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You should always get at least three contractor bids, so that you can compare the prices and the scope that’s included in each estimate. Before you’re truly able to compare bids, you’ll need to make sure they all include the exact same scope – for both labor and materials.

A contractor’s estimate should be inclusive of every item that’s involved in completing the project you’re hiring them to do. This includes labor, rough materials, overhead, clean-up, etc. With regard to finish materials, a contractors bid should clearly state whether they or the client are purchasing each material item and the approx. cost allowance.

Yes, to a certain extent, you can negotiate with a contractor on their bid. If a contractor has no further ability to reduce their price, you can tell them your total budget and ask them for ideas to reduce the project costs/scope to meet your budget.

The first step in starting a home redesign is planning and budgeting to determine the extent of the remodel. You need to understand the cost of each various project in order to plan for the projects you can afford.  

An older house could be significantly more expensive to renovate if the home’s systems have never been upgraded. Additionally, you are more likely to find ‘unfortunate’ surprises when opening the walls of an older home, and this will lead to increased remodel costs. That being said, it is typically more economical to upgrade your home instead of buying a new one!

If the house is built on a solid, modern foundation and the framing of the home is in good shape, it’s likely that gutting the home will be cheaper than rebuilding from scratch. By gutting the home, you’ll be saving the foundation, framing, subfloor, and roof trusses. 

To gut a house generally means to demolish everything in the house until you’re left with just the foundation, the wall framing, sub-floor framing, and roof/attic structure. Gutting a house implies replacing all the systems: electrical, plumbing, gas, HVAC, etc.

The very first thing to do when renovating a house is to start with planning the remodel and drawing out preliminary design plans. For a full list of steps involved in remodeling a house from start to finish, check out this blog: https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/whole-house-remodel-tips-los-angeles/

The average cost to remodel or renovate a house in Los Angeles or Southern California will range from $100/sf to $300/sf. See the following blog for breakdown of costs depending on the scope of your project: https://www.greatbuildz.com/blog/2020-los-angeles-remodel-cost-guide/

A major remodel on a home encompasses rebuilding or renovating more than just one room or one house system. So, this may include plumbing, electrical, drywall, paint, etc. Alternatively, a major remodel might include renovating multiple rooms like bathrooms and a kitchen.

A minor renovation is a small home project that doesn’t affect multiple rooms or require rebuilding major home systems. A single bathroom remodel might be considered a minor renovation. Replacing your flooring and painting the walls would also be a minor renovation.

Always call your insurance carrier prior to home renovations to inform them of the sort of work you will be undertaking. Your coverage may cover some repairs, but remodeling insurance does not exist. Ensure that the contractor you choose carries both general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.

By utilizing the checklist, you may incorporate every aspect of your restoration job in a logical order. This allows your budget to be completely clear and amended more readily if necessary. In addition, when the elements for the renovation are listed in section order (demolition, structural, systems, etc.), your conversations with contractors will be more ordered and focused.

Often, homeowner’s have to figure out why contractor estimates for the same job might differ dramatically. In this scenario, most people begin by comparing the bid details & line items carefully in an effort to find an “apples to apples” comparison. They’re attempting to verify that all contractor bids contain identical components so they may evaluate them fairly.

Consider scheduling in order to make your remodeling as easy as feasible. You should begin your renovation when it will create the least amount of interruption. Despite the fact that summer is a popular period for home renovations, if you have school-aged children who spend the most of their time at home in summer, this might be the most challenging time to work on your house.