It’s Time to Forget the Rule of 3 Bids

Have you been through a remodel before? If so, you’ve probably heard the rule of 3: always get 3 bids before deciding on a contractor.

Well, in my professional opinion, that rule no longer applies. Let me explain why:

 

1. Timing & availability of trades

The design and construction industry is shifting and becoming busier than ever. It’s tough to find even one contractor to bid a job, let alone three. Even for a designer like myself, who has connections with several different teams in the area, there’s often only one team that’s a good fit and/or has availability for any given job. Searching for a second or third team to bid your job often results in long delays. And once you make a decision, the team you want to work with may have filled up their schedule, causing your start date to be delayed further.

 

2. Pricing won’t differ greatly

When you present a complete set of floor plans and a full list of selections for materials and fixtures, pricing from one construction team to the next will typically be very similar. Most of the time, a significantly lower bid means one of two things: 1) the contractor used cheap “allowances” for materials and/or fixtures rather than pricing off of your actual selections, or 2) the contractor doesn’t provide much supervision over sub contractors on the job site during construction. Make sure you’re comparing apples to apples!

 

3. Personality & work ethic are more important

When you’re getting ready for a remodel, it’s extremely important to consider the work ethic and personality of the contractors. These people will spend an extended amount of time in your home, often at least 4-6 months or more. I would much rather see my clients spend 15-20 minutes calling a few different contractors on the phone to see if they feel like a good fit, rather than get 3 bids and pick the cheapest one regardless of personality. Even the best projects will have issues that come up, and when that happens, you want to make sure you have a contractor who will go to bat for you and fix the problems professionally.

So let’s leave the rule of 3 behind once and for all, and instead focus on quality over quantity. And if you’re ready for a remodel and need some professional help, feel free to book a discovery call with me here.

Happy remodeling!