February 2011
Homeowners have many important questions about their Home Interior Remodeling Project. How much will it cost? How long will it take? What problem areas do I need to watch out for? Can I recover my Home Interior Remodeling investment when I sell? Can I do some of the work myself? What can I do to make sure that the work is done right?
Costs, materials and best practices for the example Home Interior Remodeling project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.
Use the following information to understand your options, make good decisions and get quality work at a fair price.
The approximate costs and value of a typical Home Interior Remodeling project are summarized below. Use higher estimates for larger metropolitan areas and the lower estimates where home prices are below the national average. Adjust costs for substitutions or refinements in the last section. For size differences of up to 25%, scale total costs in direct proportion to the size of your project. Use the adjusted costs as a basis for setting a material budget and for comparing contractor bids (if you choose to have a professional perform the work).
| Project description | Renovate existing rooms other than kitchen and bathrooms. Update molding, flooring, doors, switchplates and decorative hardware. Add built-in speakers and modern recessed lighting. Install new window treatments. Use above average grade of materials, fabrication and installation quality. |
| Project size | 1700 square feet of renovation |
| Material and labor cost | $20,106 - $23,457 |
| Material cost | $15,687 - $18,302 |
| Do-it-yourself assessment | The typical Home Interior Remodeling project involves tasks that are best performed by experienced professionals. Good quality Home Interior Remodeling requires considerable experience, skill and attention to detail. Do it yourself mistakes are noticeable, may be difficulty to remedy and may actually reduce the market value of the project and your home. |
| First year Return on Investment - ROI | Results vary widely and can be affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Home Interior Remodeling project in an appropriate neighborhood can return 93% or more of its initial cost. |
| Long term Return on Investment - ROI | Returns will be impacted by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Home Interior Remodeling project can return as much as 67% - 78% of its initial cost |
| Green rating | Home Interior Remodeling projects can incorporate renewable or sustainable resources and environmentally friendly materials. |
Review these tips, design suggestions, options and lessons learned before finalizing your Home Interior Remodeling project plan.
The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during Home Interior Remodeling. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the Home Interior Remodeling project. Click any Task name for a complete written specifications, FAQs and quality checklist for the task - this essential information will help you control Home Interior Remodeling project cost and quality.
| Task | Service Provider | Duration | Do-it-yourself difficulty | Target cost |
| Prepare Home Remodeling Ideas | Architect | 5 to 15 d | Level 3 - Complex, Difficult | $600 - $1,002 |
| Create Decorating Ideas | Home Decorator | 2 to 15 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $140 - $234 |
| Specify Materials | Interior Designer | 2 to 15 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $190 - $317 |
| Prepare Home Remodeling Budget | General Contractor | 3 to 5 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $420 - $701 |
| Remove Carpet | Demolition Laborer | 1 d | Level 1 - Basic | $0.13 - $0.21 per square foot |
| Remove Paint | Painting Contractor | 1 d | Level 1 - Basic | $7.00 - $11.69 per linear foot |
| Remove Wallpaper | Demolition Laborer | 1 d | Level 1 - Basic | $2.50 - $4.18 per square foot |
| Re-Wire Home | Electrician | 3 to 7 d | Level 4 - Pros Only | $1,425 - $2,447 |
| Install Wall Insulation | Insulation Contractor | 1 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $1.31 - $2.32 per square foot |
| Install Pocket Door | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $273 - $482 per door |
| Install Aluminum Windows | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $226 - $418 per unified inch |
| Install Bay Window | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | Level 3 - Complex, Difficult | $752 - $1,391 per unified inch |
| Install Door Lock | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | Level 3 - Complex, Difficult | $93 - $168 per door |
| Install Molding | Finish Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $2.75 - $4.77 per linear foot |
| Paint Rooms | Painting Contractor | 1 to 3 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $0.66 - $1.13 per square foot |
| Install Wood Floor | Flooring Contractor | 1 to 2 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $7.20 - $12.88 per square foot |
| Replace Thermostat | Electrician | 1 to 3 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $138 - $239 |
| Install Light Switch | Electrician | 1 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $98 - $165 |
| Install Intercom System | Electrician | 1 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $885 - $1,536 |
| Install Ceiling Speakers | Electrician | 1 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $128 - $226 per speaker |