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Pricing Your Home Renovation

Pricing your home renovation is typically the first concern anyone has when hiring a contractor. The process usually involves calling three contractors, scheduling a time to meet, and then obtaining the quote; but not without having to resist and possibly succumb to an elaborate list of pressure tactics. Can there be a better way?

Pricing It Online

What every homeowner should know is that contractors are professionals in their areas of expertise. They have worked on dozens if not hundreds of jobs in their field. A good carpenter has installed dozens of cabinet doors, a good electrician has installed dozens of pot lights, and a good roofer has worked on dozens of roofs. It shouldn’t then come as a surprise that with the right pieces of information, these contractors could give you a very accurate quote without visiting your home.

This doesn’t mean every contractor will provide you with the same quote for your renovation. Deck builders, for example, may have their own areas of expertise and may use different materials for their work. One deck builder may typically work with composite materials while another works with hand carved teak wood he/she imports from Costa Rica. Quotes from both will likely be very different as the materials required were not specified. Labor costs are also a factor.

How Do You Price Online?

It’s all about information - the more information, the better! Contractors need to know the basics of the job at hand before providing you a quote. Be ready to provide:

• Measurements
• Photos
• Blueprints or designs
• The age and the type of home you have
• Details about the materials you want, and whether this is a new installation or a refinishing job

This isn't to say contractors won't want to visit your home before signing an official contract - they’ll want to be sure that all the variables have been taken into account. And they’ll also want to meet you, just as much as you’ll want to meet them as well! However with the right tools and information, you can get multiple quotes from contractors online and fast. It's the crux of what you need to know when first getting into the fine details of a new home renovation.