The First Step

Contact a Building Contractor

One of the most disheartening aspects of this industry is telling a homeowner their building plans far exceed their budget. The reason is, very few homeowners talk to building contractors before they talk with an architect. Few architects have an up-to-date knowledge of current costs. Prices change constantly due to many different factors (gas, materials, insurance, wages, etc.) and it's difficult to stay up with costs unless you are estimating projects on a regular basis.

If you have a basic design concept of an addition or a new house that you are thinking of building, give us a call (local area only, please) to see if you can get a ballpark number for your budget. It helps to have an estimated square-foot area of additional floor space you are planning to add, and a square-foot area of the existing part of the home you are planning to remodel as well. You can ask contractors to give you a best case and worst-case budget scenario. This is also a good way to start screening potential contractors that can bid your project or help you on a design/build consultant basis, as described in our Design & Build section.

This should help you understand the process, timeline and costs of your project and help minimize the “sticker shock.” Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for homeowners to spend thousands of dollars on designed plans they can't afford to build.

If you live in the area, give us a call to get answers to your questions before you start!

Call (650) 368-5021 or Email Us.