Free Property Rehab Estimator

Walk the property room by room, note every item needing repair or replacement, categorize by trade (kitchen, baths, flooring, roof, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, exterior), and estimate each category. Add 10-20% contingency. Get 3 contractor bids to validate your estimate before closing.

Light cosmetic rehab: $15-30/sqft. Medium rehab (kitchen, bath updates, mechanicals): $30-60/sqft. Full gut renovation: $60-120/sqft or more depending on finishes and market. Labor costs vary significantly by region — Northern Virginia and coastal markets run 30-50% higher than Midwest.

Kitchen updates return 60-80% of cost. Bathroom updates return 60-70%. Curb appeal (landscaping, exterior paint, front door) returns 100%+. Flooring returns 70-80%. Basement finishing and room additions return the least — often 50-60% in most markets.

10% for newer properties (post-1980) with no major red flags. 15-20% for properties built before 1980. 25%+ for properties with water damage, foundation concerns, knob-and-tube wiring, or significant deferred maintenance. Never skip contingency — it's your protection against unknowns.

Permit fees and inspections, dumpster rentals, temporary utilities, lead paint and asbestos testing/remediation, landscaping and grading, final cleaning, staging costs, and soft costs like architectural plans for major structural changes.

For rough filtering purposes yes — use cost-per-square-foot benchmarks by condition level. For making an offer, you need eyes on the property. Photos help but miss hidden issues. Always physically inspect or have a trusted set of eyes walk the property before committing to purchase.