How much will my project cost?

It's not surprising that we hear this question almost every day of the year. 

It's an important piece of the puzzle for anyone trying to budget for home renovations. The short answer to this question, however, is we don't know how much your project will cost....not right now, anyway.  

The longer, more nuanced answer to this question is that it depends on what you would like us to build. It's kind of like asking: "how much does a bag of groceries cost?" That, of course, depends on what you've put in the bag. Is it Ramen noodles, a dented can of chili, and Koolaid? Or filet mignon, lobster, and a bottle of nice red wine? Just like at the grocery store, the choices you make about your project drive the price. We're here to help you make those choices and build a project that fulfills your desires.

While we're on the subject of project pricing, let's address some of the less helpful methods of information gathering when it comes to remodeling budgets. Here's a few we hear about regularly:

1. What people pay on tv remodeling shows:  Don't get us wrong, we love Chip and JoJo as much as anyone else, but we are constantly scratching our heads when we see the prices they show for projects they've done.  Are those just materials costs?  Is it really that much cheaper to live in Waco, TX?  Is HGTV subsidizing these projects?  Maybe it's all of the above, but they are woefully underpriced for what things cost in the real world for such stunning work.
2. Internet price calculators: In our experience, these are notoriously inaccurate. We aren't sure where they are pulling data from, but it seems to always be on the low end for materials and labor.
3. Comparisons to large scale, new residential construction: Large scale residential builders build a lot of square footage, but it's not custom and it's on a scale of production far beyond most remodeling companies, including ours. Their model of operation is vastly different than a small remodeling company.   
4. A neighbor who did a project recently: Unless we built that job, it's someone else's pricing you'll be referencing. Even if we did build that project, yours is likely to be a different scope of work and will most likely be a different cost. 
5. A relative in the construction business: It's a sad fact that many contractors are not pricing their jobs correctly and they spend a lifetime going broke or they go out of business within their first 5 years of operation like 80% of other contractors. 
6. Contractors who give "back of the napkin" price estimates without understanding exactly what you want: There's a lot of work that goes into figuring out your project. It's impossible for anyone to give you an accurate estimate from a phone call or a single site visit. Don't believe it. What this kind of "estimate" often does is create a need for change orders during your project that will increase your cost instead of having a clear understanding of your budget ahead of time.
7. Architects or designers who don't actually build projects or run a construction company:  We love architects and designers, but they might not have accurate knowledge about the true costs of building. The good ones will tell you the same, that's where the builder comes in. 
8. What you paid for projects in the past: Things simply cost much more than they did even a year ago. Keep in mind that the hot market driving your home's incredible value is the same one that we now have to work in to build your project.  

Now that we have covered some of what doesn't get you accurate pricing, let's talk about what does: 

1. A dedicated remodel specific team that collaborates with you through a defined process to design, develop, price, and then build your project.

That's it. There's no magic to it. The only way to really understand what a project will cost is to undertake a planning effort which will equip you with the right information to make choices and prioritize aspects of your project. When we gather information about what a client wants, it is possible to determine the costs of the project and offer alternative solutions to fit a budget if necessary. Every aspect of the project needs to be dreamed up and then specified with input from the client, design staff, builder, and the tradesmen that will bring it to life.  

All the information about building your project needs to be determined at some point and it's much more efficient to gather that information before we build. Otherwise it's a reactive situation that will "cause confusion and delay!", as Sir Topham Hatt would say.

If you think it sounds like a great idea to plan your project well so that you fully understand what it will cost as well as how it will be scheduled, etc., we would love to work with you.  Please reach out on our contact page. 

All our best,
Tom and the Bunn & Sons team

To contractors who don't properly plan your project resulting in an over budget and lagging behind project, we say:

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Bunn & Sons Home Renovations is a full service general contracting business specializing in design/build kitchen and bath remodels in Broomfield, Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, Arvada and Westminster, Colorado. Give us a call today at 303.625.4045 or hello@bunnandsons.com