Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers, each pointing at the page that answers properly. The questions about HyreRemodel itself are answered in full here, because they belong nowhere else.
Last updated .
Start here if you are not sure what you are asking. The four questions below route most people to the right part of the site faster than the navigation does. If you are early, begin with the problem you are trying to solve rather than the room you are unhappy with — the services hub is organised that way deliberately.
By stage
| Where you are | Start here |
|---|---|
| Wondering whether to remodel at all, or move | Remodel vs move calculator |
| Not sure which project solves your problem | Remodeling services, routed by goal |
| Trying to work out what it will cost | What drives a remodeling budget, then the calculators |
| Deciding who designs it | Design-build vs hiring an architect |
| Wondering what approvals you need | Permits and approvals |
| Choosing between companies | Choosing a remodeling contractor |
| Holding three proposals that do not match | Quote comparison worksheet |
| About to sign something | Contracts, payments and change orders |
| Checking a contractor’s licence or insurance | Licence lookup directory |
| Wanting to know what this site is | About HyreRemodel and how we vet |
Still not answered?
The research library carries the work behind the claims on this site: licence classes by state, deposit limits, insurance requirements, permit fees by city, and a contractor census counted against Census data. If your question is about a number we publish, the answer is usually there with its source and the date it was retrieved.
If it is not, contact us. We answer questions about the information on the site, and we will tell you plainly when something is outside what we can help with. Pricing your specific project and recommending a specific company both are.
HyreRemodel is an independent remodeling resource and connection platform, not a remodeling contractor. Information here is general and may vary by location, building code, zoning, property condition and individual circumstances. It is not legal, design or engineering advice.
Questions
Does HyreRemodel do remodeling work?
No. We are an independent information resource and a platform intended to connect homeowners with remodeling contractors. We do not design, build, project-manage or supervise construction, we do not employ tradespeople or subcontractors, and we hold no licences to perform remodeling work. Everything on this site is written so that you can hold a better conversation with the companies that do.
Does HyreRemodel vet or recommend contractors?
No. We do not rate, review, endorse, recommend or vet contractors, and we do not describe any company as trusted. We have no verification programme, no rating system and no inspection process. We would rather state that plainly than imply a diligence we have not done — how we vet sets out exactly what we do and do not do.
What happens after I submit an enquiry?
We read the project type, the zip code and anything you have noted, then follow up about next steps. Contractor matching is still being built, so this is not an instant dispatch line and no contractor receives your details unless you agree. How it works describes the whole path, including what we cannot do yet.
Is there a charge to use HyreRemodel?
No. Using the site, the calculators and the research costs nothing, and submitting an enquiry does not commit you to a contractor, a design or a start date. How it works explains how we expect the business to make money and why that is disclosed rather than hidden.
How do I know what my remodel will cost?
Not from an average, which is why we publish none. What decides your number is what moves rather than what you choose — plumbing, structure and electrical, not tile. What drives a remodeling budget sets out the factors and the structure a proposal needs, and the calculators show their workings and their sources.
Do I need a permit?
Usually for structural changes, additions and most plumbing, electrical and mechanical work; usually not for paint, flooring and like-for-like fixture swaps. It is decided locally and your building department answers it in one phone call. Permits and approvals explains the system and what unpermitted work costs later.
How do I compare three proposals?
Give all three companies the same drawings, the same allowances and the same exclusions, then compare line by line rather than total against total. Differences in what is excluded account for more of the gap than differences in margin. The quote comparison worksheet is built for exactly that.
How do I check whether a contractor is licensed?
With the issuing board directly, not from a number on a card. Our licence lookup directory lists the official URLs. Note that requirements vary enormously and some states issue no residential general contractor licence at all; see states without contractor licensing.
Should I hire a designer or a design-build firm?
It depends on how much the structure changes and how much independent oversight you want. The separated model buys competitive pricing and an advocate; design-build buys speed and one point of accountability. Design-build vs hiring an architect gives a decision test rather than a recommendation.
What should be in the contract?
Scope, the drawings it was priced from, allowances as amounts, exclusions written out, a schedule, payments tied to completed milestones, a change order procedure, insurance, warranty and dispute resolution. Contracts, payments and change orders covers the clauses that matter when things go wrong.
How much contingency should I hold?
Enough to absorb what is found behind the walls without stopping the project, and more for an older house. Hold it outside the contract sum, treat it as unavailable until something is actually discovered, and agree in writing what happens to what remains. The cost guide explains why where it sits matters as much as how much it is.
What if my house was built before 1978?
Work disturbing painted surfaces is generally covered by the EPA’s Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which requires the firm to be certified, to use lead-safe work practices and to give you the "Renovate Right" pamphlet before starting. Ask to see the certification. Older houses may also bring asbestos and knob-and-tube wiring.
Which project do I actually need?
Start from the problem you are solving rather than the room you are unhappy with, because "more storage" is frequently a cabinetry answer rather than an addition. The services hub routes by goal, and its table is willing to send you to a cheaper answer than the one you had in mind.
Can I get my personal data removed?
Yes. Email us and we will delete it. What we collect, who it is shared with and how to have it removed are set out in the privacy policy, and we do not sell personal information to anyone.
How do you decide what to publish, and how do you handle mistakes?
Code, safety and licensing claims are sourced to federal agencies, model codes and state boards, and the references are published on the page with the date they were checked. Where verification is missing we say it is missing rather than filling the gap. Our editorial policy sets out the standards and how to report a correction.