Asked and answered
The ten questions we hear in almost every first conversation, answered the way we answer them in person: specifically.
What does a remodel actually cost in Madison?
In honest ranges: full kitchens $85k to $220k, full baths $55k to $110k, lower levels $95k to $180k, additions $180k to $350k, whole homes $260k to $500k and beyond (all figures illustrative for this demo). Our investment guide breaks down what pushes a project from one tier to the next, in public, on this site. We would rather lose a project to a clear number than win one with a vague one.
How is design-build different from hiring an architect and a contractor?
One team owns the design, the price, and the construction, so the plan is never drawn without its cost and the builder can never blame the drawings. You sign one contract, attend one weekly meeting, and hold one company accountable. The trade-off is commitment: we design what we intend to build.
When should we contact you: before or after we have plans?
Before, ideally. The most expensive drawings are the ones done twice. If you already have plans we will work with them gladly, but starting together means the design is priced as it develops instead of being value-engineered after your heart is set.
Do you give free estimates?
We give a free first conversation and an honest read on whether your budget and your wish list can meet. Real pricing comes out of the paid design phase, because a real number requires real design. A guessed estimate is how remodels end up 40 percent over; we do not sell guesses.
What is the design fee, and does it count toward the project?
Design fees run roughly 5 to 8 percent of the expected construction cost depending on scope (illustrative). It is a real deliverable: drawings, selections, engineering, and a fixed construction proposal you could, in principle, take elsewhere. Nobody ever has, which we take as a good sign.
Can we do the work in phases?
Yes, and many families do. We design the whole picture once, then build in chapters as budget allows. Phase one carries the design DNA forward so phase three, years later, still lands as one coherent house.
Who is actually in our house every day?
A Wrenhouse crew, led by a Wrenhouse carpenter, managed by a Wrenhouse project manager you met before demolition. Specialty trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) are long-term partners who have worked our sites for years. No labor brokers, no strangers.
What happens when something goes wrong?
Something always does; houses keep secrets. When we open a wall and find 1962's plumbing improvisations, you get photos, options, and prices within 48 hours, and nothing proceeds without your signature. Surprises are inevitable. Surprise invoices are not.
Do you handle permits and inspections?
All of them: zoning review, building permits, trade permits, engineering, and every inspection through final occupancy. You will never stand in line at the city building on our account.
What does your warranty cover?
Two years on workmanship, in writing, with a scheduled 11-month walkthrough where we fix the small settling items every project develops. Manufacturer warranties on equipment and materials pass through to you in a closing binder, along with paint formulas and every product spec.
Have a question we did not answer?
Ask it in a twenty-minute call. Specific questions get specific answers; it is sort of our whole thing.