Another Question on Renovation Costs

Hi Everyone, Before I begin, thank you for any and all responses I get. I know this is the umpteenth time this question has been asked, but I was hoping to get a little more specifics. I am planning to do a renovation, and wanted to get an idea on the costs in order to ballpark how much cash I need to have/finance. I am looking at a complete gut. As in take everything down to the studs and joists, and sister the joists, rewire and replumb the entire building. It would be better to think of the starting point as a shell. I already have an architect lined up, but before I start paying any architect fees, I want to know rough costs before I proceed. Some details. Building is a 20 X 35 building with a 20 by 12 extension. It is 4 floors + cellar. My plan is to keep it as a three family, duplexing the garden and parlor floor (1 kitchen 3 bathrooms, and have two units above (1 kitchen 2 baths). Finishes will be ikea kitchens, and moderate Home depot bathrooms etc. No central air conditioning. I’ve read on this forum that people suggest $225 per sqft, but elsewhere, I have seen $125,000 given as a ball park for a gut renovation per floor. The two seem to give widely divergent estimates, and I was hoping people could give just a ball park range of what they spent on similar renovations. Thank you again for all your help.

mhquinones

in Brownstoner Renovation 9 years and 2 months ago

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mhquinones | 9 years and 2 months ago

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Thanks for all the replies. I will definitely consider central air if I move forward with the gut. If you don’t mind me asking Glarph, how much did you end up spending overall on the renovation of the Clinton Hill home, and who did you work with? and would you recommend them?

glarph | 9 years and 2 months ago

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A hearty second to adding central air! I did it when I did a gut of a previous home in Clinton Hill, and added a HEPA filter to the unit as well. It was absolute heaven. The house was comfortable and practically dust free at all times. And getting out of the shower in August and not immediately shvitzing is a value beyond price.

Arkady | 9 years and 2 months ago

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I agree w/ curated, as long as you have everything open, I’d run duct in an accessible chase for possible use later.

curated | 9 years and 2 months ago

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Starting point would be about 250/sf not including soft costs. Not doing central AC while everything is gutted and open is likely a decision you may regret in the future. Before starting anything you should also determine all soft costs for the project. There are many more soft costs involved with a proper permitted job other than just the architect. www.curatedny.com

mhquinones | 9 years and 2 months ago

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HAHA Thanks for catching that Bob Marvin. I meant no fancy form of heating, like radiant heating, or split duct systems that are also used for heating. Just simple baseboard or radiator heating. Also as we had to replace the boiler system three months ago, I won’t be needing new boilers or water heaters. 🙂 Thanks again for catching that.

BobMarvin | 9 years and 2 months ago

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“No central heating”? Is that a typo, or is will this house only be used in the warm months?