process to get an update on our progress on your proposal.
How long does a remodel take?
Here are some basic guidelines:
Bathroom 2 to 3 weeks
Kitchen 3 to 4 weeks
Basement 4 to 5 weeks (highly variable depending on selections, size and scope of work)
Exterior projects depend on scope of work
Why are you scheduling six to nine months in the future?
We are a small business with six employees and when you hire Bassett Home Services you are hiring us to do your work. We keep the majority of the work in house. Which means our employees, who you can learn about on our About page, will be the ones working in your home. It is our responsibility to keep enough work in our pipeline to support and provide stability for our employees and their families. Rest assured that once we start on your project we are dedicated to you until we are finished. If for some reason there is an interruption in your project (material or weather delay) we will work with and communicate with you daily. Our clients love that they know who will be working in their homes. Because of this, they are willing to wait for their date on our calendar!
What do you think about ‘no job too big, no job to small’?
You might be surprised to learn our answer is, yes and yes, we don’t do it all!
Bassett Home Services is a small company with an average of 2 to 4 field employees at any given time. Due to workforce availability and our high standards we find that the types of projects that are a good fit are those that you see highlighted throughout our website like kitchen and bath remodels, basement finishing/remodeling and outside projects like sunrooms and decks. We generally do not take on large additions. Nor do we take on smaller home maintenance (handyman) projects because our schedule does not allow us to fit those in. As mentioned in the FAQ about scheduling, we are usually 6 to 9 months out and sometimes even longer.
What about down payments? And progress payments?
Down payments are a very important step in our process. We use a small percentage down payment to hold your tentative start date on our calendar. Following the beginning of your project you will make progress payments. These progress payments are matched to milestones in the project proposal. Typically, our payment schedule is a small % down payment, another payment after demo, another after rough electrical & plumbing etc.
How many projects does Bassett Home Services typically do in a year?
These are approximate numbers and do change year to year: 35 bathrooms, 10 kitchens, 5 basements and 10 exterior spaces.
What are your normal working hours?
Typically, we arrive at your home at around 8:00 a.m. and are finishing up at around 4 or 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
What should I expect on the first day of my project?
We will come in and introduce you to all the team members who will be in your home. Then we will review your project. Our next step is to prep the worksite by setting up dust controls, zip walls, carpet shield, and construction paper. We confine the work area. We do our absolute best to insure the cleanliness and safety of your home.
What about dust control?
Remodeling can and will be dusty. We do our best to keep the work area as clean as possible through the use of barriers including zip walls and carpet shield and our Build Clean Air scrubber.
How do you communicate during the project?
During your project we communicate with you daily and sometimes more frequently depending on our needs. We encourage you to reach out at any time with any questions. At the end of the day we will communicate with you about what has been accomplished that day and what you can expect for the next workday.
What about debris removal? Will there be a dumpster in my yard?
Demolition of your project is usually over after only one day. We bring a dump trailer on site the first day for placement of debris and then remove the trailer at the end of that day. After that any debris that is accrued is removed by truck at the end of each day. This method helps us maintain a clean and safe worksite inside as well as outside your home.
What if we encounter a problem during our remodel?
Most remodels encounter a bump in the road. One of our strengths is our ability to adapt and work through unexpected problems as they occur. Some of our greatest compliments have come from clients who we have helped through problems during the remodeling process. Open communication is key to this process. Please let us know ASAP if you are not 100% satisfied with our work.