At Hometown Restyling, we take pride in our craftsmanship, team, and commitment to treating your home with the respect it deserves. But we also believe that trust is built on honesty and transparency. That’s why we’re launching Straight Talk with Hometown Restyling, a new series where we take a closer look at real customer and homeowner questions and answer them with clarity, just as if you’re asking them during your in-home consultation.
Over time, this series will explore everything from home remodeling and improvement pricing to comparison shopping, what to ask before you start a project, process around problem-solving, reviews, and whether the “best of” trends lists are really the best.
As we develop this series, we want to hear what’s on your mind. Whether it’s the questions you and your spouse keep circling before a renovation, or the things you wish you’d asked before your last project. Your input helps us shape this series around the real concerns and decisions homeowners are facing.
Why “Straight Talk”?
This is what Hometown Restyling has been built on for more than 40 years. It’s the culture of our company and how we train our teams. Customers tell us it’s what makes us different. We want to be transparent, help our customers learn, and communicate when things need to change or shift. And explain why and how we adapt.
This series gives us a chance to share what we strive to communicate with our customers (both existing and potential) when we’re in their living room before, during, or after a project.
We Read Every Review and Document Every Call Because We Want to Get Better
With more than 2,500 five-star reviews, we’re proud of the positive feedback from customers. But we also pay close attention to every other Google, social media, and GuildQuality review that doesn’t meet our five-star aspirations. Because everything our customers tell us in person, talk to us about on the phone, or share in a review or email is valuable. We don’t ignore any of it. We learn from it. And we do our best to address each one.
While we aim for perfection every time, we know perfection isn’t real. But a commitment to getting better every day is. So in this series, we want to talk openly about what we know, what we have learned, where we’ve made process improvements, and beyond.
Why are we doing this? Because we truly believe the more you know about the realities of remodeling your home, the more prepared you’ll be to pick the right remodeler, no matter the company. Continuous learning is our goal: for you and for ourselves.
Here’s an example of a question you should ask any remodeler you’re speaking with:
“What do you do with the information you receive from an unhappy customer?”
The answer will give you strong insights into a) if there is a process and b) if it fits your needs.
The Real-Life Side of a Remodeling Project
Here’s the thing: Home improvement projects aren’t one-size-fits-all. Every job is custom because every home is different. Every project includes dozens of moving parts, from permits to materials to labor scheduling. And even with the best intentions and experienced professionals, unexpected things can happen. Here are some challenges we’ve seen. We’re sharing these because it’s a good idea to ask your remodeler a couple of questions on the front end.
“What gives this home remodeling project the best chance to succeed on time? AND If this project doesn’t meet its timeline, what could cause delays?“
A few examples of what can happen during a home remodeling project:
- Materials are late in arriving or come to us broken or in the wrong color. This often requires us to wait until a supplier can send us an updated shipment, which can take up to two weeks or even longer.
- Vendors push back ship dates after the timeline is set.
- The weather holds up a piece of the project, creating a domino effect that extends the project.
- One of our in-house installers gets sick and can’t make it to the site. Our installers work for us so we know when this is happening. Something that is important to ask if you are considering a home remodeler is:
“Are the installers employed directly or are they on contract?
If they are on contract, how does the remodeling company ensure those contractors will be on the job according to the timeline?
If they are in-house, how do they ensure the same?”
Every project depends on dozens of factors lining up just right.
We plan carefully and communicate proactively when things shift and to build a “cushion” for timeline expectations. Even though over 95% of our projects start and end on time, unexpected delays can be part of any remodeling project.
“Why is the permit for the home remodel delayed?”
Permits can be surprisingly complex. Every city and county has its own requirements, which can change over time. Sometimes, a residential remodeling project that seems straightforward hits an unexpected snag because of local codes or property line regulations.
For example, a small, detached deck under 200 sq ft in Hiawatha typically doesn’t need a permit, so we can sometimes start faster. But in Cedar Rapids, virtually all decks require permission via their online portal, which we’ve found can add up to two weeks if a detail is missing.
We do our best to stay on top of the latest codes, permitting, and building requirements in our service area, but each project is as unique as each individual home and homeowner. So, figuring out how the project fits within the current code requirements can be a bit of a science project (sometimes it takes more math than we’d like to admit).
We manage permitting requirements and differences for cities largely in a 90-mile radius from Cedar Rapids. We take this seriously and track it well. But even having said that, things can change from city to city or county to county. Here are a few more examples of the types of permitting differences between Hiawatha and Cedar Rapids include:
And yes, sometimes we get information that turns out to be inaccurate. It’s frustrating for you, and it’s frustrating for us, too. We work to correct these issues as quickly as possible. We’re fortunate that we have a strong process and network to get to the answers quickly, but this is also something to ask your remodeler.
| What’s Different? | Hiawatha | Cedar Rapids |
|---|---|---|
| How permits are handled | Paper plans are often required; some simple jobs can get quick approval | Fully digital system (online portal); everything goes through the city website |
| Who can pull a permit | Licensed contractors only | Licensed contractors or homeowners (if it’s your own home) |
| Plan submission | Often done in person with two sets of plans | All documents submitted online |
| How long it can take | Simple permits may be same-day; complex ones can take weeks | The online system is efficient, but delays can still happen if information is missing |
“How do you approach permits as standard practice, and how do you approach it when it doesn’t go well?“
“Our project is done, but we still need fixes. What should I expect?”
First, we want to say that in our world, fixes aren’t failures. They are part of the process. While we want every project to be flawless the first time, even with our focus on quality craftsmanship, minor issues can pop up after the fact in home improvement:
- A trim piece that’s off by an inch in the kitchen. Walls aren’t always square, and sometimes we need to adjust on-site for a seamless fit.
- A nail pops through drywall.
- Caulking that shrinks in the bathroom.
- A door to the sunroom sticks once it settles. Seasonal changes in Iowa and natural settling can shift the frame, but we can adjust it to work smoothly again
- A torn screen needs replacing. If wind picks up before everything is sealed, screens can get damaged. We’ll replace them so your space stays breezy and bug-free.
- Touch-up painting is needed.
- Landscaping settles after construction. After a big remodel or exterior work, the ground may shift slightly. We’ll address low spots and make your yard level and finished.
What you want to know is that when you call us to fix something, we will be there. As home remodelers who care, we’d rather you call and let us make it right than live with something that isn’t up to par.
Callbacks aren’t uncommon, and most are minor, but they’re an important part of our service. What you should know is we stand by our work. That’s why we’re proud to back our projects with lifetime workmanship warranties. We know this is not the case for every home remodeling contractor. It’s something you want to ask when considering what company to hire. We’re local so we’re here. But many companies are not, and once the installers are gone, it’s hard to get them back.
When interviewing remodelers, ask how they manage fixes:
“Should we expect everything to be 100% done when the installers leave? What if we have fixes? How does that work, and what is your policy? “
Remodeling Comes With Twists and Turns, but the End Result is Worth It
Home renovation projects are personal. And emotional. It can come with surprises and moments that require flexibility. But the end result should be beautiful, rewarding, and life-changing when it’s done right.
We know there’s always room to grow, and we’re committed to learning and improving with every project. We’re here to provide clarity to you about what happens, why it happens, and our continual efforts to improve on everything we do. That’s what Straight Talk is all about: transparency, accountability, and giving you a better understanding of what to expect when working with a trusted local Iowa remodeling contractor.
Thanks for reading. We’ll be digging deeper into these topics and more in upcoming posts. Let us know if there’s a question you’ve been sitting on or something you’d like us to talk about.
We’re here, and we’re listening.
