For homeowners planning a home addition, estimating costs can seem like the biggest frustration of the whole project. Contractors generally provide estimates based on cost per square foot, though these estimates vary depending on the house's location, materials used and contractor/subcontractors employed on the project. Estimates between the contractors/subcontractors also vary widely, but by taking a few precautionary steps a homeowner can determine a total average cost per square foot for the project. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Decide whether a contractor will build the entire home addition or subcontractors will come in to each do their own part of the project. A contractor's costs can seem more expensive than the cost of bringing in various subcontractors, but the homeowner must determine whether he himself can oversee the project, judge the competence of the work and coordinate the various parts of the project. If a contractor receives a contract to undertake the entire project, he will be responsible for bringing each subcontractor or workman in at the appropriate time. If a homeowner feels that he can manage this, he can save some money, but coordinating the subcontractors involves complicated timing (the subcontractor to dig the foundations must come out first, then the framer, then the roofer, then the contractor installing the insulation, etc.), especially when some of these subcontractors must return to finish up small parts of the job. The price difference between having a contractor build the entire home addition or having subcontractors each do their part must figure into any estimate of home-addition costs.
2. Obtain several estimates for each part of the project, if subcontracting, or for the whole project, if one contractor will build the home addition. The cheapest bid does not always indicate the best choice, as some contractors/subcontractors bid low but their work does not meet the standards of quality construction. Consider other factors when deciding on a contractor/subcontractor, such as their references and their previous work (always ask to see samples of their previous work and speak to their past clients). However, after receiving several bids, a rough estimate of home-addition costs will be apparent from the average of the bids.
3. Refrain from requesting estimates from unlicensed contractors. Their quotes may sound cheaper but there is no guarantee that their work will offer the quality craftsmanship needed to build a solid home addition. In addition, licensed contractors hold business licenses and generally have liability insurance, which will protect a homeowner in case of substandard work.
4. Obtain an estimate through an Internet site that offers quick quotes. Getting such a quote can lead to unrealistic expectations, since each home addition is unique and depends on a variety of factors that an Internet quote site doesn't address. Some of these issues involve wildly differing labor costs from one area of the country to another, differing physical conditions of the home (if power or water lines lay in the home addition's path, the electrical and water company must move them, adding additional costs), topographical layout of the house (if bringing in materials is difficult because of poor roads, etc.) and other differences. However, the Internet quote site can offer a rough estimate of an average cost per square foot of a home addition.
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