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February 20, 2008
Renovation - price comparisons
Dear All:
I am hoping to gain some valuable advice from those out there who have gone through kitchen and general renovations. I am about to embark on my third (and hopefully last) phase renovation in my brownstone home. In this phase I am going to renovate my kitchen and a guest room to accommodate our daughter who is quickly growing out of her small nursery room. The bids that I have received so far from both an electrician and contractor seem a bit high; granted the last renovation I did was in 2004 and I did not do a kitchen renovation at anytime. I want to ask those who have been through all of this before and fairly recently if they feel the numbers add up. Here are the figures I have gotten to date:
Electrical work: $18,000(this includes re-wiring kitchen, installing 4 high hats in ceiling, new plugs, dimmers, under the counter lighting), re-wiring bedroom (this includes on center ceiling light fixture and new plugs), and some re-wiring in a back livingroom area to accommodate and mount new flat screen TV).
Contractor bid: $37,000
This includes preparing the kitchen for new cabinets, renovating new bedroom (new dry wall, new windows, new closet construction, painting).
I realize that not all details have been included, but that is the job in a nutshell. Any advice that can be afforded would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all in advance.
Comments
$37,000 includes just "prep" of the walls in the kitchen, not installation of everything?
If so, forget it.
If it includes installation of the kitchen not just "prep", that's a little better but still on the high end.
Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 3:07 PM
These estimates are exceedingly high especially since you have not figured in the countertop, tiles, cabinetry and appliances in your kitchen. I did a great kitchen, marble counter, backsplash, semi-custom cabinets, great appliances for almost the price your contractor quoted for preparation. Remind him times are changing and painters and yes contractors will have to change their expectation about what the traffic will bear.
Posted by: bergenbabe at February 20, 2008 3:12 PM
MK here:
Thank you both for your responses. Just to clarify, yes, the contracting price is for prep type work on the kitchen. My semi-custom cabinets are running me around 15K (The cabinet vendor offered a price of $1800.00 included in that price for installation. For some reason the contractor who quoted me the price above wanted an additional $3200 to install the cabinets). And yes, of course I have to factor in the new counter tops, appliances, and tile work on the back splash. If anyone has any suggestions on how they did a similar job for less please share. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks again!
Posted by: MK at February 20, 2008 3:24 PM
First one strong caveat-I used Garfield Kitchens (now known as Brooklyn Kitchens ) on Fifth Ave and Garfield. I like my cabinets very much, Rich Maid. I do not recommend Garfield to anyone-their pricing is questionable, they are not welcome to changes and you will make changes and last it was necessary for me to appeal to the sales rep. to get work done. However, this lack of judgement was more than made up by my selection of two fellows who functioned as my general contractors, project supervisors and therapist during my entire renovation. A & T is the name they give themselves, initials of their first names. Call Thad at (646) 831-8319 if you're interested.
Posted by: bergenbabe at February 20, 2008 3:58 PM
Get more quotes from a couple more contractors on both prep and installation. Don't let them separate it out and don't tell them what you were quoted by this first contractor.
My kitchen contractor markets his company as a kitchen contractor but does electric and walls and general contracting too, and I think he's worth calling to get one quote for the whole shebang. His name is Anthony Riccio: 347.267.1681
You can see reviews for him on the apartment therapy website. Good luck!
Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 4:03 PM
The electric quote seems very high. the outlets, and fixtures are all easy superficial jobs. We had 8 hi hats installed for $800. We had a new circuit and breaker boxes brought into brought each of the 4 unit and that job ran $7,500. Granted it was 5-6 years ago but $18k seems very high.
Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 5:27 PM
I would say the quote is really high. I would shop around. The contractor bid was $37,000?! That takes some balls. ( and I'm a contractor myself! )
Posted by: Rick at February 20, 2008 5:43 PM
You should always bid out a job to 3-4 contractors. Look at the differences in the numbers. Where is one charging more than the other.
It isn't rude to ask for a break down of services; line items.
This way you know what your paying for each trade.
Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 6:05 PM
You should always bid out a job to 3-4 contractors. Look at the differences in the numbers. Where is one charging more than the other.
It isn't rude to ask for a break down of services; line items.
This way you know what your paying for each trade.
Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 6:05 PM
Your electrical quote is whack. Get a new contractor to quote you for everything. Getting a contractor to "break things out" is ridiculous. They think of a $$ it will cost them to do it, then randomly put numbers in columns. Then you think you'll save money by cutting here and there, when thata's not really true.
But with the electrical, that's a crazy arse number.
Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 9:52 PM
"Getting a contractor to "break things out" is ridiculous"
Then I guess every single commercial project I've been involved as a construction estimator is "ridiculous"
Posted by: johnife at February 21, 2008 10:42 AM
Many thanks again to all who responded to my inquiry. You have all confirmed to me what I felt to be quotes on the high side of things.
I meant to clarify that I have been and am absolutely gathering additional quotes to compare and contrast pricing out this renovation. What I find interesting is the differences in prices between each of the contractors/electricians that come into my space to see the job we want done. I find it difficult at best to have a clear understanding of what things should run these days given that it has been a few years since my last reno. Guest at 5:27 mentiones, "We had 8 hi hats installed for $800". The electrician who recently submitted an estimate wants way more than for four high hats and additionally said it would run me $3,000 to install 3 feet of my under the counter lighting.
I very much appreciate the input and advice. I will continue my search until the right professionals are found. Many thanks again.
Sincerely,
MK
Posted by: MK at February 21, 2008 2:37 PM
Give mokh construction a call. They renovated my bathroom and kitchen a year ago.
They were more reasonable than all the other
contractors that bided on my work. work was great and fast. Telephone #917-642-0555
Posted by: guest at February 21, 2008 5:49 PM
I would Highly recommend Lino's
by Michael M 02/22/2008
I had challenging kitchen remodel completed by Lino. The building is a pre-war presenting many difficulties. Lino was incredible in completing the work and providing a masterful job on the cabinets, walls, ceilings, floors, and trim mouldings.
Posted by: beddo at February 24, 2008 2:20 PM
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