How we work
A process designed for the homeowner who has done this before.
The Leman process is six stages, each named, each scheduled, and each shared with the client at the start of the project. Most homeowners commissioning a custom home or renovation in Toronto have done at least one before. They know the questions to ask. The process below answers them in advance.
Six stages
From discovery to one-year follow-up.
- 01
Discovery (one to two weeks)
A site visit, a scope conversation, an initial budget range.
- Delivered
- Site visit notes, preliminary budget range, schedule estimate, design fee proposal if applicable.
- Client commitment
- A non-binding decision to proceed to design.
- 02
Design and pricing (six to sixteen weeks)
Design partnership, structural and mechanical engineering, supplier sourcing, permit drawings.
- Delivered
- Full design package, permit drawings, fixed-price contract, milestone payment schedule.
- Client commitment
- A signed contract and a deposit equal to the first milestone.
- 03
Permits and schedule (four to eight weeks)
Permit submission, trade booking, lead-time confirmation for European finishes, project schedule lock.
- Delivered
- Filed permits, confirmed schedule, supplier purchase orders, project tracking access.
- Client commitment
- A milestone payment to release procurement.
- 04
Construction (varies by scope)
Daily site supervision, weekly photos and progress notes, transparent change-order process.
- Delivered
- Weekly progress reports, monthly milestone invoices, real-time site access for the client.
- Client commitment
- Monthly milestone payments per the contract schedule.
- 05
Quality walk-through (one to two weeks)
Pre-handover inspection. Every deficiency named, scheduled, and resolved before keys change hands.
- Delivered
- Deficiency list, completion log, final cleaning, handover documentation, warranty papers.
- Client commitment
- Final payment upon completion of the deficiency list.
- 06
One-year follow-up (twelve months after handover)
Warranty work and a relationship check-in.
- Delivered
- Warranty visit, any settlement or seasonal-repair work, a final visit from the principals.
- Client commitment
- None. The visit is a covenant, not a contract.
Contract type
Why Leman uses fixed-price contracts.
Most premium builders in Toronto offer either fixed-price (a single contract figure for the entire scope) or cost-plus (the actual cost of trades and materials plus a markup). Both have legitimate uses. Leman defaults to fixed-price for residential renovations and custom homes because the homeowner deserves to know what the project will cost before they commit. Cost-plus has a place on commercial projects with shifting scope, but on a home it shifts the financial risk from the builder to the owner. Leman accepts the risk so the homeowner does not.
Ready to start the discovery stage?
Book a thirty-minute consultation. We will walk through the six stages for your specific project and confirm whether Leman is the right fit.