You thought you were getting a great deal—until the “extras” started piling up.
You planned and saved for your dream remodel for years. You made sure to get multiple bids and found a remodeler whose estimate fit your budget and who could finish the project in the time you had available. You signed a contract and thought you were getting a great deal—until the “extras” started piling up.
Extra delays and labor costs. Extra charges for materials. Extra fees for permits you didn’t know about. Before you know it your dream remodel has become a nightmare.
If you’ve ever felt blindsided by a remodeling bill that ballooned far beyond the original quote, you’re not alone. Reddit, Facebook, and countless other forums are filled with horror stories of contractors that wind up charging tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars more than originally estimated, and the homeowner often has to choose between going into debt to cover the costs, leaving the project unfinished, having a lien put on their home, or dealing with a lengthy and costly legal battle.
One of the biggest complaints we hear from homeowners is that their last contractor wasn’t up front about costs—or worse, intentionally kept things vague. What started as an exciting home upgrade quickly turned into a stressful, expensive ordeal. At Utah Home Remodel Experts, we believe your remodel should be an empowering experience—not a financial guessing game. That’s why we’re breaking down how shady pricing and poor transparency can wreck your budget—and how to avoid it.
10 Red Flags to Watch for when Hiring a Home Remodeling Contractor
Too often, homeowners sign on the dotted line without a clear understanding of what’s included in the quote—or worse, they’re working without a proper contract at all. That leads to confusion, budget creep, and tension when the numbers start climbing. And while some contractors are intentionally dishonest and misleading, others simply lack the experience to know how to accurately estimate a project and communicate it transparently. In either case, they’re not contractors you want to be working with.
To avoid hiring the wrong contractor, look for these warning signs during the quoting phase:
1. No written estimate.
Never trust verbal estimates or agreements. Everything should be in writing.
2. Estimates aren’t itemized.
Estimates should include an itemized breakdown that lets you see how much is estimated for specific materials, labor, permits, fees, etc. You should know everything they’ve included in their estimate and assume that anything not itemized in the estimate will be an additional cost down the road. If a contractor doesn’t want to explain their numbers, walk away.
3. Estimates that come in substantially cheaper than the others.
Cheap estimates may feel like a win—until the contractor starts hitting you with change orders and surprise add-ons. “Oh, demo wasn’t included in that price.” Or “Those cabinets? That was just the installation cost.” Suddenly that “budget-friendly” remodel costs more than the premium option you passed up. Many unreliable contractors use lowball estimates as a bait-and-switch tactic, knowing they’ll make up the difference later when you have little choice but to say yes.
4. Over-promising timelines that seem too good to be true.
Quality work takes time. Contractors that claim they can do the work substation faster than other companies are usually either planning to cut corners to rush the job’s completion or they don’t know how to realistically estimate how long a project will take–which usually leaves you paying extra labor costs. If you’re having to rent a separate living space during your remodel, that unexpected delay will cost you more in rental expenses as well.
5. Vague language.
If an estimate contains wording such as “TBD” or “we’ll figure that out later,” you’re either dealing with a contractor that doesn’t know how to be transparent with you–or is trying hard not to be.
6. Dodging detailed budget questions.
Contractors that can’t–or won’t–answer your budget questions aren’t worth hiring. A good contractor should be able to answer any of your detailed budget questions up front, with complete transparency.
7. Unwillingness to define the scope.
The scope of a project includes things such as what work will and won’t be done and who will be responsible for doing the work, the timeline for the project and the estimated costs.
8. Unclear payment schedule.
Knowing when you’ll be paying for specific aspects of the project is just as important as knowing how much you’ll be paying. While it is common to be asked to pay a deposit up front to cover initial labor costs or to pay for materials as they are purchased, be wary of contractors that ask you to pay 100% of the estimate upfront.
9. No mention of permitting or inspection requirements.
A contractor that is experienced and transparent will factor the cost (both in time and money) of securing permits or getting required inspections into their estimates. If they expect the homeowner to handle those on their own prior to beginning the project, it should be clearly detailed in the scope of the project.
10. Not willing to share their license and insurance information for verification.
Most states (including Utah) require contractors to be licensed and have their own liability insurance. You can verify that their license is valid by looking it up in your state’s licensing database and can verify their insurance by calling the insurance provider. You could get stuck footing the bill for uninsured contractors who get injured on your property. And work performed by unlicensed contractors may not meet your state’s building code requirements and have to be redone.
What Transparency Looks Like
Here’s what you should expect from a reputable, client-focused remodeler:
- Upfront conversations about your goals and budget
- Clear, itemized, written estimates
- A written contract with defined scope, timeline, and payment milestones
- Willingness to answer all of your questions
- Regular updates throughout the project
- Seeking your approval for any work or expenses exceeding the scope of the project
- Proof that they meet all licensing and insurance requirements
- Zero pressure and full accountability
At Utah Home Remodel Experts, we know that with transparency, it isn’t just about dollars and cents. Not having clarity on your project takes an emotional toll as well, creating stress, doubt, and worry. That’s why we don’t do vague. We do clarity, professionalism, and respect, and we welcome tough questions because you deserve answers, transparency, and peace of mind.
So whether you’re remodeling a kitchen, finishing a basement, or upgrading your whole home—we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Contact us today and see what a difference full transparency can make.
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