Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 10:44     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
Anonymous wrote:See, I've lived in those old foursquares. The plumbing may well work fine. The plumbing in the turn of the century house that was added in pipe chases built into the corners of the room works fine. The electric, not so much. That's radiator heat and shouldn't be an issue. Central air is a luxury, not a necessity. [/quote

OK, but central air is more efficient than window units, and if I were buying that house (I love foursqaures) I would do it assuming that I would need to install high-velocity AC because there wouldn't be room in the walls for regular vents.

Even if you eventually want high-end appliances, you could start with lesser ones and upgrade in a decade, or start with lesser ones and realize that it's no big deal to do a lot of cooking with stuff you can get at a big box store.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 10:32     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
See, I've lived in those old foursquares. The plumbing may well work fine. The plumbing in the turn of the century house that was added in pipe chases built into the corners of the room works fine. The electric, not so much. That's radiator heat and shouldn't be an issue. Central air is a luxury, not a necessity.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 10:13     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
That house has 2 buyers. The person that has enough money to fully renovate it prior to moving in. Or the person that is handy enough to do the work over time by themselves. That house would be a royal PIA to renovate project by project. What I see is all of the unknowns. It's great to talk about the cosmetic renovations--the floors, the bathrooms, the kitchen. But let's talk about what's behind those walls. What type of plumbing, electrical wiring, and HVAC is there? Until you know that, you are walking into the great unknown which could end up costing you thousands and in the end you'll end up with some open walls, loose insulation and a still to be renovated bathroom and kitchen. But you'll have spent your renovation budget already.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 10:08     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
Anonymous wrote:What exactly does that wolf oven do that makes it worth so much? Ditto the expensive fridge? I have a very nice LG bottom freezer that cost maybe 2k and it works fine. I cook daily. From scratch, feeding at least 6 people a meal. Everything works, nothing cost near that much.


I have an LG bottom freezer in my second house and it's fine, but I like the subzero better for two primary reasons. First, you can adjust freezer and fridge temps separately as they are on separate compressors, not one for the whole unit. And second, it's counter depth. When we bought it (15 years ago) it was the only brand that was counter depth and we have a narrow kitchen and needed that. Cosmetically I like that it has a built-in look with wood panels on the door that match the cabinets. In a narrow kitchen it is a much better look.

While our LG is fine I have to say I really don't like the bottom freezer. It's hard to find things and I feel like I have to rummage around to see what's on the bottom. Luckily we haven't had any repair problems with our LG yet - after we bought it we saw in consumer's reports that it has terrible service ratings. Maybe that's improved since.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 09:56     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
Does it need central air, too? Thought i saw some window units in some of the pictures. Adding air-conditioning will probably run you around $20K and would also be something I would recommend doing before you move in if possible (adding ductwork creates a lot of dust). And I'd say you could re-do that kitchen for $50K if you don't go high end. Agree that it would be impossible to get everything done before the fall, so you should be prepared to having some ongoing renovation work.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 09:55     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
What exactly does that wolf oven do that makes it worth so much? Ditto the expensive fridge? I have a very nice LG bottom freezer that cost maybe 2k and it works fine. I cook daily. From scratch, feeding at least 6 people a meal. Everything works, nothing cost near that much.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 09:54     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
OP, without knowing the extent of the structural/ electrical work it is hard to say. But ignore the PPs who are throwing around these crazy numbers for a kitchen remodel. There are tons of prior threads on this. Of course, you COULD spend $75k-$100k, but you do not need to. There aren't any pics of the kitchen so I'm not sure if anything needs to be moved. We did our kitchen for $40k and it could have been less.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 09:48     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
OP never said she wanted top-of-the-line everything, though.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 09:41     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
Anonymous wrote: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?


Do you live in the 1930's?

For those of us who don't do our cooking on woodstoves...we got a Wolf oven, microwave, cooktop an warming drawer an it was more than $10k. Subzero fridge was $10k over a decade ago. Dishwasher was $1,200. Could we have spent less? Of course. But that's not what we chose to do. Our kitchen is not for show - we cook every day and entertain frequently, so we put in it things we wanted.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 09:35     Subject: Re:Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home
Anonymous wrote:
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...


WTF. Seriously? 30k for cabinets? 50k for windows?!?

Our kitchen was renovated when we moved in, but there was one empty wall begging for more storage. We ordered a floor to ceiling pantry which was 2 feet wide, a set of cabinets, and a set of drawers to match everything else, plus a granite slab. We had our handyman and his carpenter friend install it. We installed the hardware ourselves. Total cost: $2200 including installation. (march 2013)

We also had 15 windows replaced. High quality windows. That was 7k. (sept 2011)



Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 09:29     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
Anonymous wrote:The house is listed "As is". That's a big red flag!


In this market, that is absolutely not true. Sellers list as is because they can.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 08:50     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
It looks like it might need new HVAC too -- are those electric heaters I spy?

Nevertheless, I really like it. I wish I had $$ to redo an old house like that!!
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 08:46     Subject: Re:Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home
The builder does not live in this area. Restoring 1970s homes in our area (which do not have the structural issues that house has, and the ancient wiring) costs 100K. Minimum.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 08:46     Subject: Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home?
I live nearby and this house is incredibly overpriced.
Anonymous
Post 05/23/2013 08:44     Subject: Re:Approximately how much would it cost and how long would it take to renovate this Chevy Chase home
I agree with the contractor. That house is a money pit. Almost a teardown unless you want to live like a poor person (old falling apart home) for $1M. I think in the neighborhood of 200-300K to bring into the 21st century. The floors are a come on. They are the easy fix. It is the rest of the house that needs expensive work. For 400K you could have a new home without all the problems.