How We Run a Project
From the first phone call to the final walkthrough, here is what happens, who does it and when you pay. Owner Luis Esparza is on the job the whole way.
Eight steps, start to finish
Most remodeling problems start before any wall comes down: a vague estimate, a permit nobody pulled, materials nobody ordered. Our process is built to get those decisions made early and in writing. You know what the job includes, what it costs, which rooms will be out of use and for how long, and who to call with a question.
Step 1: First call
Call (805) 921-0405 or send the form. We ask a few questions about the project and the house, in English or Spanish, and set a time to come out. There is no charge for the visit.
Step 2: Visit and measurements
Luis walks the space with you, takes measurements and looks at what affects the price: the electrical panel, the plumbing, the crawlspace or slab, signs of old leaks. Tell us what bothers you about the room now and how you want to use it.
Step 3: Written estimate
You get a line-item estimate that says what is included and what is not. Conditions we can already see, like a small panel or galvanized pipe, are priced in from the start.
Step 4: Design and selections
We work from your designer's or architect's plans, or develop the layout with you. Cabinets, tile, fixtures and other long-lead items are chosen and ordered before demolition.
Step 5: Permits
We confirm which office covers your address, prepare the drawings, submit them and answer plan check comments. Coastal, fire-zone and Earthquake Brace + Bolt paperwork is part of this step when it applies.
Step 6: Contract and schedule
The contract lists the scope, the price and a payment schedule tied to stages of work. You also get a schedule that shows which rooms will be out of use and for roughly how long.
Step 7: Construction
We protect floors and nearby rooms, keep the site clean at the end of every day and meet each inspector. You hear from Luis or the crew lead when something changes or a decision is needed.
Step 8: Final walkthrough
After final inspection, we walk the work with you and write a punch list. Anything you report within 30 days of completion is corrected at no charge.
How payments work
California's home improvement contract law sets the rules, and we follow them. The down payment can be no more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less. After that, each payment matches work that has actually been done or materials that have actually been delivered. You are never paying far ahead of the job.
If you sign a home improvement contract somewhere other than our office, such as at your kitchen table, you also have three business days to cancel it in writing. The contract includes the notice that explains how.
How we handle changes
Change orders are the usual source of remodeling budget surprises. We keep them rare by looking hard at the house before we price it and by putting known conditions in the estimate. Some things cannot be seen until a wall is open, such as rot behind a shower or wiring that was never to code. When that happens, we stop, show you what we found, and give you the price in writing before we do the extra work.
If you decide to change something yourself, like a different tile or an added outlet, the same rule applies: a written change with a price, agreed before the work.
Living in the house during the work
Most of our clients stay home while we work. We tell you up front which rooms will be out of service and help you plan around it, for example a temporary kitchen setup during a kitchen remodel. Dust barriers go up where the work meets the rest of the house, and the site is cleaned at the end of each day. Clients mention that in their reviews more than almost anything else.
Start with a visit
The visit and the written estimate are free. Call (805) 921-0405 or send the form.
Process FAQs
How soon after the visit do I get an estimate?
It depends on the size of the project. A straightforward bathroom or repair estimate comes together faster than an addition that needs engineering input. We will tell you at the visit when to expect it. If we need anything from you, like a survey or existing plans, we will ask for it then.
Do I need to hire an architect or designer first?
Not always. Many kitchens, bathrooms and interior remodels can be drawn up with us directly. Additions, structural changes and custom homes usually need plans from an architect or designer and calculations from an engineer, and we coordinate with them. If you already have plans, we can build from them.
Who will I talk to during the project?
Luis Esparza, the owner, stays involved from the first visit to the final walkthrough, and you have his number. Reviewers also mention Fernando, who works alongside Luis on many projects. You will not be handed off to a call center or a different person each week.
What happens if the inspector asks for changes?
We handle it. Inspectors sometimes ask for an extra strap, a different fastener or a small adjustment, and that is part of building to code. We make the correction, schedule the reinspection and keep you posted. If a correction would change your scope or price, you hear about it before anything is done.