The “builder hook” is when a contractor promises to deliver more than possible for an agreed upon price. It is impossible to make a $75,000 job cost $50,000 because the budget was only $50,000. What typically happens when a contractor uses the builder hook is that the customer either ends up paying the $75,000 the job should have cost to begin with—or things go bad. Obviously, neither is a win situation. The builder will not compromise his profit margins and usually shortcuts and/or non-performs to avoid losing money. Choose a contractor you can trust, one that is honest with you from the start, then you can work together to scale the project back to meet your budget and, in the end, will have a successful remodel—a quality job, and a satisfying experience.