What will my remodel cost?
For homeowners looking to revamp their space via a remodel, one of the first questions is usually “how much is this going to cost?”
The answer depends on how much work you are doing (project scope) and the level of design that you are looking to achieve. The best way to understand the TRUE cost of your remodel is to begin by calling in an interior designer. Why? Because material costs are the big unknown, and the material costs are completely dependent on the level of design you are trying to achieve. Labor costs are labor costs. It’s going to take X amount of dollars to demo and install a new bathroom floor, but is that tile going to cost $8/sqft or $400/sqft? Are your design tastes leaning toward a $3000 kitchen faucet or an $800 faucet? These are the items that add up and cause surprises. The only person who will be able to give you a reasonably accurate estimate of these costs will be the person helping you with material selections/design - the interior designer. Many times people will consult the contractor first. They’ll walk through the areas they want to remodel, and the contractor will throw out a rough number. The problem with this approach is the contractor is taking a wild guess at the material allowances and usually these guesses are lower than what it will actually cost to create the vision in your head. If you are doing significant structural work (moving a kitchen, opening up walls, etc) there can obviously be surprises that pop up during construction, like discovery of termite damage, water leaks, mold, and so on. Those costs are nearly impossible to predict. I’m not talking about those here in this post. The best way to prepare for the unknown is with a contingency fund. Talk with the general contractor and ask if they see any indicators for concern, the types of surprises that are common with homes of similar age, and what their recommendation would be for a contingency fund given the scope of the project.
The Exploratory Phase
Texas Provincial helps clients understand remodeling costs through a 2-3 week pre-construction process called “the exploratory phase”. We call it the exploratory phase because the objective is to explore the costs of everything on the client’s wishlist so they can decide where to spend their money. It’s kind of like putting together a menu. By the end, you will see how much each item costs and pick and choose what to order. The items you order become the project scope and their total cost becomes the project budget.
Programming Meeting
The exploratory phase begins with a programming meeting at your home. You, the client, walk us through each space you have hopes and dreams for, listing every item on your wish list. We follow you, asking questions and writing everything down as fast as we can. We also answer your questions - Eg. “Do you think we should refinish the cabinets or just get new ones? What could we do to improve the flow into the kitchen?” We’ll discuss it all. At the end we’ll have a list:
“Kitchen gut remodel, powder bath refresh, wallpaper in the dining room, window treatments throughout, ideas to make the ceiling in the formal living room more interesting”
These are all the items we will gather pricing on when we leave your house. The programming meeting is also where Texas Provincial really begins to get to know you and your design tastes. We look at inspiration pictures together and we listen, listen, listen to ensure your goals become our goals. Even though we haven’t started designing yet, getting to know your style helps us understand the level of design you have in your head, and thus the price points of materials we’d need to shop at to achieve it.
Drawings & Material Costs
The first concept drawings of your new space are created in the days following the programming meeting. We’ve seen the cabinet styles that made your eyes light up, we’ve heard your wish for vinyl instead of engineered hardwood, and we’ve taken measurements to begin estimating material quantities. You said you aren’t particular about tile but marble countertops are a non-negotiable. We gather price information and estimate material allowances with all that information in mind. We do all the drawings for millwork, cabinets, floor plans, lighting plans, and anything else required to gather accurate cost estimates.
Contractor Walkthrough
After gathering material costs, we walk the house with a contractor to gather labor costs. If an architect or engineer is required to weigh in (eg. to move a load-bearing wall) we meet with them too. All aspects of work are explored in detail - labor, materials, and other costs like permitting. Since we’ve already put together concept drawings and have a detailed list of the exact work to be completed, the contractor is able to provide realistic and accurate estimates.
Epic Accounting Meeting
The exploratory phase culminates in an epic accounting meeting. Truly epic. You, the client, will be able to see the budget breakdown detailing how much it will cost to achieve every item on your wishlist. From there, it’s up to you to decide which items to take off the list, add, or change. Any sticker shock or head scratching that would have been done during construction (had you not done the exploratory phase) is done here, right now! We want you to have an enjoyable, predictable remodel experience, not be shell-shocked at every turn with costs you never saw coming. With the exploratory cost information in hand, you will knowledgeably be able to set a scope of work.