Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to some of the most common questions homeowners ask about building, remodeling, and working with Rebuild Custom Homes.

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About Rebuild & Bespoke Home Remodeling

  • Bespoke home remodeling means tailoring a renovation to the homeowner’s needs, preferences, and property rather than following a standard package. It can involve a personalized floor plan, cabinetry, storage, materials, and architectural details. The goal is a home that supports how its occupants actually live.

  • Rebuild provides custom home building, home additions, interior and exterior remodeling, custom tile work, and consulting. Its services include helping homeowners navigate projects from design through construction. The specific work included in an individual project should be established in its written scope.

  • Rebuild serves Metro Detroit, including Royal Oak, Troy, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Clarkston, Waterford, Lake Orion, and surrounding communities. Contact Rebuild with the property address and a description of the proposed work to discuss whether the project falls within its current service area.

  • Marcus Tolic founded Rebuild in 2019. His role includes hands-on involvement in projects from initial planning and design through completion. Homeowners can learn more about the company and its approach through Rebuild’s website.

  • Yes. Rebuild offers consulting to help guide projects from design through construction. Depending on the project, planning may involve coordination with designers, architects, engineers, and specialty trades. The agreement should identify the services included and who is responsible for each design or technical deliverable.

  • Rebuild offers remodeling and addition services. For a proposed layout change, the first step is to evaluate the existing home and the intended improvements. Structural conditions, utility locations, design requirements, and applicable approvals should be reviewed before a new layout is treated as buildable.

  • Item descriptionNo. Custom design describes how closely a project is tailored to its owner, not a particular architectural style. The design can reflect traditional, contemporary, or other preferences while accommodating the homeowner’s lifestyle and the property’s characteristics.

  • Look for experience with comparable projects, clear written proposals, verifiable references, appropriate credentials, and a communication approach that works for you. Ask how the contractor handles supervision, selections, changes, and project completion. Attractive photographs alone do not answer those important questions.

  • Check the contractor’s applicable license through Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Also request current insurance information and verify relevant coverage with the issuing agent or insurer. Confirm that the business identified in the contract matches the credentials provided.

  • Rebuild’s website features project photography, including kitchen and bathroom renovations. Reviewing those projects is a useful starting point for understanding the company’s work. When discussing your own renovation, identify the features you like and explain what you would want to approach differently

Planning, Design & Project Budgets

  • Preconstruction is the planning work that takes place before physical construction begins. Depending on the agreement, it may include evaluating the property, developing the design, identifying technical requirements, and refining the scope and budget. Its purpose is to resolve important decisions before they become construction problems.

  • Contact a builder while you are still defining the project, rather than waiting until every decision is final. Early discussions should address your goals, available budget, property constraints, and desired timing. This gives the team an opportunity to assess whether those expectations work together.

  • Prepare a description of what is not working in your current home, what you hope to achieve, your approximate budget, and any important deadlines. Photographs, existing drawings, a survey, and inspiration images can help explain the project. Distinguish essential improvements from optional features.

  • That depends on the project’s scope, complexity, and applicable requirements. Structural changes, additions, and new homes may require professional design or engineering services. The local building department determines the documentation required for its review; not every cosmetic renovation needs the same level of drawings.

  • No. Renderings help communicate appearance, proportions, and design intent. Construction drawings provide the dimensions, specifications, and technical details needed to price and build the work. A realistic image does not replace a coordinated set of documents appropriate for the project and its required approvals.

  • There is no single reliable price for a bespoke renovation. Cost depends on the amount of work, existing conditions, materials, and construction complexity. A meaningful estimate needs a defined scope; comparing prices without comparing what each includes can produce misleading conclusions.

  • Ask for a budget that clearly separates the home’s construction from land, design services, site-related work, permits, utility connections, and exterior improvements. Confirm whether landscaping, appliances, and other owner-selected items are included. A quoted house price should not automatically be treated as the complete project investment.

  • It can provide context, but only when projects have comparable scope and quality. Square footage alone does not account for existing conditions or construction complexity. Before comparing a per-square-foot figure, ask exactly which work, materials, and costs are included in the calculation.

  • An allowance is an amount included in the project budget for an item that has not been fully selected or priced. Ask what it covers and how the difference will be handled when the actual selection is made. The agreement should explain the adjustment process.

  • An allowance accounts for an anticipated item with an unresolved selection or price. A contingency is a reserve for uncertainty or unexpected conditions. Treat them separately when reviewing the budget; a project can need both, and neither should be mistaken for an unlimited fund for upgrades.

  • Compare the same scope, material quality, and responsibilities—not just the final price. Review exclusions, allowances, design services, installation work, and completion requirements. When one proposal is substantially lower, ask which assumptions or omissions explain the difference before treating it as an equivalent offer.

  • Identify the features that matter most, then review alternatives for less important selections. Ask the team to distinguish essential work from optional upgrades and to price meaningful scope changes before committing. Budget adjustments should be deliberate, rather than a series of last-minute substitutions.

  • That depends on the written agreement. Ask which planning services have separate fees, what those fees purchase, and whether any amount is credited toward construction. Do not assume that an initial conversation, design package, engineering work, and construction agreement all include the same services.

  • The agreement should define the included deliverables and revision process rather than leave “design revisions” open-ended. Clarify how requested changes, additional drawings, and revisions after approval will be handled. The appropriate arrangement depends on the project and the services being purchased.

  • Consider phasing during the initial planning discussion. Ask the team to compare it with completing the work together, including how each approach affects access, temporary living arrangements, and the overall design. Make sure an early phase does not conflict with improvements you intend to make later.

Custom Kitchens, Bathrooms & Interior Finishes

  • The major considerations include the scope of work, cabinetry, surfaces, appliances, and whether the project changes the existing layout or building systems. Request a detailed budget that distinguishes construction work from selected products and allowances. Two similarly sized kitchens can represent very different projects.

  • Review the layout, storage, appliance locations, work surfaces, lighting, ventilation, and movement through the room. The plan should also address how the kitchen connects to adjacent spaces. Confirm which improvements are included in the construction scope rather than assuming “full remodel” includes every possible item.

  • Stock cabinetry generally comes in established sizes and configurations. Semi-custom cabinetry offers a manufacturer-defined range of modifications and options. Custom cabinetry is made to a more individualized specification. Compare actual construction, available finishes, design flexibility, and installation requirements rather than relying on the category name alone.

  • Inset cabinet doors fit within the cabinet’s face-frame opening. Full-overlay doors cover most of the cabinet face when closed. The two approaches create different visual relationships between doors, drawers, and framing. Review a physical sample or display to understand the appearance and operation of each.

  • Framed cabinets have a face frame attached to the front of the cabinet box. Frameless cabinets do not have that face frame, and their hinges typically attach directly to the cabinet box. Evaluate the specific product’s construction, storage access, hardware, and appearance when choosing between them.

  • Panel-ready appliances are designed to accept compatible decorative panels so their exterior can coordinate with surrounding cabinetry. Not every appliance can be converted this way. The selected model’s panel specifications, clearances, hardware, and installation requirements need to be incorporated into the cabinetry design.

  • Cabinet openings, panels, clearances, and installation details depend on the exact appliance. A general description such as “integrated refrigerator” is not enough to finalize those details. Have the cabinetry team use the selected model’s current specifications before approving fabrication.

  • Quartzite is a natural stone formed from sandstone through heat and pressure. Engineered quartz countertops are manufactured using mineral material and binders, with composition varying by product. They are different materials with different care requirements; review the actual stone or manufacturer’s guidance before selecting either.

  • Sealing needs vary because quartzites differ in porosity. Some absorb liquids more readily than others, so ask the fabricator about the actual material being installed. Sealing can improve stain resistance, but it should not be treated as a guarantee that the surface cannot stain.

  • Consider appearance, suitability for the intended use, maintenance, and budget together. Review the actual slabs whenever possible rather than relying solely on a small sample. Before fabrication, ask to review proposed seams, cutouts, edge details, and the placement of distinctive veining.

  • Start with a measured layout that accounts for circulation, seating, work areas, and appliance use. A larger island is not necessarily a better island if it restricts movement or creates conflicts. Have the design reviewed as a complete working kitchen, not simply as a larger countertop.

  • It may be possible, but the area needs evaluation before removal. Determine whether the work affects structure, electrical wiring, plumbing, ventilation, or other concealed systems. Structural changes and related trade work may require permits, and the necessary replacement details should be established before demolition.

  • Some floors are candidates for recoating or sanding and refinishing, depending on their condition and construction. A flooring professional should evaluate the available wear layer and previous work. When adding flooring beside an existing floor, discuss the expected match rather than assuming an invisible transition.

  • The scope, existing conditions, materials, and complexity of the work all affect the budget. Ask for separate clarity on construction, fixtures, cabinetry, surfaces, and allowances. A bathroom estimate should explain what is included rather than rely only on the room’s size or a general finish description.

  • Review fixture placement, usable clearances, storage, lighting, ventilation, and how the room will function for its users. Coordinate the shower or bathtub, toilet, vanity, and circulation together. The plan should resolve practical use of the room as well as its appearance.

  • Sometimes, but the floor and drainage arrangement need to support the design. A curbless shower requires coordinated elevations, drainage, and waterproofing; it is not simply a standard shower with the curb removed. Have the team evaluate the existing structure and proposed assembly before committing to the layout.

  • A tile-and-grout finish should not be treated as the shower’s waterproofing system. The assembly needs appropriate water management behind or beneath the tile, including correctly detailed corners, penetrations, and drain connections. Grout sealer is not a substitute for a properly designed and installed waterproofing assembly.

  • Relocation may be possible, but it requires review of the proposed plumbing and its relationship to the building. Ask the team to assess the necessary drain, vent, supply, and construction work before finalizing the layout. Required plumbing permits and inspections must also be addressed.

  • Coordinate them while developing the bathroom layout, before their installation locations are fixed. Review the complete arrangement together, including storage, reach, illumination, and clearances. Ask the team to confirm the relevant product dimensions before approving plumbing and electrical locations.

  • Coordinate them while developing the bathroom layout, before their installation locations are fixed. Review the complete arrangement together, including storage, reach, illumination, and clearances. Ask the team to confirm the relevant product dimensions before approving plumbing and electrical locations.

  • Begin with the users’ present and anticipated needs. Consider entry access, movement space, support locations, reachable controls, lighting, and ease of use. Universal-design features should be coordinated with the room and its occupants rather than treated as a standard package that works for everyone.

Whole-Home Renovations, Additions & Custom New Construction

  • A whole-home renovation considers the home’s layout, function, and improvements as a coordinated project. For room-by-room work, ask how each decision fits the eventual overall plan. In either approach, identify long-term goals before making changes that could limit later options. 

  • Compare both options against your goals, the property’s constraints, and the condition of the existing home. Ask for a feasibility review and clearly defined budgets before choosing. A teardown also involves demolition requirements and utility coordination; it is not simply a new-home project on an empty lot.

  • A first-floor primary suite should be evaluated against the property’s allowable building area, the proposed layout, and construction requirements. Start by identifying the space you need and how it connects to the existing home. Local permit and zoning review must be part of that feasibility assessment.

  • The existing home must be evaluated before a second story can be considered feasible. Important questions include whether the foundation and structure can support the proposed loads and how the new level will connect to existing systems. Do not assume another story can be added without structural investigation. 

  • Compare both approaches for the specific property. Building upward raises questions about existing structural capacity and access between floors. Building outward raises questions about the available site and permitted footprint. Ask the design and construction team to compare feasibility, disruption, and complete scope—not just added square footage.

  • Ask the designer to evaluate the addition’s scale, form, and relationship to the existing home before focusing on individual finishes. Review exterior elevations and interior connections together. The design should explain how the new work fits the property rather than treating it as an isolated room.

  • Request a property-specific review of zoning, access, utilities, drainage, and environmental constraints before assuming a lot is buildable. Where relevant, investigate well and septic feasibility and regulated wetlands. Michigan’s wetlands map is a screening resource, not a determination of the precise boundaries on a property.

  • Yes. Rebuild offers custom home building services. Provide the property address, your goals, and any available plans or site information to begin that discussion. Owning the land does not eliminate the need to evaluate the site and obtain applicable approvals.

  • A custom home offers a more individualized design and selection process. A production home generally starts with a builder’s established plans and available options. The actual flexibility varies, so ask which aspects of the design, layout, and specifications can be changed before committing.

  • Ask whether the budget includes clearing, excavation, drainage, utility connections, driveway work, and final exterior improvements where applicable. Request a clear distinction between included work, allowances, and exclusions. Landscaping and other site improvements should not be assumed to be part of a quoted home price.

  • Zoning addresses matters such as permitted use and the location or size of development on a property. Building-permit review addresses the proposed construction and applicable building requirements. A project may need to satisfy both; compliance with one does not automatically resolve the other.

  • Check both sets of requirements when a property is subject to an association or private restrictions. Do not assume a municipal permit satisfies the association’s approval process, or vice versa. Identify any required reviews early and confirm their outcome before relying on the proposed design.

  • Yes, proposed changes need review where the property uses septic. Oakland County distinguishes certain system applications based partly on whether remodeling increases bedroom count or sewage flow. Consult the health department about the actual proposal rather than assuming the existing system can serve the enlarged home.

  • Treat the home as a connected system. Site conditions, insulation, air sealing, windows, heating and cooling, and ventilation should be considered together. Selecting individual efficient products is not a substitute for coordinated design and installation, and expected performance should be evaluated for the specific home.

  • Custom planning can address privacy, shared living space, accessibility, and flexible room uses. Explain both current and anticipated needs during design. A home intended for several generations should be planned around the actual household rather than simply adding bedrooms without considering how people will live together. 

Permits, Construction, Timelines & Getting Started

  • Request a project-specific schedule rather than relying on a general promise. Ask the team to distinguish planning time from active construction and to explain major dependencies. Discuss important household deadlines early, including how much disruption you can tolerate and whether temporary arrangements will be necessary.

  • The schedule needs to reflect the actual site, design, approvals, and construction scope. Ask for a timeline that identifies the major phases and the decisions required from you. Clarify whether a quoted duration starts with design, permit submission, site preparation, or the beginning of house construction.

  • Ask which approvals, selections, materials, and other prerequisites must be resolved before work begins. The written agreement should explain the expected schedule and relevant responsibilities. Treat an early target date as a planning discussion until the conditions attached to it are understood.

  • New homes and additions require permits, and remodeling can require building or trade permits depending on the work involved. Requirements differ from those for purely cosmetic changes. Confirm the proposed scope with the enforcing building department before construction begins rather than assuming a project is exempt.

  • The agreement should identify who is responsible for each required permit and inspection. For a professionally managed project, discuss how the contractor and applicable trades will coordinate that process. Do not leave responsibility unresolved or assume that a permit for one part of the work covers everything.

  • Establish your primary contact before work starts. Ask who supervises the project, which work is performed by employees or subcontractors, and how questions and decisions will be handled. Agree on a communication method and update expectations so important information does not depend on informal conversations alone.

  • Evaluate that decision with the project team based on the areas affected and the household’s needs. Consider access, usable facilities, and exposure to construction activities. Work that creates significant dust or disturbs hazardous materials needs appropriate controls; remaining in the home should not be assumed suitable for every project.

  • Discuss a project-specific protection plan before work begins. It should address separation of work areas, movement of people and materials, and appropriate dust and ventilation controls. Renovation should not be described as “dust-free,” and special hazards require measures beyond ordinary housekeeping.

  • Yes. Covered work disturbing painted surfaces in pre-1978 housing is subject to federal lead-safe renovation requirements. Suspected asbestos-containing materials also need appropriate evaluation before disturbance. Ask which qualified professionals will assess and address these issues when relevant to the project.

  • Ask how the contract addresses conditions that were not visible before construction. The affected work, proposed response, and any cost or schedule implications should be explained and documented. The agreement should provide a clear process for authorizing changes rather than leaving unexpected work open-ended.

  • A change order documents an agreed modification to the project. It should identify the affected work and any price or schedule adjustment. Use the contract’s approval process so both parties have a clear record.

  • The contract should establish payment amounts, timing, and the work or obligations associated with each payment. Review that schedule before signing and retain payment records. Michigan’s homeowner guidance advises against paying the entire project price in advance.

  • Request the applicable warranty terms in writing. Clarify who provides coverage, what is covered, the duration, exclusions, and the process for reporting a concern. Ask how any contractor warranty relates to separate warranties supplied by manufacturers or other parties.

  • Substantial completion generally means the project can be used as intended under the contract. A punch list records remaining corrections or unfinished items. The agreement should explain how those items and final completion are handled.

  • Contact Rebuild through its website with your property address, project type, goals, approximate budget, and preferred timing. Share available photographs or drawings and identify your main priorities. This provides a starting point for discussing a custom home, addition, or remodeling project.