Your St Petersburg General Contractor’s Estimate: Why the Bottom Line Isn’t as Important as How It Was Arrived At

Most people who put a remodeling job out to bid are most interested in the last line in each contractor’s estimate. As important as the final number is, it isn’t nearly as important as the method used to create the bid.

Let me tell you a story to explain what I mean.

A few months ago, Quality Home Renovators, LLC, was asked to bid on a kitchen remodel for a couple who had just purchased a charming, historical bungalow in the heart of St Petersburg.

This image by David Sawyer and licensed under CC by SA 2.0

        

We looked at the job, and noticed that the existing cabinetry had been damaged by a water leak and suspected that doing the job properly would require replacing some rotted wood. Our quote included money to cover that.

We also checked the electrical and noticed that it would have to be updated to allow for the convection oven and other appliances that were part of the remodel. The house had original knob and tube wiring and needed to be updated to current building code. The kitchen would never pass a building inspection without this electrical upgrade.  Not to mention the risk of a future fire in this area. 

Image  by Dave Bellous and licensed under CC by 2.0

The costs of bringing the service up to date were part of our quote.

Some St Petersburg Remodeling Contractors Estimate from the Drywall Out...

We didn’t get the job because our bid was higher than another contractor’s. This other contractor’s bid looked good because he practices a kind of bidding that I call “bidding from the drywall out.”

In other words, he strictly bids on the work that he can see, even when he knows that other work is almost certainly going to be required.

The homeowner who hires this type of contractor is always finding out that another change order (and more money) is required to finish the job.

The homeowner called Quality Home Renovators midway through the project and asked if we could complete the work.  The other contractor had walked off the job due to disagreements about the cost of change orders.

Not all estimates are created equal, so when you look at bids on your kitchen or bath remodel, consider how the contractors created their bids.

Before You Remodel Your Kitchen or Bath…

Interview a few different contractors, get a general feel for how they do business, and ask them to prepare an estimate for your kitchen or bath remodel.

An experienced contractor knows how to inspect a job and determine the issues that will probably arise. He or she may give you a bid that’s higher, but only because it accurately reflects the required work.

Instead of being nickel and dimed to death, you can proceed knowing that likely costs have been built in. Ask your contractor if there is an allowance for work that cannot be seen and may likely need to be addressed.  In the long run, doing business this way is what has helped Quality Home Renovators, LLC, grow by word-of-mouth.

When you’re ready to renovate your home, do it with a contractor who has the experience and integrity to construct an honest estimate. Not every St Petersburg General Contractor bids home remodels the same way we do at Quality Home Renovators.

This post written by Diane Portelli, Project Manager for Quality Home Renovators, a St Petersburg General Contractor specializing in home remodeling work. Visit our portfolio of completed home remodeling projects at QHRbuilds.com.  Reach Diane at 727-437-6200.