There are a lot of remodeling guides out there. Unfortunately, they all tend to say the same thing: “You should remodel because it adds value to your home and improves your lifestyle. But you better pick the right contractor, or you’ll be screwed!”
There are a lot of remodeling guides out there. Unfortunately, they all tend to say the same thing: “You should remodel because it adds value to your home and improves your lifestyle. But you better pick the right contractor, or you’ll be screwed!”
What these guides don’t give you, though, is a step-by-step, realistic plan that tells you how to avoid common pitfalls so that your remodeling project is a successful and satisfying experience.
That’s why we created this unique resource for you. This isn’t a “style guide.” It’s a blueprint for asking the right questions, choosing the right process, and working with the right people for your kitchen and/or bathroom remodeling goals, needs and budget in Tallahassee.
Not that we have anything against a good style guide! We have two available and are happy to send one or both your way – just drop us a line or take a look at them here.
The 4 most important questions to ask when starting a remodel.
Why does it cost so much and how do you compare quotes?
A start-to-finish timeline of a typical McManus Kitchen & Bath remodel.
It’s a good idea to mull these questions over a bit before visiting our showroom. It will save time and make your first meeting with our designer a more productive one. It’s ok if you don’t have answers to every question – part of the designer’s role is to help you answer them.
What are my goals? What do I like/not like about my current kitchen or bath. Be as specific as you can.
You need to create a budget very early in the process in order to control costs and design project that works for you. We’ll help you create your initial budget on your first showroom visit using our Good, Better, Best budget process. Always add a 10% contingency to your budget.
Side Note: What if the project costs more than our budget? If you don’t have the money for the kitchen or bath you want, we first recommend you wait. We can create a budget for you and then you can create a savings plan to get your dream space. If you can’t wait (or just don’t want to) then we recommend you finance it through your bank or take out a HELOC. We have some finance options available, but the interest rates would be higher than what the banks would offer you.
Don’t forget to take into consideration holidays, school schedules, vacations, or other family events. Expect a full kitchen or bathroom remodel to take 6 to 8 weeks. Add another 2-4 weeks for planning and design work..
You can get started in one of 3 ways:
No matter how you get started, watch for these common issues, or as we like to call them, “The Big 3.”
If you get the “Big 3” right, the rest of the project should run pretty smoothly.
Most people aren’t aware of just how many dangers lurk in remodeling dust. We make sure your home and family are protected in a variety of ways:
Here’s a favorite cleanliness tip. Try the “quarter trick.” Leave a quarter on a flat surface just outside the work area. At the end of the day, pick it up and it will demonstrate how much dust escaped the work area.
The vast majority of construction projects that wind up in court could have been avoided with proper communication. It’s not easy keeping track of all the discussions and decisions that need to be made during a remodel. Miscommunication can lead to real problems.
Your relationship with your contractor and designer is about trust. You should feel comfortable asking about anything you don’t understand or may be worried about.
We use a cloud-based project management system so you have instant access to job schedules, subcontractor info, payments due and project pictures, specs and designs.
We also submit a daily log at the end of each day that states what was done that day, what is planned for the following day, who to expect on site and at what time.
Jobsite organization is an often overlooked component of a well-run project. A well-organized job site keeps things safe for you, your family, guests, and pets, not to mention the crew!
Tools, equipment, and materials should always be safely stored away and there must be a clear path from the point of entry to the work area. The jobsite should be thoroughly cleaned at the end of each day
For sure, remodeling costs have increased over the last 10 years. And all signs point to costs continuing to increase due to labor shortages and material cost increases.
Fewer young people are going into the trades and there’s a shortage of trade schools, apprenticeship programs or union training. So not only is it there a shortage of construction workers in general, there is a real shortage of skilled workers.
Another reason for the increase in kitchen and bathroom remodel costs is something you could call the “HGTV Factor.” Homeowners have become much more design savvy and are demanding higher quality materials, better storage options, and a higher level of service. This is fantastic because it is resulting in much better kitchen and bathroom design. But all those added features and luxury materials naturally cost more.
Creating an accurate, well designed proposal is time consuming. It can take 8 to 12 hours to develop an accurate quote for a kitchen or bathroom remodel, not including the design work, which can take even longer.
Most contractors (ourselves included) are reluctant to do that much work for free; after all, only about 1 in 5 quotes we do actually turns into a project.
So what usually ends up happening is contractors or designers create “quick quotes” which may or may not be accurate and are often confusing. The contractor or designer is forced to “guess” what your needs are, what quality of materials you want to pay for and what level of service you want.
When remodeling mistakes are costly. If a contractor is wrong about the cost of the work that needs to be done or the wrong materials are specified it can cost much more to change the scope of work mid-remodel.
Over the years we’ve developed a two part approach to our estimate and design process that we think allows us to understand your needs and provide you with an accurate idea of the cost of your project.
We call it the Good, Better, Best Process.
Our whole showroom is designed around the GBB process. When you first come in we’ll sit down to look over pictures of you exiting space and any inspirations photos you have. We’ll go over our GBB budget process with you and complete your personal GBB sheet.
In the showroom we have cabinets, tile, fixtures etc… at each price point (good, better and best) and while we are competing your GBB budget we can show you the difference between different products. For example, the difference between a “good” cabinet and a “better” one.
This way you can choose which products are best for you project and full know the details of the materials you are choosing.
The initial visit is free and takes about 90 minutes. At the end you walk away with a an estimate for your project at 3 different price points and a custom quote based on your preferences.
Once you have decided to accept a GBB budget and would like to move forward we will ask you to sign a design agreement and pay a small deposit.
We will then earmark space on our schedule for your project, visit your home to review the project scope again and take measurements.
We will request bids from our subcontractors, finalize your design work and help you make your product selections.
When this process is complete we will present you with a fixed price proposal. When you sign that proposal we will collect a deposit and schedule your start date.
McManus Kitchen & Bath is the only state-certified contractor in Tallahassee with a full-service design center.
It allows us to assist you on your project from initial design and estimate all the way to the final clean up. Our project management process is straightforward and comprehensive.
Total Time from initial showroom visit to project completion: 9 – 12 weeks.
As a local business, we’ve been designing and remodeling kitchens in the greater Tallahassee area since 2005. We focus only on kitchen and bath products which allows us to bring you the latest innovations and techniques you need for a successful remodel. We’re one of the few remodeling firms in the area that offers both framed and frameless cabinets and have a huge selection of products in our showroom for you to choose from. And all our clients can view virtual reality versions of their completed designs.
From initial consult to final walk-through, we treat your home with the respect it deserves. Whether you’re an empty-nester ready to update your kitchen, or a growing family in need of more space, our one-stop approach can bring your kitchen vision to life!
At McManus Kitchen & Bath, we strive to make the remodeling experience an enjoyable one, and our #1 priority is finishing your remodel on time and on budget. The testimonials, repeat business, and referrals we receive from satisfied clients is how we define our success.
We invite you to visit our website to see examples of the work we do . We look forward to meeting you at our showroom and welcome the opportunity to answer any kitchen remodeling design questions you may have.
McManus Kitchen & Bath is a full-service remodeling company that specializes in gut renovations of kitchens and bathrooms throughout the Tallahassee area. From estimate and design work to installations and project management, we handle all aspects of your remodeling project under one roof.
We are fully-licensed and the state’s only certified residential contractors who, unlike many other local remodelers, focus exclusively on kitchen and bath products and related systems.
We’re also the area’s only contractor with a full service showroom and in-house design team. Because kitchens and baths are all we do, we’re able to go above and beyond, handling issues a lot of other remodelers don’t.
We believe a specialized full-service remodeling firm like ours can provide you with the product and design knowledge that you won’t get from just any contractor or big box kitchen supplier.
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What you’ll get:
A personal design consult in our showroom
3D drawings to help you visualize options
A ‘good-better-best’ estimate