Serving the entire Northern Michigan Area
(231)386-7668
Do I need permit?
This is a common question we get from customers, and the answer does vary based on the project. However, there are very few projects that don't require a permit. In general, the only things that won't require permits is: roofing, window and door installations, siding, tile work, painting, trim work and small repairs.
We like to remind homeowners, that permits are not the enemy. Permits are there to keep your house and any work done on it to a basic standard of safety and quality. Here at Lord & Lady, we strive to go beyond these basic standards, to give you a repair or build that will not only meet code now, but also meet code in 5 or 10 years, when they update code, because they've realized it wasn't safe enough before (as they always do).
A good contractor will never tell you not to get a permit. It will ensure your safety, and at the same time, ensure that your homes value or any insurance claims will not be affected by bad repairs or unpermitted work (that can be checked and found out by an inspector at a sale) if you ever wish to sell.
Are you a licensed contractor? Are you insured?
Lord & Lady Construction LLC is a licensed general contractor company. Both our company and our head contractor are licensed by the state of Michigan. Our license numbers are 2101190067 & 2102195486. You can verify our license at the Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Web Site.
We are also an EPA Lead Safe Certified Firm, meaning that both our head contractor, Thomas, and our company are certified to deal with homes built prior to 1978.
Both Thomas and Laura Cavendish are CPR and First Aid Certified, ensuring that there is always someone one site that knows basic safety regulations and procedures, meeting MIOSHA code.
We are a fully insured company, through Auto Owners Insurance Company. We have not only General Liability insurance coverage, but also coverage for materials when in transit and stored at your home. This extra coverage ensures that, should anything happen to materials while on-site (theft, damage, etc), before the project is finished and covered by your home owners insurance, all materials would be covered by our insurance.
Our head contractor, Thomas, is on-site every day, overseeing or completing all the work, so that we can insure it is completed correctly, exceeds all code and is being done safely.
What "green" materials do you use?
Depending on the project and the budget, we can use anywhere from 25-100% green materials. Many eco-friendly materials cost more, and therefore would affect the budget. Additionally, many green choices aren't actually in the materials at all, but rather in the decision of the home.
There are also many eco-friendly materials that are equivalent to their more toxic counterparts. In situations where this is the case, we opt to use the "green" materials no matter what. Giving you and us a healthier environment.
Some of the eco-friendly materials that we'll use on every project are: low-VOC paints, caulks, adhesives, sealants, stains and varnishes.
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How small of a project will you do?
Here at Lord & Lady, we're not picky. We want to help you get good quality work, no matter what the size of the job. Essentially, no job is too small. Though all projects require a minimum charge of $100 (to cover fuel and time), we can come to repair doors, windows, patio stones, install trim, repair cracked tiles and more. Give us a call and we are happy to hear what you have going on and schedule a time to come look at your situation.
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When do you schedule meetings for estimates?
We always try to schedule estimate meetings for whatever time will work best for you. Our head contractor, Thomas Cavendish, is who will come to your estimate, and because he is typically on job sites during the day, we prefer to schedule them early in the morning, or late afternoon/early evening. However, if when scheduling, if you need a different time, just let us know and we will do what we can.
It is also possible to schedule an estimate on the weekend, but availablity will vary based on the current schedule. Most meetings take place at the location you are looking to have work done, this is so he can see the space, take measurements, inspect materials and view the current conditions. Just call, (231)386-7668 and speak with Mae, our office manager, or email Mae, Mae@LordandLadyConstruction.com, to set up your estimate today!
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Frequently Asked Questions
It is our goal to post answers to common questions to save you time. However, if you have a question we haven't answered, contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also always check out our blog and see if we've discussed the question there! Thanks!
What do you wish customers knew about the construction profession?
This is a bit of lengthy answer, so check out our blog post, 8 Insider Tips to Know about the Construction Profession for all our tips!
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Do you charge for your renderings?
For larger projects, to make sure everyone is on the same page, we will do a rendering of what we are estimating. We will always discuss renderings prior to completing them. If you choose to do the work with Lord & Lady Construction, there is no charge for renderings. If however, you receive the renderings, and then decide to go with another contractor, or to not do the project at all, we will charge a fee for the renderings.
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What are the most common types of jobs?
What we most often do, unfortunately, is fix other contractors mistakes and bad work. We do everything from small home repairs to whole home builds, but our head contractor, Thomas, has a true gift for being able to walk into a situation, and figure out the best solution for the longevity of the repair and your budget.
We truly enjoy being able to help customers design their projects, taking all there ideas and melding them into what will work in their home and space.
Thomas really enjoys specialty masonry jobs, as that is a true passion and skill of his.
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Do you give free estimates?
YES! Here at Lord & Lady Construction we always offer free estimates. Those estimates include a breakdown and description of the project and the steps necessary to complete it, a line-by-line breakdown of the costs involved and finally an explanation of our terms and conditions. When necessary we include images of the products or items that will be used.
We also may include renderings in the estimate, if necessary. Renderings are free of charge when you complete the work with Lord & Lady Construction, however, if we complete renderings for you and you then choose not to have us complete the work for you, we will have to charge for the renderings. If your project will require renderings, we will discuss this with you further, prior to any work being completed or charged to you.
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How long does it take to estimate a project?
Basically, it's dependent on the size of the project and availability of materials. Generally, estimates take 1-2 weeks to work up after we've discussed the project with the client and seen the location, repairs, etc. However, if your project is an entire custom home build, large remodel or requires special materials, estimates will likely take up to a month or more. This is because we feel it's more important to have your estimate accurate and thorough, than to have it fast. We will research and verify all materials and aspects of the project, to prevent surprises and changes in the actual job and budget. If you ever need an estimate faster than the regular time frame, just let us know, we can usually work to get them completed faster if there is urgency.
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What forms of payment do you take? Do you offer payment plans?
We accept payments via cash, check, credit card (VISA, Mastercard, Discover and American Express) or Paypal. We do offer payment plans in some situations, but they must be set up prior to job start. Further details on payment plans can be found on our page, Payment Policy, or in this document, on page 3.
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What is your payment policy?
Lord and Lady has a detailed payment policy that is determined by your project type. To learn more about our payment policies and expectations, please visit our Payment Policy page or download the information here.
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What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a contractor?
Picking a contractor is a big decision, and shouldn't be taken lightly. We have written a thorough blog about the topic, check it out, How to Pick a Contractor.
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What questions should a customer ask to hire the right service professional?
Coming Soon!
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What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?
There are probably two important factors to have thought about, prior to meeting with a potential contractor:
1) Budget. Knowing your budget and what is possible is absolutely critical to getting an accurate and productive estimate. Often, homeowner dreams and goals are bigger than the budget, and it is helpful to have an idea of what is financially possible, for even initial discussions, so that if there are ideas that are unrealistic for the budget, alternatives can be brainstormed and through through from the get-go!
2) Your Goals and Preferences. It is also very helpful if you have an idea in mind of what you are looking for, and possibly even images or photos of those looks and styles. Our designer and project manager, Laura, will get a jump-start on the designs if you have concrete thoughts on what your top design priorities are!
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How do you price projects?
Projects are estimated on a project-by-project basis. To complete an estimate we will need to visit your project site, discuss what you are looking for, and often a number of style and specific material selections. We strive to be as accurate as possible with each estimate, by pricing and verifying costs for all materials and outlining in the estimate. The labor for a project is determined by how long the project will take us, how many of our crew will be required, and how skilled the work is.
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What was your most recent project? What was involved in it? How much did it cost? How long did it take?
More coming soon!
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What is green?
Coming Soon!
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Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?
We are a small company, our head contractor, Thomas, is on-site everyday for your entire project. His experience and dedication to quality, means that each aspect of your project will get his full attention. We create thorough estimates to help make sure you also understand every aspect of your project and repair. And every project we complete, is completed as if it were in our own home.
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What is your greatest strength?
Coming Soon!
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What are you currently working on improving?
Coming Soon!
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What do you like most about your job?
Coming Soon!
Do you have a favorite story from your work?
Coming Soon!
How did you decide to get into construction?
Coming Soon!
Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?
Coming Soon!
What are your payment plan options?
We do offer different payment plans in some situations, but they must be set up prior to job start. Further details on payment plans can be found on our page, Payment Policy, or in this document, on page 3.