Would you buy a vehicle hidden beneath a tarp – sight unseen?
Likely not – after all, who knows what’s under the cover?
It’s the same reason asking for a firm “cost-per-square-foot” renovation estimate also isn’t likely to get you the result you want.
“Greater Victoria is unique in that we’re one of the oldest communities in B.C., with homes built between the 1870s and the 2020s, so they cover a number of build codes,” explains MAC Renovations’ Blaise McDonald. “And with an older home, it could already have been renovated five or six times since it was built.”
And that’s why a comprehensive pre-build process, exploring and identifying issues such as unseen hazardous materials, site challenges or outdated plumbing or electrical are key. “Until we open it up, we don’t really know what we’re going to find.”
Where a set cost per square foot can be more practical in a spec, new home situation, where you know the materials and costs up front, today’s ongoing supply chain issues can even make that a challenge, McDonald notes. Add to that the region’s 13 municipalities, each with its own rules and cost charges, and it’s clear that a one-size-fits-all approach to renovation estimates really doesn’t work.
In the case of a renovation, it’s also important to note the differences between spaces. “The cost per square foot to build a bedroom is definitely not comparable to a kitchen or bathroom,” he explains. “The bathroom is the smallest room in the home but involves the most trades,” meaning the cost is also more involved.
Why design-build works
Instead, MAC’s team of designers, project managers and trades approaches each project from the design-build perspective. “We find out why you’re doing the renovation – to find more space or update your living area, for example – and what you’re investing in it, then we’re going to chart a path to get there,” McDonald says.
READ MORE: Design-Build: A renovation process that works for homeowners
At that point, once the unknowns are known, the homeowner will receive a fixed price proposal for the project.
Rather than an adversarial relationship, selecting a contractor based on the cheapest price, “our approach brings the homeowner on as a project stakeholder,” McDonald says.
Homeowners are still advised to reach out to at least three contractors before selecting one, but rather than basing a decision solely on cost, “interview them to see how you might work together, interview their references and read the reviews,” he advises. “Price is not always an indicator of what your experience is going to be, or what the end result will be.”
To learn more about how MAC Renovations can create the project you’ll love coming home to, visit macreno.com or call
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