Home Depot is all over the country selling us building materials for our remodeling projects.  It also provides materials for the Home Services division offering custom kitchen and bathroom installations.  They hire people experienced in the remodeling business including hungry contractors looking for a steady paycheck. 

In some areas, Home Depot's Home Service has bought out remodeling contractors and has grown several hundred fold.  It's a luxury to have a big name that attracts millions in business opportunities.  And many of it's customers are paying exorbitant fees for kitchen and bath installations using their Home Depot charge card ( 23% to 28% APR).  In addition to making the buy so convenient, labor fees for your project can be up to nine times the cost of building materials.  An acquaintance showed me his 5ft by 7ft bathroom, consisting of a newly installed fiberglass soaker tub with a jet pump, about the size of a regular 5ft tub, and acrylic shower surround with stainless steel curtain rod.  Ready for this?  He paid over - $8,000.00 (DOLLARS).  Simply said, I was astounded.  The payments will take a good chunk of his income for the next 12 months before the interest rate kicks in.  Home Depot is reaping the benefits of it's reputation and has acquired such growth that it plans to open new Home Service centers in Texas, Arizona and Florida by spring 2008. 

There are good local remodeling companies and private contractors who have to offer their expertise at labor prices up to 60% less than the big competition just to get the work.  People who follow the big names will get OK to good service, but at quite a price obviously.  Unfortunately, there are few avenues for the consumer to shop for remodeling contractors.  Nevertheless,  it would probably pay to have at least three written estimates from insured remodelers who advertise or have showrooms.  If I were asked for advice as a contractor myself - I would say; (1.) draw a plan on paper before getting an estimate, (2.) research the styles and costs of materials so that you can estimate how much you are being scalped for labor.  (Contractor hint; labor fees are quite profitable at about  3 - 4  times the cost of all materials.  A really great labor ratio, would be from 1.5 to 2.5 times the material costs),  (3.) get estimates from insured companies that advertise or have show rooms.  (4.) Don't take the highest or lowest estimates.  They cannot be trusted for the obvious reasons.   Discuss it, plan it and do the research before you make the first call.