Rick Bainbridge of Charlotte, North Carolina, shares a quick-start resource to help individuals plan, price, and supervise home remodeling decisions with fewer surprises.
CHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESS Newswire / February 4, 2026 / Rick Bainbridge, founder of RCB Construction Management, has released a free, homeowner-friendly resource designed to help everyday individuals pressure-test a remodeling plan before they sign, pay, or start demolition. The resource, the Home Remodel Clarity Checklist, is built for people planning common projects like kitchens, bathrooms, additions, porches, decks, patios, and handyman work.
Bainbridge, a construction professional with more than 40 years of experience, started RCB Construction Management in 2018 after years leading a larger Charlotte remodeling operation. Today, he and his crew focus on practical estimating and hands-on supervision, with Bainbridge handling estimates and project oversight directly.
The checklist mirrors that approach by focusing on what tends to break budgets and timelines: unclear scope, weak documentation, and gaps between estimate and day-to-day supervision.
As one line puts it, "In home remodeling, the difference between good and lasting rarely announces itself on day one." Another captures the core idea behind the tool: "A disciplined estimate is part math, part memory, part risk assessment." The checklist also reflects the daily reality of coordinating trades: "Many remodeling problems come from handoffs, not from incompetence." And it stresses what supervision is meant to prevent: "A supervisor lives inside those assumptions and fixes them before they become expensive."
The real-world cost of getting it wrong
Home remodeling is one of the biggest financial decisions many people make after buying a home, and the downside risk is not theoretical.
31% of homeowners went over budget on remodeling projects in a Houzz & Home study (2020 report covering 2019 activity).
A 2025 homeowner survey reported 37% exceeded their original renovation budget, showing how common overrun pressure remains.
Only 25% of homeowners say they have enough money to cover a $5,000 emergency home expense, which turns common surprises into real financial strain.
The FTC announced it was sending more than $2.9 million to consumers harmed by a home-improvement financing firm, highlighting the real money that can be lost when the process is confusing or misrepresented.
What's inside the free Home Remodel Clarity Checklist
The resource is a quick-start pack that includes:
A one-page checklist to confirm scope, finish level, and responsibilities
A budget buffer and change-order control prompt list
A trade handoff map so the sequence is clear (demo, rough-ins, inspections, close-up, finishes)
A homeowner supervision log for weekly notes, photos, and decisions
A simple email script to request a clearer estimate and supervision plan
Use this in 15 minutes
Circle your project type (kitchen, bathroom, addition, outdoor space, handyman).
Answer 12 fast questions about scope, finishes, permits, and who supervises daily.
Mark any "unknown" items (these become your negotiation points before signing).
Send the included script to any contractor or trade lead and ask for a revised, clearer estimate.
Start the supervision log with a single page: start date, key contacts, and your top three priorities.
Common mistakes people make
Starting with inspiration photos instead of scope. A picture rarely explains what is being moved, replaced, or rebuilt.
Treating an estimate like a contract. If the scope and assumptions are not written clearly, cost and timing drift later.
Skipping the handoff plan. Projects stall when trades are not sequenced and responsibilities are vague.
Paying without milestones. If progress checkpoints are unclear, accountability gets fuzzy fast.
Assuming supervision is automatic. "Project management" can mean many things, so homeowners should ask what supervision looks like in practice.
How to use the resource today
Download the Home Remodel Clarity Checklist, fill it out before you collect quotes, and then use the included script to request a clearer estimate and supervision plan from any contractor you are considering. For projects already underway, use the supervision log today to document current status, open decisions, and the next handoff.
About Rick Bainbridge
Rick Bainbridge is a construction professional and the founder of RCB Construction Management (2018). Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, he has more than 40 years of construction experience and personally handles estimates and project supervision. He is from Buffalo, New York, earned a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and played college basketball. His interests include opera, travel, Italian food, antique cars, and Buffalo Bills football, and he supports St. Jude and the V Foundation.
Media Contact
Rick Bainbridge
info@rickbainbridgecharlotte.com
https://www.rickbainbridgecharlotte.com/
SOURCE: Rick Bainbridge
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