Seeking input on major addition with Case Design [DC]
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
We're considering a major addition to our home in the AU Park neighborhood in DC. The plan involves expanding the basement (in-law suite), main floor (larger open kitchen and family room) and second floor (new master suite and possibly a small laundry area). We've talked to 3 design build firms and are leaning towards Case.
Two questions: 1) Any general advice from those who have been through this type of work? 2) Any feedback from those who have used Case Design? TIA. |
Anonymous
| We are currently using CASE Design for an major interior renovation (kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, entrance ways). We have been entirely pleased with our experience from start to just about to finish. Their design staff were excellent with coming up with ideas and plans, hearing what we liked, didn't like, how we used the house what we wanted to change. They did all of this without asking for a deposit. Committed to listening to us. We were happy with selection of materials and that process as well. We reviewed materials at their office - to determine what our style was. They were happy to work with us if we wanted something outside of their normal vendors (tile, cabinets etc). I never felt pushed in one direction - they listened to our us and valued our ideas, offered us suggestions when we were stuck and were very innovate with several areas of our house that were challenging. They did a great job with the initial assessment of the project so that we have had no surprises - the only changes to the project have been ones that we wanted to change mid-course and they have more than willing to modify and change plans as we work through the project. They have been excellent with customer service along the way as well - when we had workers in the house (we are living in the house during the renovations) past bedtime for the kids. They talked with the vendor,apologized to us and gave us a gift certificate to a nice dinner out. The once area that I would say to be aware of is - they tend to be higher priced than other design build firms. With that said through out the entire process they have jumped when we say jump, pulled in their entire time when a push was needed on the project, they have gone above and beyond to make it a good experience. Their vendors are skilled and knowledgeable, easy to work with. We have weekly schedule meetings, and daily project updates from the lead on the project. We always feel well informed of what is going on, if there are delays in supplies, if they have questions - they are in constant communication with us. AND they are finishing several weeks ahead of schedule! To be honest while I will be glad to have our house back and live in the new spaces - I am actually going to miss the entire crew of regulars. As you can tell I would recommend them highly. |
Anonymous
| I had CASE come out to do a small house project and it wasn't a good experience. They charged a TON of money and then didn't even finish it in the time they estimated. I did not ask them to come back and hired a handyman to finish it for less than what CASE charged for their partial work. |
Anonymous
| Anyone know if Case, and similar design-build firms, will work with IKEA kitchen cabinets? |
Anonymous
I wouldn't use a design build firm of any sort for a small project that a general contractor could handle. They are more expensive and one of the reason's is the size and expertise of their staff. Our project was large and complicated - we needed someone that was there to manage the entire project because everything ties together - We were willing to pay extra for this experience. All of our other smaller projects we ordered and managed the job - selecting plumbers, electricians ourselves, researching and ordering all the supplies - they we had the contractors do the actual work. Its very time consuming to be so personally involved in the project but a cheaper way to get things done. Our neighbors hired a different design build firm after a tree damaged their house. They were unhappy with the level of professionalism and the "surprises", lack of communication that kept coming up. That firm was the lower bid, as they observe our project they wish they had gone with CASE. |
Anonymous
OP here. Thanks, this is very helpful. Any tips/pitfalls to avoid as we begin this process. Thanks again! |
Anonymous
|
We did case for a major renovation. Terrible experience. Loren is a shitwad.
Don't do it. Their "designers" aren't designers. |
Anonymous
| The one area I was not familiar with was how they put "allowances" into the contract. For instance, they put $1500 allowance for 2 exterior doors- when it came to time to select the doors from their vendor they were a little vague about what would fall under that allowance. We selected something and it came in significantly higher that what was "allowed". We reviewed our choice and came back with something within the price range. Other items that they put in allowances for where not what we liked and they were happy to work with us to get the best price available using their discounts so we could afford the items. It wasn't that they didn't tell us about these things - it was just I had no experience with them. As with most projects as you near the end there are items that if you want to add on its going to cost you above what was in the budget. So be aware that there while they stick to the estimated budget there are going to be "add-ons" through out the renovations. The example I am thinking about is they had allowances for interior doors - only on the rooms they worked on or modified - we wanted to have all the interior doors match so we asked them to order the extra doors (at their discount) but we then had to pay them extra money to install the doors since it was not in the original contract. I guess we probably could have added it up front but it wasn't something we really noticed until we saw how awful it looked to have 2 types of doors. |
Anonymous
| I live in AU park. All the houses I see with Case design signs out front seem to be under construction forever. We did a major renovation with an architect and a builder. Have you considered not using a design build firm? |
Anonymous
| NP here, very interested in this thread. DH likes the idea of--when we buy a house--getting an outdated property and doing a "property brothers" type renovation. Obviously it'd be tons more expensive here. Would CASE be the best option for that? |
Anonymous
"Property Brothers" do renovations for about 1/4 of what it would cost you to do it in DC. Maybe 1/5th. No joke. It's maddening to watch the show because it's SO much cheaper than here in DC. I don't think they factor in any cost for labor on the show. Or they fudge all the numbers (while also being in a much cheaper area). |
Anonymous
Do you know what type of renovations they are doing? Major renovations take time - especially if there is a lot of internal work being done. In our case load bearing walls were removed, new supporting structures had to be in place before any work was done. The demo took one day, building up takes time - drywall, electrical, plumbing all have to been done in a particular order and often multiple waves of stuff has to be done. We are actually well AHEAD of schedule for our major renovation. They have a very tight schedule and work with their numerous teams to push when they are behind schedule to ensure we stay on track. The advantage of Design Build is you have one group very aware of the project - from start to finish. We did another project (not same scale as this) in our house with an architect and builder it took much longer to accomplish the project than what we have experienced so far with a full design build team. It is MORE expensive - people have sticker shock. BUT if you add up all of the other things that go into a major renovation project and the surprises that can come if its not well thought out you can end up with more expenses than you expected. |
Anonymous
| Our neighbors did an addition with Case and they were very pleased. We had them do an estimate for our addition. Their price was considerably higher than another contractor's. When we called the guy who gave him the quote to tell him we were going with someone else, he lowered the quoted price. When we still decided to use the other contractor, he got pretty nasty that we weren't using them & was very unprofessional. |
Anonymous
|
We used case for our basement buildout which took two months. Not a company I would recommend. They were not reliable, the job was supposed to be the same 3-4 guys but we constantly had non- english strangers in and out, unannounced who were loud, used filthy language all day (while my kids and I were just upstairs).
It was a slow & excruciating experience. Also, the work Area was to be tidied up each night and barriers built to contain dust-- that never happened. Nails were left all over As were dangerous Machinery/power tools. Dust was all over our entire house for two+ months. Most of our workers smoked like chimneys right outside our home, letting fumes in through the house. They urI aged outside, too, despite the bathroom provided by case. Never again. The Managers were nice but never corrected the issues. |
Anonymous
| ^^^ me again. I neglected to mention that the final product was just okay. The Didn't do a bad job but didn't do a good job. Wish we had not used case. |