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3 Reasons Why the Lowest Bid Might Not Be the Right Way to Go

remodeling fort collinsYou’re planning for a home remodel, and you’re starting to get excited! It might be your kitchen, your basement, a whole floor, or even just a single bathroom, but you’ve got a pretty good handle on what you want, from the materials to the colors to the timeline, and you’re ready to start budgeting and looking for a contractor to do the work.

So, you send out your queries and the quotes come back, and then the lowest bid wins—right?

Well, not so fast.

Sometimes the best bid, and the best value on the table, isn’t the lowest offer. Here’s why:

1. Unusually Low Bids Might Not Be Accurate, or Honest

Some contractors will intentionally toss out lowball bids as a negotiating strategy to get you roped in. These quotes will often omit specific details regarding materials and work needed, as well as explanations and on-site consultations.

According to a 2007 Wall Street Journal Article, “Construction firms often make unrealistically low bids to get jobs… but they can count on finding plenty of reasons later to jack the price up enough to allow for a profit. When the building is underway, it becomes prohibitively expensive to fire the contractor and start anew. The owner has become a hostage.”

If your contractor doesn’t put in the time to give you a complete and detailed estimate up-front, there’s good reason to think that their goal posts are going to move as soon as you start working with them.

2. You Get What You Pay For

To stay in business, all contractors have to make a profit. So, if you receive a number of quotes and one is 15-20% lower than the others, it might mean that that team is going to be rushing the work, cutting corners, using low-quality labor, or playing games to make up the difference in cost.

Craftsmanship takes time, so invest in a team of professionals who will do the job right and give it the time it deserves.

3. They May Have Left Something Out

Compare the bids carefully. It’s sometimes possible one bidder has left out a portion of the project intentionally or unintentionally. This will lower the cost, true, but you’ll be in for an unpleasant surprise later on when you realize that your project won’t be finished when your contractor is finished with it.

4. The Bidder Might Not Be Legitimate

Sometimes low bidders aren’t licensed or insured contractors at all. Instead, they’re working under the table, using low prices to turn projects around quickly without properly permitting the work or doing their due diligence, and that can lead to big problems for you if someone is hurt, if they walk away from the job with your deposit before it’s finished, if they do poor quality work, or if your less-than-legal project is eventually found out in the future.

These “contractors” leave a black mark on the industry. Make sure that your chosen business is properly licensed, insured, and committed to high-quality craftsmanship.

Work with Your Local Fort Collins Home Remodeling Experts-

If you’ve been seriously considering moving forward with a home remodeling project, it’s important to take the time to find a contractor you can trust, and with the reviews and references to back up their past performance.

So, we hope this blog helps you to understand why the lowest bid might not be the right way to go. At Artisan Remodeling & Design, we work hard every day to be just that kind of contractor.

When we provide a bid, it is 100% all-inclusive – the price you see is the price you’ll pay. No surprise billings! Additionally, we are licensed, insured, and take our work and reputation very seriously. When you hire us, you’re choosing a company that puts quality, integrity, and communication above all else. Check out our portfolio of recent jobs to see what we can do for you! 

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The Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Reliable Home Remodeling Contractor

general contractor fort collinsAre you a Northern Colorado homeowner thinking about a home renovation project? Thinking about what your home can be like after a renovation is exciting. The thought of finding a reliable home remodeling contractor to bring your vision to life… not so exciting. A lot of homeowners hesitate to get their renovation project underway because they fear hiring the wrong contractor. They’ve heard stories about contractors who don’t communicate well, worked too slowly, or do a poor job.

When you’re making a big investment you want to know you’re working with the right people. The good news is there are ways you can check to see if you’re hiring the right contractor before you hire them. This guide will give you the tools necessary to ensure you’ve done everything possible to hire a qualified and reliable home remodeling contractor.

Talk to People You Already Trust

 

The foundation of any healthy relationship is TRUST. The first step to finding a remodeling contractor you trust is asking friends and family for recommendations. From there you can move onto the National Association of the Remodeling Industry for a list of members in your area. Talk with local building inspectors; they will know which home renovation contractors consistently meet code requirements.

Social Proof

 

You’ve talked to the people you know directly, now see what past customers are saying. Reading online reviews is a great way to see the experience the community has had working with any business. It’s also a smart move to look into whether the company in question is a BBB member, and whether they have any previous complaints.

Pick up the Phone

 

Once you’ve assembled a list of candidates, make a quick call to each prospect and ask them these questions:

 

  • Can they take on a project like yours?
  • Can they give you a list of previous clients?
  • How many projects do they work on at the same time?
  • If they use subcontractors, how long have they used them?

 

The answers to these questions will reveal their availability, reliability, and how much attention they can give your project.

 

Meet in Person

 

You will have learned a lot and narrowed down your search after your phone interviews.  Choose three or four contractors to meet for estimates.  A contractor should be able to comfortably answer your questions.  When you meet in person, you can get a “feel” for another person. Pay attention to how you feel when communicating. Do they put you at ease with their transparency and ability to clearly communicate? Remember the contractor you choose will be in your home for days or weeks.

 

If you like their personality that’s good, but always check with the state consumer protection agency and your local Better Business Bureau before you hire a contractor to make sure they don’t have a history of disputes with clients or subcontractors.

 

Investigate

 

You’ve narrowed down your list, you’ve met in person, you have your estimates, now double check to see if the facts check out. Call the contractor’s former clients and ask about how the project went and ask if you can see the final result. If possible, go to a current job site and see for yourself how the contractor works. Check to see if the site looks organized and safe. See if the workers are professional and are careful with the homeowner’s property.

 

Plans & Bids

 

You’ve done your homework, and you have the information you need, now it’s time to get your project moving. Choose two or three contractors you that passed the vetting process and get some bids. A good renovation contractor will ask for your goals and what you hope to spend. The best way to compare bids is to ask for the contractors to break down the cost of materials, labor, profit margins and expenses. Usually, materials will account for 40 percent of the total cost, overhead and labor will also account for about 40 percent, which typically leaves a profit margin of about 15-20 percent.

 

Payment Schedule

 

It’s important to work out your payment schedule before you hire a contractor. Payment schedules can reveal a lot about a contractor’s financial security and work ethic. If they ask for a 50% deposit before any work takes place, they may have some financial issues or be worried you won’t pay after you see their workmanship. With Artisan Remodeling & Design, payment starts with an initial deposit for materials, and then weekly or bi-weekly payments ONLY based on work completed.

 

Don’t Let Price Guide You

 

If you take several bids and one bid is way lower than the others, throw it out. Contractors that present below market value bids are usually desperate for work, cutting corners, or both. You want a quality job, with good materials, done right the first time.  The great thing about getting multiple bids is it gives you an idea of what appropriate pricing should be for your project. If you receive a high bid ask the contractor why it’s higher, and they may give a good reason, and you may hire them because of it.

 

Get it in Writing

 

Once you’ve found the right contractor, you’ll want a contract that details every step of the project. It should include:

 

  • Payment schedule
  • Proof of liability insurance
  • Start date
  • Projected completion date
  • Specific materials & products to be used

Any change in the project, whether you change your mind about products or ask for additions, should be written into the contract, dated and signed by you and the contractor.

 

Ready for Your Home Renovation Project?

 

Now you have the knowledge to move forward and finally get started on your project. If you know you want to change your home, but are not sure exactly how, a good home renovation contractor will be able to help you, like US!! We will also be happy to show you different designs, suggest the best materials that will work with your style of home, and give you lots of fun options to choose from. But regardless of who you choose, just be sure to follow these guidelines. You’ll be glad you did.

 

If you have any questions about any step in the process of home renovation, call us today at 970-691-6995and check our work.

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Give The Gift Of Remodeling For Mother’s Day

Yes, it’s that time again—you need to think creatively about what to do for Mother’s Day. While dinner out is nice, it’s also hard to get a table and choosing a restaurant she will like (especially if she is a good cook herself!) can sometimes be a nightmare. Flowers and a card are traditional, but nothing special. We suggest something unusual, practical, and sure to please: give her the services of General Contractors in Fort Collins, maybe with a new remodeled space.

Here are a few of our recommendations on how she might use your thoughtful gift:

  • If she always chooses to sit in the sunny window when you do take her out for lunch, we suggest the gift of a sunroom or patio enclosure addition. That way she can “get out” in the sun earlier this year, her heart—and body—warmed on a regular basis by your thoughtful gift.
  • Then there is that room in her older home that she avoids in winter because the picture window is old and drafty. You know you should do something about it, so connect with us and let’s renovate that room for her. Tell her how much you’re going to enjoy imagining her curled up on the couch, possibly beside a brand-new fireplace, looking out that airtight new picture window at all the changing seasons.
  • Or perhaps her bathroom is just not large enough for all the “necessities,” or she could really use a retrofit of the bathroom to accommodate her less flexible body. We can suggest some renovations that will make each morning easier for her, as well as some luxuries she might enjoy, such as in floor heating or a walk in tub.

So think beyond flowers or dinner and purchase a truly practical gift to celebrate your mother on her special day and maybe treat her with a new remodeled space. Contact us today to discuss how we can help!

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Fort Collins Garage Remodeling and Updating

One of the last places in the home many people think about remodeling is their garage. We all have lots of “stuff” and it often sprawls over the garage. But with the huge variety of products available today for finishing the floor and installing storage space, getting your Fort Collins garage remodeling done by a professional will provide storage solutions you might never have considered.

But first things first. Think about the floor. If your garage floor is like most, it is concrete and stained and maybe cracked and worn. It really needs an update. There are so many solutions these days that it might be difficult to pick the right one for you. Some options available include:

  • Paint the floor. Sounds pretty simple, but it won’t hold up very long and might not be worth the time and effort.
  • Epoxy paint the floor. This coating can last for decades. It’s more labor intensive, but can be done over a couple of days, considering the drying time involved. It consists of prepping the floor surface, coating with an epoxy and scattering paint or quartz chips over the surface. It’s easy to do team logos or other designs with this type of coating.
  • If your floor is in bad shape, a concrete overlay might be the best solution. A thin layer of concrete is laid directly over the old surface. Colorants and embossed designs can be added and the new surface can be polished or epoxy coated after the proper curing time.

After dealing with the floor, it’s time to consider storage options. Everything from ceiling and wall hanging racks to specialized storage units to conventional cabinetry can be used to corral your tools, your sports equipment or your kid’s toys. For instance, you can find numerous lift systems that raise your bicycle, canoe, kayak or ladder from floor to ceiling with ease. This frees up floor space and increases the storage capacity in your garage. A little research will show you more items than you can possibly imagine. The next trick will be remembering to put all your gear away in it’s proper place after you use it!

If you are ready to consider options for a Fort Collins garage remodeling, contact us to brainstorm the best products for your storage needs. The design possibilities are almost endless but the storage space you create will make you wonder why you didn’t do it years ago.

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