• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Top Bar Section

Top contact info
Talmadge Construction Design • Build • Remodel 831.689.9133
Talmadge Construction Talmadge Construction
  • Services
    • Kitchen Remodeling
    • Bathroom Remodeling
    • Whole House Remodeling
    • Outdoor Living Construction
    • Deck Remodeling & Repair
    • New Construction
    • Passive House Building & Design
    • Green Building & Design
    • Universal Design / Age in Place
  • Our Work
    • View Our Portfolio
    • Video Portfolio
  • About Us
    • About Talmadge
    • Our Team
    • Customer Testimonials
    • Community Involvement
    • Design-Build Benefits
    • Design-Build Process
    • Careers
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Main Slider Image Section

Blog Image

You are here: Home / Planning a Remodel / “Can you give me a ballpark price on that?”

“Can you give me a ballpark price on that?”

June 25, 2020 by Talmadge Construction Leave a Comment

ballpark quote

By Jeff Talmadge

I have been asked this question many, many times over 36 years in business. When I meet with someone who is interested in remodeling their home, we will talk about some of the things they want to do. People want to know what to expect and will often ask a question like this: “I won’t hold you to this, but can you give us a ballpark cost of what we are looking at?”

Well…if the project is relatively straightforward, like a kitchen or bath remodel, we can give a range of prices for similar projects. But most of the time, it’s a lot more complicated. There are usually other items that need to be done or that the client is interested in doing.

If it’s a kitchen or bath project, I can usually give a ballpark budget price based on recent, similar projects we have completed. I make sure to qualify that the ballpark budget price does not include appliances, permit fees, design fees and structural engineering that might be needed. That is about all I can do without a lot more information…and a lot more work.

Giving someone a ballpark budget for anything else more complex than a kitchen or bath is a no-win proposition for me. If I ballpark the project budget at a figure that is lower than the eventual cost of the project, and the homeowner signs up for services, I will be questioned about the number I gave them (even though they said they wouldn’t hold me to it!).

If I guess the cost of project budget that’s higher than the homeowner is expecting, I am usually shown the door so they can continue their search for someone who gives them a ballpark figure they like. Once they find that person, what happens next is a tale I hear far too often.

The homeowner signs up with the lower ballpark budget company and plans are drawn up by an architect or designer. The designer meets with the homeowner and draws up what is wanted without input from the contractor. The plans are completed, and the contractor figures the actual cost to be 50% more than the original ballpark budget. Everyone is unhappy and the homeowner faces a choice. They either spend more money than expected, they re-draw the plans and go through the process again, or they just abandon the project altogether.

Would you like to learn about a more efficient, effective, and pleasant way to remodel? If you answered yes, then please continue reading!

The Talmadge Approach

At Talmadge Construction, we have a different approach. Our way is to design a remodel project that is affordable to the homeowner and meets as many of the objectives as possible. We use a step-by-step process which begins with an initial consultation in the home. We discuss the project and what is important to the homeowner. We ask them to rank in importance each of the items we identify as a part of the project. We then talk about the budget!

It is typical that homeowners will think they can get more for their budget than the budget actually allows and it’s important to talk about this early in the process. If their budget is $200,000 and the list we established is going to be a lot more than $200,000, then we discuss which of the items we should include. This is where the ranking comes in. I may suggest we look at the top five items and not the bottom three.

Next, we enter into a Feasibility Agreement that pays us to do preliminary design work, write a scope of work and include a budget range of costs that falls within a 20% range of costs. If this scope and budget range is acceptable, we will then move to designing the full project.

We’re aiming to hit a home run with accurate figures rather than a guess that leads to a strikeout!

Filed Under: Planning a Remodel

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Send Us Your Resume

  • Upload your resume below (*required).
    Accepted formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf
    Maximum file size: 1MB
    Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, Max. file size: 1 MB.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Age in Place Ebook

Testimonials

Tracy

“Thank you sooooo much for organizing all the work at Camp Harmon!! You guys did an amazing job! Ive never seen such a project work like clockwork.

Thank you again!”

—Tracy

Rachel H., Santa Cruz

“The story I like to tell about Jeff is we had a warranty deficiency on something on our remodel. It’s been two years since they did the remodel, but they came out and fixed it. That shows me someone who wants my business again, and wants my referral.”

—Rachel H., Santa Cruz

Duncan H., Santa Cruz

“We will certainly call you again when we need more work done. Thank you.”

—Duncan H., Santa Cruz

Angela C.

“Thank you for taking such good care of our house. Your diligence and attention to superior customer service is greatly appreciated. Of course, I knew that when I chose your team for the project in the first place.”

—Angela C.

Melanie Larson

“On behalf of the members and friends of Christ Lutheran Church of Aptos, I would like to thank you and the members of Santa Cruz Rotary, Sunrise and Aptos/Capitola for all that you have done to help build the fence for the Aptos Community Garden for low income people. You will be receiving a more formal thank you for your efforts. We are so grateful for your help.”

—Melanie Larson

Kathleen A., Santa Cruz

“I got what I wanted for the price I wanted.”

—Kathleen A., Santa Cruz

Catherine D., Scotts Valley

“We thoroughly enjoyed working with Talmadge Construction, Inc. Jeff went far beyond the call of duty to accommodate us and to maintain an open dialogue to foster a relationship of trust and honesty. Talmadge Construction clearly takes pride in their work and we feel fortunate to have had them build our home.”

—Catherine D., Scotts Valley

Jean B., Santa Cruz

“We heard numerous horror stories about remodels but happily we experienced none of them with you, your staff or your contractors. Great job all around. We’ll be contacting you again to remodel our bathrooms when we’re ready.”

—Jean B., Santa Cruz

Nancy

“I want to THANK YOU for the many ways you supported me – and most importantly CASA and our vision for building young lives.

I hope you feel great pride & satisfaction with the completion of your rather HUGE undertaking – a permanent home for CASA. You were an amazing, kind, HARD WORKING leader during all of it! Sometimes Allie & I would look at each other & just PRAISE your name!! Now CASA and “our” children belong to the entire community – we have insured that.

And THANK YOU for always stepping up for help building, hauling, finding free spaces, running committees, opening our beautiful home… and more!”

—Nancy

Dennis E., Watsonville

“…He has a great attitude that nearly anything is possible. Jeff surrounds himself with good people but his greatest asset is himself. He can keep a project going without appearing pushy. And the quality control is excellent…”

—Dennis E., Watsonville

Josephine C., Santa Cruz

“I appreciate the extra effort you and your workers took to meet our accommodations while living through a remodel.”

—Josephine C., Santa Cruz

George S., Watsonville

“Overall best construction experience we ever had.”

—George S., Watsonville

Sandy & Nick H., Santa Cruz

“We want to tell you how much we are enjoying our beautiful new bathroom. It is beyond our expectations! We also want to tell you what a pleasure it was working with you and your company.” Read more…

—Sandy & Nick H., Santa Cruz

Categories

  • Our Work
    • Aging in Place
    • Bathroom Remodels
    • Commercial Design
    • Decks & Hardscapes
    • Kitchen Remodels
    • Living Space Remodels
    • Passive Houses
    • Whole House Remodels
  • Planning a Remodel
  • Talmadge News
  • Testimonials

Footer Section 1

Ready to get started?
Tell us about your project
I'm Ready!

Footer Section 2-1

Talmadge Construction
Talmadge Construction
8070 Soquel Drive
Aptos, CA 95003

Phone: 831.689.9133

Fax: 831.689.9422

Footer Section 2-2

Footer Newsletter Sign-up Form

Sign up for our Newsletter

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Talmadge Construction, Inc., 8070 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA, 95010, http://www.talmadgeconstruction.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Footer Section 2-3

Footer Section 3-1

Talmadge Construction, Inc reviews and customer comments at GuildQuality   Crystal NARI member Construction Guild Remodeling's Big 50 PHCA Jeffrey Talmadge in Aptos, CA on Houzz

Footer Section 3-2

Follow us:
facebook   instagram      houzz   yelp
CA License #458607   |   Sitemap   |   Privacy Policy   |   Disclaimer   |   ©1999– 2022 Talmadge Construction, Inc.