Free Remodel Estimate
What is a free remodel estimate? I recently read an article about a seminar on “Free Estimates”. One of the contractors in attendance said that he felt compelled to provide free estimates because that’s what his competition did. The speaker suggested a role play. When the contractor, in the role of the homeowner, asked for a free remodel estimate, the speaker, playing the role of the contractor, said “OK, how about $45,000.” The contractor, with a blank expression on his face, asked, “What’s that for?” The speaker replied, “I don’t know—you said you wanted a free remodel estimate, so I gave you one.”
That exchange still makes me smile when I think about it. As the speaker went on to explain, and every contractor knows, a lot of guesswork and assumptions go into a free remodel estimate. They have little to no value.
Think about this for a minute. If you don’t have a fully developed set of plans, you’re really expecting a contractor to estimate an idea you have in your head. When you discuss this idea with 2-3 different contractors, you’re probably going to get 2-3 interpretations of what your idea may entail.
With these interpretations will come very different pricing – and you really have no idea what you’re getting for that price! Sure, your head is saying “Awesome! I’m getting everything I wanted for my budget – what a deal!” Unfortunately for you, in the contractor’s head, he’s allowing something much different for what he thinks is fair for your budget! Here is where the trouble starts and only gets worse.
The only responsible way to estimate a project (bathroom, kitchen, room addition, etc.) is to analyze a detailed set of plans and specifications that everyone agrees to.
Only after performing a thorough analysis of the completed plans and specifications illustrating all dimensions, makes, models, colors, sizes, building, removals, installation, placement, etc. can the project be properly priced. Now, everyone is on the same page for the same project. The project is completed, and everyone is happy! The process works beautifully every time!
If a contractor claims they can provide a FREE estimate, then how much time do you think they will invest in your free estimate? Will they invest the 15-40 hours of pricing research I know it requires? What if YOUR free estimate is one of MANY they’ve already promised to provide? Is it realistic to expect a contractor to invest 15-40 hours of pricing research for every single homeowner they meet? The answer is, probably not. There are just not enough hours in the day.
What is the best approach for a remodel estimate?
The best approach is to hire a design/build firm like DAD’s Construction. Why? Absolutely nobody is going to understand your project better than the company that designed it. This is the only company that can correctly price your job . . . they designed it – they know your job intimately! Asking a contractor to perform an estimate from a set of plans and specifications developed by somebody else (another Design/Build firm, Contractor, Architect, Designer, Engineer, etc.) will be a disaster.
This will cost you a lot more money overall and typically with less than satisfactory results. Don’t do it! Whoever designs the project is the right company to price and build/remodel your home. For more information on choosing the right contractor, see How Do I Choose a Contractor?
The bottom line – a free estimate is just an educated guess. A professional estimate is something of value and substance. You may have to pay for this value and substance, but that upfront cost far outweighs the unforeseen costs that come with incomplete information. Plus, it’s a show of good faith to the contractor that you value their time, which in turn, will allow them to value your project. It’s a win-win.
Don’t make the mistake of hiring a contractor based on a free remodel estimate.
VERY IMPORTANT – There is no greater way to torpedo your project than to choose a contractor based on a free estimate and before the plans and specifications are final! Be very careful with anyone who provides you with a multiline computer-generated estimate before the plans and specifications are final. Ask yourself “how could they possibly provide me with a meaningful estimate based on my needs without first completing a through set of plans and specifications that I agree with.” The answer is they can’t.
A Remodel Estimate is All About Value
Well thought out estimates have real value. On a typical project, these services may include:
Meeting with the client- Conducting a comprehensive needs analysis
- Taking as-built measurements and pictures
- Preparing conceptual Plans/Drawings
- Meeting with the client again
- Preparing a detailed set of Plans with elevations
- Meeting with trade contractors and material suppliers
- Revising the Plans
- Producing the Title 24 Fenestration Report (AKA energy calculations)
- Preparing and integrating into the design Plans the Structural Engineering Plans
- Producing the final set of Plans with elevations
- HOA submittal package
- Producing a detailed by line item estimate with the manufactures name, model, and pricing. Pricing should include all materials, parts, labor, installation, taxes, shipping, and transportation.
- Meeting with the client again
- Preparing and submitting all the Plans, drawings, elevations, engineering, and Title 24. This includes all permitting forms and applications to the Building and Planning Department. This includes review, approval, and issuance of the building permits.
And there are hard costs as well—mileage, printing, copies, ink/toner, telephone expenses—that add up.
You Actually Save Money When you Hire a Design/Build Contractor for your Remodel
An accurate, detailed, professional estimate typically requires 15-40 hours of work at a cost of $1,425 – $3,800. Consider for a moment if your employer required you to perform 15-40 hours of work each week for free. Would you do it? Of course not! Who can afford an extra 15-40 hours per week out of their lives – for free . . . nobody can afford that.
If a client wants a real estimate, it requires research, review, calculation, and hard work. Can you imagine going to your doctor or dentist and asking for a free exam before agreeing to any procedures? Yet most homeowners ask exactly that of contractors when it comes to a remodeling project. Design work developing the plans and specifications and the time spent performing this work are valuable assets. It will always save the client lots of money and headache.
Think of it this way: Expertise will save the client money. Design/build contractors use their relationships with trade contractors and material suppliers to find the most efficient and effective ways to do what the client wants. The practical experience added during the design process will save the client money and actually improves the overall design and remodeling experience.
The First Call in the Remodel Estimating Process is Free
The first visit is free—this is the contractor’s due-diligence. Questions about timing, budget, and research the client has done must be asked. Moreover, any past experience they had with remodeling should be asked. The conversation should be smooth on that initial visit, if it isn’t it’s not going to get any easier after the project begins and it’s likely not a good relationship.
At the end of the first appointment, the client should know that the next step in the process is to sign a design agreement. This will also lay out a payment schedule for delivery of preliminary plans and cost estimates. The benefits of working with a design agreement are significant. The value it brings to the process must be shared, appreciated, and understood.
Remember, the value of a design agreement is in the estimating, design, and success of the project itself. Most importantly, it creates a lasting, mutual, honest relationship between the client and contractor. There are no surprises, guesswork, gimmicks, hidden up-charges or Change Orders. The client knows exactly what is included. The client knows exactly what they are paying for and how it’s going to look—beautiful . . . just the way they wanted!
I hope this helps answer what a free remodel estimate really is.
Always Hire a Reliable and Dependable Contractor to Remodel your Home
Always work with a trustworthy contractor like DAD’s Construction. We are experts in bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling. We remodel and manage projects in an efficient manner. DAD’s Construction will do everything to minimize the possibility of change orders. Our team will make sure we have all the necessary information to prepare a proposal that meets your requirements. Rest assured that we will provide you with a detailed, by line-item contract. We will make sure that the contents of this agreement are properly and clearly communicated to you. If you have questions or need updates regarding your project, we will always answer your inquiries.
How Can I Receive More Information on Remodeling my Home?
If you would like more information on enjoying the best bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling experience in Orange County, call Dan at (949) 380-0177 or at dan@dadsconstruction.com for a free in home consultation. DAD’s serves all of South Orange County California. This includes Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Ladera Ranch, Irvine, San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Newport Beach, and Aliso Viejo.
