What things cost, and how to hire

Honest ranges for common home projects in the Portland area, quoted wide on purpose, and the one check to run on any contractor before you sign. Every guide ends the same way: the only exact number is competing written bids on your actual project.

• How many quotes should you get for a home project?Three at minimum, five for anything over a few thousand dollars, and why most people stop at one.
• How to compare contractor bids without getting burnedWhat is included, what is not, how long it takes, then price. The red flags in a low bid.
• What a kitchen remodel actually costs in PortlandThree tiers from a $15,000 refresh to a $175,000 gut, why design-build quotes start at six figures, and what cabinets and counters cost.
• What a new roof actually costs in Portland$700 to $1,200 per square for architectural shingles with tear-off, metal at $18,000 to $36,000, and why a 30-year shingle lasts 15 to 20 here.
• What a deck actually costs in Portland$20 to $80+ per square foot by material, what railings and stairs add, and why quotes differ by thousands.
• What a bathroom remodel actually costs in PortlandThree tiers from a $6,000 refresh to a $75,000 suite, tub-to-shower conversions, and what is behind the wall in an old house.
• What a fence actually costs in Portland$25 to $70+ per linear foot by material, common add-ons, permits, and property lines.
• How to verify a contractor's license in Oregon or WashingtonThe two registries, what a clean record looks like, and the red flags that should end the conversation.