03/20/2026
Your renovation quote just changed. Hereâs exactly whyâand how to prevent it.
Most contractors provide an estimate, not a fixed price. There is a massive difference, and it costs Vancouver homeowners thousands every year.
Here is what is actually happening behind the scenes:
1. Quoting without a full scope: If a contractor walks through your home for 20 minutes and sends a figure the next day, thatâs a ballpark figure, not a commitment. When the walls come down and the reality differs from their assumptions, the price shifts.
2. Hidden costs in âAllowancesâ: A â$1,500 tile allowanceâ sounds reasonable until you select the tiles you actually want, and the bill hits $2,800. The difference comes out of your pocket mid-project. Many quotes are padded with these low-ball allowances to make the initial total look attractive.
3. Change orders as a business model: A low quote gets you to sign. Then, every minor adjustmentâa different light fixture or moving a wall six inchesâtriggers a âchange orderâ invoice. For some, this isnât a mistake; itâs how they make their margin.
4. Omitted permit and engineering fees: In Vancouver, permits, structural engineering, and WorkSafeBC compliance can add $10,000â$25,000 to a project. If these arenât explicitly listed, they arenât included.
How to protect yourself:
* Ask: âIs this a fixed-price contract or an estimate?â
* Ask: âCan I see the full, itemised scope of work before signing?â
* Ask: âWhat is the specific process if you encounter an unforeseen issue behind a wall?â
* Ask: âAre all permit, engineering, and compliance fees included in this total?â
A firm that cannot provide clear answers before you sign certainly wonât provide them after.
At Enzo Design Build, we operate on a fixed design-build model. One price. Full scope. No surprises.
Planning a renovation in Metro Vancouver? If you want to actually understand what youâre signing, visit our website and complete our contact form.
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