Smith & Son Construction provides a variety of remodeling services for residential and commercial clients in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano Counties. In addition to remodeling everything from kitchens and bathrooms to entire homes, the company has the training and equipment to build room additions, perform tenant improvements and building maintenance, and much more.
Vice President Kierra Smith credits much of Smith & Son Construction’s success to its transparent business practices. “We believe in being straightforward and honest with our clients every step of the way,” she affirms. “By upholding our core values and offering creative solutions on each project, we’re able to produce results that consistently exceed their expectations.”
Smith & Son Construction’s wide-ranging capabilities allow it to handle every phase of the construction process in-house, which Ms. Smith says is important for ensuring a smooth customer experience. “We’re an all-in-one contractor, which means we work together with engineers and architects to identify what’s required on each job. Our clients really appreciate our ability to guide the work from start to finish because they can focus on other elements of their projects instead of interacting with several companies, which saves them time and money.”
“We draw upon our superior craftsmanship and years of industry expertise to guarantee the success of our clients’ construction projects. By listening to their needs and doing our due diligence, we’re able to maintain high standards of quality and bring their dream homes to life.”
Know your budget and project specifics before you call a remodeling contractor.
If you haven’t recently gone through a remodel or new home build, you probably don’t know much about the true cost of construction, which can leave you at a disadvantage when planning for a project. “Having an overall goal and budget for what you want to do is very helpful,” shares Kierra Smith, vice president of Smith & Son Construction in Martinez. Here’s what she recommends thinking about before making that initial phone call:
- What type of project do you want (remodel, home addition, new construction)?
- What’s the extent of the project (a full or partial remodel, the size of the addition)?
- Why are you doing the work (growing family, ADU for rental or in-laws, rec room for kids)?
- How much do you want to spend? What’s your not-to-exceed budget?
- Do you have any special requests (brands of appliances or finish materials, amenities, room size, start and end dates)?
Keep in mind that having a rough idea of a budget isn’t enough. “You should also make sure your budget is realistic for your goals,” offers Ms. Smith. “Some people end up with projects that are bigger than their budgets because they haven’t really looked into the true costs of construction work.”
Ms. Smith says it can be defeating to homeowners who are ready to embark on a project when they find out what their job will actually cost. “It can sometimes make their jaws drop because they don’t have any idea of what they’re getting themselves into and they assume their budget is big enough.”
While you’ll need your contractor to give you an accurate bid to truly know the cost of your job, you can do some research ahead of time to prevent surprises.
- Look at projects that are similar to yours and make a list of your needs and wants.
- Figure the average price of similar jobs by using an online cost calculator.
- Compile a list of specific finish materials, appliances, and other items that you want to include and price them out.
Remodeling contractors are always looking for ways to differentiate themselves from their competition, and those that have earned Diamond Certified are already several steps ahead. In addition to its Diamond Certified status, Smith & Son Construction sets itself apart by offering all-in-one service that’s designed to simplify the construction process. “We work together with engineers, architects and other professionals to identify what each job needs, so our clients have a lot of in-house options,” affirms Vice President Kierra Smith. “Instead of searching for different companies and applying for permits, they can leave everything to us and focus on other aspects of their projects.”
Smith & Son Construction has been providing remodeling services for residential and commercial clients in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano Counties since 2017. The company has the training and equipment to remodel everything from kitchens and bathrooms to entire homes, and it’s also qualified to build room additions, perform tenant improvements, and more.
Unlike less experienced contractors that take a “hands off” approach to keeping their customers informed during the construction process, Smith & Son prides itself on being straightforward and honest with its clients every step of the way. “By communicating with each client about their budget, the status of their project and any revisions or changes to the process, we’re able to make sure they have a great experience,” says Ms. Smith. “We always want our clients to have a clear understanding of what we’re doing so they can stay involved as much as possible.”
Ultimately, Ms. Smith sees Smith & Son Construction’s local connections and customer-oriented business practices as its most important attributes. “As a family-owned company, we wear a lot of hats,” she says. “I personally handle everything at the office and Lance [Smith, owner] likes to visit the jobsite every day to make sure all the work is being performed correctly. He’s also very communicative with our clients, which they appreciate.”
