Interviewing contractors

[SuzySunshine]

That is what we're waiting for - the details. All we have now are ballparks.

[JDAZ11]

Interviewing contractors

Well let us know when you find out the price difference.

What are doing for countertops and cabinets?

[SuzySunshine]

Granite countertops, off white cabinets - we need to keep it as light as possible because when we put the screened in porch on we lost a lot of light out of the window by the sink.

Something like this is what I'm envisioning.

traditional-kitchen.jpg

[scrub-jay]

We'll find you even prettier granite in that shade. That was the same shade I was shopping for (as you know) so I can't wait to help you there. I researched granite WAY too much.

[JDAZ11]

Nice! I love light colored kitchens!

[SoonerTexan]

Is that St. Cecilia granite? That's what we have and we love it. We looked at a lot of fixer uppers and had planned to replace the old stuff with it, but the home we ended up buying just happened to have it.

I don't know which way I would go on the kitchen. I'd guess if lean toward the cheaper renovation plan given what you've expressed, but I agree it depends on how much of a difference there is.

Funny about the double sinks...I've never lived in a home without one! We've always used one to wash and one to dry large items.

[JDAZ11]

The sink thing is just probably just a strange pet peeve of mine (passed down from my mother who also can't stand them). My issue is that I can't fit many of our pots and pans in the sink flat - so if I need to soak them it has to be done on the counter? I don't get it. But then I also hate how the garbage disposal is only on one side. I think I just developed habits that don't work well with a double sink.

[scrub-jay]

We have an 60-40 sink, the 60 side is really deep and can soak a full stock pot if necessary. I love it.

[SuzySunshine]

Contractor #4 just left - he was referred to us by our designer and has done work for several friends - we liked him the most of the 4. It would be fall before we can get on his schedule if we don't want to do summer so we'll see what he says. Said we should have the bid by next Sunday, still waiting on the other 3 bids.

[Phoebe]

I love the picture. That is pretty much what we have picked out for our new kitchen. The granite is a little different. It's called Pergaminho. I don't particularly like it. DH did. We can't come up with a backsplash yet. I love what is in your picture, but it didn't match the granite.

[peggyfromwastate]

Hmmmmmmm.... I don't know what your house was worth to start with, but a huge investment like this should be for your forever home I would think. Is there any chance at all that in 4-5 years you might want to move? Is there anything missing from this house? Is there anything missing from the location?

I am concerned for the future of medicine as it is... On top of that, there's the noted trend I see here on IMSN of attendings starting out happy in job 1 and then hitting The Great Wall of Discontent at about year 4-5. These concerns would keep me from spending more than 10-20% of my home value on a remodel.

I'm so-so on an island. I have had an island, a peninsula, and pretty much no counter space. All of them work. The problem you may have as your kids get older is that you may want to entertain more--- that's what usually spurs on the desire for the open floor plan. And seeing as this house can't afford that, even if this job stays your dream job, you may be looking to move in five years anyway just to get more of the floor plan you were originally hoping for.

[SuzySunshine]

So we are done with interviews/bids. Moving the powder room is a small part of the project, averaging about $8k on the bids so that is not the make or break part of this project which is what is leading us to go ahead with the bigger/more open plan.

So contractor #1 has lots of ties to us personally and through our church, cheapest bid by almost $10k however we have had two people that we know (who didn't know we were talking to him prior) say that if we think we want to go with him they'd like to talk to us. i.e. they used him and didn't like him...

#2 is the other independent guy, about our age, seems to know his stuff, we liked him from the very beginning. His bid is allowances but then also lists all kind of things that are in the allowance, like the toilet, bathroom sink, backsplash tile, etc. So if we came in under allowances then we could get some of the not included stuff in the original bid but if we pick out nicer things in the allowances then that stuff would be extra. We calculate those extras to increase his bid by almost $7k. His bid is 2,201 - 9,831 higher then #1 based on those "not included things."

#3 is the all inclusive company that did our close friends' kitchen, which we love. We were not impressed with the salesman when he came out the first time and he's the one that originally told us it was a six figure project. We were pleasantly surprised with his numbers and we have gone over his bid with a fine tooth comb to make sure it includes EVERYTHING! They do it all - their employees every step of the way. His bid is only $6,139 higher then #2. Our friends say that since their Project Manager is no longer with the company they wouldn't hesitate to hire them again.

#4 basically gave us a number and said we'd have to come pick everything out to get a specific number but since their number is already the highest and well above #3 we're not considering them anymore.

So we have #3 which is more then #2 but does it all - we'd go to their office, pick everything out and barring any unforeseen "old house issues" (which we will have to pay for with all 4) their price will not change. They say 60 days so if we start mid-August we should be done before Halloween. #2 is less but would only be the GC - he subs out a lot of the specifics and also wouldn't tell me who his cabinet company is, which I thought was odd.

We never thought #3 would be competitive price wise, we really just asked them to come out because we wanted a comparison. Now we're really struggling, do we got with the all inclusive company or do we deal with a GC and his subs?? UGH!!

[JDAZ11]

I'd go with #3. It sounds like it's so close cost wise, and I feel like there us a better chance the full service shop will finish on time (perhaps not, big that's my initial feeling). I've never done a reno, but I have listened to TONS of stories. Anyway - that's just my feeling. Glad you get the floor plan you were hoping for.

[OrionGrad]

I'd probably go with #3. I'd also check with the people who worked with #1 before just to see what specifically they were unhappy with. There's a small chance that whatever upset them might not even be relevant to your situation. You probably still wouldn't want to go with him, but it never hurts to ask just in case.

[diggitydot]

Not disclosing his subcontractors would make me uncomfortable. I vote for #3, too.