How to Choose the Right Whole House Remodel Contractor
Choosing the right contractor for your whole house remodel is essential to maximize your investment, increase your property value, and enhance your quality of life. A home remodel isn’t just about construction—it’s about thoughtful planning, a design that fits your lifestyle, and peace of mind throughout the process.
By selecting an experienced, reputable remodeling contractor, you can ensure quality craftsmanship, clear communication, and a smooth, stress-free process from design to completion. A trusted design-build firm will guide you through every step, from defining your project scope to delivering a finished home that reflects your vision.
In this article, we’ll walk you through how to choose the right whole house remodel contractor in the Fort Myers–Naples area of Southwest Florida, so you can hire with confidence and enjoy an exciting, rewarding home renovation experience.
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Choosing the Right Whole Home Remodel Contractor
Selecting the right whole home remodel contractor is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your renovation. It’s about more than choosing the first name you find online—it requires careful research, comparing estimates line by line to ensure you’re evaluating the same scope of work, checking experience, and assessing reputation. Be cautious of unusually low bids that lack detail—these can lead to costly change orders once the project is underway.
By gathering social recommendations and reviewing reliable sources, you can identify a remodeling contractor who offers the skills, professionalism, and design-build expertise needed to bring your vision to life. Following the steps below will help you choose a contractor who understands your project scope, communicates clearly, and delivers exceptional results for your home remodel.
Step 1: Seek Personal Recommendations
Ask friends, family, and neighbors who have recently completed a home remodel or home renovation for feedback on design-build firms they’ve hired. These personal recommendations often reveal honest insights into a contractor’s reputation, work quality, professionalism, and communication style.
Here are some questions you can ask to learn more about the remodeling contractor you’re considering:
- What was the size and scope of the project your contractor completed for you? (Evaluate if it is similar to the one you’re planning)
- What did you value most about working with this contractor? Were there any challenges or drawbacks?
- Please describe the remodeling process. Was the project completed on time and within budget, and if not, what factors affected the timeline or cost?”
By using recommendations, you can create a shortlist of potential remodeling contractors to research further.
Step 2: Search for Local Whole House Remodel Contractors
If personal recommendations are limited, research local contractors with a strong track record in whole-house remodeling. One way to do this is to ask local building inspectors or realtors for insider insight on which contractors consistently use quality materials and uphold good business practices.
If you’re more online-savvy, you can use reputable sources like the National Association for the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to find vetted professionals to look for general contractors familiar with building codes and regulations in the Fort Myers–Naples area of Southwest Florida.
NARI lists the current professionals on their staff, contact information, specialities, and how long they have been a NARI member. They also list award-winning contractors near you.
BBB provides the license numbers for the whole-house remodeling contractor, which you can put in the Licensing Portal of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation to learn more about their licensing information.
Through the listings of NARI and BBB, you can build a preliminary list of contractors based on experience, portfolio quality, and reputation.
Step 3: Reach Out to Your Top General Contractor Choices
While many homeowners begin by collecting three estimates, it’s not a hard-and-fast rule—or always the best approach. It’s worth being more selective—choosing contractors with a solid reputation and whom you truly trust. You’ll get a much better sense of their experience, communication style, and integrity through an initial phone call, followed by an in-person consultation. Use these meetings to ask deeper questions, learn about their process, and gauge whether they’re the right fit for your project. Here are some questions to help you evaluate their suitability:
- What types of projects do you specialize in, and can you share examples similar to mine?
- Can you provide references from recent projects similar to mine?
- How do you handle project timelines and unexpected delays?
- What is your process for keeping clients updated during the remodel?
- How do you ensure quality workmanship throughout the project?
- Can you walk me through how you manage changes or additions once the project is underway?
- Who will be my main point of contact during the remodel?
Evaluate how promptly, clearly, and confidently they respond, as this can indicate their professionalism.
Step 4: Meet With the Remodeling Contractor to Discuss Your Project
Schedule an in-person meeting with your top remodeling contractor candidates after the initial phone interviews. Through face-to-face meetings, you can evaluate each contractor’s professionalism and whether they are a good fit for your project scope and design goals.
This meeting is often called the initial consultation. It’s where a contractor assesses your home and gives advice on the possibilities of your remodeling or renovation goals. Through this consultation, it’s also your chance to observe how well they respond to your questions and whether they show interest in your vision and design preferences.
It’s vital to choose a contractor who communicates clearly and actively listens, since they will be in your home for months during the construction process. See if they can address your concerns and clarify your expectations.
Step 5: Check Contractor References and Online Reviews
Once you’ve chosen your whole house remodel contractor, negotiate and finalize contract terms in writing. A detailed contract ensures both parties are protected and that expectations are clearly defined. Here are some of the contract elements to include:
Step 6: Setting Realistic Remodeling Timelines for Your Home
Another factor that goes into choosing the right whole house remodel contractor is how each candidate will set a realistic and acceptable remodeling timeline for your home. Ask about potential factors that could affect the project timeline, such as:
- Material availability
- Weather conditions
- Subcontractor scheduling
A reputable contractor must provide a reasonable project schedule based on their experience and project scope. Ask each candidate for possible challenges that may arise during the construction process and their contingencies to prevent delays.
While most contractors have a design-build process available on their website, you can also request how they apply regular timeline reviews and other measures to keep you up to date with their construction milestones.
By having a realistic timeline, a contractor can maintain quality standards for your whole home remodeling project while minimizing the risks of rushed work.
Step 7: Choosing the Right Whole House Remodel Contractor
Once you’ve chosen your whole house remodel contractor, negotiate and finalize contract terms in writing. A detailed contract ensures both parties are protected and that expectations are clearly defined. Here are some of the contract elements to include:
Payment Schedules
Payments must align with project milestones to maintain accountability. Typically, payment schedules for remodeling projects start with 10% at contract signing, followed by three payments of 25% evenly spaced over the project duration, with a final 15% upon project completion.
Lien Releases
Require lien releases as a condition for payment at each project phase to protect yourself from liability if the contractor is unable to pay their subcontractors or suppliers.
Addressing Potential Changes and Disputes
Outline how project scope changes will be requested, approved, and documented to avoid legal complications, as changes may affect cost and timeline.
Turning Your Vision into Reality with the Right Remodeling Partner
Your home is one of your most important investments—and as your remodeling partner, we treat it with the care it deserves. Call us today at (239) 939-5411 or contact us to schedule a phone interview and take the first step toward your dream whole house remodel in Fort Myers-Naples, FL.
For Further Design Inspiration, View Our Extensive Home Remodeling Gallery
Why Choose Us
- Quality of workmanship and meticulous attention to detail
- Open, smooth, consistent communication throughout your project
- Provide design/build process that delivers your project on time, and on budget
- A caring, professional remodeling team who has your best interests at heart
- An entire design and construction team that is responsive and easy to work with
- 3-year, better than industry standard, workmanship warranty
- Keep track of your project through a web-based project management system
What Client’s Say
We hired Mike Spreckelmeier at Progressive Design Build to remodel our condo in Bonita Bay. We wanted to completely redo the kitchen as well as eliminate the sliders from the kitchen and family room leading to the lanai. Progressive completed the remodel while we were back at home in Illinois. We were thrilled to return to an outstanding result. Not only was all the furniture back in place, but everything was very clean and neat. We even found a new filter in the air-conditioning unit! Outstanding job, would highly recommend Mike and Progressive.
Progressive did a room addition, new outdoor grilling kitchen, some plumbing and painting work. Their attention to detail was impeccable. They stayed on task and on their time line. They are very respectful of the client’s property, and very thorough when planning and preparing for the project. They follow up at each stage of the project to ensure all phases are to the client’s satisfaction.
Both Tom and I would highly recommend Progressive Design Build, Inc. for any job. The quality of the workmanship along with on time completion made it an enjoyable experience.
Progressive completed a major remodeling project for us on time and on budget. Our project included new bedrooms above our garage, expanding existing bedrooms, expanding our lanai with a new outdoor kitchen, a new roof, upgraded landscaping including a new irrigation system – all coordinated and managed by Progressive. The owner, Michael Spreckelmeier, is a man of his word, communicates extremely well, and will always do what is best for the customer.
Progressive has performed three projects for us over the last three years. most recently January 2014. All the projects were very well done — I respect Progressive’s professionalism, dependency, and integrity. I would highly recommend them to anyone, and have done so. I worked with another contractor on a project during the last three years — there was no comparison regarding Progressive’s performance and the performance of the other contractor — the experience with Progressive was MUCH better than the other service provider. My impression is that Progressive may not be the cheapest service provider, but work is performed on schedule and at the highest quality level. I will happily pay a bit more to receive the quality of the service they provide. I trust Mike and will definitely use him again if a need arises.
Progressive has performed three projects for us over three years — (1) an outdoor kitchen in January 2011; (2) Kitchen remodel and wet bar construction in Fall 2012; and (3) outer wall repair/reconstruction in January 2014. All the projects were very well done — we respect Progressive’s professionalism, dependency and integrity, and would highly recommend them to anyone, and have done so. We worked with another contractor on a project during the last three years — there was no comparison regarding — the experience with Progressive was MUCH better. My impression is that Progressive may not be the cheapest service provider, work is performed on schedule and at the highest quality level. I will happily pay a bit more to receive the quality of the service they provide. I trust Mike and will definitely use him again if a need arises.
We had 2 doors replaced. The project required major changes to the door openings. Michael Spreckelmeier was very easy to work with and he was involved with all phases of the project. The project was completed on time and on budget. We are pleased with the outcome and will use Progressive Design Build in the future.
We were entirely satisfied with everything and everybody. Nice people!
It was such a pleasure working with the team at Progressive Design Build on our recent renovation project in Fort Myers. We especially thank Greg Brown for his special attention to detail and the entire team for their excellent “long distance communication” skills. We were thrilled that we could handle everything from our home in Virginia and that our project was completed not only on time, but ahead of schedule! We would highly recommend Progressive Design Build to everyone!
Having moved in, we are delighted with the entire renovation and thrilled by the compliments from many new neighbors on how pleasant, courteous and helpful the various contractors had been at all times. Progressive gets five stars from us. Thanks for a job well done.
I think during negotiations with Mike Spreckelmeier that he was very honest. This gave me a great sense of trust. I felt I was entrusting my home to a friend!
Progressive Design Build helped us design and build a new family room/kitchen in the summer of 2013. We selected them after extensive bids based on the quality of their vision for the project and sterling recommendations from friends and neighbors. All work was done while we were away for the summer. We could not be more pleased with the results. Not only did Progressive owner Mike Spreckelmeier do a first-rate job managing the flow and costs of the project (which was exactly on-budget), but also the finished product had the shortest punch list of any of the five major renovations we have done on various properties with other builders during the past two decades. And, our home was cleaner when we returned than when we left before construction. We unconditionally recommend Progressive Design Build.
Progressive Design Build did a significant project for us: new kitchen, family room, new ceramic tile throughout the house, moved a wall in a bedroom, new paint in most of our rooms and a total new paint job on the exterior of the house. They covered all the details of the job before we left for the summer. They kept us informed weekly with emails, photos and phone calls when necessary, and finished the job two before we came back in the fall. They did an excellent, outstanding job and the punch list took less than six to complete. I will use them again for our next remodel project. Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!
Tom and I can’t wait for the “winter season” when we will enjoy the new addition every day! You have been a wonderful team to work with!
Thank you for all the wonderful things you did to make our job turnout so well. It was such a pleasure to return to our “new home” during the holidays. We weren’t here so you had to make many choices for us. You always did the best thing, not the easiest. The quality of the work was most important to us but the fact that you gave us a time schedule and stuck to it was important. We love everything!
We have used Progressive Design Build twice in three years, both times on home improvement projects including adding walls on different second homes while we were out of state and unable to observe the work. Both times we returned to the projects that were done to perfection, as well as the clean-up. We are now full time Florida residents and are using Progressive again for a much larger project. We would unequivocally recommend Progressive Design Build.