Yesterday I wrote about tips for finding a contractor. Today, I am following up with tips for getting the best bid. When you’re planning an addition or remodel, knowing the average costs of the job you hope to do is helpful. One helpful guide for figuring average costs is to judge by the square footage of your space. Generally speaking, for a gut remodel,
Yesterday I wrote about tips for finding a contractor. Today, I am following up with tips for getting the best bid. When you’re planning an addition or remodel, knowing the average costs of the job you hope to do is helpful. One helpful guide for figuring average costs is to judge by the square footage of your space. Generally speaking, for a gut remodel, a kitchen remodel falls between $170-180 per square foot, a powder room averages around $130-140 per square foot, a full bathroom averages around $155-170 per square foot, and a family or living room runs about $85-$100 per square foot. Once you factor the average range for your space, adjust for labor costs in your location (whether they are higher or lower than the average in the nation). In the Sussex County area, increasing the general estimate by about 30-40% is probably a good average. Once you’ve done that, you can adjust your estimated cost up or down based on the finishes you desire. These averages assume mid-range fixtures, but if you’re going for upgrades such as granite countertops or stainless steel appliances in a kitchen or stone tile, heated floors, and soaking tubs in the bathroom, you need to raise your number again, by at least 30-50% depending on the number of upgrades you want. Once you have a very general idea of the kind of estimate you are looking at, you can adjust your project to fit your budget (consider less updates or skip the gut remodel and replace or refinish what you’ve got instead!). Then, go out there and get your (minimum of 3!) estimates. Finally, be upfront with the contractors you choose about your bottom line and they will be able to help you get the most bang for your buck!
Thinking of buying or selling a home in Sussex County? Give us a call at Cooper Realty Associate and put us to work for you – 302-644-2266!
