Rehabbing Kitchen Estimate - is this a fair price?

[Julian L.]

Hello!

I'm looking to rehab this kitchen and found a contractor I really liked. This would be a place I will be living in for a while and I want to be sure it's done right, not cheap. Here are some photos, so you have an idea of what I'm talking about: 

Essentially, I'd like to demo the kitchen cabinets, knock out the wall to the left and create a peninsula. I'd then like to move the stove where the fridge is, and the fridge to the right of the sink counter. I then want to install 4 can lights over the kitchen and 2 pendant boxes over the peninsula. All new appliances, hardwood floor (to match the rest of the condo), etc.. 

The contractor I liked the best gave me a quote of $10,500. I would have to purchase all appliances, sink, floors and extras. This is what I have budgeted:

$3000 for appliances
$350 sink
$100 garbage disposal
$450 hood vent
$300 facet
$100 backsplash
$350 hardwood floor
$1000 granite counter top
$1000 white wood cabinets with silver hardware

First question: is this a reasonable budget for what I'll need to buy? 

Second question: What is the wiggle room for what contracts quote you and what they will go down to?

Third question: This is the estimate I received, does this seem reasonable?

[Watson Smith]

I think all those labor prices are high... Even for LA.  I couldn't imagine paying that in Atlanta.   I mean $950 to tear out cabinets and haul away... It would take you 2 hours max to do that and then you could buy a bagster from home depot for like 60 bucks for the debris. 

Framing the header for $1200...? Moving a water line for $450..? I've had my plumber move tons of water lines for and hook up sinks... both would cost me together $175 max.  $1150 for installing granite?  Since you are supplying the granite you know they offer free installation and sink when you buy it.

If I were you I would hire each trade out separately.  This is a small job and you don't need a contractor.  Find a plumber for the water lines, find an electrician for the can lights, buy the granite from the store and they will install it, find a painter and floor guy.  Reasonable labor should be like 7.5k total if you are buying all the material.

Remember the contractor is just subbing all this work out to the lowest bidder anyways.

Best of luck.