FAQ's (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
What exactly, is “Design/Build”?
Design/Build is
a process where
your entire project—from
the initial design
concepts and budgets,
to permits regulations
and zoning laws,
to actual construction
and final walk
through—are
organized and performed
by a single entity,
a single point
of responsibility.
Cost-effective,
practical construction,
designed directly
into the project.
Sound good? It
gets better. For
you, making The
Remodeling Co your
remodeling solution
means:
- You get exactly the design you want
- You help prevent time delays and cost overruns
- You get a team that works seamlessly for you through the whole process
- You receive regular progress reports and complete insight into all stages of your project
- You get the most out of your remodeling investment – in greater home value and greater personal enjoyment
Why shouldn’t I just get an Architect to do the design?
Many people have found that using an architect to design a project results in a beautiful design that the owner pays top dollar for. But without contractor consultation during the design phase, oftentimes the result is a design that will cost more to build than the owner can afford. Architects will tell you that a very small percentage of their designs ever actually get built.
With the Design/Build process it’s a “synergistic” approach: the owner, contractor, and designer collaborate on a design that will achieve the owner’s dreams and can be built within the owner’s budget.
The result of the Design/Build process is a design with blueprints that can be built “on time” and “on budget.”
How much does remodeling cost? Will I recoup my investment if I sell the house?
Great question!! Each year Remodeling Magazine published it’s “Cost vs. Value Report” that compiles the average cost of remodeling and the average cost of the return on it’s investment across the nation.
Cost data for the report come from HomeTech Information Systems, a remodeling estimating software company in Bethesda, Md. HomeTech collects current cost information quarterly from a nationwide network of remodeling contractors and employs an adjustment factor to account for regional pricing variations. Construction cost figures include labor, material, sub-trades, and contractor overhead and profit.
Resale values (“cost recouped” in the tables) are aggregated from estimates provided by National Association of REALTORS® members. E-mail surveys containing construction costs and median home price data for each city were sent to more than 20,000 appraisers, brokers, and salespeople, yielding data from more than 1,600 respondents (an 8 percent response rate).
Since 2002 four projects, reported each year since 2002, have shown the greatest return at resale on a national basis. Two of the projects, siding and windows, reflect the importance consumers place on curb appeal and insulation; the others, a kitchen and a bath project, are consistently high performers in most markets.
We haven’t seen your design yet, but Remodeling Magazine reports the following from their national 2005 Annual Cost vs. Value Report:
Midrange
Bathroom Remodel
Project
Description: Update
an existing 5-by-7-foot
bathroom that’s
at least 25 years
old. Replace
all fixtures
to include 30-by-60-inch
porcelain-on-steel
tub with 4-by-4
ceramic tile
surround, new
single-lever
temperature and
pressure-balanced
shower control,
standard white
toilet, solid
surface vanity
counter with
integral double
sink, recessed
medicine cabinet
with light, ceramic
tile floor, and
vinyl wallpaper.
| Midrange Bathroom Remodel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Cost |
Resale Value |
Cost Recouped |
|
| National Average: | $10,499 | $10,727 | 102.2% |
| East Average: | $10,978 | $11,466 | 104.4% |
| Midwest Average: | $11,047 | $9,885 | 89.5% |
| South Average: | $9,293 | $9,596 | 103.3% |
| West Average: | $11,025 | $12,340 | 111.9% |
Upscale
Bathroom Remodel
Project
Description: Expand
an existing 5-by-7-foot
bathroom to 9 by
9 feet within existing
house footprint.
Add another window,
bringing total
glazing area to
30 square feet.
Relocate and replace
tub with custom
4-by-6-foot dual
shower with top-of-line
fittings and full-body-wash
shower wall, tile,
glass block surround,
and glass door.
Relocate and replace
toilet. Add bidet.
Add medium-range
stone tops in custom
vanity cabinet
with twin designer
undermount sinks
and polished nickel
faucets. Add linen/towel
storage closet.
Include ceramic
tile floor, papered
walls, and hardwood
trim. Add general
and spot lighting
and a humidistat-controlled
exhaust fan.
| Upscale Bathroom Remodel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Cost |
Resale Value |
Cost Recouped |
|
| National Average: | $26,052 | $24,286 | 93.2% |
| East Average: | $26,950 | $26,211 | 97.3% |
| Midwest Average: | $27,423 | $21,379 | 78.0% |
| South Average: | $23,428 | $23,087 | 98.5% |
| West Average: | $27,172 | $26,778 | 98.5% |
Minor
Kitchen Remodel
Project
Description: In
a functional but
dated 200-square-foot
kitchen with 30
linear feet of
cabinetry and countertops,
leave cabinet boxes
in place but replace
fronts with new
raised-panel wood
doors and drawers.
Replace wall oven
and cooktop with
new energy-efficient
models. Replace
laminate countertops.
Install midpriced
sink and faucet.
Repaint trim, add
wall covering,
and replace existing
flooring with resilient
flooring.
| Minor Kitchen Remodel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Cost |
Resale Value |
Cost Recouped |
|
| National Average: | $14,913 | $14,691 | 98.5% |
| East Average: | $15,172 | $15,316 | 100.9% |
| Midwest Average: | $15,426 | $13,151 | 85.3% |
| South Average: | $13,998 | $13,498 | 96.4% |
| West Average: | $15,328 | $17,209 | 112.3% |
Midrange
Major Kitchen
Remodel
Project
Description: Update
an outmoded 200-square-foot
kitchen with design
and installation
of a functional
layout of 30 linear
feet of semicustom-grade
wood cabinets,
including a 3-by-5-foot
island, laminate
countertops, and
standard double-tub
stainless-steel
sink with standard
single-lever faucet.
Include energy-efficient
wall oven, cooktop,
ventilation system;
built-in microwave,
dishwasher, garbage
disposal; and custom
lighting. Add resilient
flooring. Finish
with painted walls,
trim, and ceiling.
| Mid-Range Major Kitchen Remodel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Cost |
Resale Value |
Cost Recouped |
|
| National Average: | $43,862 | $39,920 | 91.0% |
| East Average: | $44,659 | $42,490 | 95.1% |
| Midwest Average: | $45,237 | $36,691 | 81.1% |
| South Average: | $41,133 | $36,329 | 88.3% |
| West Average: | $45,242 | $45,353 | 100.2% |
Upscale
Major Kitchen
Remodel
Project
Description: Update
outmoded 200-square-foot
kitchen with 30
linear feet of
top-of-the-line
custom cherry cabinets
with built-in sliding
shelves and other
interior accessories.
Include stone countertops
with imported ceramic
or glass tile back splash;
built-in refrigerator,
cooktop, and 36-inch
commercial grade
range and vent
hood; and built-in
warming drawer,
trash compactor,
and combination
microwave and convection
oven. Install high-end
undermount sink
with designer faucets
and built-in water
filtration system.
Add general and
task lighting,
including low-voltage
under-cabinet lights.
Install cork flooring
with cherry trim.
| Upscale Major Kitchen Remodel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Cost |
Resale Value |
Cost Recouped |
|
| National Average: | $81,552 | $69,194 | 84.8% |
| East Average: | $82,528 | $70,718 | 85.7% |
| Midwest Average: | $83,333 | $64,586 | 77.5% |
| South Average: | $77,786 | $65,111 | 83.7% |
| West Average: | $83,720 | $77,812 | 92.9% |
Family
Room Addition
Project
Description: In
a style and location
appropriate to
the existing house,
add a 16-by-25-foot
room on a crawl
space foundation
with vinyl siding
and fiberglass
shingle roof. Include
drywall interior
with batting insulation,
prefinished hardwood
floor, and 180
square feet of
glazing, including
windows, atrium-style
exterior doors,
and two operable
skylights. Tie
into existing HVAC.
Add electrical
system to code,
including 12 recessed
ceiling lights.
| Family Room Addition | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Cost |
Resale Value |
Cost Recouped |
|
| National Average: | $54,773 | $45,458 | 83.0% |
| East Average: | $56,464 | $48,690 | 86.2% |
| Midwest Average: | $57,599 | $41,842 | 72.6% |
| South Average: | $48,778 | $40,239 | 82.5% |
| West Average: | $58,081 | $52,820 | 90.9% |
