True Costs of a Renovation

What do a beautiful Kaneohe family kitchen renovation and a high-end Hawaii Loa Ridge bath remodel have in common? According to Barker Kappelle Construction, the success of any home project lies in setting a thoughtful budget and selecting a contractor that understands the true costs of a renovation.

“We work with clients to balance costs and quality every day,” says Will Gilbert, lead estimator and senior project manager at Barker Kappelle Construction.

BKC has been supporting Oahu residents with general contracting services for nearly two decades. With skilled builders and knowledgeable staff, the company is trusted by many local homeowners for smart design and budget-conscious solutions.

In a kitchen remodel — like this local project, for example — Barker Kappelle Construction will collaborate with a client to select finishings and materials that befit goals for aesthetics, functionality, completion time and cost. BKC’s well-rounded and experienced building team focuses on refined execution of each project, regardless of size and scope.

“Our well-rounded experience allows us to give practical feedback on design detail choices and their associated costs,” says Gilbert. “We are also intimately familiar with finish material supply and fabrication costs. Finally, we can help homeowners stage or phase projects where applicable.”

BKC works closely with each client to set a clear project scope and to ensure that any decisions made along the way are firm. Both are key to keeping remodeling finances in check, Gilbert says.

When setting the scope of a project, most homeowners “decide how big the project is, create plans, and then try to find a builder that can match budget,” explains Gilbert. This approach is common, but not always prudent. “There’s extra risk of a project never happening because the budget and scope were not aligned, or projects failing because the lowest-bidding contractor didn’t fully understand the project scope.”

Truly understanding a client’s goals is imperative for BKC. The intentions for a renovation — such as aging in place, accommodating a growing family, refreshing spaces for property sale or rental — set the tone for decisions to come. “The relative priority level between schedule, quality, and price can vary greatly depending on the end goal,” says Gilbert.

During a renovation, such as a bathroom upgrade, hidden costs such as updating utilities and infrastructure may arise. BKC keeps construction progress transparent with clear communication and decision-making.

From there, BKC sets practical parameters to keep the construction process transparent for all parties. “If it’s your forever home, selecting the perfect tile or customizing a window could outweigh the extra lead time,” says Gilbert. But if it’s a rental, he says, the homeowner might opt for materials that are immediately available, to reduce the time the property is off the market.

For larger renovations, BKC may utilize a “design-assist” approach. In design-assist, the architect and builder, selected at the start of a project, are independent companies that collaborate with clients on creating budget-friendly design scopes. This process is different from design-bid-build or design-build, where a homeowner first comes up with a remodel design idea, then shares it with prospective contractors and architects for pricing.

Design-assist “enables quality and dependability factors to take precedence,” says Gilbert, and “regular pricing feedback from the builder helps the owner and architect keep the design scope within budget.” This, he says, is where firm decision-making is important as “changes, whether owner-driven or unforeseen, can have major impacts on project length and cost.”

Some additional renovation costs to consider:

• Where will you be living during construction?
• Design assumptions can lead to “scope creep.” On paper, only part of a house or room is assumed to require work, but other areas like ceilings and walls may need to be doctored along the way to accommodate a homeowner’s design. When walls are opened, obsolete utilities and infrastructure may be exposed, which could expand the project scope.
• “Another hidden cost is time,” says Gilbert. Meetings to finalize details, deliberate on finishings and selections, and check on progress can add to the billable hours for your project team. But at the end of each meeting, he says, the path forward should be clearer, both in terms of timelines and expectations.

“Selecting the right design team can take a lot of weight off homeowners’ shoulders and keep projects moving forward smoothly,” says Gilbert.

To get in touch with Barker Kappelle Construction for your next project, call (808) 664-9212, email contact@barkerkappelle.com or visit barkerkappelleconstruction.com.

Editor’s Note: This article has been slightly modified from the original print version for optimal online reading. To view the full print story, subscribe to our digital edition or pick up your copy of Hawaii Home + Remodeling at one of our partner locations.