Materials, labor, permits, and contingency — broken out by project type, scope tier, regional cost-of-construction (a kitchen in San Francisco costs 2.5x the same kitchen in Tupelo), and the age of your house (1880s brick has surprises 2000s construction doesn't). Built by an operator who rehabs houses at $35K all-in — not a lead-generation funnel that sells your contact information to three contractors.
Defaults are a mid-grade kitchen remodel in a 1950s ranch in the Midwest — roughly what Phil rehabs in WV/OH/MS/IN.
The biggest decision in any renovation — tier drives 60% of the cost variance. Mid-grade replacement is the default; the others either save you serious money (DIY-cosmetic) or empty your savings (high-end gut).
The same kitchen costs roughly 2.5x more in San Francisco than in Tupelo. Older homes hide structural and code surprises — lead paint, knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized pipe, asbestos tile. Both matter.
Permits add 30-60 days to almost any project that touches structure, plumbing, or electrical — and that's after the permit office has your application. Financing changes the math too.
If you're rehabbing for resale or rental cash-flow, the Business Buyer's Guide covers asset valuation, deal structure, and the operator economics of small real-estate businesses. The Family Office Guide covers the holding entity, insurance, and estate questions that come with owning multiple properties. Or just browse all the free tools.
Not contractor, engineering, or financial advice. This calculator and any output it produces are intended solely for general educational and decision-support purposes. Materials and labor costs vary widely by region, season, contractor, and home condition. Get 3 written bids from licensed contractors and verify regional pricing before relying on any number.
Estimates based on your inputs. All results are estimates derived from the data and assumptions you provide. Local building codes, permit requirements, and contractor pricing can materially change the answer. The Baratelli Institute, its affiliates, and any co-branding professional make no warranty of accuracy, completeness, currency, or fitness for any particular purpose, and disclaim all liability for decisions made in reliance on the output.
Consult licensed professionals. Before acting on anything calculated here, consult licensed contractors, structural engineers where appropriate, your local building department, and your financial advisor. Resale ROI projections referenced in companion tools are derived from Remodeling Magazine Cost vs Value Report and Zonda data — actual ROI varies.