I hear you’re expensive…

Purchasing a remodeling project can be difficult because it’s impossible to compare apples to apples. Even if an estimate appears to have all the same components, how can a client be sure that the job will be executed with the same attention to detail, the same level of craftsmanship? Here’s an example: A bare-bones, stripped-down estimate from another contractor might include a line item for the kitchen electrical work that says, “lighting, switching, and outlets for kitchen.” During construction, the client might ask, “Will there be two recessed lights over my sink or just one?” The contractor then raises his eyebrows and says, “Well, actually, none. Your lighting allowance includes one surface mount light in the middle of the kitchen and one over the sink. I can do recessed lighting for you but that’s going to be an upcharge.” At Blackdog, we don’t believe in lowball estimates designed to get the job. We feel a responsibility to provide accurate, upfront pricing that is reflective of our clients’ expectations regarding quality, style, and functionality. When we give an estimate, it’s “real” in that we’ve taken time upfront to gain an understanding of our clients’ expectations for the finished project.

Every year we are privileged to work in beautiful homes, large and small. In fact, most of our work is not in grand mansions but in more modest family houses. Sadly, most of these meticulously crafted, smaller projects cannot be effectively photographed. The photographs that appear in magazines are inevitably those of the larger projects for which we have been selected and consequently, we are occasionally confronted by the misperception that “Blackdog only does fancy jobs.” In point of fact, nothing could be farther from the truth. It would be far more accurate to say, “Blackdog only provides excellent service and only does quality work.” Blackdog is fiercely proud of all our work – to be entrusted with the homes of our clients is the highest honor to which we can aspire.