FAQ · Remodeling with JACCO BuildersFrequently Asked Remodeling Questions plain answers before you call

Yes. The first consultation and the written estimate that comes out of it cost you nothing, and there is no obligation to go ahead. On very large or design-heavy projects that need measured drawings or an engineer before a price is possible, Jonathon will explain at the first meeting whether any of that preparation carries a cost, so it never appears as a surprise.

Scope comes first. Structural changes cost more than surface ones: relocating a wall, a drain or a circuit brings in framing, rough-in work and inspections that a same-footprint remodel avoids. Selections come next, because tile, stone, cabinetry and fixtures vary widely. The condition of the house matters too, since older homes can hide rot or outdated wiring. A written scope shows how each choice moves your number.

Usually because they are not pricing the same job. One bid may include demolition, disposal, permits and trim, while another leaves them out or covers them with thin allowances. Compare bids line by line against the same scope: what is removed, what is built, which materials are named and what is excluded. JACCO writes its bids around a detailed scope precisely so that comparison is possible.

An allowance is a placeholder amount for an item that has not been chosen yet, such as a light fixture or a tile. If the final choice costs more or less, the price moves with it. We prefer to settle selections before the bid is final so the number reflects real products, but when an allowance cannot be avoided, the bid names the amount and explains how any difference is handled.

Yes, and it helps to share your number early. A budget is a design tool: it tells us whether the money belongs in moving a wall or in the finishes, and which items could wait for a later phase. Jonathon can show you what different choices cost, so you can decide where to spend and where to hold back before the scope is written.

No. Most projects start with a conversation, a few photos and a site visit. If yours involves structural changes or an addition that needs drawings, Jonathon will tell you early and explain who prepares them. If you already have an architect or interior designer, bring them in: JACCO can work from their drawings and coordinate selections with them, so everyone builds from the same set of decisions.

Selections are made during planning, before demolition, and confirmed in writing. We go through tile, fixtures, cabinetry, counters, lighting and hardware with you, flag anything with a long lead time, and order materials before the old room comes out. Settling these early protects the schedule and keeps the price tied to real products. If you would like help with finishes, ask what design support is available for your project.

It depends on your budget, your tolerance for disruption and how the rooms connect. Doing related rooms together usually means one round of setup, protection, permits and cleanup, and it avoids tearing into finished work later. Phasing spreads the cost and keeps more of the house usable. If phases make sense for you, we can plan the first one so it does not create rework for the next.

That is a normal place to start. Tell us what bothers you about the space now, how you use it and what you have seen that you like, even if it is only a handful of saved photos. Ideas tend to sharpen at the site visit, once you can see what the walls, plumbing and structure allow. The written scope comes after that conversation, not before.

Yes. Older houses bring plaster walls, out-of-square framing and decades of patched pipes and wiring, so we look for trouble behind the walls during the site visit and plan for it in the scope. The aim is work that suits the age of the house rather than fighting it. If the house sits in a historic district, outside changes can require a design review, and we find that out while preparing the bid.

JACCO does. When a project needs a permit, we prepare and submit the application and schedule the inspections it requires. The issuing office depends on your address: Sumner County for unincorporated areas such as Cottontown, the City of Franklin, the City of Brentwood, Metro Nashville for homes inside Nashville, or your own city’s building department elsewhere. You should not have to stand in line at a codes office yourself.

As a rule of thumb, work that moves walls, adds or alters circuits, relocates plumbing, builds a deck or adds square footage typically needs a permit, while paint, flooring and like-for-like fixture swaps often do not. The exact rules depend on the jurisdiction and the details of the job, so JACCO confirms what your project requires while preparing the bid and builds it into the plan.

They can, mostly for exterior work. Some Brentwood neighborhoods have HOA architectural review for changes to the outside of a home, and in Franklin, a home within one of the city’s historic districts can require design review before its exterior is altered. Interior-only work is less often affected, although some HOAs set rules for dumpsters, parking or work hours. JACCO checks these requirements during the bid and builds any review time into the schedule.

JACCO’s Tennessee contractor license number is 79477, and you can look it up through the state’s online license search, run by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. The company is licensed and insured; ask for a certificate of insurance and we will provide one before work starts. Checking both is a sensible step with any contractor you are considering, and we encourage it.

By containing it at the source. Before demolition, the floors along the crew’s path are covered, plastic sheeting closes off the work area, and nearby furniture is moved or covered. Some dust escapes on any remodel, especially during demolition and drywall sanding, but containment keeps most of it where it belongs, and the area is cleaned at the close of every workday.

Jonathon. He is your main point of contact from the bid through closeout, and he knows the schedule, the scope and where each trade stands. The crew is glad to answer small practical questions on site, but anything that affects the design, the price or the timing goes through him so that every decision is recorded and nothing gets lost between people.

Carefully, and only for work our own crew does not cover. JACCO’s craftsmen handle the core of most projects. For specialty trades, Jonathon uses licensed professionals whose work he knows, checks that they carry the right license and insurance, and schedules them as part of the same plan. They follow the same rules for protection and daily cleanup, and JACCO stays responsible for their work.

Work on that area pauses, and you see the problem before anything is decided. Rot, old leaks, outdated wiring and undersized framing tend to surface once finishes come off, especially in older houses. Jonathon explains what was found, what fixing it involves and what it adds to the price and schedule. Nothing proceeds until you approve the change in writing, and the rest of the project keeps moving where it can.

On most working days, yes, but not always. Some steps involve planned waiting: an inspection, thinset or paint curing, or countertops being fabricated after they are templated. Those gaps are built into the work schedule, so a quiet day is part of the plan rather than a sign that the project has stalled. If a day changes unexpectedly, you will hear about it.

Construction is normally scheduled on weekdays, and the office keeps Monday-to-Friday hours. Saturdays are available by appointment, which suits site visits, selection meetings or a walk-through when you cannot get away during the week. Sundays are closed. If your project has an unusual timing need, such as a firm move-in date, raise it during the bid so it can be planned for.

Earlier than most people expect. The construction itself is often the shorter part of a remodel; design decisions, selections, permits and lead times on cabinetry, windows or custom glass take up much of the calendar. Reaching out well before the date you have in mind gives you time to decide without pressure, and gives JACCO time to have everything ordered before work begins.

The contract you sign includes a payment schedule, agreed before the start date, that shows what is due and when. Payments line up with the progress of the job, and each invoice ties back to the contract and to any change orders you approved in writing. If an invoice ever does not make sense to you, Jonathon will go through it with you line by line.

JACCO takes cash, checks and bank transfers; Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover cards; and Venmo, Cash App and Apple Pay. When each payment is due is set by the schedule in your contract, and how you pay it is your choice from that list. If you have a question about a particular method, ask before signing so it is settled from the start.

Sometimes. JACCO is based in Cottontown and works mainly across Sumner County and in Franklin, Brentwood and West Nashville. If your home is elsewhere in Middle Tennessee, call and describe the project; whether it is a fit depends on its size, its location and the current schedule. Our service areas page lists the towns we cover and the services offered in each.