Whether it is due to old age, serious damage, or being outdated, you will need to renovate your home at some point. That means taking on home renovation costs.
Reading up on home renovations beforehand will also let you know what you can afford. You can check if a whole-house remodel is an option. If it is not, you can still focus on renovating certain rooms for now.
In this article:
- Hiring a General Contractor
- Worker Fees
- Subcontractor Rates
- Securing Permits
- Cost of Whole House Renovation
- Cost of Kitchen Remodel
- Cost of Bathroom Remodel
- Cost of Living Room and Bedroom Remodel
- Additional Factors for a Home Renovation Budget
Hiring a General Contractor (GC)
What is the first thing you should do if you are planning to renovate your home? Securing the necessary permits should be high on your list of priorities. You can say the same thing about determining your renovation plans. Still, there is something you need to do before all of that. The first step of your home renovation project must involve hiring a GC.
The general contractor is the company that will manage your home improvement projects. General contractors will supply you with the workers you need to complete your project and find and work with a network of subcontractors to complete projects for their client.
Hiring an architect can help you map out your home renovation better but doing so is not an absolute must—you cannot say the same thing about the general contractor. The general contractor’s presence is of the utmost importance, securing you the best living space in the smoothest way possible.
How much does a general contractor cost?
So, how much does a GC cost for a home remodeling project? According to Thumbtack, the average cost of hiring a general contractor is $1,500. However, you should not be surprised if you end up spending way more or less than that.
Remodeling a kitchen may cost as much as $50,000. Meanwhile, bathroom remodels are more affordable as they tend to top out at $11,500. You can also find general contractors who charge by the hour, but they are rare.
Worker Fees
Next up, you need to know how much you are paying for labor. You can ask your general contractor about this since they are likely bringing their own people. The good news is that this number is usually on the low side.
On average, the hourly rate for a laborer is $20. Of course, you will probably need to hire more than a few workers, so you can expect costs to climb quickly. Consult with your GC regarding how many laborers you need to hire. Failing to hire enough laborers could lead to the renovations dragging on—hiring the best GC will know the right balance for completing house renovations on time and within budget.
Subcontractor Rates
Depending on your desired home renovation cost and scope of the project, you may need to hire subcontractors including plumbers, electricians, and landscapers. For decorating your renovated home, the services of tile setters and painters may also be needed.
- Electrician | $70/hr
- Landscaper | $100/hr
- Painter | $30/hr
- Plumber | $90/hr
- Tile Setter | $60/hr
You may need more subcontractors beyond the ones we included in the table above. Finding them should be easy as long as you partner with a competent general contractor. Eco Minded Solutions specializes in general contracting for remodeling projects and landscape design. We can execute major renovations, practically transforming your home into a new house, while also keeping your house costs down.
Securing Permits
General contractors will not work on your home until you secure the needed permits—without those permits can also land you in trouble with the law. How much you will spend on the permits will depend on the renovations you are planning. Do you need to demolish something before the renovations? In that case, Home Advisor notes that you will need to pay $200 for a demolition permit.
Construction permits may also be issued for home remodeling projections. You will need a construction permit to renovate your kitchen or change your floor plan. If you need to fix something wrong with your ceiling, a construction permit will also be required. The price range for construction permits can be quite wide. They may cost as little as $150 or as much as $2,000.
Whether or not you will pay something close to that amount will depend on additional permits that may be needed. In this case, additional plumbing and electrical permits may be required before the workers can start remodeling your basement. A good contractor, like our team at Eco Minded Solutions, will help you secure the permits needed to complete remodeling projects.
How much does a whole-house renovation cost?
Remodeling your whole house is going to be expensive. Even on the low end, home renovation still costs a lot of money. Estimating home renovation costs for a whole-home remodel, although unlikely, could cost as little as $35,000. However, the average costs for whole-home remodeling and associated projects total close to $90,000.
Paying that much for home renovation costs means you are getting a lot of work done. Beyond the repairs and upgrades, you can also redesign some parts of your home for that amount of money. Remodeling your kitchen and redesigning your outdoor landscape will get you close to that total.
Of course, the house remodeling cost will change based on the type of home you have. You can also expect to pay more in renovation expenses if your home features a traditional design. Remember to also scale the renovation budget per square foot.
How much for a full kitchen remodel?
Simply put, the average cost of kitchen renovation is $28,000. Remodeling your kitchen is more expensive than renovating other parts of your home because of all the work that the renovation entails. The plumbing and the wiring inside the kitchen may need repairing. You will also pay more if you want to change the layout of your kitchen. Whether you are adding some islands or opening up your kitchen, doing so will cost extra.
New flooring is often associated with higher costs than other home renovation projects. Installing new tiles or hardwood flooring can significantly increase the price of a home improvement project, especially when considering more square footage. However, new flooring can also make the largest difference in design and create a new feel throughout the entire home.
When homeowners sign up for kitchen remodeling, many want to change some fixtures. Examples of kitchen fixtures that they update during remodeling include the sinks, countertops, cabinets, and light fixtures. It is easy to see how the cost of kitchen remodeling can quickly get out of hand. Work closely with your contractor to know what your remodeling project will include.
How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom?
Remodeling a bathroom could cost an average of $20,000. Like remodeling a kitchen, renovating your bathroom may also involve some plumbing and electrical work. Bringing in the subcontractors to handle those issues will raise your bill substantially.
You can again pay to change existing fixtures like the tiles, countertops, and sinks. Even your shower can benefit from a long-overdue upgrade. A bathroom renovation becomes expensive if you want to add new fixtures. Adding a bathtub or a sauna sounds like a good idea but may run up the cost of small renovation projects.
Since you are renovating your bathroom, you can also take this opportunity to swap out your old fixtures. Replace your toilet, showerhead, and faucets with low-flow alternatives. Paying for new bathroom fixtures may not be that appealing but doing so will be beneficial long-term. The low-flow fixtures will pay for themselves not long after installation. You will notice that when you see a significant decrease in your water bills.
How much does a living room or bedroom cost to renovate?
Your living room and bedroom can also benefit from some upgrades. We are combining them here because renovation costs for those two types of rooms are pretty similar—average cost of renovating a living room or bedroom is $3,500. As you can see, it’s relatively affordable and lower than the costs attached to the other parts of the home we have already discussed. Living room and bedroom renovations cost less because you do not need to worry about plumbing and replacing too many fixtures.
Additional Factors for a Home Renovation Budget
Materials Used
The materials used in your home renovation project are major cost factors. To keep costs low, you should try to use locally sourced materials. They are more affordable since the delivery cost is low. You should also consider using recycled materials whenever possible. Apart from being affordable, those recycled materials are also sustainable. You can minimize the adverse environmental impact your project will have by using recycled goods.
Location of Your Home
Cost of living expenses plays a huge role in determining labor costs. Typically, workers in areas with a high cost of living expenses also charge more for their services. You cannot do much about your home address affecting how much you will spend on remodeling. Still, it is an important thing to keep in mind.
Condition of Your Home
Lastly, the condition of your home will affect how much you will pay for renovations. Hopefully, you can renovate your home while the damage it has sustained is still minimal. Once your home deteriorates past a certain point, repairs will be more costly. It is better to administer repairs as soon as you can. Developing that habit will allow your home to stay in good condition longer, and it will also lower the cost of renovation.
