Design Fees
Design fees can be charged by the hour or at a flat rate. For a professional design, you should expect a separate fee for the design work on your project as well as the overall cost of the remodel.
Until a design for your space is completed, your project is intangible. You can request bids from a number of different contractors, but until they are all bidding on the same design, these estimates will not be comparable, as each company may have their own standards or vision for the project. Do they really understand your vision of the project, and did they include everything you wanted? This should be a question that you are asking when reviewing this type of proposal.
Having a design completed before obtaining bids on the installation is essential to ensure you get the best value for the project you had envisioned. And if you work with a designer, they will also assist you with selecting quality finish materials that suit your taste and budget. Would you rather have a contractor simply provide you with an allowance for contractor-grade products and choose from a limited selection of limited-quality items, or would you like to work with an award-winning designer with years of experience and access to high-quality products and get the remodel you’re truly hoping for?
Labor Cost
The labor cost is a set amount that we estimate based upon our assessment of the site. This will include the cost of direct labor (full-time employees), the cost of indirect labor (subcontractors), the price of construction materials (drywall, screws, nails, adhesives, internal plumbing, internal wiring, lumber, etc.), and overhead costs (the company's day to day operations).
Finish Materials
Finish Materials are the elements of the design that you see or interact with—the items that you specifically choose to incorporate into your design. These items can include appliances, cabinetry, countertops, tiles, hardwood, trims, hardware, lighting, plumbing fixtures, radiators, accessories, etc. The finish material price is affected by many factors, including brand, quality, material, finish, and country of origin. Because so many factors go into finish materials, prices can vary greatly. For example, a faucet finished in Chrome and the same model in a Brushed Nickel have a 20% difference in cost. And with cabinetry, an upgrade from a maple wood species to cherry results in a 15% upcharge. Adding a special glaze or finish to an upgraded wood can also increase the cost by another 10%. Understanding your budget and how finish materials are priced can help keep finish costs low.
Permits and Inspection
This cost will vary depending on the type of permits needed, the total value of the project, and your city/township's rules. For a standard kitchen or bathroom project, building, plumbing, and electrical permits are generally required. General work should be performed by a licensed contractor, while plumbing and electrical work should be performed by a Master Plumber and Master Electrician that are registered with your township. Each city/township requires contractors to update their registration yearly and checks their credentials and insurance information to ensure your safety. Some townships may also require a third-party underwriter for inspections as well. dRemodeling keeps track of which permits are required for each client’s project and goes through the work of procuring all the necessary documentation, but the costs each client will have to bear for permits and inspections can vary for every project.
Unforeseen Issues
A good estimator will spot many potential issues that may arise during the remodel and will point them out during his or her visit before quoting the project; however, there are some problems that cannot be diagnosed until everything has been gutted. Some of the most common unforeseen issues that we encounter include rotten wood (joists, studs, subfloor), code violations, hidden leaks, cracked pipes, and termite damage. Unforeseen issues are almost impossible to identify and estimate costs for before they are discovered, so we recommend clients budget for 3-4% of the value of the project for unforeseen issues just in case something does arise.
Home Estimate Fee
If you would like to schedule an in-home site evaluation, we charge a consultation fee of $145. It will cover our time and travel expenses, in addition to a proposed design for your space. Why do we charge this fee when many other contractors in the area will come out for free? Because we are one of the highest-rated contractors in the Philadelphia area, and we put our best work into every proposed design. To best serve our customers, our fee allows us to maximize our time with homeowners such as yourself that are serious about moving forward with a remodel. And should you decide to move forward with dRemodeling, our consultation fee is refundable/credited toward the material cost if you decide to purchase the materials proposed by one of our dRemodeling designers!
With this fee you will receive:
- A meeting with our consultant on-site who will assess the space as well as take photos and dimensions. We will then discuss the project scope with you, including design ideas, budget, costs, technical challenges, and solutions.
- A follow-up meeting in our showroom and design center in the Philadelphia area where you will meet with a designer to review overall design concepts, brainstorm layout options, and select materials from samples in our showroom.
- A detailed labor proposal including a work schedule with a written warranty on all labor associated with your remodel in .pdf format.
