March 22, 2020
The Top 10 Remodeling Costs You May Not Have Considered
If you are going to be remodeling your home it is very likely that you need to consider 10 remodeling costs while looking for a quality contractor for kitchen remodeling & bathroom remodeling.
Whether you are hoping to change a few interior touches or you are in need of new painting, working with a professional contractor can make sure that the level of craftsmanship is high and that you can enjoy the best renovations to add value to your home.
Before you outline your budget and start receiving quotes it is important to consider the hidden costs of renovation that can sometimes go beyond materials and labor. Here are some of the top 10 remodeling costs that you may have not considered:
1. Bringing a home up to code
A building code is designed to protect the health and safety of individuals living in structures across the country. The code is put out by the national association of builders and reviewed by a series of government agencies.
Building codes today not only cover structural changes that need to be made to make a building safe, but also improvements that need to be made for sustainability and efficiency. If your home is older, there is a good chance that a number of areas will need to be brought up to code.
New building standards can mean that there may be some added costs to your quote that will be discovered after a tear down or inspection takes place.
2. A rise in your utility bills
Receiving remodeling services can sometimes lead to a rise of remodeling costs in your utility bills. With the added costs of running equipment, exposed areas of your home without insulation in a major remodel and more, there is a chance you could be spending more.
From a rise in your electric bill to added costs on your heating and cooling bill, it is important to prepare for these added costs with your utilities during work. These are not items that you would typically account for but reserving some money in your budget for these added costs can be wise.
3. Boarding your pets
If you have cats or dogs in the house, a major remodel can often be a very stressful process for the family pet. Having constant strangers in the house and the added noise can be extremely difficult for your pets. Before starting a major renovation, you may want to have a plan for the family pets.
Whether it means dropping them off at a friend or family members or boarding each one of your pets, you need to be able to prepare for your pets safety. Boarding your pet during a renovation is something that needs to be considered in your remodeling costs budget for the renovation.
4. Having to stay elsewhere
If you are taking on a major renovation such as a full kitchen remodeling or adding an extension onto your home, you may have to move out for the duration of the work. It may be unsafe for you to live in the home as it is being brought up to code and it may be easier for you to live outside of the home so that you can make room for contractors and their equipment.
If you would prefer to be away from the noise and the disruptions of a renovation, you may want to consider another remodeling costs – the option of staying in a hotel. Taking the option to move out for a little while could be a great way that you can enjoy coming back to your dream home without all of the disruption that you might experience still living at home.
Adding hotel bills into your quote can be a wise choice for your budget if you are unable to stay with other people during the renovation.
5. Storage/Moving remodeling costs
If you are planning on getting your living room remodeled or a major kitchen remodel where your cabinets need to be emptied or replaced, it is likely you will have to relocate your furniture and some appliances temporarily which will add to your remodeling costs.
If you don’t have the extra room in your house to store these items, it can mean temporarily moving out or moving these items into climate controlled storage. This is one of the major remodeling expenses that can be ignored when it counts the most.
Any interior remodeling job will require moving furniture and items out of the room. Making sure that you have a plan for the relocation and storage of these items can be important. Factor in costs like a moving truck, monthly storage locker and more with your renovation budget if possible.
6. Meals out – added remodeling costs while redoing your kitchen
If you are enjoying kitchen remodeling as your service of choice, a hidden cost that you may not have anticipated with your renovation may be the cost of eating out.
A renovation may mean that you don’t have an alternative method for cooking food in your home. A major kitchen renovation may take a few weeks so it is important to factor in the cost of eating out or regularly going to restaurants.
Planning an alternative place for cooking in your home with a hot plate or microwave or allocating some of your budget towards eating out can be important during any kitchen renovation. A bit of planning can help to save you money and inconvenience during a renovation.
7. Unforeseen rot and pest damage
Pest and rot damage can often come as a surprise during a home remodel. If termite damage or water damage is discovered, this could mean making structural changes to your home or replacing important components before continuing with the remodel.
Having a bit of cushion in your budget to prepare for this eventuality can be important. If your home is in an area where neighbors regularly experience problems with rot or pest damage, it can be important to prepare for this eventuality.
8. Changes to the plan
If you change your mind part of the way through your renovation, this can lead to extra costs. Whether it is a change in the configuration of your kitchen cabinets, a new paint color or the inclusion of some new counter tops, this can often lead to added costs that move away from your initial quote.
Seeing a renovation sketch and seeing the partially completed renovation can be a different story. Many clients discover new changes that they may want to make or necessities that they would like to include with their renovation.
The contractor reserves the right to charge for all applicable changes under the budget for your renovation. Although budget adjustments may be minimal in the early stages of a renovation, they can grow more costly if the renovation is more complete.
9. Permits remodeling costs:
Depending on the scale of your renovation, there may be a series of permits that could be required. Small permits for electrical and plumbing work can often add a few hundred dollars to remodeling costs whereas major renovations could move up to a thousand or more.
Your contractor can often let you know about required permits for the scale of your renovation, but more may come into play if you need to change aspects of the renovation. When working with an experienced contractor you can find out more about permits that may be required for each type of renovation work you may be looking for.
10. Waste costs:
Some contractors will include the costs of waste and waste removal on your renovation. If you are planning for a major kitchen or bathroom renovation you may be responsible for waste removal on items like old plumbing, drywall and more.
The costs associated with waste could include bin rental, garbage bags, tarps and removal costs. Depending on your local costs for removals these costs could total into hundreds of dollars. Waste costs are generally calculated as a percentage of the total renovation but there can be additions if more removals need to take place due to rot and damages.
A bonus cost for after your renovation – Adding extra touches
You may have budgeted for extras like paint, tiles, cabinetry and more during your renovation but some additional costs may happen after your renovation. A new kitchen renovation often calls for new touches like drapes or functional touches like a new dining table.
When you assess a renovation you may find yourself wanting to finish it off with new accessories or items that are complimentary to the new style of the room.
When you are looking at a quote for renovations on your home, it is wise to consider adding some extra room in your budget for these extras.
Although most experienced contractors will provide a detailed list of costs in renovations, there are some extra auxiliary costs related to the renovation and some unforeseen expenses that can occur throughout a renovation that cannot be planned for. A general rule of thumb is to always keep 10-15% extra money available in your renovation budget to account for these expenses comfortably.
