Alicia & Nick’s kitchen & bath transformation

Alicia and Nick weren’t sure who would be responsible for design, engineering, and project management, and quotes varied widely in what was included.

Some contractors suggested bathroom layouts that compromised aesthetics (like placing a toilet directly in sight when entering) or kitchen changes without considering appliance integration.

They found themselves liking aspects from different vendors but unable to visualize how to merge the best ideas into one cohesive plan.

They wanted a team that could communicate clearly, offer thoughtful design input, and manage construction details without constant oversight.

Working with Realm advisor Will Sockolov, Alicia and Nick started by discussing their priorities and existing ideas. Will helped them clarify scope details and identify potential pitfalls — for example, verifying wall structures, addressing possible asbestos, and understanding permit timelines.

“It felt like Will was both a translator and a strategist, helping us compare apples to apples across bids.”
— Alicia

Realm introduced Alicia and Nick to three vetted contractors with proven San Francisco track records. Each had a slightly different approach:

• Contractor A: Offered both general contracting and design services in-house, with a highly organized process, detailed proposals, and 3D design/engineering included in the initial scope.
• Contractor B: Collaborated with a dedicated design partner, maintained strong communication, and had prior projects that closely matched Alicia’s vision.
• Contractor C: Brought deep construction expertise and a thorough approach to scope review, with a focus on ensuring all details were accounted for in advance.

Will walked them through proposal differences, especially around wall removal scope, design fees, and structural engineering considerations.

Alicia appreciated that Realm’s process:

• Flagged missing or vague scope items (like wall demo details in Matan’s proposal)
• Explained cost inclusions (for example, a vendor's $0 design fee was actually built into his total price)
• Helped assess value vs. vibe, understanding that working style mattered as much as budget

“This was the better kind of decision problem, choosing between two great options with different strengths.”
— Alicia

Through Realm’s guidance, Alicia and Nick narrowed their choice weighing:

• Integrated vs. team-based design (One vendor offered both roles himself; the other had a separate designer but was still hands-on)
• Proposal clarity and level of detail
• Design sensibility fit based on past projects

Will, the Realm renovation advisor also advised on:

• How to negotiate scope or pricing without sacrificing quality
• How to ask targeted follow-up questions (like site presence frequency and permit timelines) to finalize the choice

By the end of the process:

“We started with so many unanswered questions and a pile of mismatched ideas. Realm didn’t just introduce us to great contractors — they gave us the tools to compare, clarify, and commit with confidence.”