How to Get Home Addition Estimates

The first step toward finding the right contractor for your home addition is requesting accurate estimates. The boundaries of home addition estimates are determined by the size of your project and the level of service provided by the contractor. You need to get multiple home addition estimates to find the right services for your budget.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sketch of your proposed renovation, with measurements
• Proposed budget
• Blank estimate form

1. Establish the boundaries for home addition estimates by creating a sketch of your new room or renovation. You can help contractors create a comprehensive quote for services by providing the measurements for your addition.

2. Calculate your household budget and available assets to determine the maximum amount of money you can allocate to the project. You should provide a maximum budget to contractors and construction companies to help them accept or reject the opportunity to bid.

3. Conduct a series of phone and email interviews with contractors to eliminate options when looking for home addition estimates. You should ask for a hypothetical set of services that you might need for your home in an effort to weed out contractors who are too expensive.

4. Write a blank estimate form that commits a contractor to a certain price range during the bidding process. Your form should include spaces for the total estimate, available services and references. The references will help you confirm past success in meeting budget limits.

5. Request an itemized list of prices with the estimate to help you determine the best services available. This list should feature materials, labor costs and the services of specialists to provide transparency in the estimate.

6. Investigate the source for building materials used by a contractor to determine the legitimacy of his estimate. You should contact lumber companies and landscaping firms to get individual price quotes to see if contractors are marking up their price. You can use contacts with past suppliers to force contractors to use more affordable materials.

7. Obtain a price quote from specialized contractors in addition to general contractors to locate the right combination of services. You may be able to use a combination of electricians, plumbers and other contractors to get work done more quickly than you would with a general contractor.

Tips & Warnings

• Spread your search for estimates to home improvement centers and local firms to find the best prices. Home improvement centers feature in-house contractors who use the high volume of business to offer services at a lower price. You should consider architectural firms for extensive additions to your home.