Costs: One of the best ways to find out the cost of any expansion of your home is to start with the Design Build Process. This allows for a concept drawing to be done economically. This allows Riverbirch to finalize what you are building and build a budget based on the specifications or your concept drawings. This saves time, money, and aggravation. Riverbirch is equipped to assist in getting your foundation, weight load, and safety inspected.

Benefits: In addition to having extra space, expanding vertically may be the route to go if you have a small lot and there are no allowable setbacks to add space. Another advantage is that the property that you enjoy around your home can stay intact, and the enjoyment of gardens, trees, decks, and outdoor living with space between you and your neighbors won’t change.

Additionally, if you have an older home, you can take advantage of raising your ceilings on the first floor. This is a great feeling and a good “bang for your buck” for resale and adding value. Another great benefit is to merge small rooms and look at the overall floor plan, and make needed adjustments.

Questions to Ask Before Deciding What Type Of Room Addition Is Right For You

What is my budget?

This is a question that many people ask. Realistically, the best way to know your budget is to start with Riverbirch’s Design Build Process. Our team will complete a Customer Preference Interview on our initial visit to your property.

The next step is to discuss the feasibility of your project. Once it is determined that your project is feasible, we present a design contract. This is the best, most cost-effective way to give a realistic budget.

Is a room addition or second story within my zoning code?

This step is something that doesn’t take a lot of time, and there is no cost. Visit or call your local zoning and permit department for your county or town. Find out the zoning ordinances, codes, setbacks, etc. for the new structure.

How do I find a reputable, knowledgeable, experienced contractor?

This is a question that can be very difficult to answer. Many good contractors provide an amazing service and take pride in the work they do. Be sure to check each contractor’s licensing. Not all contractors are created equal. (Note: In the State of NC, any project under $30,000 does NOT require a state-certified licensed contractor to perform work.)

Verify the Contractor you hire has suitable General Liability and Workers’ Comp Insurance coverage. A deep understanding of your needs and expectations should be very clearly identified.

Do not be afraid to ask questions.

Why choose Riverbirch Remodeling?

Riverbirch’s full-service remodeling can provide you with all construction services to complete any room addition or second-story project. Riverbirch specializes in design and space planning. Our focus is on providing a “concept to completion” service using full-color 3D renderings of all our proposed designs. See what you’ve envisioned and know exactly what will be delivered.

With timely communication, we will work with you to make the design process as stress-free as possible. Most clients have an idea of what their budget will be for their project. During this time, you will get a clearer picture of the costs to reduce the likelihood of unexpected problems.

A high level of professionalism, coupled with the ability to match customers’ ideas with the finished design, is what sets us apart from other companies. Our design service is essential to a successful job because proper planning leads to a seamless project that stays on budget and ends on time.

If you live in the greater Raleigh or Cary, North Carolina, call or text us at 919-205-9550 to schedule a consultation with our remodel design expert. We look forward to meeting you and your goals!

Schedule an appointment with our experienced remodeling designer to get your remodeling project started.

The first thing you have to know about estimating remodeling costs is this: the answer to the question what does it cost? Is obtained by answering many other related questions. This takes a lot of time. Valuable time that a professional contractor can not give away free. So, regardless of the business model, the estimating process must be funded somehow.

Our extensive experience in the industry has taught us that there are only a few remodeling methods; two primary ones are the free estimate model and the design build model.

The Free Estimate Method & Why Be Aware

On the free estimate side, you have low ball type contractors and premium service SWAG type contractors. The low baller comes in at a low price. He is likable and seems experienced, but look out! That price will not stay low. And/or, the timeline will never line up with preliminary claims. Jobs may drag out months or years too long.

On the other end of the free estimate spectrum, you have the premium guys. They do perform great, they have a great reputation, and they have become quite adept at SWAG! Scientific wild a—guess. Yes, this is a real thing in the contract world. Many successful contractors are just good at guessing. And they provide good service and quality. The problem is that to be successful, a swag artist must always be high.

The math is simple for a skilled SWAG artist. Talk to enough homeowners, SWAG it high, and some will buy.

Our Design Build Method & Why It Works

On the design-build side of the equation, you can find good service and quality at high but reasonable rates for the service. Design-build is always the right way to go in remodeling. This way, the contractor has the entire job in mind when writing the scope. The engineering can always be done at the permit stage or beyond, so an architect is not normally required for a remodeling project. If you have a design-build contractor that you like and is affordable, you are on your way to a successful project.

Design Budget Build is our own invention. It uses a design-first approach that is less costly and faster than a typical design-build contractor. This is because we use the concept phase for costing and perfect the plans once we have a build contract.

As we work through the procurement and job setup phase, our team is involved with finishing details, verifying your design, and producing the plans for the build. This helps us to hit the ground running once your job starts! And it leads to successful projects that:

• Start and finish faster
• Stay on budget
• Turn out exactly how you imagined your remodeled home to be!

We hope this clears up some of your questions about widely varying estimates.

Your Raleigh Area Kitchen Design & Remodeling Contractor

The fun for us with remodels is that just as every client is different, so is every project. Through our remodeling process, we offer useful design advice for fixtures & tiles, lighting, flooring, storage solutions, and more. We love a good challenge to design a room that our clients have dreamed of and make it a reality.

If you live in the greater Raleigh or Cary, North Carolina, call or text us at 919-205-9550 to schedule a consultation with our remodel design expert. We look forward to meeting you and your goals!

Schedule an appointment with our experienced remodeling designer to get your remodeling project started.