Initial Consultation & Vision Sharing
The homeowner meets with a contractor for the first time to discuss their overall renovation goals, budget, and desired style. This involves the homeowner expressing their vision and the contractor asking clarifying questions.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
comprehensive
Means complete and including everything important. Use it when talking about a full project or plan, like 'a comprehensive renovation' for a total home update.
vision
Refers to your idea or dream for how something should look or be. In conversations, say 'my vision for the space' to share your overall plan.
open concept
A design style where rooms flow into each other without walls, common in modern homes. Use it to describe wanting a more connected living area.
maximize
To make the most or best use of something. Say 'maximize natural light' when planning to use all available sunlight in a room.
appliances
Household machines like refrigerators or ovens. In renovation talks, mention 'updated appliances' to mean new, modern kitchen or laundry items.
freestanding
Something that stands alone without being attached to a wall or floor, like a 'freestanding tub' in a bathroom. Useful for describing independent furniture or fixtures.
walk-in shower
A shower without a door or tub edge, where you walk straight in. It's a popular modern bathroom feature; use it to request spacious, easy-to-use showers.
minimalist
A simple style with few items and clean lines, like 'minimalist designs.' Good for expressing a preference for uncluttered, modern looks.
preliminary
Initial or first stage, before final decisions. Say 'preliminary budgeting' when discussing early cost estimates in a project.
proposal
A formal plan or offer with details and costs. In business, 'detailed proposal' means a document outlining the next steps in a project.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
We're looking to do a pretty comprehensive renovation on our main living area.
This sentence uses 'looking to do' to express future plans politely. It's useful for starting discussions about projects, showing intent without commitment. The adverb 'pretty' softens 'comprehensive' to mean 'quite extensive.'
Could you tell me a bit more about your overall vision for the space?
A polite question using 'could you' for requests and 'a bit more' to ask for additional details. Great for clarifying ideas in meetings; 'overall vision' is a common phrase for big-picture goals.
We're really hoping for something more open concept, brighter, and modern, but still cozy.
This contrasts desires with 'but still,' using adjectives to describe preferences. Useful for sharing design ideas; 'really hoping for' shows strong interest without demanding.
For the kitchen, definitely a large island and updated appliances are key.
Emphasizes importance with 'definitely' and 'are key' (meaning essential). This structure highlights priorities in a list; ideal for specifying must-haves in renovations.
Are you thinking a larger shower, a freestanding tub, or both?
This is an alternative question using 'or both' to offer options. It's practical for professionals asking for choices; note the informal structure without 'of' after 'thinking.'
To give me a clearer picture for preliminary budgeting, do you have a rough budget range in mind?
Uses infinitive 'to give' for purpose and 'in mind' for thoughts. Helpful for discussing finances early; 'rough budget range' means approximate cost limits.
We're aiming for somewhere between $80,000 and $100,000, excluding appliances.
'Aiming for' expresses targets, and 'somewhere between... excluding...' specifies ranges and exceptions. Useful in negotiations to set expectations clearly.
My next step would be to take some measurements and then I can put together a more detailed proposal for you.
Conditional 'would be' for planned actions, with 'put together' meaning prepare. This outlines future steps politely; common in professional follow-ups.