If you don’t have a ton of remodeling and DIY experience, you might want to hire a licensed pro so you don’t risk wrecking your home during a renovation. After asking friends, neighbors, and looking at professional organizations like NARI, you’ve found a pro who seems like a good fit. And then they come by, check out the project and you ask for a renovation quote. When the estimate arrives, it’s way higher than expected.
Home renovations are exciting in theory. But taking apart your home and putting it back together while you are living there can be daunting. They also involve budgets, schedules, and the occasional awkward conversation that start: “Is there any wiggle room on that quote?” or “Can you sharpen your pencil?” Yeah, it can be really awkward.
Now, sure, most homeowners aren’t trying to be difficult. They just want to feel confident that what they’re paying reflects the actual value. Not a random number pulled out of thin air. For the most part, negotiating doesn’t mean being pushy or combative. Be informed, honest, and straightforward.
Get specific with the scope.
So, for starters, a vague project gets vague pricing. If you aren’t sure what you want, or you add projects as you are talking with the home contractor during the initial consult, then you’ll get higher pricing. You demonstrated that you change your mind. And you ask for ‘while-you-are-here’ work that you may expect to be included in the original project. It doesn’t work that way. If you go to the dentist to get a cavity filled, and they notice you also need another cavity filled, they will charge you for both. Remodeling work has value, just like accounting or legal work.
One of the easiest ways to bring the cost down is to refine the scope before you talk with the contractor. Instead of asking for a “kitchen update,” break it down. Does the backsplash need to be replaced? Do you plan to reface or replace the cabinets? Do you need new flooring or trim? Make a list of every part of the project that you want accomplished before you talk with a contractor.
The more detailed the request, the easier it is for the contractor to give a realistic quote. And once everything is in writing, there’s room to trim things that aren’t essential. Sometimes the difference between a $15,000 and a $10,000 kitchen is a few items that might not be necessary. And just like surgery, after we open the walls, ceiling, floors, we may find issues that need to be addressed. So remember a quote is just an educated estimate. It can change as more information is revealed.
Research typical pricing for the renovation quote online.
Before we had quick access to home guides and online pricing, it was much more difficult to find out if a renovation quote was inline with typical pricing. These days, you can go to Angi.com and search for your project and see the average cost and typical range for a home improvement project.
Keep in mind that every home is different. There are special circumstance to a house that can raise or lower the cost beyond the typical range you’ll find online. However, these cost guides can help you be prepared before you start talking with a contractor. Also, read home improvement articles like ours on MyFixitUpLife.com. Home improvement knowledge will help you better understand the scope of a project and the steps involved.
Bring another renovation quote to the table.
It’s important to always get more than one quote for a big project. Mentioning that another contractor quoted a lower price can open a conversation. Just don’t be confrontational. The other contractor might not have noticed something, or you may have explained the project a little differently to the other contractor. So, the point isn’t to pit professionals against each other. Actually, it’s to understand what’s standard, what’s flexible, and what’s worth paying extra for.
Some contractors might match a price. But of course, others might explain why theirs is higher, and sometimes that explanation is worth the extra money. Yeah, it’s true that not all renovation services are created equal. And good communication can help separate the solid pros from the flashy, maybe-not-so-much types.
Ask about options.
Yeah, it might be really uncomfortable, but there’s no shame in saying, “That’s a bit higher than I’d hoped. Are there any materials or timeline adjustments that could bring the cost down?” It’s a reasonable question, not a demand. In fact, all contractors understand that clients have budgets. They’d rather work with someone open and direct than someone who ghosted because the estimate felt too steep. Most contractors will try to work with you.
For example, sometimes they can suggest alternatives, like different tile brands or off-peak scheduling, which can reduce costs without sacrificing quality. And if not, they’ll at least explain where the numbers are coming from, which builds trust fast.
However, if a contractor recommends products because they are the best for a particular situation, and you insist they use something cheaper, they may not take the job. If they explain that the material may fail in a short period of time, then it’s not on them when it does fail in that amount of time. Remember, you are hiring a pro because they have experience and know what they are doing. It’s important to respect their advice, as you would a doctor or lawyer.
Ask us for a renovation quote for your project.
