FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Our pricing is all-inclusive — labor, materials, disposal, and cleanup are in the number you see. We don't itemize labor and material separately, so what we quote is what you pay. Permit fees, when a project requires one, are billed separately at cost. We collect 50% at the start of the project and 50% at completion. We accept check and card. Anything that would change the price — unexpected rot, buried concrete, a condition we couldn't see during the estimate — gets presented to you as a written change order before any additional work happens. You'll never see a surprise on the final invoice. We do have a $1,000 minimum on repair work, which helps us stay available for the customers we've committed to.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
We come out for a free on-site consultation, usually 30 to 45 minutes. We take measurements and photos, talk through what you're trying to accomplish, and give you a realistic ballpark on the spot so you're not waiting a week to find out if it's even in your range. If the ballpark works, we put together a detailed written quote — typically within 24 to 48 hours — that spells out exactly what's included and what isn't. Once you approve it, we sign a contract, collect the deposit, and get you on the schedule. Before the crew shows up we do a pre-construction walkthrough with you. We confirm the layout on site, go over access and site prep, call MISS DIG, and handle any permits. Then we build it, clean up after ourselves, and walk the finished work with you before we ask for final payment.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I hold a Michigan Residential Builders License (#262500692). We're fully licensed and insured, including workers' compensation coverage for our crew. Beyond the license, most of what we know came from doing the work — we've built and repaired hundreds of feet of fence and thousands of square feet of deck across southwest Michigan. We also work directly with manufacturer reps from TimberTech, AZEK, and Weatherables, and we train on their installation specifications, because installing a premium product incorrectly voids the warranty the customer paid for.