Budgets can be elusive but usually I think contractors bid on square footage; but I have heard that a reputable, will give you houses that they have done to look at design/build firm generally is the most economical way to go. You could start there. Not sure what you have in mind but if you start at 100 a square foot you might find out that a real basic, think starter home finish, is what you might get. Again depends on where you are building and what you want. First class, basic, or somewhere in between. Good luck.

Also, please go with an established firm and not the lowest bid. You do not want the highest bid either unless you are doing everything custom. Somewhere in the middle. And there is no wrong in asking people for contractors names they know. But an established firm with a track record whose work you have seen and like, will probably be a good way to go. If you are able to go to a Parade of Homes type event in your area you will find a lot of builders and can find someone to interview to start with.

It takes time there will be mistakes and it always cost more than you think it should but the results can be so comforting.

My husband and I have flipped about 6 houses we have lived in while raising our children and experience bears this out. Take your time and good luck to you. When my husband was building or fixing for people he would ask for one third down at the beginning, 1/3 down when he was two thirds done, and the final check when everyone was happy with the finish work and the job was done to everyone's satisfaction. And every change after that was a written work order at additional cost. It is a business after all and everyone works to pay bills. Just sayin' from experience.

Disclosing your budget will save you a lot of time, and ultimately money as well. Without a budget, it's very difficult for a contractor to make appropriate material recommendations, or explore all of the construction options. Rely on recommendations to find a contractor you trust, engage their time, and ask them to walk you through the options for each decision.

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2015/ Rmodeling Rule #1 is that no matter what your budget is, is won't be nearly enough to get everything you want. If you're basing your budget on new construction costs, it's likely to be less than half enough for a remodeling project. If it involves a kitchen or bath, your number will be much higher than you think it ''should' be. Just an averge middle of the road kitchen redo is 55K, and a single floor master addition is 111K.

Do your research first on the materials you want to use. Then double to triple that cost for the labor on the project. Unless you want upper end labor intensive things like a complex tile pattern or a coffered ceiling, or true masonry fireplace. Projects like that are almost all labor.

Give them a budget, but keep up to 1/3 of your actual budget in reserve that isn't included in the figure you give the contractor. That way you have money for all the overages, changes, and odds and ends that always crop up.

Do more than get bids. Check licensing, BBB, Angie's List. Ask for references, and ask the references if you can come see the work. Ask to see work in progress. Ask about subcontractors, and check them out as well. Make sure you get in writing what monies are due when. If they have a showroom, visit that. We've turned down moderate bid in favor of the lowest, because we did our due diligence. So far, the quality and workmanship are almost perfect. It's a small firm, with low overhead, small showroom, family business. We saw the work he did in two neighbors homes. We checked state licensing, Angie's, BBB. We checked out the subs. We knew what we wanted, picked out most of it before signing the contracts. We spent a year in the home before we started the process, so we knew what worked and what we needed to change. Take your time, do your due diligence, pick out your materials before you contract.

If you want to work with a design-build firm, then disclosing your budget is a must. That way the firm can work with you through your list of "must-haves" and add in your prioritized "would be nice" features that fit within your cost constraints. Sometimes that means working with the assigned designer to select alternate materials that still provide the look you want, but perhaps at a lower cost. That way you end up with the finished product you want within your set budget. I would really encourage you to research reputable design-build firms in your area and select one for a project of this scope.