Budgets + Pricing
A Shared Vision
Every step in our budgeting process is designed to help our customers move through the design + build process with as much control and understanding as possible. Surprise costs are rarely appreciated so we do everything we can to eliminate them.
Your Budget
Beginning a project with Harrell Remodeling entails first meeting for an in-depth conversation about the scope of work, the problems you are hoping to solve, and what budget you may have already established. We will involve a Designer, a Production team member and one of our Estimators to assist in providing budget information after early site visits. This collaborative approach allows us to get a tighter handle on the unique issues that we need to consider for your project and to get a realistic budget early in the process.
Conceptual Estimate
The next step in the budget process is to prepare a conceptual estimate. This estimate might be developed from an onsite visit by your Harrell Remodeling Designer, with existing and proposed conceptual floor plans, exterior elevation drawings, a lighting plan, and an engineering consultation or other consultants, if necessary. Provided early in the design process, this estimate typically falls within about 20% of the final construction fixed price, assuming that the design details and scope do not change as the project develops.
The conceptual estimate ensures that we're all on the same track when it comes to the budget.
Fixed Construction Price
Finally, we develop a final fixed price construction contract from complete working drawings and specifications. Your Harrell Remodeling team, Designer, Specifier/Estimator, Site Manager and key trade specialist visit the site before the final contract is prepared to reduce the number of surprises that occur during construction.
Unknown conditions in the construction industry average an additional 10% cost to the client Harrell Remodeling "unknowns" are typically less than 2%. The fixed price construction contract will include a start date, construction calendar, payment schedule and other logistical details specific to your project.
Handling Change Orders
Changes are an expected part of any remodeling project. Over many years working within our design + build process, we have developed techniques that make the reality of changes easier on our clients. It’s important and we work hard at it.
While changes are often inevitable, the unanticipated changes Harrell Remodeling clients experience (typically 2% of total cost) are far fewer than construction industry averages (10% of total cost) nationwide.
Harrell Remodeling uses written "change orders" to describe one of three conditions discovered during the course of a project: Clarifications, Deletions or Additional Requests. The following is a description of each of these types of conditions:
Clarifications are used to specify a product, color, sheen, dimension or other qualifying aspect of an item previously only described in general but is now made specific in the contract with no financial impact.
Deletions are used when there has been a reduction in either scope or cost of the project. For example, a homeowner changes their mind on a product selection and no longer needs it installed. The contract is adjusted and the client is credited accordingly.
Additional Requests are used for a variety of reasons for additional work, an upgrade in materials, an additional requirement that is code or safety-related, or an unknown or below-code condition.
Based on our past experience, we recommend to our clients that they reserve 2% of the contract price for unknown conditions. You should reserve another 8% for upgrades and additional work you may want to have happen "while we are there." You'd be surprised at how your "honey-do" list grows when you have superb craftspeople in your home, making wonderful things happen.
