Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?

[Anonymous]

Of course one could go overboard and personal styles differ but within reason (whatever that means, I suppose). Updating the bathrooms and kitchens and floors....

We have to be somewhat settled before school starts in the fall.

Any thoughts welcome.

http://franklymls.com/DC8084898

[Anonymous]

The floors are the easiest part. The kitchen needs to be completely redone. Bathrooms could work for a while. It depends how confident you are in knowing what you want. If it were me I'd do the floors and the kitchen first, and do the bathrooms over time when I had more time to think about it. And that assumes you wouldn't be planning to do any kind of bump out on the kitchen.

I'd guess $5k for the floors, maybe $4k for painting if you want to paint, and $75k for the kitchen if you go highish end but don't do anything structural. Figure $15-20k each for bathrooms. The landscaping and yard would also be high on my list and I'd plan on $15-20k to put in some kind of patio and plantings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The floors are the easiest part. The kitchen needs to be completely redone. Bathrooms could work for a while. It depends how confident you are in knowing what you want. If it were me I'd do the floors and the kitchen first, and do the bathrooms over time when I had more time to think about it. And that assumes you wouldn't be planning to do any kind of bump out on the kitchen.

I'd guess $5k for the floors, maybe $4k for painting if you want to paint, and $75k for the kitchen if you go highish end but don't do anything structural. Figure $15-20k each for bathrooms. The landscaping and yard would also be high on my list and I'd plan on $15-20k to put in some kind of patio and plantings.

Thank you. That is helpful. I did not realize a kitchen could/would cost so much - is it because of the appliances or what are the big ticket items in kitchens?

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of the cost will depend if you need to do mostly cosmetic work, or more structural (update electrical, replace roof, etc). Hard to give an estimate without knowing that. If just cosmetic and you don't go crazy with high end stuff, maybe $100k?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The floors are the easiest part. The kitchen needs to be completely redone. Bathrooms could work for a while. It depends how confident you are in knowing what you want. If it were me I'd do the floors and the kitchen first, and do the bathrooms over time when I had more time to think about it. And that assumes you wouldn't be planning to do any kind of bump out on the kitchen.

I'd guess $5k for the floors, maybe $4k for painting if you want to paint, and $75k for the kitchen if you go highish end but don't do anything structural. Figure $15-20k each for bathrooms. The landscaping and yard would also be high on my list and I'd plan on $15-20k to put in some kind of patio and plantings.

Thank you. That is helpful. I did not realize a kitchen could/would cost so much - is it because of the appliances or what are the big ticket items in kitchens?

It really depends what you put in it. Some people will tell you they spent way less, and I'm sure they did. We spent more. Everything is a variable. The cabinets are usually the biggest expense. Appliances will depend on what you get. If you get a built in fridge and a high end stove/oven, it could be $10k. It could also be $5k or $20k. The floors obviously need to be redone in the kitchen as well.

[Anonymous]

$75K would get you a fairly high-end kitchen of that size. You could do something for $30ishK and it would still be nice and in keeping with the rest of the house.

[Anonymous]

I think that kitchen is $100K easy and I think the entire thing needs a ton of work. I don't think it would be done by September, either, unless you know that you could close next week, find a contractor and get your permits on some kind of expedited basis. I think that is unlikely. You will wait at least a month for your permit.

[Anonymous]

What a glorious old foursquare! she has really pretty bones....I'd do the floors, one bathroom and the kitchen and then live with the rest until I better figured out what I want to do. Are you handy? Everyone likes to laugh at Ikea but their appliances and kitchen cabinets----and that spiffy farmhouse sink!---are to die for. The only problem I see is that the wiring is probably old and will need to be redone eventually. You can always do each room as you fix it or use wiremold for now, to get the job done while you decide what you really want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that kitchen is $100K easy and I think the entire thing needs a ton of work. I don't think it would be done by September, either, unless you know that you could close next week, find a contractor and get your permits on some kind of expedited basis. I think that is unlikely. You will wait at least a month for your permit.

+10
Builder here...couldn't agree more...kitchen - 30-35k cabinets,15-20 appliance,5-7k countertops, plus lighting, plumber, demo, new floor - there's your hundred...hall baths figure 15k, master bath figure 30-50k.

btw, I do not live or work in your area but I like the house...do yourself a favor find someone you can trust and not recommended by the realtor to take a hard look at the house - the mechanicals - are they original, electric, how may amps, HVAC, etc...windows - houseful of windows is could be another 50k...the deck in the back has to go...nice patio is more $$$....again like the house but it is a project...and if you are like most folks I meet and I mean this respectfully I tell them the numbers - they look at me like I am crazy and tell me that I only do high end really nice work (which is true) then come back after about 6 months of doing there homework and tell me I was right....I look at that house and 200-300k is my visceral reaction...kitchen/baths/paint/etc...and I'm thinking closer to 300k..and btw you will by September just not this year....now if you are handy and want a three-five year nights and weekend project that is a different story...

[Anonymous]

I've always done my own renovation, except for one kitchen where I removed a sad wall and added a steel beam: there's no way I could get 30-35 k for cabinets. Seriously? What are they, teak? Rare hardwoods? I'd probably spend the cash to tear out that soffit if it isn't hiding ductwork, but dear gods.

And someone please tell me how you spend $15k on a stove, refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave. Do they come with a chef and a maid?

I can see 15-20k for a master bath if I get one of those orgy-sized showers in it: but again, you need a tub, maybe a separate shower, a John and a sink or two. For 50k I'd expect a cabana boy.

I just redid my grandsons bedroom. Down to the studs, carved a closet out of the eaves and another nook for a bed. Including having the drywall delivered, because I'm too damn lazy to lug it upstairs, so far I have spent just about $700. That includes all new wiring and insulation, and paying someone to mud the drywall. It's my least favorite job. Another $300 will buy paint, clear pine for trim, and switchplate covers: I've already installed the spiffy hunter fan and other new fixtures.

When I did the kitchen, it cost me all up 2.5k. That included new wiring, insulation, a new window----installed---slate on the floor, a Waterford wood cookstove, the bracing to accommodate it, a 12-hr fire rated wall and cabinets----which I built to fit the rather odd space.

How do you-all spend so much damn money?

[Anonymous]

The house is listed "As is". That's a big red flag!

[Anonymous]

Love it but, as the owner of a beautifully renovated American Four-Square in the Palisades ( also with a nice addition), it will need a lot of updating to be really live able in this era. Bedrooms on two different floors s your first big problem. Also, did you notice the outside is aluminum siding not traditional wood clapboard. That would deeply concern me. I'd say its a very big project that will take a year, not 3 months.

[Anonymous]

I have a decent sized kitchen and all new cabinets (Kraftmaid) were $11,000 but I bought from a wholesaler. Appliances were $8,000 for mid range stuff. Backsplash was $1,000 with installation but I spent a lot on that. Higher end granite for extensive counters was $3,300. (I wouldn't do granite again. It has been done to death)

Redoing floors will be at least $5,000. Stain them very dark or very light.

Bathrooms are pricey. Don't do tiles all over the walls, just floor and shower. Still, that will be $18,000 if bathroom is very small and you don't go very high end.

Incredible that a house that size and in that condition is almost $1,000,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a decent sized kitchen and all new cabinets (Kraftmaid) were $11,000 but I bought from a wholesaler. Appliances were $8,000 for mid range stuff. Backsplash was $1,000 with installation but I spent a lot on that. Higher end granite for extensive counters was $3,300. (I wouldn't do granite again. It has been done to death)

Redoing floors will be at least $5,000. Stain them very dark or very light.

Bathrooms are pricey. Don't do tiles all over the walls, just floor and shower. Still, that will be $18,000 if bathroom is very small and you don't go very high end.

Incredible that a house that size and in that condition is almost $1,000,000.

seriously!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Yes, overpriced for the work that it needs.