Remodeling Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the type of project or if the structural aspects of the home are being affected. The City of Lincoln Building & Safety Department has a page to help answer this question.

It’s a big red flag when hiring a contractor if they shy away from obtaining permits. You should always obtain a permit when required. The building department reviews that your plans and project will meet building codes, fire codes, structural integrity and safety, zoning, setbacks, easements, and CCRs (Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions) for neighborhood associations. A permit also assures that a trained inspector visually inspected and approved your contractor’s work.

If you do not pull a permit:

• You have broken the law and could be charged, fined, and/or forced to tear down some or the entire project.
• Your insurance could deny an insurance claim if there is an accident on your property during or after your project.
• Your remodel project may not be covered under your home insurance policy, even after completion – for example, an addition not covered for hail damage, fire damage, or other types of damage.
• No inspections will be done to double-check that work was completed to meet codes.
• Selling your home? Permits are accessible to the public, and potential buyers can see no permits for work completed as a red flag.
• If issues happen after the work has started, your cost to get a permit could be significantly increased and more difficult to obtain.

A design/build remodeling company gives you the advantage of working with only one company to perform all the tasks associated with a remodel and avoid common problems when working with multiple companies. This streamlines and simplifies the whole process and lets you enjoy your remodeling experience.

If any of these items below are important to you, then you may want to consider hiring Willet Construction as your design/build remodeling company:

• Do you need to stay on a budget? Willet Construction’s Design/Development Process will provide plans, products, and a detailed scope-of-work proposal to give you the best opportunity to stay within your budget.
• Have you experienced a past remodel that did not run smoothly, details were forgotten, or communication was poor? The Willet Construction team knows how to communicate, manage, and share your project’s details, from design to construction. You always have a Willet Construction representative as your point of contact from start to finish.
• Do you have difficulty visualizing what your home would look like? Willet Construction’s designers can show you 3D Models of your home with the layout and products you select on our drawing program. Also, our Production team sees these.
• Do you want to minimize the risk of surprises and additional charges during your project? Willet Construction’s Design/Development Process is focused on preventing surprises and additional charges. We inspect and search for anything that could be a surprise down the road.
• Do you want to know all the details before you sign a construction contract? Willet Construction’s Construction Proposals specify everything included in your project—no guessing, no “he-said-she-said,” no having to remember long-ago conversations.
• Does your project have structural complexity? Willet Construction’s team has the resources to calculate and verify your home’s structural loads and weight distribution. We will discuss the best course of action for your specific project.
• Do you and your spouse have different styles or opinions? BREAKING NEWS: Marriage can be hard sometimes! Remodeling is not immune to difficulty when spouses make decisions but have opposing styles & opinions. Willet Construction’s Design/Development Process helps navigate through those differing styles & opinions.

Yes, our design capabilities are not just limited to the interior of homes. We are creative and can show you plans, elevations, and 3D models to add curb appeal to your home.

Yes, you should never maximize your budget with the original construction contract. There are two reasons why prices increase during the construction phase of a project that all homeowners should be aware of:

• Customer-requested changes: Customer-requested changes are just as they sound. These are changes that you, as the customer, can request that make changes to the products or the scope of work, which can affect the final price of your remodel.
• Unforeseen conditions: Unforeseen conditions are changes to the remodel that could not be seen before the work began. These conditions cannot be included in the original price of the construction contract.

The Willet Construction team will be able to guide you toward budgeting for unforeseen conditions based on our history of working in many homes.

It’s common to hear this advice from many friends, family, and even contractors. Unfortunately, this simple advice has set homeowners up for frustration or regret. To successfully request estimates from multiple General Contractors, a homeowner must provide three essential pieces of information to all General Contractors:

1. Floor plans with accurate dimensions: Including floor plans—both existing & new plans, elevation drawings, electrical plans, and other plans as needed.
2. Product details & specs: Including the brands and models of all finish materials, plus any special installation details that need to be included.
3. A scope of work description: Including every action that needs to be done on the job to leave no room for differences in the quality of work between General Contractors.

If these three essential pieces are not specified, then each contractor’s price will not be based on the same details. General Contractors can take advantage of this situation by providing a low-price estimate or excluding essential parts of the project, only to add additional charges after the project begins.

If you do not want to produce these details for contractors, a design/build remodeling company might best fit your needs. We recommend taking a different approach and focusing on interviewing multiple companies to find the best fit for you and your project.

Contact us at 402-434-8008 for more information.

PRO TIP: BE CAREFUL WITH THE WORDING ON THE DOCUMENT YOU SIGN!

A signed document that is labeled as a “Bid,” “Quote,” or “Estimate” may not be legally binding to the price, which could leave room for surprise charges after the work is completed.

Begin by writing down a list of items that are important to you in deciding what services you need to be 100% satisfied in the completion of your remodel. Then, you should interview contractors until you find the right fit that can meet those items and fit your budget.

If you need help thinking of possible items that may be important to you, we have created a list of items to start the process.

Receive your list of items to start the process; contact us today to learn more! Call us at 402-434-8008.

We specialize in residential remodeling, both interior and exterior. Our typical projects include:

• Kitchens
• Additions
• Whole house remodels
• Bathrooms
• Basements
• Mudrooms
• Laundry rooms
• Living spaces
• Sunrooms
• Siding
• Decks
• Windows and doors
• Repairs

We are not limited to just these projects, so contact us if you have a home project that you would like to talk to us about.

Yes! We do many small projects for homeowners and do not have a minimum-size project requirement.

According to the EPA, federal law requires contractors that disturb painted surfaces—including painted and stained surfaces—in homes built before 1978 to be lead-certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Willet Construction is a “Lead-Certified Renovation Firm,” which means we can test for lead and renovate your home.

For more information about lead safety, visit epa.gov. An excellent resource for homeowners to understand lead-safety requirements is “The Lead-Safe Certified Guide to Renovate Right.”