Hiring a general contractor in Mission Viejo for a home remodel or new home build is a major decision. Savvy homeowners typically get quotes from several different general contractors so they can compare them. Unfortunately, there is no standard template for the quotes provided by general contractors in Mission Viejo, which can make it a bit tricky—since you can’t exactly compare apples to apples.
Here are a few things to look for in a general contractor’s quote to help you select the best person or company for the job:
Cost
As a homeowner, your eyes will probably go straight to the bottom line. Everyone wants to know: “What is this project going to cost me?” As you look at that number, here are some things to consider.
The overall price includes all of the materials and labor that will be used for the project—including the labor of skilled tradespeople like electricians, plumbers, tile masons, and others. It also includes the overhead costs of running a legitimate general contracting business, such as insurance, licensing fees, vehicles, tools, and much, much more. So, when you see that big number at the bottom of the quote, just know that the general contractor is not pocketing all of that money. A good portion of it is going right back out to pay the hard costs associated with your project, as well as the expenses related to running this type of business.
If you don’t already have detailed plans drawn up that specify what types of materials will be used in your project, the quote from your general contractor may include what’s called “allowances.” An allowance is an estimate of what will be spent on a certain item or category of items that are still to be determined. Allowances are used because of the huge variance there is in the cost of materials, fixtures, appliances, etc. You could buy a basic kitchen range for a little over $1,000 or splurge on one for $25,000. Hardwood flooring can run you $2 per square foot to more than $25 per square foot. So, if you were getting a quote from a general contractor in Mission Viejo on a kitchen remodel, their quote might include an appliance allowance of $15,000. If you end up spending less than that, it will lower the overall price of the remodel, but if you spend more, it will increase the bottom line.
Your quote might also contain a “contingency.” This is an amount of money that the contractor designates for any unknown issues or expenses that may come up during the course of construction. For example, there are often “surprises” behind the walls that a contractor won’t know about until he or she starts getting into the demolition process. Those surprises will be addressed using the contingency. A contingency can also be used if the homeowner wants to make changes to the design or scope of work once construction has started. In other words, they can use the contingency to get what they want without increasing their budget (assuming, of course, that their changes are within the contingency budget).
Scope of Work
After you take a look at the overall cost of the project that the general contractor is quoting you, you need to look carefully at the scope of work. The scope of work will outline (hopefully in a good amount of detail) the items that the contractor will be completing on your project.
Be sure to carefully compare the scope of work on each of the quotes you receive. You might be surprised what some general contractors choose to leave out. Unfortunately, some of the less scrupulous general contractors in the area leave things out on purpose to keep their costs lower than the competition on the initial bid. Then, once they have a signed contract, the cost will inevitably increase as you realize that certain things you assumed would be included in the cost, were in fact, not included.
If something isn’t included that you want to make sure is included, have the contractor revise the scope of work before you agree to sign anything. Don’t just take their word for it if they say, “Yes, of course that’s included.” You want to have it in writing.
License Number
For any project that will cost more than $500, you need to use a licensed general contractor in Mission Viejo. If the quote you receive doesn’t include the contractor’s CSLB license number, be sure to ask for it. Then, once you have the number, check that it is legitimate by using the CSLB’s license check tool. If the number they give you doesn’t match the contractor’s name or the company name on the CSLB website, move on! They are likely using someone else’s license number in a fraudulent manner, and there is never a good excuse for this, no matter what they try to tell you!
Contact Scott McKee Construction for a Quote
If you would like to get a quote from Scott McKee Construction on your upcoming home remodel, kitchen remodel, or new home build, contact our office. We provide detailed quotes that are easy to understand, and we have a great reputation for keeping projects on time and on budget!
