Home Renovation Costs: Expectation vs. Reality

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If HGTV is your primary reference point for pricing your dream home renovation projects, you may be underestimating the real cost.

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The New Yorker recently took a deep dive into HGTV and explained why: “HGTV shows use homeowners’ real money to pay for renovations, but producers can quietly sell discounted goods and services in some sort and incorporate ways that confuse our sense of what seventy-five thousand dollars can buy. Steve Ford [co-host of the HGTV show “Home Again with the Fords”] acknowledged that attendees are “getting more for their money than they should” and said that an HGTV viewer might be forgiven for thinking, “Oh, I can! I can do this crazy thing at home that should be in a magazine. And I can do it for X dollars! ‘”

Read: 20 Home Renovations That Will Depreciate Your Home’s Value

Do you know how much a home renovation really costs? Click through to see how much you’ll actually set back five popular home improvement projects.

Young black plumber sitting on the floor repairing a sink in the bathroom, seen from the door.

Young black plumber sitting on the floor repairing a sink in the bathroom, seen from the door.

Remodeling a bathroom

Bathroom remodeling can include repairing or replacing toilets, sinks, vanities, countertops, lighting, ventilation / fans, floors, doors, windows, paint, faucets, and / or plumbing. According to HomeAdvisor, you should expect to spend 50% of your total budget on materials and 50% of your total budget on labor, with the average labor cost for this project being $ 65 per hour.

With that in mind, can you guess how much the average bathroom renovation will cost? Click through to the next slide to find out.

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modern remodeled main bathroom with vanity light

modern remodeled main bathroom with vanity light

The average cost to renovate a bathroom is $ 10,781

Homeowners typically spend between $ 6,150 and $ 15,417 to remodel a bathroom, with the national average being $ 10,781, according to HomeAdvisor. How much this project actually costs depends, of course, on the size of the bathroom, what exactly you are repairing / replacing and how high quality you are with your fixtures. A bathroom remodel can cost anywhere from $ 2,500 on the low end to just $ 26,044 on the high end.

The story goes on

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12074, color

12074, color

Painting the exterior of a house

HGTV aficionados know how far a fresh coat of paint can go on the outside of a home to completely update the look of a home and add to its appeal. This isn’t an easy undertaking, however – it requires adequate planning, preparation, and tools, and ideally left to a professional, according to HomeAdvisor.

Do you know the average cost of painting the facade of a house? Click through to see if your expectations match reality.

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Exterior of a new Cape Cod style suburban home with recently planted shrubs and grass.

Exterior of a new Cape Cod style suburban home with recently planted shrubs and grass.

The average cost to paint the outside of a home is $ 2,960

The cost of painting the exterior of a home is typically anywhere from $ 1,748 to $ 4,173, according to HomeAdvisor. It depends on the size of your home, your location, the condition of your exterior, the accessibility of the exterior of your home, and the material of your home. Stucco and brick are usually more expensive to paint than vinyl or wood.

Read: Why These Home Upgrades Are Worth the Extra Cash

Man in blue shirt is doing window installation.

Man in blue shirt is doing window installation.

Install a window

Adding a window to a room can help fill a room with more natural light, making it warmer and more welcoming. The cost of this project depends on the accessibility and type of material, according to HomeAdvisor.

But can you guess the average cost? Click the next slide to see if you are correct.

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Give your Windows a new Outlook

Give your Windows a new Outlook

The average cost to install a window is $ 5,909

Window installation typically costs between $ 2,950 and $ 9,088, according to HomeAdvisor. This includes the labor cost, which is between $ 150 and $ 800 per window, and the cost of the window itself, which is $ 300 to $ 1,200 for standard sizes. Custom and bay windows cost an average of $ 2,000.

See: 25 Tricks To Sell Your Home For A Bigger Profit

Installation with granite countertops Renovation of granite kitchen interior cabinet.

Installation with granite countertops Renovation of granite kitchen interior cabinet.

Install countertops

Installing or replacing countertops in a kitchen or bathroom can give the room a whole new look – which is why this is such a popular project on almost every HGTV show. The main cost for this project is the materials, although you also need to consider the labor cost. The price for this project depends on the material you choose and how much counter space you have.

Do you have an estimate of the average cost of this popular home improvement project? Click through to see how close your expectations are to reality.

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Newly updated modern classic open concept kitchen with new stainless steel appliances, dishwasher, granite sink and granite countertop.

Newly updated modern classic open concept kitchen with new stainless steel appliances, dishwasher, granite sink and granite countertop.

The average cost to install countertops is $ 2,973

If you estimated about $ 3,000, you’d be right. The average cost to install countertops ranges from $ 1,858 to $ 4,168, according to HomeAdvisor. Countertop materials average between $ 15 and $ 70 per square foot, and labor costs typically between $ 10 and $ 30 per square foot, for a total of between $ 25 and $ 120 per square foot.

Find Out: 20 Insider Tips to Save Money on Every Part of Your Home

Carpenter works on new kitchen cabinets.

Carpenter works on new kitchen cabinets.

Remodeling a kitchen

Kitchen design has changed dramatically in the past few decades, and many homeowners today dream of an open kitchen with a spacious kitchen island. But remodeling can be a huge (and expensive) undertaking. For a full remodel, the cost includes design fees, installation, equipment and ventilation systems, cabinets and hardware, countertops, lighting, flooring, doors and windows, walls and ceilings, and faucets and plumbing.

Do you know how much the average kitchen remodeling costs? Click through to see if your knowledge can compete with the HGTV experts.

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Nice kitchen room with green island and farmhouse sink.

Nice kitchen room with green island and farmhouse sink.

The average cost to remodel a kitchen is $ 25,548

Most homeowners spend between $ 13,358 and $ 37,740, or $ 75 to $ 250 per square foot, to remodel their kitchens, according to HomeAdvisor. The total cost depends on the size of the room, the quality of the materials and whether you change the floor plan.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Home Renovation Costs: Expectation vs. Reality

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