As a fellow Bay Area remodeler, let me tell you I feel your pain.

Just scanning down your bid, here are a few things that stand out:

Electrical and Lighting of $3,400 sounded a LITTLE steep, but then I saw that you have ANOTHER $1,400 for finish electrical, which is where I go UH UH! For a few cans, outlets, switches, etc., that's pretty over the top. Cans are a cinch both in the rough-in and finish, so that's nonsense. I'd say all in your electrical should be no more than $3,000 for a good licensed electrician. You might also shave a bit off the plumbing, but not much. You've got finish elec., finish carpentry, finish plumbing but also FINISH WORK? Eh? What's left to finish? And then cleanup. The vinyl tile install is a little steep too, it's also pretty low skill level in my opinion and shouldn't be more than $5 a foot unless it's mastic set.

I do know how hard it is to find reasonable labor rates around here, it sometimes astounds me.

I'm also curious about the plumbing 1150 and then the finish plumbing 1500. What's the finish plumbing - hooking up the faucet and turning on the water?!? - the 2 together seem high - does that inlucde a new faucet or do you pay for that separately?

You need to tell us where in the country you are, since prices are much higher in NYC, CT, and California than in most parts of Texas, Nebraska and Iowa, for example. Also, not giving a list of what the materials are, it still is very difficult to say. Custom, Semi custom or stock cabinets? A lot of crown molding? Off the top, the only things that seem high are the plumming and electrical for the size of the space and relatively little movement of plumbing. Do you need to upgrade the elctrical box or add a second one to accommodate the increased outlets and lights in the kitchen? If the Plumbing estimate of 1150 includes t he first time dishwasher intallation, what is included in the "finish plumbing"? Just hooking up the sink, faucet, GD and maybe refrig? If so, that seems high to me. However, please note that my prices are in CT, which is high, but from people I contacted myself. To have a GC provide the plumber DOUBLED the cost. But after I went with my own plumber, the GC kept trying to cut costs to increase his profit elsewhere, so beware of trying that. If you want to GC yourself you will probably save a lot, but don't then call a GC for the small stuff. Most won't appreciate it.

Sue

Thank you for your great responses! Since I'm a remodeling novice, I have no idea what "finish" means in the second parts of the estimate--no details were given. I just got these estimates and I was hoping to get some information from you smart folks so that when I go back to question him about these figures, I'll know a bit more of the right questions to ask.
More info that either got lost in all of that text or wasn't included:

1.Our house is in the San Francisco bay area, so I know it is an expensive location.

2. Cabinets are standard DuraSupreme with minimal crown molding.

3. The plumbing price would not include the faucet, that would be purchased separately. Counter mount.

4. I don't think we need to update or add electrical box. We did some electrical upgrades right when we moved in, including an additional box.

The electrical and plumbing both seem very high to me for a small kitchen with basic work being done. Since you are demoing to the studs (see drywall estimate), that is the fastest and easiest time to add electrical and change plumbing. No snaking through walls, everything is open and easily accessible. You might ask what the allowance is for electrical fixtures, and any allowances provided to go towards faucets, etc. Other than that, call a local plumber and electrician or two, get an estimate for the same work. Then you will know the difference is probably the markup he gets for GCing your job.

Sue

The Finish work is separate from Rough work in that rough-in occurs basically behind the sheetrock. It includes the basic stubbing out of wiring and plumbing. That's different from Finish electrical and plumbing which would include things like installing the trim on the cans, or hanging pendant lights, screwing the faceplates on outlets and switches, etc. Plumbing finish is installing the diswhaswer or sink, faucet, etc.

Until last year we lived in Woodside (on the peninsula) and in general your prices seem okay to me except for the electrical and plumbing. I'm basically in complete agreement with the above posters.

I wonder what the electrician / plumbers know that we don't .... Do they have x-ray vision and so can see all kinds of problems? It just strikes me as too high.

As an aside, we had our foundation worked on too (adobe soil!) and that really hurt. It was so expensive but, of course, necessary. Ugh.

Let us know what your GC says about the electrical / plumbing breakdown, please!

I have to say that your prices aren't out of line with my experience here in San Francisco. The electrical seems a touch high, the rough plumbing seems low and the finish plumbing seems high for a kitchen (assuming you aren't changing out your gas line or anything).

Assuming you have plans already, you might want to just test the waters by getting quotes from independent plumbers and electricians, just to see if your GC's numbers are reasonable.

I understand your shock :-)

rmkitchen, I love Woodside, a friend of mine lives off Canada Rd. It's so peaceful out there. And we go to the horse park quite often, it's a great way to get away from it all without leaving the Bay Area.

Great advice, all! I have a plumber that I adore, I just hesitated to call him once I realized how many pieces to the labor puzzle there are. I thought the "one umbrella" approach might be wisest. I'll ask him to give me an estimate and that will give me a benchmark for the plumbing--I feel he is both honest and reasonable. Now I just need to look for an electrician. BTW, if any of you readers are in the East Bay, "Berkeley Parents Network" is a great online resource for recommendations for all sorts of tradespeople & contractors.

I do really appreciate all this excellent info.

I just wanted to second what a great resource the Berkeley parents network is in the East Bay! We lived in Berkeley for 7 years and the parents network was a lifeline for sure! I'm wishing I were back in Berkeley still.....well, mabye except for the cost of home remodeling there vs where we are now. Best of luck with your project! Will be watching for your progress.