Finding a Seattle Primary Residence Advice

[Colin L.]

Hey All - I have a few rental properties out in Boise where things were pretty easy going, but just moved to Seattle and am looking for our first primary residence. We've got a healthy budget, but get scared away from even small reno or remodel requirements because everyone is telling us that contractors are booked out 6-12 months and that costs have soared. It's hard for us to evaluate a potential home if we don't know if we can do some layout changes, additions, or even a simple garage build in the next few months for a predictable cost. 

I know a bunch of you have either done some recent remodels or can myth-bust a bit here, but would love some advice. 

One key question we are trying to answer: Would it be better to buy an already "finished" place or to invest a bit less after-repair value to get a finished place to our liking? It is unclear whether that is even possible (e.g. buy for $1.1m + $200k to get equivalent of $1.5m outright) or whether there is any return on remodels we hire out ourselves. 

Thanks!