What to expect from the bidding process
Many times when beginning a construction project you may not know what to expect. One of the very first things you will be receiving from your future contractor is a bid or estimate. All of this comes after having the contractor out to your home to look at your project. After your contractor has a clear idea as to what you are looking for and taken the appropriate notes and measurements they will be able to begin the estimation/bidding process.
How does the bidding/estimation process work?
You will find you get as many different styles of bids as there are contractors. Some give estimates based on square footage and will leave your home having already given you a bid on the spot. Others “eyeball” the job and will give you a general bid based on previous jobs and maybe leave you with a range within a few hundred dollars. Others will take the note, measurements and ideas you have presented and do a customized bid. At Corvus Construction the ladder the way we do our bidding/estimating.
What goes into a customized bid/estimated?
Your contractor will go back to their office and get to work – calling suppliers and getting costs on the materials that will be used for completing your remodel. If you have specific items that still need to be selected such as cabinetry and tile your contractor will make those items budget items which will give you an idea of the price range they have set for those items. An example of a budget item would be as follows; bathroom counter top – Let’s assume you are wanting a granite slab for your counter top.
Your contractor would indicate granite slab for the bathroom counter top BUDDGET ITEM. You would have a separate list attached to your bid/estimate that indicates the price for each budget item. You could look on the budget list and see the contractor has allowed $1000 for your granite slab.
If you were to choose a granite slab that was more or less expensive – your total project cost would be adjusted according to which granite slab you have chosen. Lastly labor is accounted for in the bidding process. The contractor will sit down and figure our how many hours will go into completing your remodeling project and add those numbers into the cost of the job.
When should I expect my bid/estimate?
You should expect to get a copy of your bid/estimate for your remodeling project within a few days. There are a few things that can hold up the process. If you have special requests for materials that are not locally available it might take a little more time to get the costs and availability on these items.
What if I have changes I want to make after seeing the bid?
If you are making a minor adjustment it shouldn’t take much time to get you an updated bid/estimate but if you are changing the scope of work by a lot your contractor will need to write up an entire new bid/estimate. Open communication with your contractor is key. This way you can be sure you are on the same page and you will be able to get the answers you are looking for right away.
What if there are changes to the project/remodel after the job has begun?
This can happen during the process of a remodel. The reasons vary greatly. You may have changed your mind about a cabinet section or changed your mind from laminate flooring to tile. In some cases there are things found while on the job that where not in the original scope of work. At this point your contractor will give you a Change Order.
A Change Order is essentially a second bid/estimate. At Corvus we will present you with a new scope of work with all the details and materials. You will have the opportunity to review the Change Order and sign it before any additional work is preformed. This will keep you from being surprised at the end of the job with the price is different due to a change in the original scope of work.
Bid/estimates vary as much as any remodeling project does. We do not use standard forms or make assumptions based on previous remodels. We take one project at a time and invest all of our time and attention. If you would like Corvus Construction to come and take a look at your remodeling project call us at 206-355-4981 or email us at info@corvus-construction.com