How We Work: MLM’s Build and Renovation Process

Every home is different, but every project at MLM Custom Homes & Renovations follows the same structured process. It’s how we keep projects on time, on budget, and free of the surprises that make renovation stressful. We’ve refined this process over 17 years and hundreds of projects across New Orleans, Metairie, Lakeview, Uptown, the Garden District, and the Northshore.

We earned Best of Houzz awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and were named Best Construction Company in the New Orleans Homes Best of Home awards in 2024 and 2025. We hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, a 4.9 rating on Angi, and 55-plus five-star Google reviews. Our process is a big part of why those numbers look the way they do.

Step 1. Initial Site Visit

Every project starts with a site visit. We walk the space together, talk through your goals, and get a clear picture of what we’re working with. For renovations, we look at what can be preserved or repurposed and what needs to come out. For new construction, we consider lot requirements, zoning restrictions, and neighborhood context. This is also a good time to start thinking about how you use the space and what you actually need from the finished project.

Step 2. Project Estimate

After the site visit, we put together a project estimate. This gives you a realistic picture of overall cost based on the scope we discussed. It’s a starting point, not a final number — finish selections, fixture choices, and unforeseen conditions can affect the budget as the project develops. We recommend building a 10 to 20 percent buffer into your planning to account for anything unexpected inside the walls or under the floor.

Step 3. Client Approval

Before anything moves forward, you review and approve the estimate. This is the right time to ask questions, adjust the scope, or reconsider any part of the plan. Nothing proceeds until you’re comfortable with where things stand.

Step 4. Construction Drawings and Scope of Work

Once the estimate is approved, we develop a full set of construction drawings and a detailed written scope of work. These documents give you a clear visual and written picture of the finished project from multiple angles. If you’ve ever struggled to picture what a renovation will actually look like, this is the step where it starts to become real.

Step 5. Design Selections

With the construction drawings in hand, we move into design selections. This covers all the finishes, fixtures, and materials that make the project yours — tile, cabinetry, countertops, plumbing fixtures, lighting, paint colors, and hardware. Each selection is presented with vendor information and pricing so you can make informed choices. We guide you through this process and can offer alternatives if something isn’t the right fit for your style or budget.

Step 6. Scope Revisions and Hard Selections

After reviewing the design, you may want to expand the scope, pull something back, or swap a selection. We make those revisions here and lock in all final material selections with SKU numbers and brand names in place of allowances. This level of specificity is what allows us to build an accurate final budget and a realistic schedule.

Step 7. Final Client Approval

You review the revised scope, final selections, and updated budget one more time before we move into production. This is your last opportunity to make changes before construction begins. We don’t move forward until you’ve signed off on everything.

Step 8. Scheduling and Production

With approvals in hand, we move into scheduling and production. We assign a project manager to your job and develop a detailed construction timeline that coordinates all trades, accounts for material lead times, and identifies any potential scheduling conflicts before they become problems.

Step 9. Pre-Construction Site Visits with Subcontractors

Before construction begins, we bring all the trades to the site for pre-construction visits. Each subcontractor walks the scope of their work, asks questions, and confirms logistics. This step reduces surprises once construction is underway and keeps everyone aligned from day one.

Step 10. Pre-Construction Site Visits with Vendors

Vendor visits follow the subcontractor visits. This confirms delivery schedules, access requirements, and staging logistics for materials including cabinetry, appliances, tile, and fixtures. Coordinating this before construction starts means materials arrive when they’re needed, not before or after.

Step 11. Project Schedule

We finalize the project schedule and share it with you before the first hammer swings. You’ll know the sequence of work, the key milestones, and the anticipated completion date. Throughout construction, you’ll receive daily progress updates with photos, real-time budget and timeline tracking, and centralized communication through Buildertrend. Every change order, note, and conversation is archived and accessible for the life of the project.

Step 12. Trade Sequencing

The final step before construction is fine-tuning trade sequencing — the specific order in which each trade enters and exits the site. Getting this right is one of the most important factors in keeping a project on schedule. Poorly sequenced work causes delays, damage, and rework. We’ve refined our sequencing process over hundreds of projects and it’s one of the things that keeps our timelines accurate.

Service Areas

We serve homeowners throughout New Orleans, Metairie, Old Metairie, Lakeview, Uptown, the Garden District, River Ridge, Elmwood, and the Northshore including Mandeville, Covington, and Slidell, as well as South Louisiana and Mississippi.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact MLM Custom Homes & Renovations to schedule your initial site visit. We’d be glad to walk your space and talk through what’s possible.