Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long will the remodel take?
A: Your contractor will give you an estimate of the time required to complete the work. But remember that the unexpected does occur during remodeling projects, and there may be a project that the contractor has to finish before he works on yours.

Q: How much will it cost to remodel?
A: There are several ways to get remodel project estimates:
• Cost per square foot
This is the most common way to do a quick estimate. It simply assigns a cost per square foot of area that will be remodeled. To calculate your own estimate, determine the square footage of the area that will be built new or that will be substantially changed and multiply that by a cost of $100 to $700 per square foot. You can quickly see that this estimate has little value since the range of potential costs is so great.
• Estimate from a contractor or an architect
With a general idea of what work that you want to do, you should be able to get an estimate of the cost from a contractor or an architect.

Q: Should I stay in the house during the remodel or move out?
A: Start by asking the contractor what he or she recommends. There may be stages of the project where you need to be out of the house. If the contractor says that you can stay, you want to consider whether you will have the use of the critical areas of the home during the remodel project: bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen.