Very Handy Homebuyer Help - Home Renovation Costs - Ballpark Estimations Before You Buy

/ Buyer's Edge | BuyersAgent.com/

You’re ready to buy a home in the Washington, DC, Metro Area. You have done your research, and you have a grasp of the current real estate market conditions and the ever-changing process of buying a home or condominium. At Buyer’s Edge | Buyers Agent.com, we also hope you have interviewed several Buyer’s Agents and have decided to work with an Exclusive Buyer’s Agent.

Now the house-hunting fun begins. While touring homes in person or pre-viewing them online, you might have questions about how much a particular renovation will cost before or after you move in. Stephen Carpenter-Israel, Broker/President of our DMV homebuyer brokerage real estate company, created this Home Renovation Costs in 2023-Ballpark Estimations Cheat Sheet so any homebuyer in the DMV could refer to it when making decisions about their next home purchase.

Please remember that this handy dandy list was meant to estimate renovations and replacements. Though the list was vetted by several home servicing contractors in the DC area for being a reasonable starting point, these home renovation estimates are not written in stone. In addition, most of these numbers are based on the homeowner dealing directly with the contractor/installer i.e. plumbers, electricians, window people, etc. With jobs being coordinated by a general contractor, you can expect a markup on each subcontractor’s charges. As Exclusive Buyers Agents, we educate our homebuyers so they don’t go off all willy-nilly, thinking they can renovate a mid-sized, nice quality kitchen for $30,000. In the DMV, it’s not possible. If a nice quality kitchen is a top priority and the kitchen and your budget for the home you are considering making an offer on doesn’t meet your lifestyle goals, we recommend you wait and don’t buy it. Wait until all your key home goals align.

How Much Does it Cost to Renovate a Kitchen?

Luxury High End: Starting at $125,000
Smaller Nice Quality Mid-Range: $75,000+
Smaller Low-End: $40,000

How Much Does it Cost to Replace an Oven?

Lifespan of an Oven: 20+ Years

Luxury High End: $6,500+
Smaller Nice Quality Mid-Range: $2,500 - $4,000
Smaller Low-End: $1,000 - $1500

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Refrigerator?

Lifespan of a Refrigerator: 20+ Years

Luxury High End: $8,5000+
Smaller Nice Quality Mid-Range: $3,500+
Smaller Low-End: $1,200

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Dishwasher?

Lifespan of a Dishwasher: 15+ Years

Luxury High End: $2,500+
Smaller Better Quality Mid-Range: $1,000 - $1,500
Smaller Low-End: $800+

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Disposal?

Lifespan of a Disposal: 10-12 Years

$350-$650

How Much Does it Cost to Replace Countertops?

Granite, Marble, Solid Surface Manmade
Per Linear Foot: $150 - $250
Per Sq Foot: $75+

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Washer and Dryer?

Lifespan of Washers and Dryers: 15 Years

Good Quality Washers and Dryers Start at $1,200+ per piece

How Much Does it Cost to Renovate a Primary Bathroom?

Luxury High End: Starting at $125,000+
Normal Nice Quality Mid-Range: $65,000+
Smaller Good Quality Lower-End: $35,000+

How Much Does it Cost to Renovate a Half Bathroom?

$7,500 - $15,000


How Much Does it Cost to Create a Flitch Beam Opening in an Old House?

$15,000 - $20,000
Check out our comprehensive blog about flitch beams and how they work successfully when opening up structural walls.

How Much Does it Cost to Create a 10’ Wide Opening in Drywall with No Structural Issues?

$7,500+

How Much Does it Cost to Refinish Hardwood Floors?

$4 Sq Foot + More for Stairs

How Much Does it Cost to Put Down Genuine Hardwood Floors?

$8 - $15 Sq Foot

How Much Does it Cost to Put Down Engineered Floors?

$8 - $15 Sq Foot

How Much Does it Cost to Replace Carpeting?

Carpet, Padding, and Installation: $3 Sq Foot - $15 Sq Foot

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Water Heater?

Lifespan of Water Heater: 12-15 Years

Gas and Electric Water Heaters Range from $1,250+
Tankless Water Heaters Start at $2,500 - $5,000

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Furnace?

LifeSpan Hot Water Boiler/Radiation: 20-40 Years

$10,000+

LifeSpan HVAC: 20 Years

$10,000-$14,000

LifeSpan Electric Heat Pump: 20 Years

$8,500-$12,000

How Much Does it Cost to Remediate Radon?

$1,000-$2,500

How Much Does it Cost to Waterproof a Basement?

Creating an Interior Drain and Sump Pump System. Minimum $15,000 in a Smaller, Accessible Basement.

Buyer’s Edge | BuyersAgent.com wrote a blog called, How to Stop the Leaks From Coming | Fix Wet Basements | Wet Basement Solutions for Homebuyers.

How Much Does it Cost to Replace Windows?

Vinyl Replacement Windows Per Normal Opening: $450-$700
Better Quality Double Insulated Wood or Composite Windows with exterior aluminum cladding Per Normal Opening: $900-$1500

How Much Does it Cost to Install a Basement Egress Window?

Installation costs can vary widely depending on if you need to dig into the ground and how deep you need to go. The egress windows themselves come in many different options. They start at around $500 for the window alone. With labor costs and materials, an egress window installed in a basement will run you at least $1500. $5500+ if you have to cut through an existing foundation wall and dig a large window well outside

We wrote a blog called, 5 Top Things You Should Know About Egress Windows Before You Start a Basement Renovation with Buyer's Edge.

How Much Does it Cost to Paint the Interior of a Home?

Small Cape Cod/1200 Sq Foot/Complete Interior: $8,000+
Mid-Sized Home/2500 Sq Foot/4BR - 3BA: $18,000 - $22,000

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Roof on a Home?

Lifespan of a Flat Fiber Glass Shingle Roof: 25 Years
Lifespan of an Architectural Roof: 40-50 Years

Difficult to Estimate Since the Scope of Roof Work can Range Wildly

Small Flat Roof, Easily Accessible, and Walkable: $10,000+
Mid-Sized Home, 2500+ Sq Feet of Roof with Multiple Gables: $20,000 - $30,000
Larger, Luxury Home: Sky is the Limit
Cedar Shakes and Slate Roofs: 2x-4x the Cost of Shingle Roofs

Save this Very Handy Homebuyer Help - Home Renovation Costs - Ballpark Estimations Before You Buy or Sell List when you start your home search. Take it out for a quick review or work with a skilled, professional Buyer’s Agent who can answer most of your pressing home buying questions. Our Exclusive Buyer’s Agents also have a Buyer’s Edge - BuyersAgent.com Recommended Residential Services and Contractor List for buyers to use. Call one of the contractors on our list, and they will happily answer any questions you may have.