What a Remodeling Job Will Actually Cost you

Unless you moved into a custom designed and built home, like you, most California homeowners have thought about putting an addition on their home, or having their kitchen or bathroom remodeled. Having a dream kitchen or bathroom, is a natural thought that, believe it or not, isn’t just for the rich and famous. Most anyone can make their remodeling dream a reality, with the right planning that is.

There are many factors to take into account when planning for your new home renovation or addition. If thought through thoroughly, and planned for correctly you can keep your home improvement project on your desired budget and running smoothly. The last thing any homeowner wants is to have to spend thousands of extra dollars to complete a project they had a limited budget for.

Here is a list of things to keep in mind when creating your budget:

• Design Costs – Before you even think about what materials or hardware you are going to need, your new bathroom/kitchen/addition needs to have blueprints drawn. Some contractors do this for free and some charge extra for this initial step. Make sure you pick a contractor that is reputable, and knows what they are doing. Stay clear of contractors that tell you they don’t need blueprints, or who don’t go through the design process with you step-by-step.

• Materials – This will be the most substantial part of your budget. Your choice in materials can change the cost of your remodel by thousands of dollars. Keep different options in mind when deciding between all your various materials. There can be big differences between hard wood, laminate, tile, stone, oak, granite, pine, etc. Try to find a good balance between style and affordability.

• Size – Will walls need to be taken down or built for your new room? Will you keep existing cabinet framing and reface the rest, or do you plan on completely new custom cabinetry? Plan on whether or not you will be demolishing the old room completely or using existing framing, piping and electrical.

• Hardware – This refers to the finishing touches in your new room, and can really add a significant cost to your project. Take your time to look for the right faucets, shower heads, sinks, appliances (stove, microwave, oven, refrigerator), door handles, mirrors, etc. Again, you want to keep the style you are looking for, but also look for inexpensive alternatives and discounted products to save you money in the end.

• Timing – Most, if not all, remodeling jobs are going to take a while. Be sure to schedule your project during a time when you will be able to occasionally leave work to go over progress, and be ready to answer any questions that might come up. No matter how well you plan in the beginning you will need and want to be involved at some point during the actual build.

These are the major aspects of a home remodeling, renovating or addition project, which all play a major part in the budget of your job. Try to account for every possible aspect of the project, keeping a list of various costs to ensure you know what to expect as a final price. There are a select few good online services which will match you with contractors in your area. Two of which who use a very strict pre-screening service are All Around the Home which helps homeowners nationwide, and CalFinder, serving the San Francisco Bay Area in areas like general remodeling. Both make it easy for their visitors to receive free estimates from the best contractors in their area.

These contractors will help you to plan your budget, and give you realistic costs for your next project. Be sure to compare contractors, prices and services to make sure you find the one just right for you. By making a realistic and accurate budget, almost anyone can afford to do their dream remodel or renovation!