Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do first?
Make a very clear plan for what you want to do.  Whether it is remodeling, adding a room or deck, or building a new home, how do you expect to use the space?  What will you put in the space?  Make a list of what the space must provide and what you do not want to have in the new space.

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What is next?
Finances. Will you use savings, a loan, some other source?  What is your price range, including any new furnishing, appliances, heating and cooling units.  Are any repairs required as part of this work? If you are thinking about a loan, talk to lenders to see what plans and costs are available.  To get a notion of pricing, use the Web, not to make final selections, but to get round house costs.  To get the most for your money discuss openly with a trusted designer, engineer, architect, or contractor what want to accomplish and how much you can afford to spend.  This will save a great deal of time, and, ultimately, a great deal of money.  The key, of course, is to work with trusted partners.

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How do I know if I need an architect?
Tobin Construction, Inc., offers design, build, and design/build contracts and can get all drawings and engineering plans to meet local regulations and national standards.  If you have specialized needs, an architect is probably appropriate.  You’ll find links to some of the architects we work with here.

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How do I choose a contractor?
Start with all the logical steps: talk to neighbors; ask trade workers like your electrician and plumber who they respect; go to open houses in recently-built projects; talk to building material suppliers.

For each general contractor, get insurance, licensing, and bonding records. The contractor’s insurance carrier(s) will provide their information. License holder’s names are available on some jurisdictional Web sites or by telephone.  Tobin Construction, Inc., holds business and construction licenses in all Metropolitan DC jurisdictions.  You will find links to our credentials information at the bottom of this page.

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I’ve got recommendations for contractors. Now what?
Call or E-mail the company.  At Tobin Construction, Inc., you will speak with one of us, telling us about your project, so we can identify the person best able to address your plans.  If there is mutual interest, we will visit you at your project site to collect the information we need to make an estimate.  You should talk to a couple other contractors, but make very sure that they are properly licensed and insured, members of appropriate trade organizations, and willing to provide you with references for recent work.

If you select Tobin Construction, Inc., depending on the complexity of your project, we may meet with you again, discuss any specific products or manufacturers you are interested in, gather additional data, and present a proposal for your consideration.  Once changes have been agreed to, the proposal will be the basis for the contract.

More Questions?

Please contact us.