Discover our Process

The familiarity + comfort of a family owned business with the organization + professionalism of a large firm
I. Initial Design & Budget Development

Arriving at a great set of plans is an iterative process and begins with our team interviewing you to understand what's not working with your current space. Once we have a solid grasp of your main objectives we'll propose a new floor plan concept and pair it with our opinion of the probable cost.

Key steps:
- Measure your space
- Learn your main objectives
- Propose a floorplan concept
- Develop a preliminary proposal
II. Full Design

Once we land on a concept, it's time to iron out the details. What will the cabinetry look like? How will it function? Are we going to integrate natural stone or quartz? These are all questions we'll answer during full design. With a completely developed plan in place we get to work preparing final construction pricing.

Key steps: 
- Dive into aesthetics & make selections
- Prepare wall & cabinet elevations
- Invite tradesmen to view your project
- Develop construction drawings & engage an engineer
- Present fixed price contract & scope of work
III. Pre-Construction

The contracts are signed and it’s time to make preparations for construction. We introduce your Project Manager to the scope early on so they can dive in to the details of your project well before we start demo, but during this phase we also introduce them to your family. And while the hammers haven't begun swinging a lot is going on back at our office to get permits, materials and labor in place.

Key steps: 
- Reserve your project on our tradesmen's schedules
- Pull city permits
- Order materials for arrival before your project begins
- Introduce you to your production team
IV. Construction

Production is in full swing! You’ll become quite familar with this cadence from week to week. You will have full visibility to the schedule as well as project progress.

Key steps:
- A dedicated Project Manager & Site Superintendent to oversee the execution of your plan
- Weekly Friday emails to keep you informed
- Design check-ins to ensure the integrity of each detail
V. Project Completion

It’s time for the finishing touches. We’ll put together a punch list and ensure every last knob is installed and paint touch-up is complete. Once we turn the space back over to you our 2 year warranty begins.

Key steps:
- Review the contract scope to catch any outstanding items
- Walk through the space with you to button up any loose ends
- Begin the warranty phase

discover our process

After a brief phone call to hear more about your project, we'll schedule a time to visit your home. There, we'll discuss your main objectives, learn how much you'd like to invest in your house and talk through the details of our process. If it proves to be a good fit for us both we dive into a Design Agreement and begin developing your project. Read more about what takes place once you choose to work with Scovell in the steps below.

I. Initial Design & Budget Development

Arriving at a great set of plans is an iterative process and begins with our team interviewing you to understand what's not working with your current space. Once we have a solid grasp of your main objectives we'll propose a new floor plan concept and pair it with our opinion of the probable cost.

Key steps:

- Measure your space

- Learn your main objectives

- Propose a floorplan concept

- Develop a preliminary proposal

II. Full Design

Once we land on a concept, it's time to iron out the details. What will the cabinetry look like? How will it function? Are we going to integrate natural stone or quartz? These are all questions we'll answer during full design. With a completely developed plan in place we get to work preparing final construction pricing.

Key steps:

- Dive into aesthetics & make selections

- Prepare wall & cabinet elevations

- Invite tradesmen to view your project

- Develop construction drawings & engage an engineer

- Present fixed price contract & scope of work

III. Pre-Construction

The contracts are signed and it’s time to make preparations for construction. We introduce your Project Manager to the scope early on so they can dive in to the details of your project well before we start demo, but during this phase we also introduce them to your family. And while the hammers haven't begun swinging a lot is going on back at our office to get permits, materials and labor in place.

Key steps:

- Reserve your project on our tradesmen's schedules

- Pull city permits

- Order materials for arrival before your project begins

- Introduce you to your production team

IV. Construction

Production is in full swing! You’ll become quite familar with this cadence from week to week. You will have full visibility to the schedule as well as project progress.

Key steps:

- A dedicated Project Manager & Site Superintendent to oversee the execution of your plan

- Weekly Friday emails to keep you informed

- Design check-ins to ensure the integrity of each detail

V. Project Completion

It’s time for the finishing touches. We’ll put together a punch list and ensure every last knob is installed and paint touch-up is complete. Once we turn the space back over to you our 2 year warranty begins.

Key steps:

- Review the contract scope to catch any outstanding items

- Walk through the space with you to button up any loose ends

- Begin the warranty phase

Pricing guide

primary bathrooms
kitchens
lower levels
screened porches
room additions
$100k+
$250k+
$125k+
$150k+
Price dependent on scope of work

Every house is different and no two plansets are alike. Still, we understand it's helpful to have a framework for probable cost. So while nothing is hard and fast we're sharing what our clients tend to spend on common remodels.

Every house is different and no two plansets are alike. Still, we understand it's helpful to have a framework for probable cost. So while nothing is hard and fast we're sharing what our clients tend to spend on common remodels.

FAQ's

How do I get a “bid” from Scovell?

After a quick phone call and subsequent on-site meeting, we’ll determine if it makes sense to enter into Phase 1: Initial Design and Budget Development. It’s in this phase that we’ll develop initial concepts and a preliminary estimate so you know if you’re comfortable enough with the probable cost to continue plan development.

As we get further into the design process and enter into Phase 2: Full Design we will ultimately conclude with a comprehensive fixed price proposal (aka bid)  which if approved, we can hand our Production team so they have a complete and in-depth plan of action.

Should I get multiple bids?

The desire for multiple bids is usually predicated on the fear that you otherwise won’t get the best deal. To that we would say, interview several firms, but choose a company that you love being around, that will serve your family well, that will communicate well and often in a way that makes you feel at ease, that will warranty their work and be around to deliver on that warranty. Then trust them to design a scope of work that fits your budget and to negotiate pricing on your behalf.

Many of us working in Mission Hills, Sunset Hills, Hallbrook and Leawood are using the same vendors, lumber yards and subs. So if you were to truly bid the same scope of work — down to the very same cabinet hinges and dimmer switches — with two companies who offer the same level of service, the numbers would very likely be within dollars of each other. So consider price, but choose personality.

Do you offer feasibility consultations for a home I'm interested in buying?

If you're considering purchasing a new home but would like to better understand the potential of a future remodel before pulling the trigger, we offer real estate consultations at an hourly rate of $225. Call to schedule an on-site visit with Jim Scovell.

What is the cost of doing design work with Scovell?

There are two separate fees for design based on the scope of work and probable cost of your project. Phase 1: Initial Design is a flat fee of $5,000 ($8,000 for whole home) that covers all of the design and drafting work you would otherwise pay a third party architectural firm to do. The fee for Phase 2: Full Design is 6% of the probable cost of your project. This covers the rest of the project development (selections, elevations, renderings and construction drawings) as well as the fixed price proposal.

Do you provide multiple floor plan options during Initial Design?

We often show two concepts. Occasionally there’s only one way to approach it while still achieving your goals and staying in budget. But if there are two smart, feasible options we will show you both.

Can you prepare 3D renderings if I’m a visual person?

We love creating renderings during design so you can feel confident in your decisions. We typically begin with black and white perspective drawings while we work through space planning. As the design gets developed we invest more time in creating realistic 3D color renderings - either by hand or using CAD.

Can we do design work with Scovell, but build the project ourselves?

As a Design + Build firm we only enter into design work that we believe we will build. We’ve structured the size of our team to feed just the right amount of work to our talented field staff, and don’t have additional resources to do design-only work. Plus, we’d hate to design something beautiful and not get the chance to watch our field team bring it to life!

What if I already have a relationship with an architect or designer?

Some of our favorite projects are the fruit of working with outside firms. We still apply the same collaborative approach by working with the outside parties from the beginning so you avoid getting too far down a road that isn’t feasible or isn’t within your budget to build. In these cases, we enter into a modified Pre-Construction Agreement instead of a Design Agreement.

How many months usually pass between starting design and starting construction?

We constantly try to balance keeping momentum, yet going slowly enough to make sound, thorough decisions. Phase 1: Initial Design tends to take 5 weeks. The next phase - Full Design - varies greatly depending on the scope of work. Simple projects without engineering can sometimes complete development in as little as eight weeks. Other projects require several more months of planning, engineering, permitting, etc. 

Living in a Covid world, we continue to experience long lead times and labor shortages. As a result we prefer a longer runway of time between completing design and beginning construction. We use this time to order materials and begin building cabinetry.

In sum, from the day you sign a Design Agreement to the day we break ground is often at least 6 months.

How often do you see clients go “over budget?”

As a fixed price construction agreement, there are few ways in which a client goes “over budget.” We do our best to make all decisions prior to construction with very few, if any, allowances. As such there are essentially only two opportunities or risk exposures for the price to increase: client-requested change orders and site driven change orders. We typically see 2-3 client-requested change orders on a project. These range from deciding later to do wallpaper in a powder bathroom to repainting more of the house than planned.

Site driven change orders are definitely something to count on in an older home. Once we pass the demolition phase of construction, a lot of previously unseen factors become known. We do our best to communicate them quickly and develop effective and efficient solutions for addressing additional, needed work.

How much will my project cost per square foot?

This is a helpful tool when talking about new construction, but is unfortunately not a relevant or meaningful number in remodeling.

Will we get what we put into the remodel back out if we sell?

Candidly, probably not, unless you’ve lived in the house long enough, or you bought it for a great price. It usually takes years to recoup your investment. So for it to be worth putting so much into your home, you have to be investing in more than “your asset.” You have to believe in the value of improving the way your family will function in the new floorplan, or in the way you’ll enjoy cooking and gathering with friends in your new kitchen.

Can I live at home during my remodel?

In many cases the answer is yes. If you are remodeling a kitchen we can even help you set up a temporary kitchen in another room. Of course, there are certain project scopes that make living at home difficult. This is something we’ll address during our design process. 

How long will my project take to complete?

After 30 years in the industry, we know that when we speak the words “four to five months,” all the client hears is “four months!” So while we dread this question given the dozens of variables that make answering it so difficult (weather, backorders, unforeseen issues discovered behind walls), we know that it’s one of the most desired answers. Our most common projects take between 3 and 5 months to complete. Larger, whole house remodels often take closer to 7 months. 

Our process marries the familiarity and comfort of a family owned business with the organization and professionalism of a large firm.
“We loved Scovell’s ability to maintain the character and charm of our old house while giving us a functional home for a growing family. Throughout the process we were amazed by the quality of their work and the professionalism of their team. We will never remodel with anyone else!”
katie & joe, brookside residents