What will it cost?

Unlike new construction, per square foot costs are not very meaningful for most remodeling projects. The one exception to this is with whole house renovations, where we have found that the cost will run in the neighborhood of $200 per square foot, assuming a new kitchen and bathrooms. For smaller projects, we have found an interesting correlation between the cost of automobiles and kitchen (or bath remodeling) over the years.

Over the years that Showplace has been in business, a new kitchen has tended to cost about the same as a new, full size car. As with automobiles, you can opt for the basic sedan (Buick) or the luxury roadster (BMW) with all the "whistles and bells". The master suite has also seemed to follow the same correlation, with the guest bath coming in at about half that amount.

We have further found from our experience, that including an addition as part of one of these projects will add about $30-60,000 to the total cost.

Studies by various national publications and industry associations have indicated that remodeling kitchens and bathrooms provide the best return on investment for home improvements, returning anywhere from 80-90% in increased valuation to the homeowner.

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