Here's Your NYC Renovation Calculator
How much $$$ you need to renovate in 2025?!
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The other night I came across this video of someone showing their entire cost breakdown of a full gut renovation of a 2700 SqFt home in Jersey. Immediately sent it to Olya to review, and we talked about whether we agreed with the numbers. Our first reaction was, it’s missing a Design Fee ;)
We’ve looked at hundreds of bids for every trade under the sun. At this point, there isn’t a number high or low enough that would shocks us. BUT what people want to know is, What SHOULD things cost? We’ll tell you.
Designers are a great asset to have because they know what things cost from doing price comparisons all the time. We have real examples of what your money will get you…and what it won’t, so you can make educated decisions.
RENOVATION COSTS SHOULDN’T BE A SECRET
More than floor plans, playing therapist, and looking at beautiful materials..the thing we spend the most time on is, NUMBERS.
“WHAT’S MY ALL IN NUMBER?!” That’s what we get asked the most. But, money is notoriously something people avoid talking about. That’s why, if you don’t want to give us a budget, we’ll make one for you.
We’ve gotten prettyyyy damn good at estimating the cost of a job and really do our best to educate clients before we even sign a contract so there are no surprises later. This is good for everyone, trust us.
Leave a COMMENT - ‘BUDGET ESTIMATOR’
And we’ll send you our Google Sheet Reno Calculator that we give to our clients before starting a project to help estimate the cost of their project. This includes 3 tiers of prices for everything from furniture to tile. Make a copy or download it for yourself.
The Basics - The Square Foot Method
Cost per square foot is the easiest way to get a rough idea of what you’re looking at when it comes to pricing.
Most of our current projects are landing in the $300-400 per square foot range for mid-range (high quality finishes), just not wildly complex projects, and $400-600+ per square foot for luxury or higher complexity gut renovations, maybe with mechanical or structural changes.
For example a 1,000SF interior renovation would likely land in the $300-400K range, and a 2,500 square foot “gut renovation” of an apartment would probably land in the $1M-$1.5M range.
Sharing this pricing is not meant to sound exclusive. If someone tells you less, they are leaving components out that you will likely have to pay for later.
*This would include the cost of a Designer, GC, Architect and materials for a renovation project.
What’s Included in That Price?
A Contractor, Architect, and Designer fees, labor, permits, all the things that feel like extra costs but actually keep the whole project running smoothly. Believe us, you don’t want to project manage, and design, AND execute this yourself.
CONTRACTORS’ COSTS
(GC Fee, Labor, Insurance, and Subcontractors)
Don’t skimp and go with the one man show. We have seen people hire a ‘millworker’ off Task Rabbit to GC their job, and are now paying triple to rip it out and start again.
The best projects are those with a good solid team. Designer, Architect, and GC that all work together to give you the best outcome. Tradesmen come with their own price tags..we’re just the messengers!
For a renovation of a 3 Bed/3 Bath 2,500sf in NYC, here are the prices we just got this week for a full cosmetic upgrade without moving any walls or plumbing.
Demolition and Removals: $20K
Sand + Refinish Floors: $20K
Paint Walls + Ceilings + Trim Throughout: $30K
Kitchen Countertop + Island Fabrication/Install: $14K
Bathroom Tile, Glass, Vanity, Plumbing Install: 100k
Electrical for Decorative Lighting Throughout: $20K
GC Profit + Overhead + Insurance: $150k
TOTAL: $354,000
Material Costs
This is where we come in! The cost of materials can really vary depending on what you want, but for a typical 3 bed/3 bath renovation, expect to spend at least $150K on things like flooring, plumbing fixtures, tile, countertops, and paint. Again, we don’t know the scope of your project.
Leave a COMMENT - ‘BUDGET ESTIMATOR’
And we’ll send you our Google Sheet Reno Calculator that we give to our clients before starting a project to help estimate the cost of their project. This includes 3 tiers of prices for everything from furniture to tile. Make a copy or download it for yourself.
These finish costs are what make a space feel special. And while we give you a guideline, every project is different. This is why we use this calculator to not only educate our clients, but also get a sense of where they value spending on.
So in this example, how much would our 2,500 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom renovation cost?
To pull it all together, for a 2,500SF, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom renovation of moderate complexity, you might expect something like:
Contractor Costs + Subs: $386k
Interior Designer + Architect Costs
(w/ Project Management): $170k
Materials: $200K
Furniture: $250k
Storage + Delivery: $50k
Total: 1,056,000M
Pretty close to our initial estimate at about $422 per/SF. This is where we like to remind our clients that while the numbers might sound intimidating, everything is accounted for, and there are no surprise costs.
Want to know more about our process?
Schedule a Complimentary Intro Call using this LINK to discuss your project in more detail.
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Midnight in Paris…
Moodboard by: Cola Studios
Shop our selections below!
Vintage Grand Armoire in goatskin parchment and brass by Valzania, Italy, circa 1930.
Half Cylinder Alabaster Wall Sconces by Galerie Glustin Luminaires.
Seductive lines made for lounging. The Royal 004 Lounger by Galerie Solis is an elegant study in relaxation and refinement.
Joia Asymmetrical Low Table by StudioDanielK, exclusively for Nilufar, with a black lacquered wood top and bronze legs.
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What’s to see…
Love House’s new Lower East Side gallery brings together over 60 previously unseen works from the dealer’s roster of artisan talents.
Thank you for posting this! It is really helpful to know what the market rate is for all these services and to have it broken down in such a helpful way. Wishing you massive success with all your projects!
BUDGET ESTIMATOR - thank you!