4 Top Tips for Home Remodeling Estimates

15 Mar 4 Top Tips for Home Remodeling Estimates

Even if money is no object, it’s important to get a fair and accurate estimate for home remodeling. The cost and details of the renovations affect the return on investment and your enjoyment of the finished results. The timeline of the work will also be smoother and more reliable if the estimate reflects the ultimate concept.

Before contacting estimators, think about your priorities and goals and how to get the best home remodeling estimates:

Home Remodeling Decisions for the Sake of Decisions

Estimate accuracy is impossible without details being decided on first. Your home remodeling estimates will simply be best guesses, making it difficult to compare contracts and leaving the project open to cost or time overruns.

Consider these factors before seeking estimates, and again before choosing an estimate:

• Preferred materials, as specifically as possible
• Labor and craftsmanship standards
• Priorities for cost savings, design quality, energy efficiency, speed of completion
• Inspiration photos or drawings

Do you feel anxious at the thought of committing to everything upfront? If so, talk to us about home remodeling contracts with more flexibility for change orders along the way.

Look Beneath the Surface

It’s natural to think of home remodeling as a facelift, but it’s really more intensive surgery. You want new kitchen cabinets, a spa shower, or a converted bedroom. But there are two questions to ask yourself: am I too focused on cosmetic changes while underlying problems need renovation? And will my home remodeling project have a ripple effect on my home’s water, electricity, and fuel systems?

• Take care of underlying issues, not just esthetics: You can get lower estimates if you ask for a simple “refinishing” job, but it’s wise to investigate whether your investment would be better served addressing structural and functional issues.
• Find out if utility lines and infrastructure need to updating: Your estimate needs to address all related costs of upgrades. For example, if you convert to a gas range or switch from a bath-shower combination to a standing shower and separate tub, you may need supply lines altered or enlarged.

Tread Lightly with “Cost Savings” Tips Like These

There’s no shortage of cost-cutting advice out there, such as buying materials yourself or investing sweat equity. By all means, be proactive and seek the best deals out there. But consider that home remodeling professionals can do the job most efficiently and have access to factory pricing for materials. Ultimately, weigh any potential savings against the cost of your time and stress and the potential for more costly repairs to DIY ( Do it yourself) projects.

Get Multiple Estimates and Weigh Them Fairly

While comparison shopping for estimates, ask contractors questions about included services, possible overruns, and why certain aspects of the project may be expensive. The answers can help explain the differences between multiple estimates.

Expect one estimate to leave out an inevitable cost that another estimate already includes. Also, get a feel for whether a contractor cannot do a certain task efficiently because it isn’t in his team’s area of expertise.

Eventually, you should be able to compare home remodeling estimates on even terms, knowing which one provides the greatest value. McNeil Construction brings that value every time at all levels so let us help you renovate smartly.