One of the first questions potential clients want to know when they call Custom Dwellings is; how much will my project cost? The short answer is, “it depends”. With the help (i.e., blatant rip off of a well written blog) of Marcus Sheridan, I’ll try to do my best here to explain why that question is difficult to answer and how I would recommend decisions be made.
Much like purchasing a new car, with so many options available, pricing can vary drastically. While we do occasionally run across the same floor plan of a home as we’ve worked on in the past, even then, one client’s vision for their kitchen may be completely different than the previous client’s. Just as a Ford F150 can start at $30,000 with just a basic package, it can quickly cost more than double that once a shopper upgrades trim packages, adds an extended cab, 4-wheel drive, etc. Likewise, one kitchen remodel may cost $80,000 and another may cost $200,000, once the client selects high end appliances and cabinetry, removes load bearing walls, replaces flooring, etc.
Since the average American sells or trades in their vehicle within the first five years of purchase, why do many people choose so many upgrades? Because most people understand the importance of getting what they desire the first time to not have any regrets. Most Americans spend over 30 minutes a day in their vehicle, and they want to make sure their vehicle will provide them with comfort, quality, longevity, and ease of use.
These same principles typically apply to most homeowners looking to alter their home or build new.
You’re going to be in your home virtually every day for as long as you live there and spend much more of your time at home than in your car. Working with a designer to develop the right design for your situation and picking appropriate products the first time is critical to ensure maximum enjoyment in your new space. Because of this, most homeowners elect to choose the design and quality of construction that will make them happiest in the long run.
Unfortunately, some people only focus on the initial price of the project, with the goal of finding the cheapest contractor, therefore sacrificing professional design, construction management, service, quality workmanship, warranty, and aesthetics, which inevitably leads to regret-especially considering that unlike a vehicle, a remodeling project or addition can not be traded in if one is not satisfied with the result (without moving of course!) Or as John Ruskin said, “It’s unwise to pay too much, but it is unwise to pay too little too. When you pay too much, you may lose a little money….that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought is incapable of doing the thing you bought it to do. The Common Law of Business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot…it can’t be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better”
We don’t discount the need to understand what to expect to pay and are going to do our best to demystify and explain different project costs in more detail in the upcoming months. Stay tuned to the Custom Dwellings website and future blogs as we try to give realistic expectations of costs for a variety of projects.