Questions to Ask Before You Build or Renovate
Building or renovating your home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make, and the right questions up front change everything. The families who feel calm through a build are almost always the ones who got honest answers before they started. So we gathered the questions homeowners ask us most, and answered them the way we would across your kitchen table: straight, and without the sales pitch. If you do not see yours here, reach out. We are always glad to talk it through.
Choosing the right builder
It comes down to a few things: a real track record of quality work, honest and transparent pricing, clear communication, and references you can actually verify. Ask to see reviews, confirm the builder is licensed and accredited, and pay attention to how responsive they are from the very first call. That is your best preview of what the whole project will feel like. We have built our reputation on all of it, with 500+ completed projects, 15 five-star Google reviews, and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau held since 2002.
Yes. Conrad & Conrad is a licensed and insured North Carolina general contractor, license #23249, accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 2002 with an A+ rating, and approved with multiple banks. We are glad to provide references and answer any question about our credentials.
Four generations of building experience, and a family whose name is on both the sign and the house. You work directly with Jack, Ryan, superintendent Steven Munoz, and the manager assigned to your project. We offer both fixed-price and cost-plus contracts, we are approved with multiple banks, we guide you through finish selections and direct you to the right suppliers, and our subcontractor team has been vetted over decades. We treat every project as if we were building it for our own family, because that is exactly how we were raised to build.
You are welcome to. But most of our clients tell us the same thing: they were never looking for the lowest number, they were looking for a builder they could trust. If trust, quality, and communication are what matter most to you, sit down with us first. You will know pretty quickly whether we are the right fit for your family.
How the process works
It begins with a simple call. We talk through what you are hoping to build, then meet you at your property to understand your vision in person. From there we guide you step by step through design, pricing, and construction, all the way to move-in day.
Not at all. Most of our clients come to us with a vision, not a blueprint. We guide you through design step by step, connect you with a designer, review preliminary plans together, and refine everything until it matches both your dream and your budget.
We offer a full design-build experience. We connect you with a designer, develop your plans, and manage construction all under one roof, so you have one accountable team from concept to move-in instead of coordinating separate companies yourself.
Yes. If you do not already own a lot, we help you identify and evaluate properties that fit your vision and budget before you commit. We have taken clients from a Sunday conversation to a list of real home sites by that same afternoon.
Yes. We are approved with multiple banks, which makes the construction loan process much smoother. We will point you in the right direction and work alongside your lender throughout the build.
Absolutely, and it is one of the things clients appreciate most. We walk you through tile, cabinet, fixture, and finish choices, direct you to the right suppliers, and give you an honest opinion on what works. The decisions feel guided and enjoyable instead of overwhelming, and you are never left to figure it out alone.
Communication is one of our core values. We keep you informed at every stage, including the challenges and not just the wins, through your preferred mix of calls, texts, and email. You will always know what is happening and what comes next.
We stay on top of them. Change orders are priced and approved as they come up, never allowed to quietly pile into an end-of-project surprise. It is one of the biggest reasons our projects stay on budget and our clients stay happy.
Yes. We have built dream homes for clients who live hours away, including a custom mountain home in McGrady and a long-distance build for a family relocating to Winston-Salem. With frequent updates, photos, and honest communication, distance is not a barrier to getting exactly the home you want.
Before you move in, we walk the home together and complete a full punch list, making sure every detail meets our standard and yours. We do not consider the job done until you are ready to call it home.
Budget and timeline
Every home is different, which is why we start with an honest conversation about your budget before design begins, rather than quoting a number that changes later. Size, design, site, and the finishes you choose all move the figure. When your plans and your budget are aligned from day one, the rest of the project goes smoothly, and you avoid the surprises that derail so many builds.
With a fixed-price contract, you agree on a set price for a defined scope up front. With cost-plus, you pay the actual cost of materials and labor plus an agreed builder's fee, which gives you more flexibility as choices evolve. There is no single right answer, only the one that fits your project and your comfort level. We offer both and will walk you through the advantages of each.
It starts before construction ever begins, with an honest budget conversation and detailed pricing based on real numbers from our suppliers and subs. During the build, we manage change orders immediately and keep you informed of anything that affects cost. No surprises is not a slogan for us. It is how we run every project.
Before you sign a construction contract. After your preliminary plans are complete, we price the project in detail, review it with you, and finalize the plans and numbers together. You will know exactly what you are committing to before we break ground.
Every project is different, so your timeline depends on scope, size, complexity, design decisions, and permitting. Rather than quote a generic number, we give you a realistic timeline during the planning phase and keep you updated at every stage, so you always know where things stand.
No, and we are honest about that. What we offer is lasting value: quality craftsmanship, a subcontractor team vetted over decades, constant communication, and a home that exceeds expectations. Cutting corners is expensive in the long run. Building it right the first time is not.
Renovations, remodels, and additions
Yes. From knocking down walls to reimagining entire floor plans, we transform existing houses into dream homes, with the same communication and craftsmanship we bring to a custom build.
Absolutely. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and we help you turn yours into the one you have always pictured, guiding you through layouts, cabinets, finishes, and fixtures. For bathrooms, whether it is a full primary bath renovation or converting a bedroom into a new bathroom, we handle the entire project promptly and do not walk away until you are completely satisfied.
You may not have to move at all. A well-designed addition can give you the space you need while letting you stay in the home, neighborhood, and community you love, often for less than the cost and hassle of buying new. We will give you an honest assessment of what is possible with your home.
Yes to both. Finished basements, decks, screened porches, and outdoor living areas are some of the most rewarding projects we build, adding real living space and lasting value to your home.
We do. Historic homes demand a builder who respects the craftsmanship of the past while solving the challenges of the present. With four generations of building experience behind us, we bring both.
Yes, and it is some of the most meaningful work we do. Roll-in showers, widened doorways, ramps, and grab bars, thoughtfully designed so they look like part of the house rather than an afterthought. We are also experienced with VA Specially Adapted Housing projects for disabled veterans.
About Conrad & Conrad
We build custom homes and handle whole-home renovations, kitchen and bathroom remodels, home additions, aging-in-place and accessibility projects, outdoor living spaces, and commercial construction. Whether it is a brand-new home or a single room, we bring the same standard to every project.
We are based in Clemmons, NC and serve homeowners within roughly a 50-mile radius across the Piedmont Triad, including Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Lewisville, Advance, Mocksville, Greensboro, High Point, Lexington, Statesville, Lake Norman, and the surrounding counties. Not sure if your property is in our area? Just ask.
Conrad & Conrad's building roots span three generations. Lacey Hoke Conrad introduced Jack Conrad Sr. to carpentry when he was 12. Jack Sr. founded the company after returning from the Korean War. Jack Conrad Jr. joined the business in 1982 after graduating from East Carolina University and now serves as president, while Ryan Conrad serves as vice president and co-manager, carrying the family's building tradition forward.
You work with Jack and Ryan Conrad, superintendent Steven Munoz, and our trusted project and trade teams. Angie Conrad is the friendly voice clients usually reach when they call, and the person responsible for your project stays accessible when decisions need to be made. That level of accountability is something a big-box builder cannot offer.
Yes. Alongside our residential work, we build restaurants, apartments, senior living communities, retail spaces, churches, pre-engineered metal buildings, and warehouses. Ryan brings 15 years of commercial construction experience from a large local firm, and our team's experience includes buildings valued at more than $30 million. One recent client trusted us with their first-ever restaurant, a 5,800-square-foot build, and ended the experience calling us lifelong friends.
We are proud of our five-star Google reviews and our A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, where we have been accredited since 2002. We are happy to share references and past projects. Hearing directly from the families we have built for is the best introduction to how we work.
Still have questions? Let's talk.
The best answers come from a real conversation about your project. Reach out, and we will help you figure out the right next step.
Call us at (336) 462-4192 | Conrad & Conrad, Inc. | Clemmons, NC | NC Licensed General Contractor #23249, fully insured