I'm not here looking for customers. I'm here to help any SoWal member understand the cost of materials so they can determine if the labor end is worth it or not. I have no problem sharing the actual costs of construction on the 400 projects I've already completed.
SoWal is also thick in layers of individuals who get paid out of the construction costs, but who actually perform no work that would be described as construction completion. Think about a contractor who hires managers to manage an individual house. Consider if those managers perform work and what the actual dollar value of the work they perform is worth compared to their expense. Consider the subs that contractors use and if the sub actually performs work on the building. Many, many Subs here do not perform any of the work but they do take some of the money for themselves which is categorized as a construction expense.
I like to start by asking for a detailed estimate of the cost of all the materials to complete a project. Your search begins and ends on this simple document. This document will show you whether the contractor of record has a true grasp on the materials it takes to build a building, and his or her success in negotiating the purchase of those materials. If they are overpaying for number 2 Southern Yellow Pine it can't be unrecognized on this type of a form. Then the difference becomes are the subs and the owner giving you $50,000 worth of combined value, $100,000 worth of combined value, $300,000 worth of combined value or $450,000 for their labor efforts alone.