Independent Residential Construction Advisory Services
704-741-0703 • info@checkmyestimate.com

How I Can Help

Owner-side review for residential estimates, contractors, owner-builder projects, pre-sale repairs, and pre-purchase renovation risk.

Estimate ReviewDue DiligenceNegotiationOwner-Builder

Core Services

Estimate Review

Review of pricing, scope, exclusions, allowances, missing details, payment terms, and potential change-order exposure.

Check the Contractor

Review of license, insurance, company history, ownership continuity, reputation indicators, and questions to ask before signing.

Owner Representation

Support for contractor discussions, scope clarification, pricing, allowances, payment schedules, and change-order language.

What You Get

A good review does more than say whether a price seems reasonable. It helps you understand the structure of the deal before you commit.

Depending on the package, the review may address the estimate, scope, allowances, exclusions, contractor verification, payment terms, change-order procedure, permit responsibility, insurance documentation, project questions, and negotiation points. The report is written for the owner, not the contractor.

The goal is not to beat up a contractor. The goal is to create clarity. Good contractors should welcome clear scope, realistic expectations, and better documentation.

Projects I Review

Renovations

  • Whole-home renovations
  • Kitchens and bathrooms
  • Interior and exterior remodels
  • Older-home renovations

Additions & Custom Homes

  • Residential additions
  • Custom home estimates
  • Structural changes
  • Engineering-related work

Property Improvements

  • Rental property renovations
  • Pre-sale repairs
  • Pre-purchase reviews
  • Lake and waterfront improvements
Why CheckMyEstimate

Independent. Direct. Confidential.

You are hiring Franklin’s construction judgment—not a call center, lead-generation website, software report, or contractor referral service.

Direct Access

You work directly with Franklin by email, phone, text, and when appropriate, face-to-face meetings and on-site consultations. No call centers, sales representatives, virtual assistants, outsourced reviewers, or layers of communication.

No Conflicts

No contractor referral fees. No commissions. No lead sales. No bidding on projects reviewed by CheckMyEstimate.com.

Confidential Review

Every review includes confidentiality and non-disclosure. Your report and project information are not shared without written authorization unless required by law.

Direct Access. Real Relationship.

You Work Directly With Franklin

When you hire CheckMyEstimate.com, you work with Franklin from start to finish. No middlemen, no call centers, no sales reps, no virtual assistants, and no outsourced reviewers.

You communicate directly with the person who reviews your estimate, answers your questions, and helps protect your investment.

One expert. One point of contact. Start to finish.

Email

Send questions, documents, and updates. You get a direct response from Franklin.

Phone

Talk directly with Franklin when you need clarity, guidance, or a second opinion.

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Text

Quick questions or updates? Text Franklin directly for fast, personalized communication.

On-Site Meetings

When it helps your project, Franklin can meet face to face on site to walk the space and evaluate conditions.

No Middlemen

You deal with Franklin—not a rotating team or someone reading from a script.

Your Information Is Safe

Every review is protected by confidentiality and NDA terms. Your documents stay private.

How It Pays for Itself

Small Fee. Big Protection.

Most clients do not hire CheckMyEstimate.com because a contractor is bad. They hire because they want to make a better decision before committing major money.

$495Enhanced review cost

For many homeowners, this is a fraction of one change order.

0.33%Of a $150,000 renovation

A $495 review equals roughly one-third of one percent of a $150,000 project.

$1,000sPotential avoided surprises

Missing scope, weak allowances, unclear permits, and bad payment terms can become expensive quickly.

Where Savings Come From

The value of the review is not only finding a problem. Sometimes the value is knowing which questions to ask before a problem becomes expensive.

Prevent Missing Scope

Omitted permit fees, engineering, temporary protection, flooring transitions, finish carpentry, appliance installation, final cleaning, haul-off, and disposal can cost thousands.

Reduce Change-Order Surprises

Unclear scope, weak documentation, unrealistic allowances, and ambiguous responsibilities often become change orders after the owner has less leverage.

Avoid the Wrong Contractor

Choosing the wrong contractor can be the most expensive decision in the entire project. Contractor due diligence helps reduce that risk before signing.

The question is not whether you can afford a review. The question is whether you can afford to make a six-figure construction decision without one.

Lake Norman Expertise

Waterfront Homes Are Different

Lake Norman properties often involve site conditions, regulations, and approval issues that do not exist on traditional residential lots. Franklin has extensive experience with Lake Norman waterfront homes, lake-access properties, renovations, additions, outdoor living projects, and complex site constraints.

On lake properties, the lot can be as important as the house. Impervious limits, setbacks, easements, drainage, floodplain concerns, retaining walls, steep grades, stormwater requirements, shoreline conditions, and survey issues and 760 elevation considerations can all affect whether a project is feasible, how it should be priced, and what needs to be reviewed before signing.

Lake Property Review Areas

  • Waterfront homes and lake-access properties
  • Lakefront additions and renovations
  • Pools, spas, patios, and outdoor living spaces
  • Retaining walls, elevated patios, grading, and drainage
  • Impervious surface restrictions and transfers
  • Survey, setback, easement, and floodplain questions
  • Coordination with engineers, surveyors, HOAs, utility providers, towns, and counties
Waterfront Homes
Lake-Access Properties
Impervious Limits
Stormwater
Setbacks
Easements
Retaining Walls
Pools & Patios
Survey Review
760 Line Review
Engineers
HOAs
Permits
Lake Norman 760 Elevation Experience

Understanding the 760 Line

Lake Norman waterfront projects often require careful attention to the 760 elevation line and related lakefront constraints. Franklin has experience evaluating how elevation, shoreline conditions, setbacks, drainage, floodplain concerns, retaining walls, docks, patios, pools, and outdoor living improvements can affect project feasibility and approval strategy.

Site Feasibility

The 760 elevation line can affect how owners think about improvements near the water, outdoor living areas, grading, shoreline work, retaining walls, and project layout.

Survey & Planning

Waterfront projects may require careful review of surveys, elevations, setbacks, easements, impervious limits, floodplain information, and site constraints before final pricing.

Better Questions

Before committing to a contractor or design, owners should understand which questions to ask surveyors, engineers, designers, HOAs, municipalities, and lake-management authorities.

On Lake Norman, the house is only part of the project. The elevation, shoreline, survey, drainage, and lot constraints can drive the cost and feasibility of the entire plan.