If you’ve ever hired a company to do any sort of remodeling work, you know about the elephant in the room. They come out, they inspect the area, take notes, ask a few questions about this and that. If it’s a big project it may be more of a sit down, go through catalogues type of meeting. They may take the time to tell you a bit about their company and why they’re better than the competition. But all the while, it sits there, in both of your minds. It might as well be a visible, tangible elephant for how very present it is.
Budget
How much? How much do you have to spend? How much will it cost? Do you have reasonable expectations? Are you going to rip me off? Money is always the real discussion, and we both know it. Homeowners guard their “number” like it’s a precious treasure, afraid the work could be done for less and the contractor will keep their mouth shut and just scoop off the top. The worst part is, half the contractors out there would do exactly that. The other type of contractor, the good one would love nothing more than to dispense with the games and have an honest talk about your project. They want to know your budget so they can one, figure out if you have a reasonable expectation for your project costs and two, put together a proposal that fits both your needs and your resources.
Will we ever be able to avoid this complicated dance? Maybe not. But there are some ways you can prepare for the dreaded meeting so that you feel more in control and willing to share your number.
Do Your Homework
Both on the project and the prospective contractor. There are a lot of resources to get ballpark project costs. A quick online search can get you to a good starting point at the very least. It’s important to remember that while simple repair and renovation work like drywall or plumbing is pretty cut and dry on price, complex projects like a kitchen or bathroom have a lot of options that could range the project cost anywhere from $20,000 to $80,000 and up in a jiffy. Know what you want and find out what other people have paid for similar projects. Be careful researching material cost as well since the contractor will likely have access to different pricing than you do.
Which brings us to the company you hire. Do your research! Before even calling, check their licensing, their association memberships, Angie’s List and other online review sites. Ask friends, family and neighbors who they’ve worked with and if they recommend anyone. Don’t just do the yellowpages point and call game. Check Facebook to see how they interact with their customers. Comb their website for history, mission, pictures of past projects. Yes it’s a lot of work, but you’ll wish you’d done it when the cheap contractor off Craigslist blows your timeline and your budget, leaves the work half done and runs off with the money he said he needed for more materials to fix something that he messed up due to his own shoddy work.
Don’t be afraid to share your budget. Just make sure that you are always in the position of control: this is your project, your money, your call. Don’t let anyone pressure you to sign quickly or to confuse you with sales jargon. Get multiple bids and look at the cost vs. value of each of them. The elephant can become more of a puppy with the right amount of prep and research!
As a Design+Build General Contractor, I offer my clients a one-stop shopping approach to all of their home remodeling projects. I work with my clients from initial conception of a project through its completion. Every aspect of the job is managed by me and my professional crew. You will be included in every step of the design process until the final drawings are completed. No detail is left to chance. General Contractor Specializing in Kitchen & Bathroom Design and Remodeling Throughout the Los Angeles area.
Written By:
Offer Steuer
President
OTM Designs & Remodeling, Inc.
For more information you may contact us via email at service@otm1designs.com or you may call us at 888-981-1415. Our website is www.otm1designs.com.