CONDO RENOVATIONS
& BUILD-OUTS

Taking Urban Living to New Heights 

UPDATE YOUR CONDO. ELEVATE YOUR LIFE.

Your condo’s been good to you. Now it’s just time for a refresh. Your wish list is long and you’re feeling hopeful.  This is where we come in! We take the hopes and dreams you have for your condo and turn them into reality. But we’re not just focused on the end result, we make sure to create a renovation journey that is smooth, transparent, and enjoyable for you. 

HOW IT WORKS

IN-HOME CONSULTATION

Our journey begins when we meet you for a walk-through consultation at your home. (If you are building out a brand-new condo, this consultation can take place at your current home or at our office.) During this visit, you are able to learn more about our team and our process, and we are able to learn more about your dreams and goals for your condo renovation/build-out. Together we establish a wish-list, or scope, for your condo project that will guide the architectural design phase.

home project management homeowner meeting

PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE

After defining the scope of your condo renovation/build-out, if an architect is needed we will work closely with them to ensure accurate and thorough architectural plans are designed. We are then able to create a comprehensive budget and schedule for your condo renovation/build-out, provide value-engineering opportunities and cost-saving alternatives, and ensure potential constructability issues are mitigated before beginning construction.

construction planning and budgeting

CONSTRUCTION PHASE

This is when things get real! During this phase you’re able to see your dream come alive as your new home truly takes shape. Our construction managers mobilize, coordinate, and supervise our qualified team of vendors and subcontractors to guide your condo renovation toward timely completion. Given the unique logistical challenges of condo construction, this is quite a feat. Our project managers provide organized and accurate budget monitoring, selection coordination, and sub agreement management. During construction, you’re able to log in to our client portal at any time to see your home’s budget, schedule, selections, and progress photos.

homeowner consultation construction

MOVE-IN!

Congratulations! This is when we get to step back and enjoy the fruits of our collective labor. Your new and improved home is ready for you and your family to move in and make memories together for years to come. Following a third-party final inspection and a walk-thru with our team you will move-in to your new home. Any punch list items will be handled efficiently and effectively by your construction manager and project manager.

home walk through construction

WARRANTY PHASE

Your construction manager and project manager remain very responsive and attentive to your needs throughout (and well beyond) your one-year warranty period. We are committed to preserving not only the quality and integrity of our renovated homes, but also the strength of our relationship with you and your family.

home build warranty

WHY SIMS?

Fine homebuilding is our passion and our calling. With this realization comes the awesome challenge to continually improve at our craft – a challenge that we eagerly accept on a daily basis. With us as your condo renovators, you will get a high-performing team that is singularly focused on delivering an extraordinary home while exceeding your expectations along the way.

As your builder, we will:

  • Remain responsive and attentive to your needs
  • Keep construction on schedule
  • Closely monitor the project budget
  • Keep you continually updated on project progress
  • Coordinate the selections process
  • Be a good steward of your resources
  • Mobilize and manage our vendors and subs
  • Inspect construction materials for defects
  • Demand the highest quality from ourselves and our subs
  • Proactively solve construction issues
  • Maintain jobsite safety standards and controls
  • Deliver a high-quality home that exceeds your expectations
  • Carry out a seamless warranty process

FAQ

  • HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT BUILDER FOR MY CONDO RENOVATION/BUILD-OUT?

    Well, to begin you’ve got to know that in the state of Texas anyone can be a builder or remodeler. There are no licenses or certifications required by law here like there are in most other states. Because of this very low barrier to entry, there are hundreds of homebuilders in and around Houston. Take this into consideration when choosing a builder. Do as much homework as you can to assess how experienced and capable your builder candidates are when it comes to condo renovations and build-outs specifically. Multi-family construction poses unique logistical considerations and challenges, so you want to be sure your builder won’t be learning on the job but instead will be capitalizing on prior condo experience. Take the time to interview them. Request to visit a home or jobsite with them. Speak to their past homeowners. Learn their processes to confirm they are organized and effective. Make sure they are a good fit for you and your family.

    If you’d like a little more help on this topic, visit our blog post How to Choose the Right Custom Builder for You.

  • HOW IS A CONDO RENOVATION DIFFERENT FROM A SINGLE- FAMILY HOME RENOVATION?

    Condo renovations introduce a few extra layers of complexity than do single-family renovations.

    First, renovation plans must be approved by the homeowners’ association in compliance with the community’s set of rules, commonly called “covenants, conditions and restrictions.”  Unlike with single-family homes, condo owners own only what’s within the walls of their units. Common areas, plumbing, roofs, exterior areas, etc. are owned by all building residents so all plans must be run through the association first. After obtaining their go ahead, then we can proceed through the multi-layered city permitting process.

    During construction, strict rules must be followed, including what hours subcontractors can work, how materials can get in/out of your unit, where subcontractors can park, and specific protocol for communicating with the appropriate building managers. We even conduct a pre-construction site visit just to inspect and measure the door size for the service elevator, the corridor width, distance from parking to elevator, and all turning clearances to make sure materials and equipment would fit into the condo during construction.

    It’s imperative that your builder is prepared for the unique challenges presented in condo renovations. If you have any additional questions about how we can help make your condo renovation possible, don’t hesitate to call us anytime. We’re happy to help.

  • HOW LONG SHOULD MY CONDO RENOVATIONS/BUILD-OUT TAKE?

    The answer to this question depends largely on the scope of your condo renovation/build-out. Because we take on full condo renovations affecting several spaces of the home at once, construction for our renovation projects can take anywhere from 3 months for a condo remodel to 9 months for a luxury condo build-out.  

    The factors that most influence home renovation durations are:

    • scope and complexity of the renovation (number of spaces? Interior and/or exterior? Significant structural changes?)
    • your builder’s organizational ability and sub management skills
    • the quality and reliability of your builder’s sub base
    • homeowner decisiveness when making selections
    • weather delays during construction
    • availability of construction materials
    • current conditions of the subcontractor labor market

    While some of these factors may seem out of your builder’s control, they should never be an excuse for significantly exceeding your initial construction schedule. We make it a priority to mitigate potential construction delays with strong organization, planning, and communication throughout construction.

  • HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CONDO RENOVATIONS/BUILD-OUT IS ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET DURING CONSTRUCTION?

    Homeowner communication is extremely important to us in order to create a homebuilding experience that is as transparent and enjoyable as possible for our homeowners. When you build with us, you are able to login to our client portal at any time to see your home’s updated schedule, budget, outstanding selections and approvals, and construction photos of your home. We know that your home is your family’s biggest investment, so we make sure you are never in the dark about its progress.  

  • WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DECISIONS I WILL HAVE TO MAKE WHEN RENOVATING MY CONDO?

    The most important decision you will make happens at the very beginning of your journey when you select your builder and architect. Choosing the right builder will have the greatest impact on how successful your project ultimately is. The right builder will take your vision and goals and make them a reality, all the while creating a smooth and enjoyable experience for you. Don’t underestimate the power of this first decision. If you need help with building your dream team, visit our blog posts: How to Choose the Right Custom Builder for You.

    Before construction on your condo renovation/build-out begins, you will begin making dozens of design decisions. Some will feel important to you, others will feel less so. Our project managers act as facilitators for the selections process, working very closely with you and your interior designer to ensure all selections are made on time to keep construction on schedule. We create a customized comprehensive selection schedule that is continually updated and monitored by us to make this process as painless as possible for you.

  • HOW DO I MAKE SURE MY CONDO RENOVATION/BUILD-OUT IS BUILT TO STAND THE TEST OF TIME?

    This is such an important question! Over 30 years we have built our reputation on never cutting corners and making sure our homes are of the highest quality. It takes a lot of passion, commitment and focused intention to achieve this.

    During construction, our quality assurance controls are tight. Our team is made up of experienced construction managers with extensive backgrounds in high-end custom residential construction who are on the jobsites daily to ensure our subcontractors are using high quality materials and methods to build your home. In fact, all of our subcontractors have been thoroughly vetted for quality, value, and reliability before they ever become part of our sub network. In addition, our construction managers and project managers add value to our homeowners by staying up-to-date on the ever-evolving building science best practices.

    Following completion, we stand behind our work. Our warranty process is easy and our team remains responsive to your needs long after you move-in. One of our previous homeowners said it best:

    “We have now been in the house for nine years and like any house, problems arise from time to time that need repair. Chris has never hesitated to make one of his superintendents available to assist in diagnosing the problem and recommending the best contractor for the job. That long-term commitment may be what we appreciate the most.”

Featured Project: Along Buffalo Bayou Park

In 2018, we completed construction on Riva at the Park, a 10-story 29-unit condominium building along Houston’s Buffalo Bayou Park.

“Chris and Michael were incredible to work with on our project. They were professional, very responsive, and made a stressful situation much easier than we anticipated. Best of all, we absolutely love our remodeled home! If you want it done right, don’t use anyone else.” 
—Mr. and Mrs. Knauss

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