There is a common myth lately promoted by the media that you can negotiate legitimate contractor's prices down. Most of us realize that the media is not unbiased and must look out for their own business interests by selling news. The fact is, there really is no such thing as negotiating with legitimate contractors without a loss on your part.
With the economy being what it is, perhaps there are some people out there who can give away something for nothing hoping to weather the storm, but legitimate contractors have costs they cannot cut. If you take the media's advice, just remember that they don't care about your home the way you do and they don't understand our business the way they want you to believe.
Most legitimate contractors will very carefully structure your quote, taking your wishes, priorities, lifestyle, budget, and more into consideration. We already looked for any “fluff” that can be eliminated to present the best possible quote the FIRST time.
With that said, if price really is the deciding issue, a knowledgeable contractor can help you make compromises that don't sacrifice your priorities and cause buyers remorse when the project is done. The goal of any reputable contractor is that you have no regrets because you have to live with the results.
It is always good to interview at least two contractors when planning any project over $20,000. Trust your gut too. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Dismiss them and go onto the next interview.
We've all had something we thought was a bargain only to find out later that the low price brought disappointment. You certainly don't want your home remodeling project to bring you that kind of grief.
