Some contractors will give ballpark estimates based on previous projects. But these ballpark estimates can be very misleading, as construction costs are based on detailed drawings and specifications.
Ideally, to price a room addition, you would want to have a set of completed blueprints and specifications, which have been approved by the local building department. These would specify the size and nature of the project, and the specific materials used to build and finish it. Once these are known, a price can be given to build the project.
But since remodeling involves a number of unknowns, an additional budget for the inevitable unforeseen extras will be necessary. This would include things like defects in the original construction (that become manifest during the course of remodeling) which need to be corrected, changes or deviations from the original plans that are requested by the owner, and unanticipated requirements from the building department which were not listed on the approved plans.
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
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How much $ for a room addition ?
depends on color
Edited 2/1/2008 2:04 am ET by dogboy
of the money?View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
as an HO I want to add a room.
wonder what it will cost, do I have enough money?
I want the room to be .....
so How do I start determining what it will cost.
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what you are saying is
hire a designer or architect, have the drawings all done up and approved by the building dept (does that mean permits) will a building dept approve plans before the permit process? and more than one permit maybe needed (construction, electrical, plumbing)
spend several thousand dollars to find out if you can afford the addition.
IMO the answer should be in two parts, ball park, and detailed.
showing an indication of what has been done before for how much gives the customer an idea if they can afford to continue.
maybe the FAQ should be "We want to add-on/remodel. what do we need to do before talking to a contractor, how do we know if we can afford it?
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter WFR
"But when you're a kibbutzer and have no responsibility to decide the facts and apply the law, you can reach any conclusion you want because it doesn't matter." SHG
Good points, need to figure a way to cover all bases with the answer.
You still gotta start with, What do I want? Specifically, how big, what style, which fixtures, floorcoverings, etc. You have to pin down as exactly as possible what you want, to get a bid price. You can get a ballpark based on other projects, but time and again I find people want a firm bid on an unknown project. It may be different in your area.
Of course, lots of people want a ballpark figure - you'll have to spend oodles of time asking questions, helping them design the project, then you can figure a free bid which they will then shop around, and hire a lower priced guy.
I guess I should somehow explain that a contractor can help you arrive at a reasonably accurate ballpark figure, if you're willing to pay for the many hours, and many years of background knowledge, necessary to do so.
edited to add:-------------------------------------------
I want to do a room addition on my house, how much will it cost?
The best starting point is, What do I want? Specifically, how big, what style, which fixtures, floorcoverings, etc. You have to pin down as exactly as possible what you want, to get an estimate that has any value. It is difficult to price an unknown project. Of course, in the early stages of planning, a ballpark figure can be very useful. While you may gain some insight from asking friends or neighbors who have had similar work done, an experienced contractor will likely begin by asking many questions, helping to design the project, so that his estimate can actually be 'in the ballpark'.
If you're pretty sure you want to proceed with the project, it is usually a good investment to pay a contractor that you feel comfortable with, for the many hours, and many years of background knowledge, necessary to develop a reasonably accurate estimate.
Ideally, to price a room addition, you would want to have a set of completed blueprints and specifications, which have been approved by the local building department. These would specify the size and nature of the project, and the specific materials used to build and finish it. Once these are known, a price can be given to build the project. But since remodeling involves a number of unknowns, an additional amount should be figured into the budget, maybe 15% - 20% of the bid price, for the inevitable unforeseen extras will be necessary. This would include things like defects in the original construction (that become manifest during the course of remodeling) which need to be corrected, changes or deviations from the original plans that are requested by the owner, and unanticipated requirements from the building department which were not listed on the approved plans.
View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Edited 2/1/2008 10:26 am by Huck
IMO the answer should be in two parts, ball park, and detailed.
Yes, this is how I prefer to do it, depending on the size and scope of the project.
I don't have as many records as I would like to have, so i will typically look at a project, take notes, and set up a time in a week or so to go over "a budget number" if they don't already have one.
I do spend more time than I would like working up the "budget number", but I also consider that time to be part of the sale process.
Between the first and second meeting, (if not before) I will also have called the person who refered the prospective customer, and ask them some questions.
The second meeting will go fairly quickly. A discussion of what we had talked about, presentation of the "budget number range" followed by the question, "Is that a number we can work with?"
Yes, I realize I am going to lose some time to some people, but in my world the opportunity to build trust, and be eyeball to eyeball, with the serious client who does sign, outweighs that time.
I know a couple of competitors have the "Hard-azz" attitude, that the client pays for everything after the first hour. And I know I have taken projects from them because of it. How much time I put into a prospective client is a moving target. Been as little as 15 seconds on the phone. as long as 18 hrs (fancy basement 20 miles away) when I wanted and needed the job badly, and i didn't get it anyway.
Along that 18 hrs I should have been asking more questions and getting more small closes. (this project was about 10 yrs ago) I would have found out a lot sooner they were not serious.
This is really an oversimplification of the process, but you are not completely off base. Unless I am really busy.
Bowz