Homebuyers often assume that the heavy expenses are ending after purchasing a house. However, you sometimes forget that substantial home improvements are still about to happen.
According to a survey from homeadvisor.com, many Americans underestimate home improvements like painting the interiors, installing new windows, and landscaping.
This is becoming a more significant issue as building materials are getting more expensive, and the labor shortages are delaying projects which will cost more than before.
- Windows Installation
Four out of ten people didn’t realize how expensive window installation is, while more than a quarter underestimated the cost of repainting their home interiors. Repainting has been a favorite pastime since the pandemic started.
- Cost to Paint Home Interior
According to HomeAdvisor, professional painters charge from $200 – $800 to paint a 10×12 ft room. If you do the painting yourself, it will generally cost you $100 and $300, but survey responders said it would be cheaper if they did the job themselves.
If you plan to estimate the cost to paint a room, the first thing to know is the total area that would give you an idea of how many gallons of paint will be needed. Here are some steps on how to calculate the area of a room:
Calculate the area of the walls by adding the length of all the walls in the entire room.
Next is to multiply the sum by the height of the room.
Decide if baseboards, trim, and ceilings are included or not.
Subtract the area of unpaintable places like the walls’ cabinets, windows, and doors. Just use the same length times width formula for each.
What’s left is your surface area. Contractors usually add some percentage back to anticipate any unexpected additional coverage.
Professional painting labor usually ranges from $170 to $680. However, there are still factors to consider, like paying them hourly or per square foot coverage.
- Building a deck
Having a new deck increases your living space and adds value to a home. Building a deck that measures 200-500 sq. ft. costs almost $7,000. A smaller deck costs $2,000 but still depends on different factors like the size of the deck, building materials, and accessories.
It would be best to think about this during the early planning stage. Your local assessor’s office should be able to help you estimate costs to avoid unplanned expenses. You should also confirm that homeowner’s policy covers the deck before you decide to build one.
- Landscaping costs
Another home improvement that is being underestimated is landscaping.
Landscaping consists of projects which mean the costs per square foot have a wide range.
The price per square foot could be $5 to $20, but it still depends on your plan. Due to the mixing of materials, the cost per square foot could still be changed.
Landscaping costs are underestimated by about two-thirds of the price, according to the HomeAdvisor survey. When the pandemic started, nearly a quarter of households completed a landscaping project.
- Bathroom remodel
The total cost of remodeling a bathroom to fit your needs is a bit expensive, depending on the size and the style that you want. It could cost around $9,500 to do a total remodel, but homeowners can just fix up the essentials and spend half of it. No matter what the cost is, some would still opt for a master bathroom total remodel for the sake of a lifestyle upgrade.
Maximize the return on investment by remodeling a bathroom since many home buyers value the comfort they’ll get from an up-to-date bathroom.
About two-thirds of Americans consider home maintenance projects stressful because they often underestimate the costs. 58% of men believe it’s stressful compared to 43% of women.
According to HomeAdvisor experts, you can at least secure about 5% to 10% on your initial estimates just in case you experience a price shift on materials and accessories.
The best way to save is to plan and see if things need replacing or a simple repainting would work. Strategize on investing more in things that homeowners value the most. Consider having multiple estimates before deciding on anything. Check what’s best, not only because it’s the cheapest but because of its value.