Our Process
At VILLAGE, it is our job to lead and work with our clients every step of the way – from initial design concept to installation completion. No matter the project size, a talented VILLAGE Designer will help you through your journey to ensure the final result exceeds your expectations. We know that building and remodeling projects can be daunting tasks, so we have laid out our process to help simplify things for our clients.
Our Process
Phase 1: Design Development & Initial Budget
Meet with your designers at our showroom and/or in your home to share your ideas, hear the designer’s suggestions, and see all the options available to you. This is the time to share as many specifics as you can – inspiration pictures, floorplans, appliance selections, etc. – to help the designer begin to develop a design concept, potential finish ideas, as well as the budget range for the entire project. If you are doing a remodel, we are more than happy to come to the home to get preliminary measurements and discuss design ideas.
After this initial meeting, your designer will come up with an initial concept layout, and work with our estimating department to come up with the budget range for your entire project.
Phase 2: Design Agreement
Once you have made VILLAGE the choice to design, manufacture, and install your custom cabinetry package, the next phase is to agree on final design decisions for the project, approve selections for production, and develop a firm contract price. The Design Agreement involves signing a contract for the full and complete design package and submitting a non-refundable retainer of $5,000 – $10,000 based on the established budget. This fee includes up to four sets of revisions to your design to reach final agreement and finished drawings that reflect matching field conditions, a list of final specifications, a final contract amount, and an accurate schedule for payments, delivery, and final installation.
One finish sample will be produced and presented for your approval from our archive of hundreds of “standard” offerings or, if necessary, a customized finish sample will be developed. Much like working up to the final design, the first iteration of a custom sample might not be exactly right. We are happy to produce up to two revised samples until the finish is to your satisfaction.
Once the final cabinet design, finish selections, and all accessories are solidified, your VILLAGE designer will send out an official sign-off package for final approval. This package will include all final cabinetry drawings and details, the final contract pricing, as well as our terms and conditions. Once this is signed by the appropriate parties, the 60% deposit invoice (less the design retainer already paid) will be collected to secure your spot in our production queue.
Phase 3: Production Period
Based on earlier conversations between your VILLAGE designer, contractor or designer, and you, the project should be entering the production queue at the correct time to meet your proposed schedule. We know construction is not a perfect science, and things can happen to alter the proposed schedule. As we draw closer to the date of delivery, the VILLAGE Production Manager, as well as VILLAGE Field Project Managers will be in regular close communication with your job site manager to be certain everything stays on schedule. A secondary site verification meeting will be completed approximately 8-10 weeks prior to delivery. If things begin to change following this site verification, then a game plan will be developed to adjust to the changing circumstances. The invoice for delivery will be sent out two weeks prior to the projected delivery date.
Phase 4: Delivery & Installation
Our Customer Service department will be reaching out approximately two weeks prior to your delivery week to arrange delivery date/time as well as scheduling the commencement of installation. This phase requires close coordination, so your VILLAGE Field Project Manager and our Customer Service Department will keep close tabs on the progress of installing the cabinets into your home. Our cabinet installation is often reliant on completion of items from other trades, such as installation of countertops, appliances, etc. Once these are complete, then the VILLAGE installation crew can finish installing your beautiful cabinetry. Diligent work in the design phase reduces or eliminates any unforeseen issues. However, they do at times arise, and will be addressed in a swift and efficient manner.
Phase 5: Completion
Village Handcrafted Cabinetry provides furniture grade cabinetry for every room in your home. Your VILLAGE Field Project Manager will come to the project at the end of installation to be certain all has been properly installed and any final detailed needs are documented and addressed. The final completion balance is due at this time. With your acknowledgement of these items and their completion, we will invite you to enjoy your cabinetry for years to come. You will receive a package that will include you touch up kit(s), Cleaning and Care information, as well as the warranty information for your records.
Changes?
If inspiration or necessity causes a change to your project after you have signed off on it, we are happy to accommodate you for a nominal fee that will be handled as a change order to the original contract. Depending on the scope of the change and the timing, we will work with you to minimize the impact on the delivery date.