BuildSAGE’s Founder has worked as a Contractor for over three decades and as an owner’s representative for building projects for eight years. He has also been called in to “fix” projects botched by incompetent or unethical Contractors. He has observed that new construction projects typically flow smoothly and effortlessly. However, remodels and renovations are often fraught with challenges.

Why is that? Virtually all new construction projects tend to operate with a dedicated business team that coordinates every phase of the process and keeps track of every moving part. Consequently, these new-build projects maintain their quality and efficiency every step of the way. At BuildSAGE, we know that home remodeling projects can proceed under the same model! We find that home remodeling and renovation projects are often more difficult to execute than a new-home build. We exist to solve that problem and facilitate a high-quality, stress-free process for Homeowners.

How do we accomplish this?

1. Through our BuildSAGE online platform, we collect detailed information about your project to begin to develop a scope of work.

2. We make a preliminary personal visit to more clearly understand your vision and project.

3. We match you with highly qualified, licensed, insured contractors who specialize in the kind of remodeling you want. BuildSAGE will facilitate the contractor's visit to your project at a time that is convenient for you. The Contractor will submit a scope of work and estimate to BuildSAGE.

4. BuildSAGE will refine a detailed scope of work and estimate into an attorney-designed construction agreement between you and the contractor, assuring a proper, legally binding contract. The agreement will include specific benchmarks to be achieved and a payment schedule based on the benchmarks.

5. BuildSAGE will assist you in negotiating the construction agreement, always looking for cost-cutting and quality improvements. BuildSAGE staff are knowledgeable of current industry best practices and values.

6. BuildSAGE will collect funds from you, hold them in our secure escrow account, and disperse them only as specific milestones are achieved, providing a transparent payment mechanism.

7. BuildSAGE’s online platform provides seamless real-time communication. All communication is memorialized to ensure comprehensive documentation.

8. BuildSAGE will provide you with continuous advocacy, support, accountability, and attention. BuildSage will check on job status weekly, conduct periodic site visits, and monitor communication. BuildSAGE staff will always respond to you throughout the remodeling process within one business day.

BuildSAGE provides the due diligence, so you don’t have to. We research the company's reputation online and contact local organizations such as the Home Builders Association for referrals. We check our Contractors’ references from past clients and make sure the company has a process that includes a schedule and open communication. We maintain copies of the contractor’s insurance coverage and professional licenses. You are made a secondary beneficiary on the Contractor’s insurance for the duration of the project.

The value of a remodel depends on the outcome you’re looking to achieve. Remodeling for resale value can help move the home faster and make it more appealing to a wider audience. Remodeling to add a level or improve the function of a room lets you personalize the space and offers great rewards through updating appliances, fixtures, and finishes; creating a space that is efficient and easy to use; and addressing any special needs. We believe that remodeling your home should, first and foremost, be about your family living comfortably in a house that suits everyone’s needs. A remodel is a good option if things are missing that would make your lives easier and more efficient. It’s up to you to decide whether a remodel is worth it. Two things to consider are whether you plan to stay in the home for a certain time and if it’s worth the effect the remodeling process would have on your family’s daily life.

The cost depends on the project itself. The price can change dramatically by changing the scope of work, completing it in stages, and by the material selections. A larger, more in-depth project can affect several things in your home that you may not have realized would be part of the scope of work. For example, if you’re remodeling a master bath, but your water heater is 20 years old, there’s an opportunity to replace it while you’re having the construction done. If you’re concerned about costs, creating a scope of work that adheres to a budget can help control them and give you peace of mind.

While we try to avoid using finishes or materials that might soon become dated, the choice of materials is up to you based on your unique preferences. We will do our best to point you in the right direction as far as durability and functionality, but there are so many color and style options you don’t need to be pigeonholed to one look. We recommend durable products you can clean easily, living your daily life without worrying about scratching a floor or staining a countertop.

Our company usually stays within a 1-hour travel radius of Charlottesville but will go farther for the right client and project.

BuildSAGE is with you from the conception of the project through to completion. Our Contractors offer a one-year warranty on workmanship and materials.

One of our top goals is to keep your home remodeling project in line with the level of your neighborhood. Resale isn't an issue if you plan to stay in the house indefinitely. This isn’t necessarily the case for everyone. We often rely on the yearly Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value report that compares average costs and resale values for a number of common projects in residential homes throughout the country. That allows us to look at the Charlottesville market and tell you your return for any given project. While you’ll never get 100% of your investment back when selling, you’ll be better educated and able to make more informed decisions.

Every homeowner’s lifestyle is different. Some people decide investing in their current home is better than building new or moving to a smaller or larger home. If a family is growing and feels more space is needed, a finished basement or an addition is a popular way to gain usable square footage and a little breathing room. Some people want to downsize and need to remodel a new, smaller home to fit their needs. Some families have children who have started college but aren’t ready to downsize. In those cases, we remodel and bring the house up to date, as may have been neglected while the parents were focused on raising their family. 

Our company strives to create long-term relationships based on integrity, quality, and honesty. It is our goal to be the first and only name you prefer. We want you to feel comfortable talking freely with us about any concerns. And because it makes the process so much easier and more enjoyable, we work to be as transparent and open as possible with you and our trade partners. We really do become friends with most of our clients, and we love getting the call that there is a new project.

Every project has a budget. On average, you must first learn all you can about what remodeling and construction costs are. Once you know how much of an investment a project of your scope costs, it’s a matter of adjusting the scope of the work to fit your personal budget. While you can save a little by adjusting your material selections, construction labor is the real cost driver in any project. That cost can only be adjusted by changing the scope of work – whether that means eliminating parts of the project entirely or you doing some of the work yourself.

BuildSAGE is different because we are here to represent you, the homeowner, through every part of the home remodeling process. If you engage a Contractor through a construction supply store, the store does not follow through to assure quality and timeliness. Similarly, suppose you engage a Contractor with an online referral source. In that case, that service is paid by the contractor to generate leads, and the service does not provide ongoing support to you. BuildSAGE is your advocate from concept to completion.

Yes, a BuildSAGE representative will always return your call within one business day.

Each project is different based on the time of year and the materials required. We start our projects based on the lead time of materials and the availability of our Contractors. We never want to have too many projects going at once, as that doesn’t allow us to provide the customer service that you deserve. Also, we don’t want to take apart a kitchen or bathroom without all the materials on hand to put it back together.

Your Contractor and BuildSAGE’s homeowner rep team work with you on exactly when that is necessary, and they’ll help in any way they can to make it an easy process.

That depends on what your project priorities are. If necessary, BuildSAGE’s Homeowner’s Rep works with you to help determine those priorities so you can easily make those decisions.

Home remodeling should be considered a long-term investment in your family, lifestyle, and property – in that order! Only in certain parts of the market does a projected return of 100% of its cost. Most clients who have remodeling projects do so for personal enjoyment, not to reap a return on financial investment. This doesn’t mean we give no thought to cost; we work with our clients to tailor the project to their long-term financial plans and goals.