Picking out a Firm

In the second half of 2007, we decided that 2008 was definitely the year to start a remodel considering that
  a) the house is a perfect size for us (no kids) but too small (2 bed, 1 bath) for a family, and
  b) our house is falling apart (cracks in the wall, stuck doors).

In late summer and throughout the fall, we went to open homes and visited model homes looking at layouts, decor, and finishings. This process is ongoing. When we went to the Wynn in December, we paid extra attention to the colors and materials they used. We would walk along the floor and point out "look, mosaic...expensive." :p

We decided to go with a design-build firm as opposed to hiring a separate architect and general contractor. We went with an all-inclusive firm to avoid the headaches associated with the other method of remodel. My parents did it the other way and they experienced running around town picking out and ordering their own supplies, acting as their own interior decorator, and keeping a sharp eye on the general contractor who would cut corners wherever he could. A firm would take care of that. I know that means we can't be lazy and just sit around waiting for our home to be built but going with a firm would take away a lot of the stress.

In November and December, we interviewed three design-build firms in the area. Since our city seems to be pretty strict on remodel regulations, we wanted people who were experienced with dealing with this city. We asked the same questions to each of the firms to see how they would respond. One of the firms was way out of our budget and couldn't accommodate. We had some communication issues with another firm.

We went with RJ Smith!
We had excellent communication with them, they were willing to accommodate a range of budget, they responded quickly, and we liked how they answered our questions. Plus, we checked up on their references and everyone had only good things to say. The references ranged from people who had just finished remodeling to people who have finished their remodel 5+ years ago. One lady was even nice enough to allow us to visit her home to see what RJ Smith had done for them.

We called Rich up the week before we left on vacation to let him know we picked his firm. :)

[ Another thing, our friend Margaret works as a designer in Rich's firm. We like her taste which we've seen in her own home, so she'll be working with us on this project. It makes us feel better that our designer shares our taste. ]