How to Choose a Contractor (Without Regret)

Once the design is complete, many homeowners are surprised by how challenging it is to move forward. You’re handed drawings and told to “get bids.” But what does that actually mean?

You might find yourself wondering:

• How do I know if a contractor is good?
• What does a fair bid look like?
• What if the lowest price cuts corners?
• What happens if I make the wrong choice?

You shouldn’t have to figure this out alone. The Facilitation Phase exists to give you clarity and support where most homeowners feel overwhelmed.

Just like some travelers love handling their own bookings while others prefer a trusted agent to plan every detail, we offer two approaches to helping you choose a contractor:

If you’re confident managing the bidding process, we provide:

• Clear, detailed construction drawings
• All documentation needed for accurate pricing
• A defined scope of work that contractors can follow

This is ideal if you want to manage outreach and review bids on your own—but with professional-grade materials that ensure fairness and accuracy.

Prefer a guided path? We offer hands-on help, including:

• Recommending qualified contractors
• Hosting pre-bid walkthroughs
• Answering contractor questions
• Analyzing and comparing bids side-by-side
• Supporting the final selection process

This ensures your contractor is a match not just in price, but in experience, values, and craftsmanship.

No matter what your comfort level, our role can include:

• Preparing and Issuing Bid Documents – So contractors understand exactly what’s being built
• Soliciting Competitive Bids – From contractors we trust, or ones you bring to the table
• Hosting Pre-Bid Conferences – So everyone starts on the same page
• Bid Analysis and Recommendation – Helping you choose with confidence, not guesswork

Choosing a contractor alone can feel like playing a high-stakes game without the rulebook. Here’s how we help change that:

We’ve worked with dozens of builders and know what to look for—from strong references to realistic timelines and transparent pricing.

We help you compare bids side by side—so you’re not tricked by low prices that hide future change orders.

We vet more than numbers. We assess communication style, project approach, and alignment with your design goals.

We guide you through contractor conversations, helping you ask the right questions and secure a fair agreement.

Without proper support, homeowners can fall into some common traps:
• Choosing based on price alone
• Accepting vague or incomplete bids
• Hiring contractors who don’t respect the design
• Facing delays, quality issues, or budget overruns
We’ve seen these problems—and we help you avoid them.

Whether you’re the type to book your own trip or prefer a full-service planner, the key to choosing a contractor is making an informed, confident decision—with the right guide by your side.

That’s exactly what our Facilitation Phase is built to do.