You may be interested in remodeling your home for a wide variety of reasons:
- for aesthetic purposes
- to ensure the safety of your home, especially following damages caused by a weather event
- to add value to your home as you’re looking to sell
- you recently purchased a new home and would like to tailor it to your taste
Whatever your reason, as you start the remodeling process, it’s important to clearly define your project expectations and set a firm budget so you don’t mistakenly overspend. The easiest way to ensure a smooth remodeling experience is to learn as much as you can about the process so you are prepared. Join the Big Fish team as we review some important factors in home remodeling to help you prepare!
Common Remodeling Areas & Services
While almost anything can be remodeled or built to accommodate most homes, most remodeling projects take place in the following areas:
• Kitchen
• Bathroom
• Bedroom
• Living Room
• Basement
• Outdoor Patio
• Office
• Home Additions
There are a number of ways to remodel the spaces listed above from cosmetic all the way to new construction. It can be surprising how small changes like the addition of molding or a change in lighting or paint color can reinvent a space. When done in conjunction with some carpentry, spaces can take on a whole new life. The most common remodeling services include:
- Painting
- Flooring
- Landscaping
- Exterior
- Cabinets
- Plumbing
- Appliances
- Lighting
- Windows
As you can see, there’s a lot to choose from when remodeling your home. The rooms and services you choose are the biggest factors in determining the budget of your project. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of a full home remodel in the greater Milwaukee area is $46,697, with an average range of $23,412 – $74,640. (The lowest end of the full home remodel pricing spectrum in this market is $12,000 and the high-end lands around $100,000.)
What factors drive the cost of a remodel?
Remodeling projects are generally broken out into three categories: small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale projects. Each “size” listed is also indicative of the cost – a small-scale project is going to cost less than a medium or large-scale one.
Small-scale projects (under $45K):
Lower-cost home remodels tend to focus on surface-level aesthetic improvements such as painting (both interior and exterior), lighting, landscaping, and refinishing smaller elements such as cabinets or doors, or landscaping.
Medium-scale projects ($45-$75K):
A mid-scale remodeling project takes more time, involvement, and budget flexibility, but can greatly affect the appearance and functionality of your home. This project might include the small-scale services mentioned above, and could also include a kitchen or bathroom remodel, new appliances throughout your home, or updated flooring.
Large-scale projects ($76K and up):
Larger budget remodeling projects will certainly improve the overall look of your home but will likely upgrade your home’s functionality and overall structure as well. This level of remodel may include changing the layout of your home by adding or removing walls, correcting foundational issues, or building a new addition.
Spaces that tend to cost the most in a remodel are the kitchen, bathroom, basement, roofing system, or a new home addition.
While the services themselves are important to consider when budgeting for a remodel, it’s equally important to budget for your contractor as well. It’s always a good idea to talk to a home designer or general contractor to get an idea of what it will cost to renovate your home. Do your research to make sure you aren’t receiving overinflated or underinflated estimated costs.
Other elements that can influence the cost of your remodeling project include the location, architectural type, age, and square footage of your home as well as the desired materials for your project.
Quick Budget Tip
As you plan out your budget, remember this—cosmetic changes cost less, structural changes cost more.
Where can I be more budget-friendly on my home remodel?
There are three ways to be more budget-conscious as you set your price point for your upcoming remodeling project:
- Keep in mind that you get what you pay for. If you look for the cheapest contractor possible, you may wind up paying more in the end to fix a shoddy remodeling job. Look for a good contractor who can offer you quality services at a fair price.
- Materials can drastically affect your final costs. For instance, your countertops could be $1,500 or $8,000, depending on the material you choose. Look for the material that offers the best bang for your buck when it comes to both quality and quantity.
- Consider what your top priorities are in your remodeled home and which of those fall into a small-scale, medium-scale, or large-scale project category. What are your must-haves? What’s just a “would-be-nice”?
The first steps to a successful remodeling project:
- Start listing out what services you will want done to get a general idea of what scale your home remodel will be.
- Consider what your tentative budget cap is in order to get an idea of what services will be a possibility within your budget.
- Talk to a home designer or general contractor to get an idea of what it will cost to renovate your home, how long it will take, and what contractor will be the best fit for you. We do advise that you talk to more than one contractor to ensure you will truly be receiving a fairly-priced, quality job well done.
Big Fish Contracting has expanded our long-standing reputation in the exterior remodeling world to interior spaces as well. We have a full suite of advanced design technology that will help you transform your vision into a custom, functional, and beautiful space. With these capabilities, you can tour your new space and finalize all the details before we begin building.
Our remodeling services include the planning, design, and build out of new additions, kitchens, master bedrooms, bathrooms, basements, or even your entire home. Learn more about our remodeling services.
