Questions and Answers

A: AMS Construction was founded in 1997.

A:We carry one million dollars of liability insurance. We also carry Ohio Worker’s Compensation and any required licenses in any city we work. When hiring a specialty subcontractor, we require that they carry liability insurance as well. And we also carry the performance bonds required by individual cities.

Many homeowners don't know this, but a performance bond guarantees completion of the project by protecting the owner from financial loss should the contractor fail to perform the contract in accordance with its terms and conditions

A: If applicable, absolutely! A permit guarantees that your project meets building code standards. This protects you from defective construction or sub-standard materials. Likewise it protects the contractor because a licensed inspector approves that the project is correctly completed. At times the permit process can be a pain, but no contractor and no homeowner should ever suggest avoiding the step to save money. In actuality, skipping the permit process saves little money, and could end up costing the buyer more in the long run.

A: To obtain a permit the contractor must first be licensed with the city. Next the contractor must present project drawings and specs and a description of proposed work to be done. Also, a total job cost must be given. After a review of the project by a building inspector the permit will be granted…or a request will be issued for additional information from the contractor. Once a permit is granted there is a time limit in which the job must be completed. You can apply for an extension if needed.

A: We give an initial free consultation where we discuss the scope of work and your needs, wants, and ideas. Then we return to the office to prepare a Good-Better-Best scenario tuned to your specific project. During our second appointment we will discuss this comparison, which gives you a range to consider. This gives you the ability to tell us what you would like to invest in your project.

Often times when contractors give free estimates up front they spend too little time assembling the proposal and compiling job costs, resulting in an inaccurate total dollar amount. Then come numerous surprises and change-orders down the road, leaving the homeowner frustrated and having to spend more than they had originally budgeted for.

By using establishing an investment amount upfront we can eliminate these surprises and give our client a project that best meets their needs.

A:Standard industry warranty is 1 year from the date of job completion. We have extended this warranty to 5 years from the date of job completion.

A: This is up to you. We can put a lockbox on your door handle, you can give us a key, or a garage door opener is another option.

A: We will go over this with you, but as a general rule you will want to remove all furnishings from the work space. Depending on the size of your project we may need space in your garage to store materials or provide a work area.

A: Typically 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

A: By investing ample time into the planning phase we try to eliminate future problems. Once we have received your commitment deposit, we spend the time needed researching your project and investigating site conditions to reduce the potential for surprises during construction. Still, some problems are unavoidable, such as a hidden issue inside of a wall cavity. If such a problem is discovered, we will point this out to you at once and go over the best way to remedy the situation.

It would be terrific if the build went perfectly, but we know that this is not always the case -- a fixture arrives broken, or you might decide you can't stand your original color choices. No worry, we know what to do.

A: This happens often and we simply rework the design so that you get exactly what you want. If custom materials have already been ordered we may have some limitations, but ultimately we do everything possible to give you exactly what you want.

A: There may be issues such as temporarily shutting off water or electric or your HVAC system. And we may be using space in your garage. We do everything we can to plan around inconveniences. For instance: we can install a temporary sink while awaiting granite countertops. We will cover issues like this with you.

A: We make sure that your home is left in the same condition as when we began your project. We not only clean-up at completion, we straighten up the site each day and perform a thorough clean-up each Friday. A hauling contractor picks up the major construction debris and this sometimes requires an on-site dumpster. Additionally:

• We install temporary plastic barriers to reduce dust throughout your home.
• We protect flooring with drop clothes, construction paper, and carpet film.
• We cover furniture with lightweight painter’s plastic.
• We use dustless sanding equipment and filtered shop vacuums.
• We close off cold-air returns near construction areas to eliminate dust in your HVAC system.

A: We are always available by phone and email, in addition, you will have a project manager on-site.

A: There is a down payment at signing that covers materials and expenses for the initial phase of the project. There are progress payments due at the start of various project phases. The amount of progress payments will depend on the duration of your project. Then there is a payment upon completion. All terms and amounts are spelled out in the project contract.

A: Only as a courtesy to past customers. We can recommend someone if you like.

A: Yes. They are local and offer different price levels. We will also email you various links to manufacturers that we know and recommend.

A: We do not at this time. We can suggest financing sources, but we are not connected with any lending institutions directly.