Starting Out

y0manda

First off I would like to say This is a great site, I wish I had found it a long time-ago. Newbie here first post, YAY! so please be easy on me
Just got my general contractors license about 6 months ago. havent even used it yet, because I have been working for another company.

I recieved a call from a lady that wanted me to come out and give her an estimate on a room addition for their 3 year old house. I brought a buddy of mine that has also been in the trade for a long time but not licensed along with me to check out the house. So we get there Greet the family, and listen to what the HO's wanted. Now they did not have any drawings other than what plans they had on a napkin for us to really look at, so we told the HO that we know an architect who does a really great job, he came out a couple days later and told them what they were looking at as far $ PSF. He told the HO his fee which was $9,500 for the drawings and the civil engineers part too. I called the HO today and she said the she thought the price was really steep and that the other companies that came out to give her a proposal could do all the drawings for her. Now my question is, Are these other 'companies' drawing a fast preliminary drawing of what to the addition will look like, or doing the wet stamped drawings themselves, OR giving them a Price PSF then with the deposit paying an architect to draw up the plans and telling the architect that this is what I'm charging the HO PSF please keep the addition within *** pricerange? This was my first time going about this so I would like to know how other experianced contractors take this approach. Do you walk in a house and already know what it's going to cost to do it? or do you need prints to see exactly what they want before you give them a price? Thanks for you time sorry so long.

Cole

Where are you from?

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y0manda

So. Cal.

copusbuilder

$9500 for plans for a room addition sounds pretty steep. At least in this part of the world

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elvinstheman

In Seattle too. My jaw dropped when I saw that, actually. (Though I'm just starting out too, so what do I know...)

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Cole

How big of an addition though?

I know some prices in that area, and for a good size addition, that is in the price range.

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thom

Seems like about 10 times the going rate for a standard and simple room addition.

The customer is correct, most companies do provide the design service in house and as part of the construction contract. You will have to learn the standards in your area, but in many places a dimensioned sketch is provided (though not left with the owner) so you have something to price/sell.

Before you actually bid anything, have you checked with the state for all the rules that apply and are you compliant?

J87513

How old are you, knowing you just got your general license, was the test hard? Good luck with your business!

y0manda

Room Addition is approx. 1000 sq ft. An office on one side of the house, and a garage with a second story bonus room above it.

This is something that I would have to do myself hence I have no employees. Is there a simple enough program which would work or a popular most used one I can buy to keep up with the big guys? Also once the job is sold who pays the architect? is this something that is in the contract? and is it mentioned in the contract?


I am 32. Failed the law and trade once and passed both the second time. Thanks you!

AirPro

$9500 is wayyy high, an engineer stamped set of plans for an addition that size would run about $750 here.

J87513

Hey yOmanda, how much is liability insurance for you?