AN INDEPENDENT SECOND OPINION BEFORE YOU SIGN
Before you spend thousands on your remodel, get a second opinion.
Remodeling is a big investment, and it helps to have someone knowledgeable in your corner. I personally review every RemodelCheck with the same perspective I’d bring if a friend or family member asked me to look over their project—what looks good, what I’d clarify, and what I’d want answered before signing.
Chris Brinker, Licensed General Contractor and Founder of RemodelCheck
Personally reviewed by an experienced GC · Nationwide · Starting at $249
Most homeowners are asked to evaluate a remodeling proposal filled with scopes, allowances, exclusions, payment schedules and construction details they deal with maybe once or twice in their lives. Your contractor deals with them every day. That’s a big information gap when tens of thousands of dollars are at stake.
A $100,000 remodel shouldn’t come down to “I think this looks okay.”
BEFORE YOU SIGN
What’s missing?
I review these like I would my own project. If something is missing it costs everyone time and money.
What could cost more?
Low allowances, exclusions and vague scope language can turn into thousands of dollars in unexpected costs.
What could take longer?
Are there certain materials that are large lead times? Is there a schedule at all?
You don’t need to distrust your contractor. You just need to understand the deal before you sign it.
BEFORE YOU SIGN
The best time to find an expensive problem is before it becomes one.
Small gaps in a remodeling proposal can become expensive decisions once construction starts. RemodelCheck looks for the places where scope, pricing and expectations may not be as clear as they should be - while you still have time to ask questions and make changes.
MISSING SCOPE
Something you expect may not actually be included.
WHY IT MATTERS
Finding it before signing gives you the opportunity to clarify it, price it and put it in writing.
UNREALISTIC ALLOWANCES
The allowance may not match the products or finishes you actually intend to select.
WHY IT MATTERS
A $5,000 allowance for something that will realistically cost $10,000 means the project may already be $5,000 over budget.
VAGUE SCOPE
Language such as “modify electrical as necessary” can leave cost and responsibility unclear.
WHY IT MATTERS
Defining the work before construction reduces uncertainty and potential change orders.
BID & PRICING DIFFERENCES
Two proposals with different prices may not actually include the same work.
WHY IT MATTERS
The lowest cost bid isn’t necessarily the lowest cost project if important scope is missing.
A RemodelCheck review doesn’t have to uncover a huge problem to pay for itself.
Clarifying one allowance, exclusion or missing scope item before signing could prevent a surprise costing far more than the review.
BUILT BY A CONTRACTOR, FOR HOMEOWNERS
I’ve spent years on the other side of these contracts.
Christopher Brinker
Founder - Licensed General Contractor
CA License #1140262
I'm a licensed general contractor with years of residential remodeling experience as carpenter, superintendent and owner. I went to undergrad at Virginia Tech for construction management while working as a framer and remodeled homes during the summers. I went to graduate school at ASU for construction management while working for the largest private homebuilder in America. I then went on to own my own remodeling company. I've estimated, scoped, contracted and managed bathrooms, kitchens, additions and larger residential renovations for years.
I created RemodelCheck to give homeowners something that's surprisingly hard to get before signing a remodeling contract: an experienced, independent second opinion from someone who understands how these projects are actually built.
My job isn't to second-guess your contractor. It's to help you understand what you're agreeing to and give you better questions to ask before construction begins.
Not to tell you your contractor is wrong.
Not to scare you out of remodeling.
To help you ask better questions before the expensive part starts.
HOW IT WORKS
Simple process. Better questions. Fewer surprises.
Upload
Pick a package in the next section that applies to your project needs. Securely send us your proposal, contract, plans and other relevant project documents.
1
We Review
A real human experienced licensed residential general contractor reviews your scope, pricing, allowances, exclusions and potential areas of concern.
2
Get Your Report
Receive a clear, easy-to-understand report showing what looks solid, what needs clarification and the questions worth asking before you sign.
3
Move Forward With Confidence
Use your RemodelCheck to have a better conversation with your contractor, resolve important questions and understand what you’re agreeing to before construction begins.
4
Choose the level of review that fits your project
Essential
Best when you have one proposal and want an expert second opinion before signing.
$249
Review of one contractor proposal
Scope completeness review
Major pricing observations
Allowance & exclusion review
Potential change-order risks
5-10 questions to ask your contractor
Written RemodelCheck report
Comprehensive
Best when you’ve chose your contractor and want a deeper review before committing.
$399
Everything in essential, plus:
Detailed scope review
Pricing review by major project category
RemodelCheck Score
Allowance & selection analysis
Contract clarity & payment review
10-15 prioritized action items
15-minute video consultation
Limited follow-up after your consultation
MOST POPULAR
Advisor
Best for larger projects, competing bids or decisions where you want direct expert guidance.
$1,099
Review of up to 3 contractor proposals
Apples-to-apples bid comparison
Scope normalization across contractors
Pricing and allowance comparison
RemodelCheck Scores
Contractor-specific questions & concerns
30-minute videoconsultation
Review of on revised proposal or contractor response
Not sure which review you need? Most homeowners who have already selected a contractor choose Comprehensive.
A few hundred dollars for clarify before committing thousands.
Why I started RemodelCheck.
I've worked on a lot of remodeling projects over the years, and one thing I've learned is that homeowners and contractors generally want the same thing: a great finished project that everyone can feel good about.
Most homeowners have worked hard and saved for years to improve their homes. And most contractors take pride in their work and genuinely want to deliver something their customers will love.
So why don't all remodeling projects go smoothly?
Because even a relatively small remodel has a lot of moving parts. Every home is different, every family has different needs, and every project comes with its own unique challenges.
Contractors do their best to anticipate those challenges, but while they may have remodeled a hundred bathrooms, they've probably never remodeled one in your house.
And homeowners do their best to manage the process, but six weeks without a kitchen in a busy household can test just about anyone's patience.
That's where I saw an opportunity to help.
I started RemodelCheck to give homeowners someone experienced in their corner. Someone who can take the extra time to look through the details, catch things that might have been overlooked, and offer an independent perspective without having a financial stake in the construction project.
Sometimes that means identifying something missing from a proposal. Other times it's simply confirming that things look good and helping you feel more comfortable moving forward.
Ultimately, I believe a home can be an incredibly special place. Mine was growing up, and it is again today with my own family.
I'd like to help more people create that same feeling in theirs.
Thanks,
Chris
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions before you get started?
-
We evaluate whether the pricing appears reasonable for the scope described and flag areas that deserve a closer look. We also look for allowances, exclusions and missing scope that could make an attractive initial price more expensive later. RemodelCheck is not an appraisal or guaranteed estimate.
-
Great. RemodelCheck isn't about distrusting your contractor. It's about making sure both sides have the same understanding of the scope, selections, allowances and costs before construction begins. Clearer expectations are good for homeowners and good contractors.
-
No. You can use the report privately to better understand the proposal and decide which questions you want to ask. If you choose to share the findings with your contractor, that's entirely up to you.
-
We can still review it, especially if construction hasn't started. There may still be time to clarify scope, selections, allowances and other details before work begins. The earlier we review the documents, the more useful the review is likely to be.
-
Most reviews are completed within 24–48 hours after we receive all required documents. Consultation calls included with Comprehensive and Advisor reviews are scheduled separately.
Before you sign, check the remodel.
A remodeling contract can shape your scope, budget and experience for months. Make sure you understand what you're agreeing to before you commit.
Starting at $249 - Secure upload - Independent review - Actionable findings