One of the biggest misconceptions I see over and over again is around estimates.

Homeowners often feel frustrated when a contractor can’t give them a number right away. It can feel like information is being withheld, or worse, avoided.

But here’s the reality: it’s usually not the contractor withholding anything.

It’s the information.

A contractor can’t price what hasn’t been defined yet. Square footage alone isn’t enough. Neither is a Pinterest board, a rough idea, or “something similar to what we saw online.”

To understand why, imagine asking someone to price a custom-built dining table but all you tell them is how many people you want it to seat.

They’d still need to know:

• What wood species?

• Solid wood or veneer?

• Straight legs or sculpted?

• Is there a design?

• Handcrafted or factory-built?

• Local delivery or shipped?

• Finished, unfinished, or site-stained?

Without those answers, any number they give you would either be wildly inflated to protect themselves or unrealistically low and guaranteed to change later.

Construction works the same way.

Until key decisions are made (layout, structure, materials, scope, etc.) any number given would be a guess. And guesses don’t protect you or the builder.

A real estimate comes after clarity.
Plans, priorities, and constraints first. Numbers second.

If someone gives you a firm price without asking questions, that should concern you more—not less.

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