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Category Planning & Estimates

⚙ Project Parameters

Location (Regional Cost Index)

▾

Adjusts for local labor rates and logistics.

Renovation Scope

▾

Length (ft)

Width (ft)

Calculated Area: 120 sq. ft.

Finish Quality

Complexity Factors

Alter Layout / Move Walls Relocate Plumbing/Gas Heavy Electrical / HVAC Permits & Plans Required

Management

Hired General Contractor (+20%) Self-Managed / Partial DIY

📊 Estimate Breakdown

Estimated Total Range

$0 - $0

Materials Labor Soft Costs

Materials & Finishes $0

Install Labor $0

Permits, Design, Admin $0

Contractor Overhead $0

             Rec. Contingency (15%)
             $0
           

Market Note: Prices in your area are trending ↗ high due to skilled labor shortages.

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About

Accurate renovation budgeting is a function of granular data, not guesswork. A variance of just 10% in material specification can swing a project budget by thousands of dollars. Furthermore, regional labor markets drive significant cost disparities; a bathroom remodel in San Francisco cost approximately 2.4× more than the identical scope in rural Ohio due to prevailing wage rates and insurance requirements.

This engine utilizes the Construction Cost Index (CCI) methodology. It isolates Hard Costs (Materials, Labor) from Soft Costs (Permits, Design, Waste) and applies a dynamic risk contingency based on the age of the structure. Use this tool to validate General Contractor bids or determine the feasibility of investment property rehabilitation.

Formulas

The Total Project Cost (TPC) is calculated using a composite index of material, labor, and overhead factors.

TPC = (Base × A × Q_m × L_loc) + S_complex + O_admin

Where A is Area, Q is Quality Factor, and L is the Regional Labor Index. The Complexity Surcharge (S) accounts for structural changes:

S_complex = n∑i=1 (Task_i × Risk_factor)

Contingency reserves are strictly modeled as a function of property age:

Reserve =

{

0.10 ⋅ TPC if Age < 200.15 ⋅ TPC if 20 ≤ Age ≤ 600.25 ⋅ TPC if Age > 60

Reference Data

Scope Category	Builder Grade ($/sq ft)	Custom Grade ($/sq ft)	Luxury Grade ($/sq ft)	Labor Share (Avg)
Kitchens	125 - 180	200 - 350	450 +	40%
Bathrooms (Wet)	150 - 200	250 - 400	550 +	55%
Living / Dry Rooms	25 - 45	50 - 85	120 +	60%
Basement Finish	40 - 60	70 - 100	130 +	50%
Room Additions	200 - 250	280 - 350	450 +	45%
Garages (Detached)	55 - 75	85 - 120	150 +	40%
Roofing (Asphalt/Metal)	4.50 - 6.50	8.00 - 14.00	20.00 +	65%
Decks (Composite)	35 - 50	60 - 85	100 +	50%

Frequently Asked Questions

Hard Costs (bricks, mortar, labor) typically consume 75-80% of a budget. Soft Costs (architectural drawings, structural engineering, city permits, dumpsters, portable toilets) consume the remaining 20-25%. Ignoring Soft Costs is the #1 reason for budget overruns.

Yes. The "Contractor Mode" includes a standard General Contractor Overhead & Profit (O&P) margin of 20%. If you select "DIY / Owner-Builder", this margin is removed, but you assume the risk of material overages and scheduling inefficiencies.

Construction costs are heavily tied to the local "Cost of Doing Business". In dense urban areas (NYC, Boston), logistics (parking permits, elevators, traffic) and union labor rates drive prices up significantly compared to rural areas, even if the material cost (lumber/drywall) remains relatively constant.

Square footage estimates are baseline heuristics. They are accurate for "cosmetic" updates (new floors, paint). They become less accurate for "complex" projects involving structural engineering, moving plumbing stacks, or upgrading electrical service panels, which are fixed costs regardless of room size.

Scope creep refers to the tendency for a project's requirements to increase as the project progresses (e.g., deciding to upgrade to heated floors after the subfloor is exposed). Industry standards suggest a 5-10% buffer specifically for voluntary upgrades, separate from the contingency fund for unforeseen repairs.