A Builder’s Take on the Wild West of Home Repair Pricing
If you’ve ever tried getting quotes for a home repair or remodel, you’ve probably noticed something strange—the prices can be all over the place. You might receive one quote for $10,000 and another for $100,000 for the exact same job. How does that even happen?
The short answer is that there’s no real standard for pricing in residential construction.
Unlike industries where pricing is relatively transparent, residential construction costs are shaped by a mix of supply, demand, and availability. When contractors are busy—which has been the case for much of the past decade—they can afford to price aggressively. If a homeowner accepts the number, great. If not, there’s usually another project waiting.
After the 2008 recession, many contractors left the industry altogether. When the housing market rebounded, there simply weren’t enough skilled tradespeople to keep up. Demand increased sharply, and so did prices. Even less-experienced contractors were able to command premium rates because homeowners had limited options.
But market conditions are only part of the issue. There’s also a significant information gap. Most homeowners don’t know what a project should cost—and that’s not their fault. Without hands-on experience, it’s difficult to separate fair pricing from inflated estimates. It’s similar to trying to self-diagnose a medical issue by Googling symptoms—you might get close, but there’s a lot you don’t see.
That’s where the role of a construction manager becomes valuable.
When you’re consistently managing projects from start to finish, you develop a realistic sense of cost—what labor should run, where materials should land, and how scope decisions impact pricing. That perspective doesn’t come from a single project; it’s built over time through repetition and experience.
A project manager helps bridge the gap between homeowners and the construction process by bringing context to pricing decisions. The focus is on understanding scope, setting realistic budgets, and making sure costs are tied to the work being performed. With proper oversight, projects are easier to manage, pricing is more predictable, and outcomes are more consistent.
Just as important, a project manager works independently of labor and material markups. When compensation isn’t tied to inflating costs, the focus stays where it should—on efficiency, coordination, and quality. Contractors still run their businesses, but pricing decisions are reviewed with context and experience rather than taken at face value.
At Tenet Construction Group, that’s how we approach our work. We’re a client-focused construction management firm that applies a developer’s mindset to residential projects, helping homeowners understand what things should cost, manage risk, and keep projects organized from planning through completion.
If you’re considering a renovation or new build and want a clearer, more informed way to approach pricing and execution, we’re always happy to talk.
