How We Work
How We Work: Our Remodeling Process
Our process runs in six stages: a first call and site visit, a detailed written estimate, contract and permitting, materials selection, the build itself with daily cleanup and a single point of contact, and a final walkthrough with a punch list before we call the job done. Each stage has a clear duration and a clear ask from you.
Every homeowner asks some version of the same question before signing a contract: what actually happens, in what order, and how long will it take. We've laid out our process here in plain terms so you know what's coming at each stage, what we need from you, and roughly how long it takes. Nothing here is a guarantee of dates or dollars for your specific project — every house and every scope is different — but the sequence and the honesty behind it don't change.
We're a veteran-owned, family-owned, bilingual crew based in Virginia Beach, working since 2019 across Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth. We've written this page the way we'd explain it standing in your kitchen or your backyard, because that's usually where these conversations actually happen.
The Six Stages of a Divine Touch Project
Some projects move through these stages in a matter of weeks; others, especially full-home remodels with permitting, take longer. Here's what happens at each step.
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1
First call and site visit
We start with a phone call to hear what you want done and why, then set up a time to walk the space in person. On site, we measure, take photos, check existing conditions like electrical panels, framing, and plumbing runs, and ask questions about how you actually use the space day to day. This visit is free and there's no pressure to sign anything.
- What we need from you
- Access to the areas you want worked on, and honest answers about your budget range and timeline. If you've had prior work done, plans, permits, or inspection reports help us understand what's behind the walls.
- How long
- 30–60 minutes on site
- What to expect
- A contractor asking practical questions, taking measurements, and being straightforward about what looks routine versus what might need a closer look before we can price it accurately.
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2
Detailed written estimate
After the site visit, we put together a written estimate that breaks out labor, materials, and any allowances by category, not just one lump number. We'll walk you through it line by line, explain any assumptions we made, and flag anything that could change the price once walls or floors are opened up.
- What we need from you
- Time to actually read the estimate and ask questions before you decide. If you're comparing bids, let us know what's different about ours so we can explain the reasoning.
- How long
- Typically 3–10 business days after the site visit
- What to expect
- A document you can read line by line, not a single round number. We'd rather spend extra time explaining a number than have you guess at what's included.
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3
Contract, permits and scheduling
Once you approve the scope and price, we put it in writing: scope of work, payment schedule, start date, and estimated completion window. For work that requires it, we pull permits with the local building department and schedule the inspections that go along with them. We also lock in your place on our production schedule.
- What we need from you
- A signed contract and any deposit outlined in the payment schedule. Payment methods include cash, checks, credit cards, debit cards, and online payments. If the project needs an HOA approval on your end, that should happen before or during this stage.
- How long
- 1–3 weeks, longer if permitting is involved
- What to expect
- Clear paperwork before any demolition starts, and a realistic start date based on permit timing and our current schedule, not just a date picked to make the sale.
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4
Materials selection
You choose cabinets, countertops, flooring, fixtures, tile, paint colors, and hardware, either on your own, through a supplier we work with, or with our input if you want a second opinion. We confirm lead times for each item, since some materials sit on the shelf and others take weeks to arrive.
- What we need from you
- Decisions made early enough that ordering doesn't hold up your start date. If you're still deciding on higher-cost items like cabinetry or tile, let us know so we can plan the schedule around it.
- How long
- 1–4 weeks, depending on how many decisions are involved
- What to expect
- Straight talk about lead times, especially on special-order items, so a materials delay doesn't come as a surprise mid-project.
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5
Build, with daily cleanup and a named point of contact
This is the demolition, framing, rough-ins, and finish work itself, done in the sequence that makes sense for your scope. Crews clean up debris and secure the site at the end of each work day, and you'll have one named point of contact on our team for questions during the build instead of chasing down whoever answers the phone.
- What we need from you
- Reasonable access to the work area during the hours we agreed on, and a way to reach your point of contact if plans change on your end, like a delayed delivery or a schedule conflict.
- How long
- Days to several months, depending on scope
- What to expect
- Noise, dust control measures, and a job site that's swept and secured before the crew leaves each day. You'll hear from your point of contact regularly, not just when something goes wrong.
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6
Final walkthrough and punch list
Before we call the project finished, we walk the completed work with you room by room. Anything that isn't right — a paint touch-up, a cabinet door out of alignment, a fixture that needs adjustment — goes on a written punch list with a plan for when it gets fixed. We don't consider the job done until that list is closed out.
- What we need from you
- Time to look closely, including opening cabinets and drawers, running faucets, and testing outlets, so nothing gets missed before we wrap up.
- How long
- 1–2 hours for the walkthrough, punch list items typically closed within days
- What to expect
- A final product that matches what was agreed to, and a contractor who comes back to fix punch list items rather than treating them as an afterthought.
What We Do When Something Goes Wrong
Remodeling involves opening up walls, floors, and ceilings that haven't been touched in decades, and honest contractors plan for surprises instead of pretending they won't happen. Here's how we handle the situations that actually come up.
Change orders
If the scope needs to change — you decide to add a window, or we recommend upgrading something once we're into the work — we write up a change order describing the work and the price change, and we get it signed before that work continues. We don't add charges to an invoice that weren't agreed to in writing first.
Hidden damage found during demolition
Rot behind a shower wall, mold under old flooring, wiring that doesn't meet current code, or a cast iron drain line that's failing are the most common surprises once walls come down. When we find something like this, we stop, show you what we found, explain the options and the cost to address it, and get your sign-off before moving forward.
Schedule slips
Materials backorders, inspection scheduling with the local building department, and weather all push timelines, sometimes with little warning. When that happens, we tell you as soon as we know, explain what's causing the delay, and give you an updated timeframe rather than letting the date quietly slip past without a word.
Disagreements about the work
If something doesn't look or function the way you expected, tell your point of contact directly. We'd rather walk through it in person and fix a misunderstanding early than have it sit unresolved until the final walkthrough.
Why We Lay It Out This Way
We've found that most frustration on a remodel doesn't come from the work itself — it comes from not knowing what's supposed to happen next, or feeling like problems are being hidden until it's too late to fix them cheaply. Walking through each stage up front, and being direct about the parts that can go sideways, is how we try to avoid that.
If you're weighing a project in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, or Portsmouth and want to talk through how this process would apply to your house specifically, call us at (757) 731-4151. We're happy to answer questions before you've decided on anything.
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Ready to Talk Through Your Project?
Call (757) 731-4151 for a free site visit and a written estimate, no pressure to sign anything.