The Bottom Line - How much does remodeling cost?

Contrary to popular belief, the price of a remodeling project is determined by much more than square footage. To many homeowners, the cost of a project can seem like a mystery. Some typical questions include: How did the builder get to this cost? Why isn’t it line item specific? Why is my second estimate so much different than another? Why does an internet site say it should cost half of the estimates I received? Here’s the truth... Unless you have a predetermined scope of work and plans for builders to estimate, you are wasting, YES WASTING, your time and theirs. Does that mean you should be creating a scope of work before you call for a consult? NO. It means that when you are getting to know builders, focus more on their character, style, methodology, and if you get along with the builder rather than “the estimate.”

Another secret…Most remodelers and builders largely pay the same for the services they provide and products they produce. In other words the cost to hang drywall, run electric, rework the furnace ducts, buy lumber, and install cabinets and trim is largely the same for all of us. In fact we use cost books and codes similar to the way auto repair services do. The difference in the cost to produce a project and the cost the builder is going to charge you is their overhead. Multiple layers of management, an over the top showroom, and a large advertising program, all get added to the last line of the estimate called LOP or Labor, Overhead, and Profit. With that said, I am not suggesting you find a company that works out of a garage and advertises on Craig’s list….I am simply suggesting you give consideration to the costs estimates you receive and how much overhead the builder has to cover on your job. A low price doesn’t mean it’s a deal just as the high price doesn’t mean you’re getting something extra.

Other factors that affect the price of a project:

• Design
• 3D Virtual tours
• Quality of materials used
• ‘Best Practice’ methods
• Craftsmanship
• Overall strength and durability
• Efficiency - Time required for construction
• Customer Service - It’s a mindset not a department
• Warranties – If it’s not right we fix it. Period.

At CCR we will always set realistic expectations of cost, time, and obstacles associated with your project. Our estimates are upfront all inclusive from the beginning. We do not employ “change-order contracting,” a common practice in which inaccurate cost expectations are set only to get the contract signed only to have things “unexpected” raise the overall cost throughout project. At CCR, we will give you an honest and accurate estimate from the beginning, tell you how long your project is realistically going to take, and help you understand exactly what you can expect throughout the construction process.