Estimating
by the Book
by Patrick J. Galvin
Pricing bathrooms and kitchens isn't
a problem for builders of new
homes. Construction procedures are
well established, and whatever the
cost factors, they are figured into the
price in established ways.
But it is a different story for bath
and kitchen remodeling. Nobody
knows what might be behind the
walls in older houses. Remodelers
imprudent enough to make quick
estimates might tear out a wall only
to find an old chimney, or ductwork
that might have to be moved. The
variables are limitless.
So procedures have to be set up to
protect profit against erosion by both
predictable problems and the
unforeseen variety. You can expect
problems like oversight or
carelessness, such as forgetting the
faucets