Our Remodeling Estimate

For most contractors, estimates are a sales tool. For us it about helping you explore options, understand costs and make the right decision for your needs.

Whether you wind up hiring us or not, it will help prepare you for a successful remodel.

Our Estimate Process Has 3 Steps

We call it our ‘Design and Budget Consult’. It works best for homeowners who want to explore the best options for their needs and are not just seeking the lowest cost. 

All of our estimates include 3D concept drawings, a budget with ‘good-better-best’ options and a clear explanation of the remodeling process and what to expect. 

We don’t do free Estimates, We do Honest ones

To Be Blunt, Free Remodeling Estimates Suck.
Free estimates are a sales tool. They are meant to be quick and easy for the contractor to create and to get you to ‘say yes’. They are often off by 30% or more and leave a lot of questions unanswered. They are a common cause of many homeowner complaints.

Our estimates are detailed & realistic with no hidden costs or surprises. They include 3D concept drawings and real material samples. We review it with you in person in our showroom so we can explain your options and make adjustments. It takes a lot of work so we charge a small fee.

Fees are credited towards the project costs if you move forward into design.

Estimate fees:

• • $225 for a single room like a kitchen or a bath
  • $375 for two rooms (a kitchen and a bath for example)
  • $575 for more than 2 rooms or whole home remodels

Getting started is easy, just schedule a discovery call:

The contractor price trap

Don’t ‘Pick the Middle One’

One of the challenges about planning a remodel is the wide variety of prices you will get. Since most estimates provide limited detail it can be hard to judge which is best.

A common approach is to ‘pick the middle one’… the estimate that falls in between the highest and the lowest… but that is often a mistake.

A Better Approach

Instead, ask your contractor how they create their estimates. Understanding their process will inform how good the estimate is. Contractors who say things like “I’ve been doing this for 20 years so I just know” are guessing and you should be ready for suprises in design or construction. 

In fact, asking your contractor about all their processes – how they handle design, scheduling, change orders, jobsite cleanliness etc… is a great way to understand if they are the right choice for your needs.

About Our Estimates

They are based on historic data. We track costs on all out projects and use that information to keep our estimate database updated.

We take detailed measurements in your home and use 3D modelling of the proposed design to make sure we don’t miss anything.

We review everything with you in our showroom so we can answer questions, review material samples and customize the estimate to your needs.

3D Concept Drawings

At the showroom visit we usually start by reviewing the 3D concept drawing(s) so we can agree on the direction of the design before reviewing the estimate. 

Drag the slider to see the 3D Concept vs final project picture.

Our Good-Better-Best Estimate Sheet

Our estimate sheets have two parts: A scope of work sheet that lists all labor items and quantities and a good better best selection sheet that itemizes the cost of materials.

A good-better-best materials selection sheet

Our Remodeling Process in 4 Steps

The design and budget consult is the first step in a successful remodel.

Concept and Budget is the first step so you know what to expect and plan with confidence that there won’t be any major surprises. 

Design & Ordering. Once you approve your estimate we will ask for a design retainer equal to 5% of the estimate and then schedule 2-4 design meetings to finalize all the details and create a fixed price proposal for you.

Once you approve the fixed price proposal we will collect a deposit, order everything for you and finalize permits, scheduling etc…

Before construction starts your project manager will schedule a ‘preconstruction meeting’ in your home to review things like job site protection, parking, access etc…

During construction your project manager is on site every day for quality control, keeping the job site clean and organized and provide progress reports.

When contruction is complete we do a follow up visit after 6 months and check in annually for the remainder of our 5 year warranty period.