Honest Advice on Remodel Pricing and Estimates.
Hi friends, Caleb here. Hiring a contractor is one of the biggest trust decisions you can make as a homeowner. Your home is one of the biggest investments you may make in your life. And the condition it remains in will impact your kids, family, and life. In this conversation, Keith Cook, founder of Cook Construction & Renovation in Brighton, Colorado, sits down with me to talk through what homeowners in North Denver and along the I-25 corridor really want to know: how to tell whether a contractor is trustworthy, what a bathroom remodel actually costs, and whether you need multiple estimates. Since 2021, our team has completed 80+ kitchen, bathroom, basement, and whole-home renovations from Boulder to Keystone. Trust me - I’ve been alongside him for a good bit of the ride.
What a Trustworthy Contractor Does: Over-Communicate
Caleb: In non-traditional spaces, there's a gray area. The creative contractors are trying to pull off miracles in some parts of the home, and we appreciate the grace clients show when things don't go according to plan. That said, clients want to know they're not being taken for a ride. What advice do you have for homeowners trying to find a contractor they can trust?
Keith: You're looking for a contractor who says, "Hey, just so you know, your ceiling dips down half an inch, comes back up three-eighths of an inch, then drops another eighth of an inch over the last two feet. That's going to keep my tile from being perfect at the top. I'll do the best I can with what I'm working with, but I doubt you want to pay to skim coat your whole ceiling flat."
Those are the conversations you want. A contractor saying, “This is usually a problem," or "I can see this becoming an issue." You want him or her over-communicating anything that isn't going to be perfect, or might not be. That's especially true with a smaller shop. The big construction companies will often just build skim coating into the price whether it's needed or not, so if it is needed, it's covered.
Look for Solutions, Not Just Problems
Keith: I also want to be clear about who this advice is for. If you're trying to get these projects done on a budget, and you're not hiring the top-of-the-line, high-end, custom-home general contractor, then this is what to look for: a contractor who says, "I'll be honest. I know you don't want to pay for skim coating, so let's figure out a different solution."
Across the board, that's what you want. What kind of solutions are they bringing you? Or is it a contractor who just brings you the problem and asks, "What do you want to do?" and leaves you to figure it out? You ask, "Well, what would you do?" and they say, "I don't know. It could be this or that."
Caleb: Got it.
Keith: That proactiveness is really what you're looking for. How much is my contractor trying to prevent future tension, future headaches, and future miscommunication?
Why There's No Such Thing as a "Perfect" Remodel
Keith: Part of trusting your contractor is having the right expectations. The biggest misconception people have is that construction is a perfect industry, or that it can be. The only "perfect" construction is the original construction, built to plan from day one, and even then there's no guarantee it'll all work out. Unless everything was planned from the original walkthrough and build-out, you won't get it covered perfectly. And even then, there's still a chance it won't come out to one person's idea of perfect.
Caleb: Right.
Keith: That's probably the biggest hurdle for contractors and clients to get past. Here's an example. A contractor paints a wall and says, "I've put two coats of the color you requested on the wall." The client says, "It doesn't look right." Maybe they picked a dark color where a third coat might help, or might not. The sunlight hits that wall at a specific time of day and makes it look slightly different than it does the rest of the day, so in their eyes it's not "perfect."
Once you come to terms with the fact that there's no such thing as true perfection in construction, you can work back toward the real question: Is this contractor going to give me the best product possible?
How a Good Contractor Handles a Mistake
Keith: On the project we were just talking about [in the last episode], my plumber was off by about a foot and a half on where he thought the drain was going to come out. It's the middle of the day, he starts cutting, and all of a sudden the homeowner is sitting on his main floor with drywall dust coming down all over his stereo. He's upset, and he's got a real problem.
Those are the moments you find out what kind of contractor you have. "You know what? We have an issue. You're right. I'm sorry. We're going to figure out a way forward, but there's going to have to be some compromise." And that's when you, as the client, need to recognize, "Okay, this is unavoidable."
Caleb: Yeah.
Keith: If I remember right, I had my plumber stop for the day. I spent a day or two with the client working through different bathroom layouts to avoid having a soffit there. They finally decided the soffit would be okay and wouldn't be noticeable, and it wasn't. Months later he told me, "I barely notice it, if I ever do."
Caleb: What you're getting at is the trust you build with your contractor. If they've done enough on the front end to prove you can trust them, then when the inevitable hiccups happen, there's a bank of goodwill to draw from on both sides.
Keith: Exactly. That's what you're looking for.
How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost? The "Buying a Car" Rule
Caleb: Moving into the third part of this: pricing.
Keith: The fun part. I think this one's a little easier. If you're getting a new bathroom, think of it like buying a car for the person who'll use it. If you're doing your master bathroom, you're probably looking at about the price of your wife's car, or if you're the mom or the primary caregiver, your own family vehicle. That vehicle price is most likely pretty close to your all-in bathroom price.
It's no different with a hall bathroom or your kids' bathroom. It's probably about the same as buying them a car. They're 17 or 18, getting ready for college, and you want to set them up for success. It's probably not a brand-new car, and if it is, it's a model on the lower end of amenities.
Caleb: Right.
Keith: From what I've seen over the past decade and a half, those price tags stay pretty consistent.
Master bathroom remodel (the family SUV): right around $50,000
Hall or kids' bathroom remodel (a four- or five-year-old sedan): about $15,000 to $20,000
And those are all-in prices: permits if required, debris haul-away, all the materials, all the subcontractors, and the general contractor paid. Everybody, all in. That's the best way to think about bathroom pricing.
Caleb: That gives people some pretty concrete ballpark ranges, which I think will help.
Should You Get Multiple Contractor Estimates?
Caleb: I know people love getting multiple estimates. But with these kinds of projects, it takes a creative team to pull them off, so you might not get the usual three or four estimates when shopping around. What should homeowners look for in a contractor who says, "Sure, we can do this"? Any green flags if you might only get one number going into the project?
Keith: Honestly, your first thought should be: Why am I only getting one number?
When Only One Estimate Makes Sense
Keith: Here's an example. In Colorado, some areas are on well water only. If you need a well dug, the number of people who do that is already small. It's a very niche job. Now factor in Colorado's rocky mountain ground. Past 500 feet down, the number of drillers drops by at least half. If you have to go more than 1,000 feet through mountain bedrock, that list shrinks by another 60 or 70 percent. You might find only one or two contractors in the entire state who can dig the well your municipality requires.
I tell you all that to say: in that case, it makes sense that you can only get one or two estimates. There are several layers there: the depth, the niche market, how rarely people need a well dug, the bedrock. Add it all up and you understand why the market is so small.
For Everything Else, Get Multiple Estimates
Keith: For everything else, I'd be very wary. I'd step back, take responsibility, and ask, "Why can't I get more contractors? Why is this so hard?" If you've contacted six contractors and only one gave you an estimate while everyone else said it isn't possible, you need to look into other options. And if you're saying, "I searched and could only find one guy," I'd re-evaluate how you're searching.
The only way you'll know you're getting good value is by getting multiple estimates. And estimates aren't just about price. What clients forget is that multiple estimates also baseline your wish list. "Oh, I forgot to tell the first contractor I wanted a shaving niche here." "This guy didn't mention that." "I never thought of this." By the time three contractors have walked through it with you, you'll have a solid base to work from.
Caleb, you've seen it. You've researched contractors.
Caleb: Yeah.
Keith: There's no way you only find one contractor, unless it's like that well situation, where it's so niche and the criteria are so unique. But when that does happen, those one or two contractors know how to make you feel confident from the very first phone call. You'll feel it right away: "I feel great. I know what's going to happen. I've got a start date. I know what the down payment is." Their process will be so dialed in that you'll know you're working with the right company from the first conversation.
For everything else, get multiple estimates. If you're wary or something doesn't feel right, get extra estimates. That's the only way to do it in construction without being a general contractor yourself and knowing what to look for, which I'm sure you and I will cover in a future Q&A.
Final Advice: Be Open to the Possibilities
Caleb: Anything else you'd tell homeowners and condo owners in that same situation? If those clients hadn't found you, they'd still be making that trek up and down the stairs every night to use the restroom and shower downstairs. That's a pretty inconvenient place to be.
Keith: Oh, yeah. What it really did for them is give each of them a space. His bathroom is downstairs and hers is upstairs. He'll still use it in the middle of the night, but for the most part she's made hers her own, he's made the downstairs his own, and they both enjoy having their own spaces.
My last thought is: be open to the possibilities. If you are, you'll be shocked at what can actually happen. That's the big difference between me and other contractors. I'm always open to the possibilities, and I sit and listen until the client is done talking before I respond. You never know if, right at the end, they'll give you the nugget of knowledge you needed to put the whole vision together.
Caleb: Perfect. Thanks so much, Keith.
Key Takeaways for Homeowners
No remodel is "perfect." Older homes have uneven ceilings, shifting walls, and surprises behind the drywall. The goal is the best result possible for your home and budget.
Choose a contractor who over-communicates. A trustworthy contractor tells you about problems before they show up in the finished work.
Look for solutions, not just problems. The best contractors bring you options, not just questions.
Watch how mistakes are handled. Owning the issue, pausing work, and finding a compromise together is a green flag.
Use the "buying a car" rule for bathroom budgets. Plan on about $50,000 all-in for a master bath and $15,000 to $20,000 for a hall bath.
Get multiple estimates. They help you judge value and fill in your wish list. Only very niche jobs should limit you to one bid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a master bathroom remodel cost in the Denver area?
According to Keith Cook, an average all-in master bathroom remodel runs right around $50,000, including permits, debris removal, materials, subcontractors, and the general contractor.
How much does a hall bathroom remodel cost?
A hall or kids' bathroom remodel typically runs about $15,000 to $20,000 all-in.
How many contractor estimates should I get?
Aim for at least three. Multiple estimates help you understand fair pricing and remind you of features you may have forgotten to ask for. Only highly specialized work, like deep well drilling in Colorado's mountain bedrock, should leave you with just one or two options.
How can I tell if a contractor is trustworthy?
Look for proactive communication. A trustworthy contractor points out potential issues early, offers practical solutions that fit your budget, and takes ownership when something goes wrong.
Ready to Start Your Remodel?
Planning a bathroom, kitchen, basement, or whole-home renovation in North Denver? Keith works directly with every homeowner to understand their vision and build a plan that fits their family, lifestyle, and budget. Start your project with Cook Construction & Renovation.
