Ready, Set, Renovate!

Where do you begin when remodeling a condo? That’s a good question, but an even better one is  “Who do you begin a Condo remodel with?”   You no doubt expect us to say Daniel Builders, and since this podcast is produced by Daniel Builders, you’d be right.  However, we’re adding a slight twist.  It’s probably best to by listening to someone who has used Daniel Builders, yes past clients.  We have o...

Obviously, many do. Plenty of amenities and conveniences make city living appealing. There are a few trade-offs as well. Much of it comes down to finding and fixing up just the right place to suit the needs of your family. The Ready, Set, Renovate! podcast is embarking on a ten-part series focused on condo living. The guest on our first episode is Nick Van Gorp, an engaging and gifted realtor well...

If you could be an expert on anything, what would it be? For Andy Naples in an expertise in electricity. Andy is an an electrical engineer (Georgia Tech graduate) who spent decades studying and utilizing electricity. Andy joined us on the Ready, Set, Renovate! podcast to share a few practical pointers and some fun facts about electricity. His passion for electricity can get anyone charged up discu...

What is the most common building material? Answer:  CONCRETE It’s literally everywhere and has vast construction applications.  From home foundations to unique countertops, concrete is so common you're likely within a few feet of it right now.   Despite being common, not all concrete is equal.  Getting good concrete doesn’t just happen.  You need the right mix, the right delivery system with...

How much Design time should you spend prior to starting a home remodel? Some need quite a lot, which is why the Guide-Design-Build process exists.  Project drawings, a detailed scope of work, a complete list of selections and a fixed cost to build are all part of that process.   Not all projects require this level of upfront legwork though. Some remodels have a super straight forward Scope of Work...

Daniel Builders created a FB post of a detached Accessary Dwelling Unit (ADU) on Nov 16.  The post took on a life of its own generated over 2K likes and that number is still growing as Nov 22.  Why all the interest in ADUs?   The Building Trust blog asked that question, as well as a few others to the architect, Billy Zion of Zion Architects.  Billy designed the ADU in the FB post.  As you’ll hear...

Is it crazy to uproot your family and travel thousands of miles in search of a new state?  Some might think so, but not Ricardo Rodriquez and his wife Amber. They thought it was a great idea. And after a year of living in South Carolina, they still do. Two years ago they were living in Bakersfield, CA. Amber convinced Ricardo that farm livin' is the life for them (to borrow a lyric from Green...

At Daniel Builders we have a blueprint for Building Trust.  Not everyone chooses us to be their remodeling contractor, but we aim to establish Trust with everyone. If you’ve seen our trucks, you know our tagline “Building Trust”.  Perhaps that sounds like abstract marketing gibberish, but we see it as a very practical pursuit. We're serious about trust and we've identified five component...

Kevin Schreiber knows tile.  From beautiful bathrooms to backsplashes Kevin routinely produces beautiful work.  And as a remodeling contractor, we at Daniel Builders love that about him!  As you may expect, he's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to tile.  In this episode of Kevin talks about the art, science and cost of tile, (some of it can get pretty pricey). This is an opportunity to hea...

Drone photography is an aspect of construction that is really taking off!   On this episode of Ready, Set Renovate!  we speak with drone photographer Ryan Swanson of Upper Edge Drone Photography.  Ryan talks about utilizing drone photography with benefits that go beyond capturing cool photos. It’s an uplifting conversation sure to give you a better view of remodeling work!  (sorry can't keep...

An Accessary Dwelling Unit is secondary housing option.  You may recognize them by other names such as Granny Flat, Guest House, Garage Apartment, or In-Law Suite.  ADUs offer all the same characteristics of a home - kitchen, bedroom(s), bathroom - while sharing the same property as the primary house. An ADU may be attached or detached or even inside the primary house.  They can benefit families w...

At last!  The remodeling of this iconic Pendleton SC home is complete.  The home has been part of the Pendleton community for well over 100 years, and officially ready for another 100 years.   Getting to his point was no easy feat as project manager Sam Parkinson explains.  In this final installment of a year long documentary, Sam expresses the excitement of finishing and finishing strong!  His ef...

Hard to say for sure, but you likely started with a one word question every toddler throughout history has asked.  "Why?"  Pretty cool how humans are programmed to search for reason at such an early age. Turns out understanding "Why?" is vital to the remodeling process. Knowing the honest answer reduces stress, and more importantly protects you from buyers remorse. In this epis...

How much do large purchases really cost? Large purchases require large sums of money.  Obviously.  The paying doesn't stop there though.  Ensuring your satisfaction with a large purchase requires paying attention to accurate information.  What are sources of accurate information?  Reputable businesses, people in the industry, and even publications all are great source, but once source provide...

You’ve heard the stories before.  Client goes to a custom builder with a big dream.  Builder says no problem and off they go building, when seemingly out of the blue MAJOR problems arise.  Questions and fear multiply.  Will my project ever be complete?  How much added cost?  And ultimately is this going to get worse than I can imagine?  A ton of money, time and yes someone's very home is at s...

Have you ever encountered a sales person who would say anything to get the sale?  Before long it's obvious your best interest is no where on their radar.  That frustrates and undermines trust.   Emotions run high when your home is on the line.  At that point there's no debating the value of a trusted advisor.  Not just a salesperson, we all want a guide who will tell the truth even if th...

Yes we promote our Guide-Design-Build process at Daniel Builders, but what do clients say about it? They're bound to share their experience with somebody.  Maybe in a Google review or on social media or in a personal conversation (yes those still exist), but rest assured someone will eventually know how they really feel.   On this episode of Ready, Set Renovate we speak with one of our client...

Being a GC or Project Manager is simple, right? Calling trades and collecting checks is all it takes, right? Any homeowner could do that, right? Wrong. Wrong. And Wrong. A GC or PM with that mindset would be a joke, a really bad joke. On this episode of Ready, Set, Renovate! our 2 guests discuss the not-so-simple role of managing large custom renovations and new builds. Sam Parkinson, a Project Ma...

What part of a kitchen renovation is most important?    A)  Flooring B)  Appliances C)  Countertops D)  Cabinetry (having read the title, you know where this is going) Yes, cabinetry is typically the highest priority during Design.   In this episode of Ready Set Renovate we spoke with cabinet builder, Dale VanDonkelaar. After 30+ years of honing his cabinet building ability, his work is beautiful...

2022 is winding down and in this episode of Ready, Set, Renovate! we're expressing gratitude to Taylor Hall.  As you'll see, Taylor is a rare combination of creative genius and technical savvy, which has benefited the TSR! podcast.  In this episode Taylor discusses his passion for videography, and how growth minded businesses can leverage that passion.  (Good video content and a gifted v...

Know any good attorney jokes?  Funny as they may be, legal problems during a renovation aren't funny at all.  Going into a major custom renovation requires a robust legal contract, which can get quite lengthy and full of confusing legalese.  Discussing details of a contract isn't the most delightful part of renovating your home, but absolutely necessary.  The alternative of having no con...

Is a Design phase necessary for your custom renovation?  Some would suggest no.  They would say a skilled craftsman (or what we affectionately call Chuck & his Truck) is all you need.  And it's possible that might work.  There's a lot of risk taking that approach though.  Like anything significant you want to accomplish, the right preparation leads to the right outcome.  Design = Pre...

This episode is all about the client/contractor relationship.  Why are some relationships harmonious and productive while others are highly strained (to put it nicely)?  Our guest, Shawn Van Dyke, is a construction business coach, keynote speaker, and author of two books - Profit First for Contractors and The Paperwork Punch List. Most contractors are not profitable which makes them feel uncertain...

How does a custom builder formulate a price for your renovation project?  Generally speaking, there are 2 approaches to pricing a custom renovation  – Cost Plus & Fixed Cost.  In this episode of Ready, Set, Renovate! Steve Carson and Larry Myers compare and contrast these 2 methods. Both are reputable builders and have well thought out reasons for their chosen approach to pricing.  Spoiler ale...

At 106 East Benson St in downtown Anderson SC you'll find a building from the 1800s. You probably wouldn't guess it's that old though.  The place doesn't look it's aged a day.  Daniel Builders helped reverse the affects of time by performing a historic renovation. The success of this project was recognized by the state of South Carolina Historic Preservation Society.  Join...