“My renovation cost has doubled and it’s taking twice as long!”
Sound familiar? If you haven’t personally lived through a renovation nightmare, chances are you know someone who has. Change orders, material overruns, no-shows on the job site…frustration boils over as timelines and budgets spiral out of control. Why does construction have such a bad reputation?
Why Projects Go Off the Rails
The short answer: the industry is built backward.
To win work, many contractors feel pressure to underbid. The hope is they’ll make up the difference with change orders or cost increases once the project is underway.
At the same time, most homeowners don’t have a firm grasp of current construction costs or what their specific project truly requires. The “three-bid standard” often results in wildly different pricing from three contractors pulled from Yelp, referrals, or pure luck. The lowest bid wins, and then one of three things happens:
The cost creeps up through change orders and surprise labor/material expenses.
The timeline stretches out because the builder underbid and prioritizes better-paying jobs.
Both 1 and 2.
Once the job goes sideways, you’re left with two choices: endure the pain or find a new contractor (which isn’t easy—most contractors don’t want to clean up someone else’s mess). Sometimes it's bad actors. More often, it’s just poor communication and misaligned expectations.
Setting Expectations Upfront
If you have permitted plans for a new build, your price should be the price unless YOU make changes. Yes, rare surprises like abandoned septic tanks or dinosaur bones happen, but generally, the scope should be clear.
For renovations, it’s trickier. Until you’ve done the design, engineering, finish selections and opened up the walls, a quote is just a ballpark. It’s based on experience, and is an estimated guess, but there are still potential unknowns.
If you’re quoted $150k for a full home remodel before these steps and expect that number to stick, you need to be very forthright with your designer/builder and make sure they are designing to maintain your budget. There are always ways to value engineer your project, but if you have water damage, mold, framing or foundation issues, your budget could be in trouble once discovery starts.
Finding the Right GC
Run their license on the CSLB website and look for complaints or violations. If there are any, get a clear explanation.
Check references. Talk to recent clients.
Assess fit. Ask:
Are they local or working nearby?
Have they completed similar projects?
What’s their current workload?
Are they hungry for this job or is it a filler?
Most important: Talk to them. This is a relationship. Unlike most purchases, construction is a long-term commitment to something that doesn't yet exist. Make sure your contractor understands your vision, respects your taste, and communicates well.
Construction doesn’t have to be a nightmare. With clear communication, aligned expectations, and the right builder, your project can stay on time, on budget, and on track.
Start by asking yourself:
What am I trying to accomplish?
What’s my true budget?
When do I need this completed?
If you’re in Southern California and looking for a vetted contractor with a solid track record, feel free to reach out at Ethan@andhaus.co, or visit andhaus.co to learn more.