Podcast Summary:

First Steps & Initial Consultation

• We begin by having a simple, open conversation to find out what you need: why you want to remodel, what you want to remodel, and any special events or timelines you may have.
• Our goal is to understand your vision and give you an idea of how we can help, right from the start.
  

Reducing Budget Surprises

• We keep track of costs from similar past projects, so we can share realistic budget ranges with you early on.
• We do thorough inspections (including a trades meeting at your home) to uncover any hidden issues and minimize unexpected costs.
• If your desired scope can’t fit into the initial budget, we’re honest about it and can discuss saving more or considering financing options.
  

Design & Material Selections

• Our lead designer guides you through material choices, style preferences, and 3D visualizations, so you can see how everything looks before we begin.
• We make sure your selections work for your lifestyle, budget, and personal taste.
• Our design expertise helps you feel confident about every decision—functionally and aesthetically.
  

Thorough Planning Before Construction

• We finalize the design details and order materials up front to avoid delays and last-minute scrambling.
• By having all selections and plans in place ahead of time, we keep the construction phase as smooth as possible.
  

Preparing You for the Construction Phase

• We schedule a pre-construction meeting to cover timelines, site logistics, and how we’ll enter and exit your home.
• We communicate clearly so you know what to expect, and we’re ready to answer any questions or concerns you have before the work starts.
  

Minimizing Disruption

• We cover floors, hang plastic barriers, and clean up daily to reduce dust and keep your home as livable as possible.
• We set up regular check-ins (and provide an online portal) for updates, photos, and open communication.
  

Ongoing Support & Quality Assurance

• Throughout each phase, we follow detailed checklists to ensure high quality.
• We stay in touch about any issues that come up, and we work quickly to address them.
• At the end of your remodel, we do a final walk-through to confirm you’re happy with every aspect of your new space.

Podcast Transcript:

Jaron

Well, we’re here with Andy Haste. Andy is the founder of Riverside Construction and our main project consultant. Then we’ve got Kelly Grish—she’s our lead designer, right? Awesome. We wanted to talk a little bit about our remodeling process because a lot of people have questions about it, and it’s probably one of the biggest—or if not the most valuable—things we provide: our seamless, smooth remodeling process that helps people have an excellent experience rather than a nightmare. So we’re going to answer some questions.

Remodeling projects can be really overwhelming. So what is the first thing we do for people when they first express interest in remodeling? What is the first part of that process?

Andy

What we try to do is have a simple conversation to figure out why they want to remodel and what they want to remodel. Sometimes it’s because their space is worn out. Other times it’s about a timeline—maybe they have an event coming up, or they just want it done sometime this year. We really listen carefully to see how we can help them. That’s basically what we do.

Jaron

What happens in that first initial consultation? Why is that meeting so important for the homeowners and for our team?

Andy

We’re asking detailed questions so we can help them. There are usually important reasons why people are calling us, so we want to uncover what issues they’re having in their home. Sometimes things are worn out; sometimes it’s that they have an extra child or in-laws moving in—just life changes. We figure out how we can help, what their timeline is, and we answer their questions so they know someone is listening and is there to help.

This is what we do every day, and we love it. We enjoy working with people in our community to help them improve their homes. We listen carefully, get on the same page, and share advice on making the house more functional, livable, and valuable. That’s how we first try to help.

Jaron

A lot of people worry about budget surprises. What do we do to help ensure things stay on budget and reduce fears about unexpected costs?

Andy

That usually falls in my area. Kelly focuses on design, but I handle budgeting with folks. Often people have a certain amount set aside, so we figure out the best way to work within that. We keep track of what past projects similar to theirs have cost so we can share ranges and see what feels comfortable. We always want to be our client’s advocate. If we can’t meet the desired budget, we’re honest and might suggest waiting or saving more. We also have financing options if that helps.

Kelly

We also do a lot of upfront investigation. We don’t have X-ray vision, but we try to see if an older home might have hidden issues. We have a trades meeting at the house where we check behind walls as much as we can. That way, we’re less likely to find surprises once construction begins. We create a detailed scope of work, so once we’ve established a budget, we’re pretty good at sticking to it.

Jaron

So that detailed, thorough planning really helps us mitigate surprises and stay on budget. It’s less stressful for homeowners and the team if we address everything in advance rather than in the middle of construction.

Andy

Exactly.

Jaron

Let’s talk about design. Many people feel uncertain about material and design selections. One of the biggest benefits of a design-build team is getting help with that. What do we do to make people feel confident in their design and material choices?

Kelly

I walk you through the entire process. When I come out to measure, I look at your home to see what we’re working with. If you have a style started already, we build on that; if not, we start from scratch. Either way, I’ll ask questions about colors, vibes, or pictures you have—anything that gives me a direction. Then I’ll do my best to capture your style, but ultimately you have the final say on every selection.

I help make sure everything looks right together—color and pattern—and I’ll steer you away from combinations that clash. We also do 3D designs, which aren’t perfect but help you visualize how materials and layouts will look once finished. If something you love is out of budget, we usually find a similar option that works better, or you can decide to spend more for it. It’s up to you in the end.

Jaron

I have my own style preferences, but if I picked everything on my own, it probably wouldn’t look cohesive. You help people take their vision and turn it into a reality that actually looks amazing.

Andy

Kelly doesn’t just do “high-end.” We do basic remodels too. Her job is to figure out what each client wants—high-end, medium, or basic—and then make it all look good. Sometimes she can make a medium budget look high-end by selecting materials strategically. That’s the value of good design.

Kelly

People also don’t always know which materials function best. Some flooring isn’t great for bathrooms, for instance, or tile might be too cold and hard in a kitchen. I studied interior design at Purdue, I’m a certified Aging-in-Place Specialist, and I’m also certified by the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Plus, I’ve got about 10 years of hands-on experience. All of that helps me recommend what will work best and last a long time.

Andy

Kelly lives and breathes design every day. My wife and I have used her personally, and it’s been great. Even though we do this all the time, it’s still fun to see a run-down space transform into something beautiful. People want a space they can enjoy day to day, even if it’s a basic refresh. It’s fun to see it come together.

Jaron

Once plans and designs are finalized, what happens next? How do we prepare homeowners for construction?

Andy

After we enter a construction agreement, we show them exactly what happens next—no surprises. We finalize the schedule and permits, order products, and inspect everything before work starts so we’re not delayed by shipping or damage issues. Then we have a pre-construction meeting about a week before we begin, where we talk about things like how we’ll enter the home, what hours we’ll work, and protecting floors and walls.

We usually work eight to five and don’t do evenings or weekends, so you have peace and quiet. Most of the time, people can live in their home during the remodel unless it’s a whole-home project. We hang plastic barriers and drop cloths to keep dust contained. We want people to feel at ease and go about their lives while we handle the remodeling.

Jaron

A lot of people worry about the disruption. What do we do to reduce the impact on their daily routine?

Andy

One of the biggest things is great communication. We set up weekly meetings with your project manager: “Here’s what happened last week, here’s what’s happening next week, do you have questions?” If there’s an issue, we talk openly about it. Living in a remodel can be challenging, but we try to make it as easy as possible.

Kelly

Those weekly meetings aren’t the only time you can reach out. If you notice something that looks off from the plan, let us know right away so we can fix it. We also clean up every day so it’s livable overnight. If water has to be off for a short time, we’ll warn you. Same with something like refinishing floors—you can’t walk on them while they’re drying, so we make sure you know that in advance.

We also have an online portal where we post updates and photos. Some clients have taken vacations during the dustiest parts of the remodel and just check the portal while they’re gone. I’m rarely on site after construction starts, but I can still see progress through the photos.

Jaron

I’ve seen how detailed the communication is on the portal, and it’s really impressive.

Kelly

It helps a lot. We keep everyone on the same page, including our trades partners. I enjoy seeing each design come to life. It’s great for me too.

Andy

We also do quality assurance. The production staff has checklists at every phase, and we get permits when needed. At the end, your project consultant returns to make sure everything looks good. Sometimes we take professional photos and feature those on our website. We love helping people enjoy their homes while also protecting their home’s value. In the end, it’s very rewarding for everyone.

Jaron

Anything else you’d tell someone considering a remodel?

Andy

We’re here to help, and this is what we do every day. We’re thankful to be busy and to have people calling in regularly who need our help. We love doing this. We also appreciate our past clients who trusted us in the first place. Jaron, I should note you’re our director of marketing, so thank you for helping us get the word out.

Jaron

Absolutely. I’ve only been in remodeling a year and a half, but I’ve seen how much people love working with you two. We have a lot of clients who come back for a second or third project, which surprised me at first. It’s been really easy to market Riverside Construction because I don’t have to exaggerate anything—our clients genuinely enjoy their experience.

Andy

About half our projects are either repeat clients or referrals. It’s fun to see familiar faces and help them update another space in their home.

Jaron

All right, that’s great. Thanks for your time, both of you.

Andy

Thank you. We appreciate it.

Kelly

Yes, thanks for hosting!