FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

People occasionally think to contact a designer or architect first. However, this approach often produces a design without the cost feedback needed to keep the project within budget. Sometimes the non-vetted design can become so costly that the project is never built, or requires a total re-design late in the process when pricing is finally provided.

Avoid this hassle by starting your pre-construction planning with Donatelli Builders. Our estimator and trade partners work as one unified team to provide critical pricing realities from the time of initial design presentation through project implementation and completion. We do this because we strongly believe that access to accurate information from a single source of accountability helps you make educated decisions on an ongoing basis as the design evolves.

This is evaluated on a project-to-project basis. Given that remodeling is our specialty, we know how to work as guests in our clients’ homes, and will be very clear about alternative living arrangements should it be in your best interest. We also carefully consider safety, scheduling and overall cost as a part of the recommendation.

No. We believe the most significant initial design challenge of a custom building project is the relationship between the homeowner and the design team. Specifically, the designer must possess the appropriate skills and personality to align with the homeowner’s unique needs. There is no such thing as the best designer for all types of projects.

Since we started, Donatelli Builders works with many talented architects and designers. We identify the best providers based not simply on their ability to design, but also on their ability to collaborate and to support the values reflected in our Donatelli Difference.

Our geographic area is the city of Chicago, its West and Northwest suburbs, and Southern Wisconsin, including the Lake Geneva Community.

The size of the project is not as important as the alignment of values we share with the client. If there is a desire for the process we offer and the results we produce, we consider this a good match and will travel further for a smaller project.

You are welcome to call us directly and discuss your needs. Together we can mutually determine if your project would be best served with us as your contractor.

Given the diversity of the projects we take on, we evaluate the specific needs of each client to determine if a fixed-price or a cost-plus negotiated fee agreement would be best. After carefully discussing the strong points of each option, we let the client choose based on what they believe is best.

No, all training available to residential general contractors is 100% optional and is only provided by a company if the owners and employees regard it as a priority.

No, the building department oversee and inspect only the major systems of a project (framing, plumbing, electrical, etc.), and they are only required to ensure the minimum standards are met. The quality control process is very different from contractor to contractor. We suggest you request to see the written documents a company uses to ensure all work done is checked at the appropriate phase. If this cannot be produced, the company is likely not serious about quality control.