The Cost Question
A question we
get all the time is "how much does a remodeling project cost?" The
presumption, we assume, is that there is a standard price for a given
(or any?) remodeling project that we can simply quote over the
phone. But in the business of professional remodeling, it doesn't
work that way. For us, it's an impossible question to answer without a
lot more information and detail, and one that can only be derived once
we agree on a complete scope of work and apply real costs to that
scope. Before that, it's akin to asking, "How much does a vacation
cost?" without first knowing where and for how long you plan to go,
and by what mode of transportation, among other
considerations. The fact is, the details (and therefore cost) of every
remodeling project are unique, and the cost of your remodel
is entirely up to you, not your remodeling contractor. Only you know
how much you can afford and what you want in your remodeled space or
home. It's our job to apply our expertise and experience to finely
detail your wants and needs and then remodel your home to meet (or
ideally exceed) those expectations within your
budget. That's why it is so important to determine and then share
your budget with us from the first moment you select us to remodel
your home, well before any contracts are signed or construction
begins. Using the vacation analogy, we are like a travel agent working
with you to plan a trip. Still, the "What does it cost?" question
persists. So, it might be helpful to understand what goes into or
affects the cost (or ultimate price) of a remodeling project to gain a
better perspective. For instance, the cost of similarly sized room
additions or kitchen remodels vary considerably due to the scope of
work -- a one- or two-story addition, a complete gutting of the
kitchen vs. refacing the cabinets and replacing the appliances -- as
well as the level of detail and desired finishes. A good-quality
linoleum floor or carpet will cost considerably less than a stone tile
or wood floor, for instance. There's also the stuff you don't see
right away, such as necessary upgrades to the plumbing or electrical
systems exposed during demolition, or the need to alter any structural
components to either beef them up or move walls or support posts or
beams to enlarge the space. We work hard to investigate and discover
those "hidden" costs and include them in the budget before we sign a
contract, but those items are unique to each project and certainly
impact the cost of your particular remodel. In addition, costs
related to acquiring permits or complying with current code
requirements can add from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to
the bottom line of a remodeling project, regardless of the basic
scope. Labor and material costs can also vary substantially based upon
the time of the year, the availability and demand of building
materials and workers, weather conditions (such as for a room
addition, which requires a lot of exterior work), and the complexity
of the project. The list of variables goes on, and we're happy to discuss
them with you and explain how they might impact the cost of your
remodeling project. But, in our view, it's short-sighted to ask us
up-front what a remodel of any kind will cost, and certainly to base a
very important (and likely expensive) decision on that metric
alone. Better, we think, to get a full understanding of our process
and expertise and marry those skills with what you can afford and want
and need in a remodeling project to achieve your goals.
Warm
regards,
Austin Schmitt, John Schmitt, Mark Jackson, and
Elizabeth Mitchel
Kingston Design Remodeling
11515 Suburban Place
Fairfax Station VA 22039
(703) 323-6527 - phone
kingstonbuilders@cox.net
www.kingstonbuilders.com
c.
2006 All
rights reserved.
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