If you work piece-meal you must understand that the quotes will "age out" very, very, very quickly. The budget set on day 1 will be VASTLY different by day 500. So much so, some clients have complained that the project costs DOUBLED inside of two years...because they were too slow to finish. Expect this to happen and be OK with it.

The price range for the project you get today, will be for TODAY...and the next few months. That's as solid as it will get. Anything that drags (homeowner delay) beyond that range, will need a new cost break down. And GCs hate the cost estimates to begin with...now imagine how happy they would be to re-bid their estimates 3-4 times. They would not be happy. And unhappy GCs are Grumpy McGrumps that you do NOT want to be around...

What you MIGHT want to do is start with the DESIGN process. Pay the money UPFRONT to get your design ON PAPER....with a list of work that needs to be done. Pay that chunk FIRST. Do NOT ask for estimates of total project. That won't work for you.

Choose the MOST LOGICAL place (like digging/pouring new foundation, updating plumbing and wiring and framing the space). Ask for a cost break down for THAT PROJECT...but only when you are READY to proceed (sometime after you pay of the design phase).

You will do this each and every time you add to the project. And a big hint will be: DO NOT CHANGE THE DESIGN. You paid good money for that design! The INSTANT you change it, you will pay MORE MONEY for the project.

That's the other pit fall with piece-meal projects: time. Time gives homeowners the chance to dream up new stuff to "do" to their space. They have time to image a whole new function for the space. Then they pay more money to change the design. And it keeps building until the entire thing costs 2-3 times it would have if they had stuck to the original design and done it all at once.

Only you know you. You know your weaknesses. And your strengths. Only you can decide if a piece-by-piece build will work for you. It will take DISCIPLINE and STRONG budgetary control.

Homeowner: Know Thyself.

Good luck.

This, of course, makes total sense. Thank you for giving me the vocabulary I was looking for: design! If we get a solid design and stick to it, actually completing the project in phases will be ok. That's just what I was looking for. Getting bids for each piece -only when ready to do them- keeps everybody happier. Thanks for the advice!

When we get the design, should I expect to also get an idea of, roughly, the order things will need to be done? I'm willing and able to do my own research there, but is it reasonable to ask for the design firm to lay out a project order? For example when in the process to do plumbing vs waterproofing vs framing vs electrical? I imagine another point of contention with a GC would be asking for projects out of order. Thanks so much for your time and expertise!