How much is all this gonna cost?  No one knows.  You know how much you want to spend.  You can still remember when the project was only supposed to be new tile on the walls and new flooring.

Somehow that oh-so simple renovation project has tuned into a full remodel.  Since the tiles are coming off anyway, let’s dig onto the walls and add some cable for the internet.  And since we’re going to replace the countertops, they don’t match the tile anymore, we should get a new sink.  Plus more and more.

Once the wants and needs are planned and comitted to paper, it’s time to get some quotes for the work.  How many prices to solicit?  If the market is busy, to get three prices, the bare minimum if you are at all concerned about budget and costs, you need to get at least four or five companies interested in your project.  That’s right, I said you need to get them interested.

In order to evaluate the prices when they are presented, you need to ensure that you know what the full extend of the scope of work entails.  The best way to ensure this it provide a scope of work document.  The usual manner is a series of drawings and written specifications.  The more specific and detailed the request for pricing, the less difficult it is to review and make sense of the pricing.

Beware of the low price.  No matter which quote you accept, understand that this is merely the starting price.  And it never gets less expensive.

- Frank Soellig