FAQs about Wood Wise Projects What types of renovations does Wood Wise do—and not do? Wood Wise does all types of kitchen remodeling projects, whole house renovations, and most room additions. We are less efficient at managing small additions like an extra bedroom or small laundry addition. A single bathroom renovation, for example, is not our target project, but we do all types of rooms as part of a larger scope of work. The cost of a Wood Wise kitchens is typically between $50,000–90,000; bath remodeling projects are usually $25,000 and up. Additions generally cost $100,000 and up, with kitchen additions typically coming in at $140,000. Does Wood Wise have an “ideal client”? Homeowners with a healthy budget who value good design and a pleasant process are our ideal clients. Design-build means we provide carpenters, project managers, and designers as part of the same team. In addition to completing the onsite work, this team assists you with overall design and helps you make your selections of tile, plumbing fixtures, etc. Families who need more space at low cost can find less experienced contractors to do ?basic? additions at lower cost. The ideal Wood Wise client wants better materials, better design, and more custom features. They laugh at our jokes and are appreciative. We work on large and small homes—primarily in Raleigh and Cary—for some of the nicest homeowners in the Triangle. If we have plans by an architect already completed, will Wood Wise provide an estimate? Unless we have participated in the design with your architect, we would not be a bidder in the traditional sense. We occasionally do a project in which we provide new design ideas and construction for homeowners who are not happy with a set of plans they have been sitting on for some time. How long does the design phase take? From four or five weeks to four or five months depending on a variety of factors. More complicated projects take longer to plan. Our design process is very collaborative with homeowners getting new ideas once they see our ideas. We like the back and forth sharing that leads to a finished project that is the best version of what could have been done. The small improvements we add during these discussions often make a big difference. How does Wood Wise bill for the work it does? A high percentage of remodeling projects in this country end in arguments and blame and worse. Most of the failures are due to cost overruns on contracts that do not have a Fixed Bid. If a contractor bills for his hours, subs, and materials as a Cost-Plus or a Time and Materials billing, all the risk is on the homeowner. Many of these hourly billings go way over the original estimate. We recommend that homeowners avoid this type of contract (with the exception of repair work). Wood Wise provides a Fixed Bid for the total renovation project. We do a lot of homework to know our costs in advance so that we can offer you a Fixed Price contract. Each project contract has a Schedule of Payments listing the payment due dates. Most projects have an electrical inspection, and our homeowners can expect a billing at this time. Installation of cabinets is another milestone that often triggers a progress payment billing. Homeowners consistently tell us that knowing the final costs at the start gave them confidence in our company and peace of mind during their project.