Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.
How much will it cost to remodel my house?
The cost to remodel a home is highly variable — size and scope of the project, quality of materials, and the number of subcontractors required to complete the job all affect the total cost. The average national cost of a home renovation project is $13,500. The national average per-square-foot cost of a remodel ranges from $25 to $100. Nationally, kitchen and bathroom remodels are the most popular types of projects, in part because they typically have the highest return on investment when the home is sold. The national average cost of a major kitchen remodel ranges from $25,000 to $62,000, while the average bathroom remodel tends to cost $6,000 to $18,000. In addition to materials and labor costs, many remodeling project costs include permit fees, which, average $900 or more, depending on your location.
Do I need a contractor for a kitchen remodel?
A kitchen remodel is one of the most important investments you can make in your home, and it’s critical to get the details right; that’s where a home renovation contractor comes in. A minor remodel usually includes new cabinet faces and hardware, replacement appliances, and paint, while an extensive job may enlarge the kitchen’s square footage, install new cabinets or an island, change the layout, and lay new tile or hardwood floors. Any renovation that includes filing permits, construction, or electrical or plumbing work is best completed by an experienced contractor who knows local codes.
Why should you hire a contractor?
Hiring a general contractor is a good idea for many remodeling projects. Home renovation contractors have a broad range of skills to manage, coordinate and complete a project. They should help make sure your project comes in on time and within your budget as they hire and supervise all the necessary subcontractors, including electricians and plumbers. They also handle procuring all the materials required for your job. Some homeowners look to save money by acting as their own contractor, but an experienced home renovation contractor is worth the cost. They should know local building codes, be able to pull all necessary permits, and work with inspectors to make sure the construction meets local codes. Also, because they get professional discounts, they can typically buy materials at a better price than you can; better prices on materials and labor save you money, and make up for at least a percentage of the cost of the contractor.
When should you hire a contractor?
A few home remodeling projects can be done by an ambitious DIY-minded homeowner or local handyman, but many are best completed by a professional home renovation contractor. You should hire a contractor when you’re planning a large project that takes time, machinery or large tools, and several workers; a kitchen remodel, new bathroom or home addition will be most successful with a licensed, expert contractor at the helm. It’s particularly important to have a professional contractor on board for construction, electrical, plumbing and HVAC projects that require inspections to meet local building codes. Of course, you can hire a contractor for smaller projects, too, if you prefer to let an expert handle things like addition or removal of a wall, small framing projects, or anything that requires a permit.
You should hire a contractor when you’re ready to start a remodeling project and you have plans, a budget and a timeline for the work in hand, but before any remodeling work begins.
Reviews for Baton Rouge renovators
Tom V.
We were referred to Continental Management and Construction from the flooring company we have been using for several years and saw their reviews on Thumbtack. We knew that they had to be a quality operation from that referral alone. We however had no idea the quality and care we would receive from the conception to fruition. When you first meet anyone from this company, one notices they all have some type of garment displaying the Continental Management and Construction name on their shirt. This makes it easy for a homeowner to get an idea of how this group all fits together. It’s a detail many other companies don’t subscribe to. This place thinks of everything.
Before any demolition work started our kitchen, area was enveloped in “zip walls”. The goal was to contain any dust and debris and keep it from entering our main living area. When the walls went up we thought it was a bit excessive. After a few hours of tearing down we saw how important this inconvenience really was. I have been in several friends’ homes during renovations; Continental Management and Construction is the only place I have ever witness use these amazing inventions. It is an extra touch that makes this company stand out against its competitors.
It is this company’s policy to have a progress meeting each week with the homeowners. In today’s busy world we thought this was a bit extreme. It didn’t take long to see these meetings as a lifeline to Bill, Theophilus, Chuck, Anthony, Chris and the rest of the project personal. They were tremendously necessary, and we were pleased they were required. We were not handed off to some employee once the contracts were signed. Bill stayed with us every step of the way. The facilitator of each meeting was based on our current needs and never based on who was available. Once again, our needs were put ahead of their convenience.
Bill was happy to provide us with his personal cell phone number that he assured us would be answered any time of any day. We only had to call him one time after hours and he returned to our residence within the hour. The issue was our fault alone and he treated us with the utmost respect.
Our Designer was a lady named Bin. She was an integral part in making this kitchen come to life. Once construction started we thought she would drop out of our team and continuing designing for other Clients. That is not how Continental Management and Construction works; she was there to help with anything we needed, such as putting paint selections on the large screen in different pallets. This company puts your actual elements (such as flooring, backsplash, countertop, and appliances) onto the screen so you can see how the colors will coexist with each other. This service is truly priceless, and his patience was never ending.
Our Lead Carpenter, Josie, has been with the Continental Management and Construction for several years. He is a no nonsense man of few words. His carpentry skills were tested with several unique situations including “less than perfect” flooring conditions. No one knows the effort put forth to achieve the end results. No task was too big or too small. He was present at every weekly meeting with Bill and together they provided us with the details of how our kitchen was progressing and what to expect prior to the next meeting. Certain areas were not visible to us, such as wiring and plumbing so we had to take their word on the actual progress. We feel they never deceived us in what was going on with the job’s internal workings. They answered every question and gave us extreme confidence in the overall renovation. Every person that came in the house knew the rules of the residence and they were always followed. Theophilus handled everything professionally and made juggling the entire project look effortless. He was the last to leave each day and never cut corners in cleaning up, he stayed till the day’s tasks were completed to his high standard. One area we were adamant about was crown molding above the cabinets. We wanted to streamline the cabinets to the ceiling and give it a smooth transition. During the selection process we chose a white cabinet, which made for a very “non-forgiving” material for the crown molding. Each angle had to be measured and fit with precision; Matt took this element from workmanship to craftsmanship. The cabinets flow into the crown molding and meld as one unit. We couldn’t be happier with this detail.
The second in command was Rennie, he is the right hand of Theophilus and they worked together flawlessly. They made a solid team. When we had any small issue, such as moving something he was the one to appease us in any way. He was always courteous and made us feel like our interruptions were not a bother on his busy workday. The Crew assigned to us showed up on time everyday prepared to work immediately. They never stood around drinking coffee and socializing. Their mission was to get us up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible. They took this mission to heart and stayed on schedule. At the end of the workday they cleaned the area up with vengeance. We have two small dogs and they went to great lengths to see that no nails, insulation or other construction material was left behind for their tiny paws to walk across. Keeping our pet’s safe was as big of a priority for them as it was for our Family. Whenever someone had to go thru the yard gate they made sure the gate was closed after they were done. It might seem like a small detail, but the effort did not go unnoticed, this type of extra effort made our Crew really stand out.
We added several elements to the project as we moved along. They always were professional and were able to accommodate us and not compromise their time frame to start the next job. They made us feel like we were their only client, which of course we knew wasn’t the case, but we felt like we were their highest priority. We for the most part had odd small projects such as changing out doorknobs on a list of “things to get to one day”. It made sense to have Continental Management and Construction complete these projects rather than just keep putting them off. It was nice to have so many things completed and done by a professional crew. The fees for these “non contracted” items were reasonable and we felt were well worth the cost. We really liked the fact that whenever anyone from Meridian received a cell phone call they took it outside away from our home. This gave us the feeling that our job details were being kept confidential from other job sites as much as other job details were being kept private from us. It might seem minor, but it gave us an extra layer of confidentially that we really valued. It is just one more way this company goes beyond the call of duty.
The office staff is the facet that keeps Continental Management and Construction running smoothly behind the scenes. It appears that whoever answers the phone is happy to be at their job. One can tell by the tone in their voices that they are smiling. They stayed on top of the permits our parish required and the entire staff (Office, Crew and Management) were copied on every email, so everyone is kept abreast of how the project is progressing. There were never any surprises of any type. When we called with a question, we did not have to go over with multiple people what we were referring to. They all knew what was going on and assisted us in anyway we needed. Good communication was the key to why our project was such an immense success. The common element that appears in every email, text or phone call is the offer for assistance. They end every conversation and correspondence with, “let us know if there is anything we can help you with”. This small phrase is not just something they add by habit, it’s something they truly mean and stand by.
Our payments were processed on a “percentage of completion” schedule. This gave us a feeling of paying for what we could actually see as finished product. We felt they were upfront with all costs and stayed within a predetermined budget.
The quality of BC Kitchens & Cabinets exceeded our expectations and we liked the fact the cabinets were available when they said we could have them installed. They offer many options like slow closing doors and specialized dividers. If you can envision it, BC probably makes it. If they don’t, Bin will design it and build it. I truly believe they enjoy a challenge and providing the client with any type of custom piece is what they do best. Our renovation required three such custom pieces and we were please beyond words with all three. We would have never found these items anywhere else and the details put forth took our kitchen to the next level of “custom”. Watching this major renovation go from a concept on a screen to our actual kitchen was priceless. I should also add we were also given hard copies of anything we asked for. At the end we were given a binder containing all information pertinent to the project from day one to completion. It is nice to have everything in one place, concise and organized.
Continental Management and Construction was in our home alone and unsupervised a great deal of the time. We never felt uncomfortable trusting them with our pets and property. Each employee treated out home as his or her own. The people they employ were trustworthy and respectful at all times. As our project progressed we came to look at this company’s staff as our “temporary family”. They were in our home and roamed freely eight hours a day over several months. When they finally packed up the last day it was somewhat bittersweet. However, we know they will be back. We will probably never use another contractor as long as we own our home. They really are that good.
Continental Construction
Ready to find a pro?
See more reviews, compare prices, and hire your favorite pros all with Thumbtack.
There are 16 five star Renovators in Baton Rouge, LA on Thumbtack.
Why hire professionals on Thumbtack?
Free to use
You never pay to use Thumbtack: Get cost estimates, contact pros, and even book the job—all for no cost.
Compare prices side-by-side
You’ll know how much your project costs even before booking a pro.
Hire with confidence
With access to 1M+ customer reviews and the pros’ work history, you’ll have all the info you need to make a hire.
