Embarking on a kitchen or bathroom remodel or even an addition can seem daunting to homeowners—especially where budgets and contracts are concerned. However, the process can become a whole lot easier when working with the right design-build contractor, who is upfront about costs and explains the job before it even starts.

For Amiano & Son Design-Build, their entire business is built on communication. For over 20 years they’ve focused on working in tandem with clients, making sure selections stay within budgets and detailed contracts are in place ahead of construction. House & Home spoke with owner Lou Amiano Jr. about the importance of a comprehensive contract and how homeowners can avoid going over budget in their next home remodeling project.

How does your company operate with any modeling project?
We’re truly a full-service design-build [firm] because we take the initial consultation and basically hold the client’s hand through the whole process as far as design and planning it, helping them with the selections, controlling the budget, showing 3D renderings so they know exactly what they’re buying when the process is done. We have our own in-house designer, [who] works with you, the client, on the design of your remodel. Our designer understands the remodel, your budget, your tastes and your situation at home. We do all the selections in our showroom, allowing us to control budget, functionality and the incorporation of the product. We put together a detailed contract that doesn’t have allowances, therefore giving the homeowner their first sense of design phase finality. We have them pick everything out, down to the knobs on the cabinets.

How can a homeowner make sure they get a detailed contract?
If they see a contract loaded up with allowances, that is a big red flag. Product selections should all be done up front in the contract—so what they want is a contract that has the ability to tell them what type of cabinets they’re getting, what type of countertops, the faucets should specify the model number, the finish and the size. That’s going to eliminate a lot of the miscommunication that can go on when the production of it starts. You can never eliminate the possibility of arising issues, but our contract leaves less room for error.

What’s the best way to control a job budget? 
Do all the legwork up front. If we have a client [whose] preliminary number for the kitchen is at this amount and that client wants to stay at that amount, we show them selections that are going to make them stay within that amount, so the client has to control [their] selections to maintain the original budgeted number, otherwise the project is going to exceed in budget. Selections need to be made completely before a construction contract is signed by any homeowner. … You’re going to get a lot of guys who are going to load the contract with allowances and that allows their number to look better, but they’re already anticipating the homeowner will exceed the budgeted amount, therefore increasing the contract price through change orders. If you pick the right company, there really should be no reason to go uncomfortably over budget, unless [you] request certain changes.

How do 3D renderings benefit the client?
The 3D rendering looks like a real picture when it’s done. When the client sees it, they cannot believe the space is being transformed. … With us, they’re seeing what they’re buying. They’re seeing the whole layout versus the norm in the industry where a client will sign a contract to do a kitchen and they’ve never seen a design of it. They’re building as they go with the contract and that’s a very stressful process for them.

What’s the best advice for a homeowner starting the remodeling process?
It’s best to use a professional design-build company because clients today are just more informed on the product and they want more expertise coming from the contractor. ... If they want that type of process, they’ve got to hire the right company and the biggest question they should have is “What type of design process are you going to take me through to do my kitchen remodel?”

Amiano & Son Design-Build
Attend the grand opening of Amiano & Son’s new showroom, Sept. 12-14, located at 1637 Route 206, Southampton, N.J. (609) 268-5923 | AmianoAndSon.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 20, Issue 3 (September 2019). 
For more info on House & Home magazine, click here. 
To subscribe to House & Home magazine, click here. 
To advertise in House & Home magazine, call 610-272-3120.