Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for remodeling contractors that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Hargrove Construction, the keys to keeping clients happy are simple: listen closely to their needs and treat their homes with the utmost respect. “I understand that my customers’ homes are their sacred spaces, so I work hard to give them exactly what they want,” says owner Alexander Hargrove. “At the end of the day, my goal is to provide a pleasant, joyful remodeling process that leads to each client getting their dream home.”

Hargrove Construction provides a wide range of residential remodeling services for clients throughout Marin County. As a design/build firm, the company has the in-house capabilities to handle each phase of the remodeling process, and it also backs every project with a 10-year structural warranty.

Unlike less experienced contractors that take an “assembly line” approach to every job, Hargrove Construction focuses on communicating with its clients so it can make sure both parties have a mutual understanding. “Instead of rushing things, I take the time to confirm that I clearly understand what the client is trying to accomplish,” affirms Mr. Hargrove. “I’m happy to communicate about every aspect of my work and I never cut corners.”

Ultimately, Mr. Hargrove says Hargrove Construction’s ability to provide an enjoyable remodeling experience is its most important attribute. “I want every client to be completely satisfied and confident that everything has been done correctly. I’m friendly and caring, and whenever I leave a jobsite, I double-check my work to ensure no detail gets overlooked.”

Plan ahead to get the most out of your remodeling project.
By going through the design process before beginning a remodeling project, you can determine your budget upfront and avoid making rash and costly decisions as work progresses. The first step in any remodeling project should be obtaining a detailed estimate from a contractor, but there are many other things you can do to prepare before work begins. Consider the following tips:

• Distinguish what you need from what you want. This may mean the difference between a remodeling project you can afford and one that will put you in debt.
• Make a detailed list of everything you want to include in the new room, such as light fixtures and furniture. Be sure to include specifications such as model, size and color. All of this information will be included in the contract, so it needs to be as accurate as possible.
• Designate a small percentage of your budget to allow for unforeseeable needs or difficulties that may come up later.
• If you’re on a tight budget, consider completing the project in stages—it’s more financially manageable to start small and gradually add on.

Save money by considering creative solutions. A remodeling project doesn’t have to be a budget behemoth, necessitating the teardown and reconstruction of an entire room. Sometimes a mere paint job will make a significant difference, and those types of projects are much less expensive than knocking out walls or rearranging utilities. Instead of adding square footage to your home, try borrowing space from a neighboring room (known as “space reconfiguration”) or installing a vaulted window to create open space via optical illusion.

Be flexible in your vision. Sometimes people have remodeling ideas that don’t work as well in reality as they do in theory. A knowledgeable contractor will be able to determine if your idea is realistic for your budget, and if not, they should be able to give you comparable options.

Find the right contractor for your project by insisting on a personal connection. Obviously, verifying details like licensing, insurance and references is important, but so is finding a contractor that’s passionate about giving you the best possible outcome. “You should determine what type of work the contractor specializes in, because that’s where you’re going to get the best results,” offers Alexander Hargrove, owner of Hargrove Construction in San Rafael. “It’s also important to have a really good idea of what you want and be able to clearly articulate it to the contractor. If you give them as much detail as possible, they can provide the results you’re looking for without having to do a lot of guesswork.”

Q: What should I know before I start a remodeling project?
A: Before work begins, it’s important to understand that there’s going to be some sacrifice involved, especially if you’re living or working at home while the project is underway. I do try to make the process as easy as possible, but you will sacrifice some of your privacy and quiet time.

Q: What kind of parking and access to my home will you need?
A: It depends on the type of project and where you’re located, but I’ll try to park outside of your driveway and use the door closest to the work area so I can avoid walking through other areas of your home. If you have specific ideas about where I should park and how I should access your home, I’ll be happy to work with you.

Q: Do I need to worry about my landscaping while you’re working?
A: I always try to avoid disturbing the landscaping, but depending on the job, that may be difficult or impossible. That being said, I’ll always include ‘landscape repair’ in my bid if there’s a chance that could happen. If you’re concerned about your lawn, talk to me about the potential impact so I can figure out what I can do to limit damage.

Q: Will construction dust be a big problem?
A: Construction dust is unavoidable on most projects, but I take precautions to keep it from infiltrating the house while I’m working. I’ll put a plastic barrier between the living areas and construction areas, and I’ll take great care to limit or avoid going into living areas so they’re as dust-free as possible.

Q: Who takes care of the permitting process?
A: I’ll get the permits from the city so you won’t be liable for any of the construction work.