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FAQ'S
What Are the Red Flags When Hiring a Remodeling Contractor?
The clearest red flags are missing insurance, no reviews, no written contract and no drawings on a larger remodel. Any one of them is reason to keep looking.
- No proper insurance. Ask for proof before anyone starts work. If a worker is hurt or your home is damaged, you do not want to find out the contractor is uncovered.
- No reviews or track record. A firm with nothing to check is asking you to be its test project. Look for a Google rating above 4.4 stars and read what past customers say.
- Nothing behind the truck and trailer. Be careful with a contractor who has no business name, website or reviews to back up the pitch.
- No written contract. A handshake is not a scope. You need the work, the price and the timeline in writing.
- No drawings or accurate measurements on a big job. Larger remodels need an architect and drawings. We use both, plus digital measuring tools, so what we plan is what gets built.
- No explanation and no real examples. If a contractor cannot walk you through the process or show you actual materials, expect surprises later. We carry physical samples to every consultation and post educational examples on our website.
A contractor who is willing to educate you before you sign is usually confident in the work that follows.
How Much Should I Budget for a Kitchen, Bath or Basement Remodel?
Plan on about $60,000 for a mid-range kitchen, $25,000 to $40,000 for a standard bathroom and $30,000 to $75,000 for a mid-range basement, then add 10% to 15% for surprises. These are the ranges we see on Rochester projects.
Project
Mid-range
High-end / custom
Kitchen (standard 200 sq ft)
$60,000
$115,000
Bathroom
$25,000 to $40,000 (5x7 layout)
$75,000 to $107,000+ (large custom bath)
Basement
$30,000 to $75,000
$125,000+
Keep a contingency of 10% to 15%. On a $60,000 kitchen that is $6,000 to $9,000, so a safe working budget is $66,000 to $69,000. If nothing surprises you, that money stays in your pocket. If something does, you are covered without stopping the job.
The gap between mid-range and high-end comes down to scope, not just finishes. We cover what moves a project up a tier in the next section.
What Are the Most Common Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid?
The costliest mistake we see in Rochester is paying a premium for a big-name firm and assuming the price buys better work. More often it buys overhead, showroom space and markup.
One homeowner paid $30,000 more for her kitchen than she would have with Scotts Remodeling, LLC. The kitchen had about 28 cabinets, which she bought through a design studio in the Rochester area. Those cabinets were built to the same standard as premium cabinets sold at major home centers: dovetail drawers, soft-close doors and 3/4-inch plywood boxes. The construction was the same. The bill was not.
Firms in higher-income areas tend to charge more, and the perceived value rises with the price. In our experience the quality does not. Here are the mistakes worth avoiding:
- Assuming more money means better quality. Hire a smaller, family-run firm with a proven track record and a Google rating above 4.4 stars.
- Hiring before you understand what you are buying. Most homeowners are never taught how to shop for a contractor. Pick a firm that explains materials, scope and process before you sign.
- Budgeting with no cushion. Walls and floors hide surprises. Set aside 10% to 15% on top of your project cost.
- Changing the plan without paperwork. Mid-project ideas are normal. Put every change on a written change order so the price and schedule stay clear.