I Just Finished a Discovery Call—What Next?

You've set up a discovery call, reviewed your project ideas, and outlined your objectives. Now you're wondering this: what comes next after a discovery call?

Good question. Next steps can sometimes be a surprise if you have minimal experience dealing with a contractor. This is what happens next so you have no worries about what to expect.

Step 1: The Contractor Reviews Your Project Notes

During your Discovery Call with your contractor, they jotted down details about your goals, budget, and deadline. We keep these notes on hand to ensure no detail is missed from start to finish.

This allows them to:

• Confirm your project fits their services.

• To book an on-site consultation.

• Begin to work up solutions that work for you.

2. Scheduling a Site Visit or Design Consultation

The second step is typically a face-to-face appointment to your residence. Why? Because two projects will never be alike. We want to see this space in person so that we can:

• Gather accurate measurements.

• Look for potential problems (electrical, plumbing, structural).

• Ask more detailed questions

• Develop a better understanding of your taste and style.

Consider that the Discovery Call is the "blueprint" and that the site visit is the "walk-through" that sharpens the details into focus.

Step 3: Preparing an Estimate or Proposal

After inspecting your space and having an understanding of what needs to be done, they will create an estimate or proposal. This will consist of:

• A list of costs (labor + materials).

• A projected timeline.

• If applicable: additional features, or design selections for your project.

If you are shopping around among several contractors, be sure to compare apples to apples—the lowest bid is not necessarily best (we'll leave that argument for a later blog).

Step 4: Checking and Requesting Clarification

You will be able to look over the estimate, and make adjustments (if necessary). You should always work with a contractor that listens to any questions/concerns you have through this portion, and addresses them accordingly.

This is also when you decide if you would like to move forward with the project, or save it for a later date.

Step 5: Signing the Contract and Scheduling the Work

After you accept the proposal, our contractor will draw up a contract. This binds both of you and specifies:

• Scope of work

• Deposit/Payment Schedule

• Timeline expectations/Milestones

• Warranty information (if provided)

When you sign a contract, your project is automatically placed on the calendar—and it's no longer "planning" but is now "doing."

What if You're Not Yet Ready to Commit?

That's totally fine! The site visit and call aren't contracts in disguise—their purpose is to provide you with clarity and alternatives. You want a good contractor to work to your rhythm and won't push you to do something that makes you less than absolutely comfortable.

Bottom Line

Once your Discovery Call is complete, we transition to planning mode: site visit/design consultation, estimate, review, and finally contract. They all build on each other so you're not sitting around wondering what to do next—you're moving along knowing exactly what to look forward to.

Ready to take the next step? At Alpine Home Repairs, we walk you through every step from initial call to final walkthrough. When you're ready to start your project, we're eager to assist.

Alpine Home Repairs