Hey everyone, I'm looking for some advice on a quote I received for a home remodel. I live in a middle-class neighborhood in Southern California and my house is about 1100 square feet and built in 1962. I reached out to a contractor to get my floors replaced, baseboards and trim around five doors updated, a small closet made in our master bedroom, and to combine an old water heater closet and coat closet into one. Initially, the contractor said the project would take about two weeks, but now he's saying it could take 4-6 weeks and the total estimate is $47k, which doesn't include the materials. I asked for a breakdown of costs, but he's been slow to respond. Since this company typically handles larger projects, I'm wondering if this quote is inflated. I'd really appreciate your thoughts and any advice on how to proceed. Thanks!
2 Answers
That price sounds outrageous! Try to get at least 3 estimates from different contractors. My suggestion is to break the work down and get bids for each task separately, like flooring, baseboards, etc. This way, you avoid inflated costs that could be buried in the overall job. As for the LVP flooring, it's pretty affordable—check stores like Home Depot or Lowe's to compare prices.
Honestly, that quote seems pretty steep. Based on my experience with similar projects, you might be looking at around $20k to $30k for a mid-range job in SoCal, including labor. The fact that it doesn't include materials is a big red flag too. It sounds like he may be trying to overcharge you or simply isn't interested in smaller projects. Definitely get a few more quotes; you’ll want someone who specializes in home remodels rather than larger jobs.
Is it common not to get a detailed breakdown in quotes? It makes it seem like they can just throw out whatever number they want...
Thanks for the tip! I thought doing it all with one contractor would be easier, but now I'm reconsidering that approach.