Larry Mock and his wife Cathy Mock have worked together atCascade Custom Remodel & Constructionsince 2007.
So, be sure to solicit at least three estimates from contractors.
If you choose the first contractor that comes your way, you may have doubts later on.
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Contractors do not want to be the result of an impulse choice.
Most contractors would prefer being the chosen result after all of your careful research.
He also recommends checking sites like HomeAdvisor, Houzz, and LinkedIn for reviews about the contractor.
Soliciting more than five or six bids wastes time, both your time and the contractor’s time.
Low estimates do not necessarily indicate a scam operation.
This is a recipe for disaster."
Looking to save money on your room addition?
Try doing some of the work yourself.
As Mock says on his site: “[W]e encourage it.
We do ask that you keep up with the agreed-upon schedule.”
Most homeowners can do painting, flooring, lighting, or even light electrical work like installing light switches.
A room addition should not be your first optionit should be your last option.
First, give a shot to declutter.
Donate unwanted items or pile them in the garage and have a hauling company take them away.
Or rent aroll-off container or Dumpsterand fill that with unneeded household detritus.
Look into adding acloset organization systemfor cluttered bedrooms.
Add shelving or buildstorage in the garage.
Remove walls from an unwanted closet and incorporate its space into the rest of the room.
Your ability towork with a contractorhinges on how well your personalities mesh.
This is a business relationship that depends on communication, transparency, trust, and respect.
This goes both ways: the contractor has to want to work with you, too.
They cost less than full-scale room additions, and they give you just as much square footage.
Most significantly, they are usually not conditioned (heating and cooling).
Consult Other Professionals
Are you putting on the room addition purely for your own benefit?
Or do you care about resale value when it comes time to sell?
Not all room additions return adequateresale value.
Speak to real estate agents, appraisers, inspectors, or other home professionals about the intended room addition.
The list goes on and on.
Timing can be a big issue.
Check with each bidder to find out schedules and availability.
Contractors in demand will have a backlog of work.
Think in Terms of Square Footage Cost
Pricing structures for building a room addition can get confusing.
No two estimates are structured the same way.
But there is one unit of measure that simplifies room addition estimates: square footage.
