For this renovation, we ended up with a good final product but it was a stressful process in getting there. Some of the stressful issues we encountered are outlined below:
For this renovation we ended up paying more than expected. Some of the extra charges were planned/expected add-ons to the project; however, other extra charges were billed for tasks that, in our opinion, should have been included in the scope of the project/quote.
The quote provided was written in stages instead of an itemized breakdown which would have been clearer as to the individual tasks and associated costs. As a result, we found the costing associated with the add-on work difficult to understand. This was exacerbated by the fact that we were often not given the price for specific tasks until the task had been completed – leaving us in a poor position to negotiate or dispute the costs.
In terms of timelines, the project took more than double the estimated time. We knew going in that renovations can take longer than planned due to unforeseen circumstances; however, the time estimate was increased even before the work began and extended again shortly after the start of the project. It may have been useful to have the timelines written into the contract.
At the end of the day, the renovation was completed, and we were satisfied with the end product. However, it was the day to day dealings with the lead contractor that we found to be stressful. We would not recommend this contractor.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $25,000.00