Renovation budget calculator

[Bullett]

As per the title. Any web based calculator for estimating a rough cost to update a property.

We are looking for a family home, found a place but it needs work. On the other hand it's 60k less than anything else we've seen. It solid but old fashioned 60s place.

[sleepezy]

Doing the same at the moment ( but too early in the process to really help ). I will say that I couldn't find an online calc that gave me any confidence, too many variables re spec, size, extensions, will you be living in during/moving out etc etc etc.

Our architect eventually, after extensive use of thumb screws, gave us an idea but they were really reticent.

[Bullett]

Really just wanting a ballpark. I appreciate it's a guess at best but it will give an idea between 20k and 100k.

How big is your project, is the architect worth it? How much are they costing?

[K50 DEL]

A very rough ballpark for you.

I'm just coming to the end of an 18 month renovation project on my 1960's place.

I've done the following

all ceilings replaced
all upstairs floors replaced
bathroom enlarged
bathroom suite replaced (spa bath etc)
fireplace completely redesigned
garden made over completely
dining room window made into a patio door
conservatory fitted
upvc back door, guttering and fascias
rewired for sockets (lighting had already been done)
rear garden fenced in with larch-lap fencing
fully carpeted, decorated, new light fixtures throughout etc.

A million and one other things as well and pretty much everything was done by tradesmen

I added up most of my receipts last weekend and I've spent a touch over 35k

[aberdeeneuan]

We did the same (and are nearly finished after 2 years).

Ours was 1956 built 3 bed semi and needed everything doing. I'll give you the rough numbers we spent (as I can't find the paperwork at the minute)

We spent about 6K doing new plumbing and new electrics. That included moving pipes for a new high pressure hot water system, decent boiler and a full rewire. We then spent about 15-20K all in on the kitchen (moving walls - steel support, white gloss units and a stone top (which was about 3K on it's own if I recall!). The kitchen units weren't particularly expensive, but we had a lot of them and needed new appliances throughout.

If it needs new facias and soffits, allow £1500 for a standard 3 bed semi.

Bathroom - we're in the middle of a full refit, went for sensible stuff and not moving anything other than some new pipes for a separate shower, that's coming in about 10K inc labour.

Ensuite is coming in about 3K for fittings (would have been doable for much less but a grand of that is a custom fitted unit) plus fitting and plumbing, so probably about 4.5K once we include the tiles and tiling as well.

Carpet - base it on the following - £4sqm for new underlay, 60 quid fitting plus whatever the carpet costs (our is a decent make, decent weight and £20sqm - this adds up quickly!).

I should add - I've done very little of it myself as we have a 2 year old, other than paining and decorating so you can save money doing that if your of the mind.

All in, all 35-50K for budget purposes and you should be ok - you only really know what you want to do once your in as you might decide to extend it straight away (which i wish we had).



The trick is to get the basics right and do the rest as you can do as you have the funds.

Allow yourself

[russ_a]

It depends on size and quality of items used.

You can fit a kitchen for 5k or spend 40k!

We are currently renovating a 1930's detached house and have spent more than 35k and done a lot less than the post listed above. For example we are having a stove fitted and it will come in around 3k once done!

My rule of thumb is what ever you think it will cost double it and you still won't have enough.

[maddernj]

I recently bought a place and did the following to a 3 bed semi (SE London / Kent)

Knockdown entire garage + existing extension (3m from rear of house) and re-build + a little bit added on
Removal of rear wall (6m) + RSJ
2m foundations
bathroom + toilet knocked into one
New water main
New central heating + undefloor heating
Every wall + ceiling in the house re-plastered
Fit new Kitchen

this came to £60k ish

Kitchen was £20k
New Bathroom £5k
Electrics were £6k
Aditional plastering £4k
Fees £4k
Decorators £2.5k
New Carpets + flooring through the entire property

Plus the rent and other associated costs mean we spent north of £120k from the moment we stepped out of our old house to the day we moved into our new house (Sep 2010 > May 2011)

All done with a 2 year old in tow and a newborn from Jan 2011.....countless hours of stress thrown in for free

Edited by maddernj on Tuesday 8th November 16:41