Renovating your Westchester County home can be a thrilling experience — a way to flex your creativity and add enduring value. It’s easy to get caught up in the fun of “what if’s”. But take a beat to establish a budget first, so you can transform your dream into an action plan. With its close proximity to New York City, Westchester County tends to price above the national average both in property values and construction costs, and you need to know how to prepare for the results and the look you want.
To help you determine your budget, Sweeten, the free platform matching you with the best vetted general contractors, outlines the costs of remodeling your home across the region, from Bronxville to White Plains to Bedford.
Home Renovation Costs
A full gut renovation of your home comes with a wide range of variables, including the costs of materials and of labor, which can make the exact cost difficult to pinpoint. As a rule of thumb, however, Sweeten suggests budgeting an average of $100 per square foot for basic renovations and up to $250 per square foot for higher-end projects. The range in prices here depends largely on the quality of materials and the experience/skills of the craftsmen you need to complete the work.
Kitchen Renovation Costs
Typically the centerpiece of the home, the kitchen is where many Westchester homeowners choose to splurge vs. save. Between appliances, countertops, flooring, cabinetry, craftsmanship and size of the kitchen, the cost of a kitchen renovation can range widely between $25,000 for a no-frills update on a small kitchen and as much as $200,000 for a high-end custom remodel. In square footage terms, you should plan on about $260 per square foot for a basic remodel, while mid-range and higher-end renovations start at around $335 per square foot.
Bathroom Renovation Costs
The smallest room in the house can be the priciest per square foot to revamp because of the many elements that go into renovating the space — think everything from plumbing work to fixtures. A low-end bathroom renovation in Westchester typically starts at about $16,000 — that it averages out to $450 per square foot. Mid-range bathrooms price at around $600 per square foot, and high-end renovations can exceed $660 per square foot.
Like any high-ticket purchase, renovating is a question of priorities and you want to approach the process as a smart shopper. One great way to do so is by getting estimates from several reputable Westchester contractors using a free service like Sweeten. When you post your renovation on Sweeten, you’ll be matched with 3-5 vetted, insured general contractors who are the best fit for your project. By doing cost research and planning ahead, you’ll be prepared when you start getting estimates from general contractors (the Sweeten experts can also help you evaluate various bids).
When you hire one of the contractors you’ve been matched with, the Sweeten team checks in with you throughout the entire project to make sure everything is moving along smoothly, helping you to create a space you love. The team is there to help you bring your dream to life and actually enjoy the renovation process itself.
Sweeten is a free service that matches people with major renovation projects to the best general contractors, offering personal support until the job is done. For more information, cost guides and inspiring before-and-after stories, visit sweeten.com or call 212.671.1713.
Read more from Sweeten by Westchester Magazine:
• Now This Is How You Bring Your Kitchen Into the 21st Century
• Sweeten Your Renovation: The Match.com of Contracting Sites
