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In the construction industry, there are a variety of contractor types. On the low end there’s the untrained and/or unsophisticated company that sells on price; because a cheap price is the only thing they have to offer. When their quality reveals itself during construction, any price for their services seems like too much
On the other end, there are companies that want to see how much they can charge... the sky’s the limit.
Then, there are the companies that have been around long enough to know there are no shortcuts to calculating costs and producing quality. Construction costing, like carpentry and building skills, takes a massive amount of time to learn and involves a systematic approach. With this approach they can calculate how to do your job properly and how to be profitable so they are around to work for years to come [which benefits previous customers - who may have a callback].
When you look at this wide spread of contractors [and do your homework], it does not take long to realize most contractors are untrained at pricing a job and cost jobs poorly from the outset; resulting in some grim and frightening realities. Test these with the people you know who’ve had work done. If the job went poorly, chances are the clients didn’t do their homework:
Excessive costs AFTER the job starts - things like “Oh, you wanted windows included in this addition? That’s extra” may be an example. Because the estimate you got at the outset of the project was done using the WAG* method, the price will go up once you’re locked in and have no choice but to pay them. Additionally, because it was a guess the contractor will begin to realize they made a mistake when their bills start rolling in. In addition to getting an “Up-charge” for work you thought was included, you could also be hit with a mechanic’s lien later for your deadbeat contractors sins with the job subcontractors. Still think that price looks good at the bottom of the estimate pile? Think again
*Wild Ass Guess - this is a big joke among contractors that don’t take the integrity of their business seriously
Excessive costs because of incompetence - ask your friends if they’re really satisfied with their construction job. If they’re not, their contractor was incompetent. You won’t hear this about SkyTop Builders
References from the olden days - if a contractor cannot give you a current reference [like the job they are working on right now], why would you hire them? EVERY single horror story we’ve heard regarding a contractor included the first two points above and the homeowner did not look into current jobs in process and references
Regarding our approach to costing, SkyTop Builders uses a standardized estimating system from HomeTech. We’ve been using this approach for over a decade and have extensive training from HomeTech. This whole approach forms the baseline for costing at the outset of your project. It also allows for standardized pricing for changes as your project progresses
A word of caution to homeowners who focus on a single number or a price per square foot: A quote on a job comes with an associated scope document. That scope document will never read “This project includes everything your heart desires”. It’s a specific reckoning of your project. If the job was speced for a fiberglass shower pan set in StructaLite, that does not mean a mud pan with tile and a marble threshold. The latter can cost up to $1000 more depending on the size of the shower. The fact is, with our approach, you’ll never be in the dark about this. You can ask our clients
If you’ve done your homework, you’ll find that quality professionals are worth the investment. Ultimately, you’ll pay the same or LESS with SkyTop Builders. Understanding how your costs are derived is how we help manage our clients’ expectations and keep them consistent and fair* throughout the project
* Fair is how HomeTech defines a fair price. They’ve been determining construction industry prices since 1967
If price is your criterion, don’t bother calling SkyTop Builders. If you’ve checked out the quality and professionalism of our firm and compare it to other firms like ours, then you’ll find commonality in price AND you will not find a better firm regarding quality. Only the best work for SkyTop Builders... and we have the successful jobs to prove it
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