Coger Residential-How We Begin the Process
With over 60 years of combined experience in the remodeling industry, we have over time developed an approach that works well in streamlining the upfront process as well as informing our potential clients as to how the process works. Here are the typical steps involved:
We will gladly come to your home and spend a complimentary hour or so meeting with you to review your project. Then, if possible, we will provide a “ballpark” estimate based upon that initial visit. A ballpark estimate is simply an estimate based upon historical costs for similar type projects or a quick estimate based on assumptions. It is strictly intended for budgeting purposes and should never be used to compare price with other contractors.
Most projects require drawings and/or written specifications and a scope of work in order to generate an accurate estimate. It is particularly important if you are planning on getting more than one bid on a project so that you can be reasonably assured that you are comparing “apples to apples”. These documents will later help lay the foundation for the contract documents. If you already have drawings and specifications, we can then begin the work of generating a detailed estimate based upon those documents.
If you do not have any project documentation, we can assist you with the design work as well as drawings and written specifications. This work will typically be billed on a per hour basis. Before contracting for any design work, we will provide you with cost estimate for that design work. If your project requires drawings and you do not have them, we will not be able to move past the “ball park estimate”.
When we get to the estimate stage, we will provide an estimate free of charge which will include the cost and detailed cost breakdown along with any necessary supporting documentation. We will not, however, leave any documentation with you.
Generating a detailed estimated costs us a considerable investment in time and money. The resulting estimate has been paid for by us and will therefore remain our property. By not leaving estimate documentation, we hope to discourage those who might use our estimate to shop the project to other contractors.
You can, for a fee, purchase that estimate from us to use as you will. The cost is minimally $100 and for a large project could run over $1,000 depending upon the amount of work involved.
We like to encourage collaboration between homeowner and client and prefer to take a design/build approach. If you think you need to get other prices, that is you choice. We at Coger feel strongly that bidding neither optimizes our time nor promotes the quality and service we strive to deliver. We believe the best projects result when client and contractor work together to design, value engineer and deliver the job in a cost effective manner. If you have paid us for an estimate and you decide to work with Coger, we will gladly credit you the cost of any paid estimates towards the cost of you project.
By their nature, some projects are difficult to put firm numbers on. For these, we work on a straight “time and materials” basis, or a time and materials with a “not to exceed” upper limit number. In this instance, we bill you for all of our time spent working on your project, as well as any materials and/or subcontractors used.
If we work on a contract basis, you will be provided with a breakdown of costs per category. You will then be billed on the 15th and 30th day of each month for the value of “percent complete and materials on site.” Details will be laid out in the contract documents.
We are available for consulting on design, feasibility, problem solving or troubleshooting. We can tackle just about any project you have.
We take our commitment to you seriously and value your time and budget and expect that in return, our time will be valued and respected as well.
With over 60 years of combined experience in the remodeling industry, we have over time developed an approach that works well in streamlining the upfront process as well as informing our potential clients as to how the process works. Here are the typical steps involved:
We will gladly come to your home and spend a complimentary hour or so meeting with you to review your project. Then, if possible, we will provide a “ballpark” estimate based upon that initial visit. A ballpark estimate is simply an estimate based upon historical costs for similar type projects or a quick estimate based on assumptions. It is strictly intended for budgeting purposes and should never be used to compare price with other contractors.
Most projects require drawings and/or written specifications and a scope of work in order to generate an accurate estimate. It is particularly important if you are planning on getting more than one bid on a project so that you can be reasonably assured that you are comparing “apples to apples”. These documents will later help lay the foundation for the contract documents. If you already have drawings and specifications, we can then begin the work of generating a detailed estimate based upon those documents.
If you do not have any project documentation, we can assist you with the design work as well as drawings and written specifications. This work will typically be billed on a per hour basis. Before contracting for any design work, we will provide you with cost estimate for that design work. If your project requires drawings and you do not have them, we will not be able to move past the “ball park estimate”.
When we get to the estimate stage, we will provide an estimate free of charge which will include the cost and detailed cost breakdown along with any necessary supporting documentation. We will not, however, leave any documentation with you.
Generating a detailed estimated costs us a considerable investment in time and money. The resulting estimate has been paid for by us and will therefore remain our property. By not leaving estimate documentation, we hope to discourage those who might use our estimate to shop the project to other contractors.
You can, for a fee, purchase that estimate from us to use as you will. The cost is minimally $100 and for a large project could run over $1,000 depending upon the amount of work involved.
We like to encourage collaboration between homeowner and client and prefer to take a design/build approach. If you think you need to get other prices, that is you choice. We at Coger feel strongly that bidding neither optimizes our time nor promotes the quality and service we strive to deliver. We believe the best projects result when client and contractor work together to design, value engineer and deliver the job in a cost effective manner. If you have paid us for an estimate and you decide to work with Coger, we will gladly credit you the cost of any paid estimates towards the cost of you project.
By their nature, some projects are difficult to put firm numbers on. For these, we work on a straight “time and materials” basis, or a time and materials with a “not to exceed” upper limit number. In this instance, we bill you for all of our time spent working on your project, as well as any materials and/or subcontractors used.
If we work on a contract basis, you will be provided with a breakdown of costs per category. You will then be billed on the 15th and 30th day of each month for the value of “percent complete and materials on site.” Details will be laid out in the contract documents.
We are available for consulting on design, feasibility, problem solving or troubleshooting. We can tackle just about any project you have.
We take our commitment to you seriously and value your time and budget and expect that in return, our time will be valued and respected as well.