05/15/2026
We appreciate D+D Studio, LLC for this information relating to starting major renovations or builds as it could not be any more accurate. The investment in your project starts before selecting a contractor or signing a contract.
The first step is investing in your vision with Alan so it can be accurately relayed to the contractor in the form of plans once you are ready to move to getting project bids. Without an accurate scope of work we can 't provide an accurate bid.
The #1 mistake we see Virginia homeowners make before starting a project:
Calling a contractor before they have drawings.
It's not the contractor's fault — they can't give you an accurate bid without knowing what they're building. So you end up with ballpark numbers that miss by $30k–$80k, and then scramble to figure out what to cut.
Here's the right order:
1️⃣ Hire a designer → get concept drawings
2️⃣ Use those drawings to get accurate contractor bids
3️⃣ Secure financing with a real number
4️⃣ Pull permits with your permit-ready drawing set
5️⃣ Break ground
This order protects your budget, your timeline, and your sanity.
We produce permit-ready residential drawings for Virginia homeowners. If you're in the planning phase, send us a message — we'll point you in the right direction.
