
How We Can Help You
Remodeling your home can be a big decision and a major investment. At R. L. Rider Remodeling we have years of experience helping Lansing and Mid-Michigan area homeowners remodel their homes with confidence. Those years of experience have helped us create a time-tested process we know can work provided you are willing to work together with us to both plan and complete your project. Check out the steps of our remodeling process below.
If after reviewing how we do business you feel we could be a good fit for you and your remodeling project give us a call at 517-487-3713 or complete our contact us form!

Contact R. L. Rider Remodeling to See if We Can Help
This first step is an important one. Whether you contact us via email, our website, or by phone we will follow up with you by phone to begin the conversations needed to help you determine whether we can help you with your project. Part of that first conversation will be to confirm you are already aware of how we do business and then to answer any clarifying questions you may have about working together. If we both agree there is a fit, we will begin working together by establishing the goals of our first meeting as well as a good time to get together at your home to continue our conversations.

Visiting You and Your Home
When we come to visit you at your home you should be prepared to discuss a couple of things: the goals of your project, how you plan to make your decisions about the project itself, and how you plan on choosing the remodeling contractor you will partner with. After discussing your project goals we will help you determine whether the budget you have set aside for your project is adequate, or we are happy to help you determine a realistic budget for your project if you don’t have one quite set. After getting to know each other and taking the time to understand your project, we can then discuss R. L. Rider Remodeling’s project planning options.

Discovering and Committing to the Best Way of Working Together
Because not all projects and customer goals are the same, we want to help you understand the project planning options available to you by choosing to work with R. L. Rider Remodeling. That way you can make your own informed decision on how to best move forward with your project. Some options can stand alone and help speed up the process, while others can be combined to strategically help you work in steps to plan your project and at the same time gain the confidence you need to move forward.
The three options for working with R. L. Rider Remodeling include:
- Preliminary Opinion of Cost Package
- Used to help both of us determine a realistic budget for your project
- Can be used to define project scope and budget before starting the Project Development Process
- Project Development Process
- Used to help both of us design and identify the final specifications of your project
- Used to help get your project ready for construction by R. L. Rider Remodeling
- Small Project Fixed Price Proposal Process
- Used for straightforward and/or smaller projects not requiring design or renderings
- Typically reserved for projects for current clients and referrals under $10k in scope

Committing to Construction with Confidence
Now that you’ve had time to review the three different options for working with us we can move ahead with the rest of the process. Regardless of the R. L. Rider Remodeling option that works best for you, our processes help both of us create a detailed written package of information designed to make sure we are both on the same page as we work together to help you solve your remodeling goals and move forward with confidence.
Here are just a few benefits of our processes:
- Gives you the information, insight and adequate time you need to be prepared and make confident decisions.
- Helps both of us establish and stay within the budget you have committed to for your project.
- Helps both of us establish a realistic schedule for both starting and completing your project.
- Gives R. L. Rider Remodeling what we need to plan and complete your project on time and on budget.
- Helps identify activities and timelines we must both work within to meet you desired project completion date.

Preparing Your Project for Construction
After working together with you to help you design and/or specify your project, as well as confidently commit to your project, the real work begins for us. At R. L. Rider Remodeling we believe professional remodelers begin with the end in mind. That said, after you commit to your project and our company, we begin getting your project ready for construction with the ultimate goal of professionally completing it with both quality workmanship and a quality experience for you and your family.
Depending on your project type and the planning needed this step of our process may include things like:
- Assigning a project Lead Carpenter to work with you and manage your project.
- Finalize product selections.
- Finalize drawings and plan set needed to apply for permits.
- Apply for and secure the building permit(s).
- Order special order items or items with long lead times so they will be available when needed.
- Schedule with and confirm participation of all trade partners involved with your project.
- Create the project’s master handbook for reference on site.
- Finalize the project schedule and flow chart.
- Any other administrative or pre-production tasks that may be specific to your project.

Meeting Your Lead Carpenter and Starting Your Project
Before starting the construction of your project we will schedule a preconstruction meeting with you. At this meeting, you will meet your Lead Carpenter, the person who will be working with you at the project site and managing all workers as well as many of your project’s details right on site. At this meeting, your Lead Carpenter, already familiar with your project, will review and seek your commitment on how we will work together during construction. The Lead Carpenter will also review the project specifications with you one more time to confirm all items and locations.
And, because we prepare your project for construction well in advance of commencement, you can be confident your lead carpenter will be prepared to build your project right the first time – on schedule and on budget!

Project Delivery Method
The goal of the R. L. Rider Remodeling team and your project’s Lead Carpenter will be to complete your project on time and on budget, while at the same time do our best to help you live through and have a good experience while remodeling. In addition to building a great project we see it as our responsibility to protect you and your family, as well as your home, during the construction process. We’ll work to control the dust and debris that comes with construction, and to keep the site as well as all those who live at your home safe while we remodel your home to meet your dreams and goals. Your Lead Carpenter will also be your go-to contact and trusted advisor. They will keep you informed about progress and be available to help you with any questions or concerns.

Project Wrap-Up
At R. L. Rider Remodeling we don’t like to rely on punch lists or the punch list process for wrapping up your project. Instead, we use a Pre-Completion Quality Control Checklist and Process before we get to the final phases of your job. That way any and all items can be addressed within the projected schedule. As we near the end of your project your Lead Carpenter will schedule and do a thorough project walk-through together with you to identify, list, and make sure everything will be done to your satisfaction before our team of professionals and their tools leave your project.
At this time your Lead Carpenter may review your payment history and balance due at substantial completion. We will also make sure to arrange any required final building inspections.
On completion of the Pre-Completion Quality Control Checklist items we listed together your project will be considered substantially complete, your project warranty will begin, and your final payment will become due.

Project Warranty
R. L. Rider Remodeling offers an industry-leading, full three-year warranty on materials and workmanship starting from the date of substantial completion on each job we complete. You are automatically registered for our three-year warranty simply by hiring us to complete your project; no further action is required to enroll.
Our process is simple: If any substantial defects arise during this period, note them on the Warranty Project Form and contact us via phone, email, post, or website. We will immediately get started checking into your request and setting a course for a satisfactory resolution.

Client Surveys and Referrals
After the completion of your project, we will send you our post-project customer survey as a way to check to be sure we have lived up to your expectations and have hopefully earned the right to be referred by you to others we can help. Don’t be surprised if your Lead Carpenter checks in with you during your project to be sure we are earning that right!
We trust that you will be happy with the end results and if so will tell friends, family, and neighbors how great it was to work with us! Of course, you can always log onto our website to share a testimonial, or share a picture on our Facebook page and spread the word – we will greatly appreciate it!