“On a scale of one to ten, RIGGS is a ten. They were available, personal, understanding, and worked with me very well. They are masters of their craft, and are super easy to work with.”
-Janet Nelson, homeowner
The thought of managing a long distance remodeling project can be daunting for many. After all, how would you know what’s happening on the jobsite each day, and how can you ensure that your wishes are being fully carried out in your absence? Last April, when homeowner Janet Nelson began seeking a remodeling firm to renovate her 1950’s Kirkwood, Missouri home, her connection with RIGGS put those fears to rest.
An Iowa resident, Janet had just purchased the property as a second home to be closer to her daughter here in St. Louis and to have a warmer climate for winter activities. Realizing that the home had very few updates since its original construction in the 1950s, Janet asked her realtor for referrals to design-build remodeling firms that were familiar with the area and style of home, and who could help bring her vision to fruition – a feat that was especially challenging since the home was purchased sight-unseen. Amie Riggs Swarts, co-owner of RIGGS Company and Design, was the first to respond to Janet’s request – and the two immediately clicked.
“I liked Amie’s energy, and the fact that RIGGS was a local, family owned business,” said Janet. “I also recognized that RIGGS had the right balance of experience and the understanding of what I needed and wanted to accomplish with my home.”
Pre-Construction
During the initial meeting with RIGGS, measurements were taken and a general plan was developed for the home. The design process quickly began for this two-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow. The new design included a complete gut-rehab of the main floor, updating systems and reconfiguring the space. Changes included:
- Creation of a Jack-and-Jill bathroom between the two bedrooms, featuring a spacious zero-entry shower.
- Enclosure of an existing breezeway, creating an opening for French doors that lead to the deck.
- Updating of plumbing, roof, gutters, paint and downspouts
- Addition of a gas fireplace
Once the design was approved, RIGGS brought in vendors and subcontractors to price out the various pieces of the project. This is a very important step, and what allows homeowners to know – on the front end – what the project cost will be. It also allows subcontractors to inspect the project so they can anticipate and address any stumbling blocks before work even begins.
Selections
A RIGGS’ Selections Specialist was there to assist Janet every step of the way when it came to choosing all of the fixtures, finishes and components for the whole-house remodeling project. “We spend a day-and-a-half shopping for everything we needed. She helped keep me in budget because she understood what every cost meant to the overall scope of the project, and also had the eye for color to make the right choices so that everything would visually tie together perfectly,” said Janet
Construction
The day had come for construction to begin. The design was set, the choices were made, and the hammers were now ready to swing. Throughout the three-month process, Janet reports that all went smoothly, even though she was managing from afar and she decided to add things along the way.
“I was a stickler about not looking like we’re a construction site,” said Janet. “I didn’t want trash or smoking, and it was very important to me to respect my new neighbors.”
RIGGS makes that possible for every homeowner they serve. The team takes pride in maintaining clean and orderly jobsites, and is conscious of the impact certain points in the project may have on the homeowners and neighbors.
The RIGGS process also ensures that all communication throughout the course of the project is clear, complete and transparent.
“Because my daughter is here in St. Louis, she attended our weekly construction meetings for us, and the RIGGS team welcomed her with open arms and made sure she was always informed. This, plus RIGGS’ communication with me, doing whatever it took to answer questions, was important to me because I was managing this project from out of town.”
The Result
“Our dream was to get out of the cold Iowa winters, come to St. Louis, where it’s a bit warmer, to get on the trails and ride our bikes,” said Janet. “We also love to entertain, so we plan to have more friends over to enjoy the home with us. We have plenty of space here to do this, and our goal was to create a warm and inviting home. We accomplished that very well.”
Coincidentally, Janet was managing a remodeling project on her home in Iowa at the same time that renovation on the Kirkwood house was taking place. “When I compare the two, RIGGS was just awesome,” said Janet. “My contractor in Iowa didn’t do the extras like helping me with selections, or making me feel like part of the family. RIGGS went above and beyond to simplify the process for me. We consider Amie and the team at RIGGS as good friends we look forward to seeing when we come in town.”
Janet has already begun her second remodeling project with RIGGS – finishing the home’s lower level to add two bedrooms and a bathroom. The project is expected to be completed in April, 2015.
