Most remodeling projects don’t go over budget because someone is dishonest. They go over budget because thousands of decisions haven’t been made yet.
It is important to discuss what pre-construction is and why it is mandatory for every client we work with. But first, let’s talk about the typical remodeling experience.
Most people who have completed a remodeling project will tell you they spent more than they expected. Unfortunately, that often leads to stress, frustration, and difficult conversations. Homeowners feel like every decision costs more money, while contractors believe they are simply charging for work that was never included in the original scope.
Why does this happen?
Because what the homeowner thinks they’re getting and what the contractor thinks they’re building are often two very different things.
Think about one item—tile.
One contractor may assume a basic porcelain tile installed in a simple pattern. Another may assume a large-format tile with decorative accents. The difference in labor alone can add thousands of dollars to the project.
Now multiply that by every decision that has to be made.
The truth is, most construction proposals are based on assumptions because many of those decisions haven’t been made yet.
My biggest lesson after 30 years in construction.
I know this because that’s how I worked from 1991 until around 2023. Throughout my career, I watched good projects become frustrating because of change orders, delays, and costs that neither the homeowner nor the contractor anticipated.
Eventually, I realized the most important thing homeowners want isn’t simply a beautiful finished project—they want to know what they’re paying for before construction begins.
That’s why we made pre-construction a mandatory part of our process.
So, what is pre-construction?
Think of pre-construction as creating the roadmap for your project. After completing a Detailed Cost Analysis, we spend the municipality’s permit review period working with our clients to make the decisions that most contractors postpone until construction has already started.
As those decisions are made, we replace allowances with actual products and real labor costs. Instead of guessing, everyone knows exactly what is being built, what it costs, and what to expect before construction begins.
Why is it a paid service?
Pre-construction requires dozens of hours of estimating, coordination, scheduling, permit preparation, pricing updates, product research, and client meetings.
More importantly, every dollar invested in our Detailed Cost Analysis and Pre-Construction phases is credited toward your construction contract.
The Results.
Since implementing this process:
- Unforeseen extra charges have dropped to 0%–4%
- Project schedules have improved
- Clients experience far fewer surprises
- Decisions are made with confidence instead of pressure
Construction will always involve challenges, but we’ve learned that the more planning that happens before construction begins, the better the outcome for everyone involved.
Pre-construction isn’t an extra step. It’s the foundation of a successful project.
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