{"id":5902,"date":"2026-04-23T04:48:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T04:48:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/?p=5902"},"modified":"2026-04-23T04:54:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T04:54:12","slug":"how-to-estimate-a-whole-home-remodel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/how-to-estimate-a-whole-home-remodel\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Estimate a Whole Home Remodel: A Contractor&#8217;s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<style id=\"sw-a-02article\">.single-post .entry-header{display:none !important;}.single-post .entry-meta{display:none !important;}.single-post .post-tags,.single-post .entry-footer,.single-post .breadcrumb-nav{display:none !important;}.single-post article.post .entry-content{padding-top:0 !important;margin-top:0 !important;}.single-post .content-area,.single-post #primary{padding:0 !important;}.single-post .site-main{padding:0 !important;}.single-post .row--index > .col-xs-12{padding-left:0 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li::before{width:42px;height:42px;font-size:17px;left:0;top:18px;}.sw-a__steps > li h3{font-size:18px;margin:0 0 6px;}.sw-a__steps > li p{font-size:15.5px;line-height:1.6;}.sw-a__body table{display:block;overflow-x:auto;white-space:nowrap;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;font-size:13.5px;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:10px;}.sw-a__body th,.sw-a__body td{padding:10px 14px;}.sw-a__body th{font-size:11.5px;letter-spacing:0.4px;}.sw-a__cta{padding:48px 18px;}.sw-a__cta h2{font-size:26px;line-height:1.2;}.sw-a__cta-buttons{flex-direction:column;gap:12px;}.sw-a a.sw-a__btn,.sw-a .sw-a__btn{width:100%;text-align:center;padding:16px 22px;font-size:15.5px;}.sw-a__pull{padding:48px 18px;}.sw-a__pull blockquote{font-size:21px;line-height:1.4;}.sw-a__faq-cat{font-size:18px;margin:24px 0 10px;}.sw-a__faq-answer{font-size:15px;line-height:1.6;}details > summary{font-size:15.5px;padding:14px 16px;}}<\/style>\n<article class=\"sw-a\">\n<section class=\"sw-a__hero\">\n<div class=\"sw-a__inner\">\n<p class=\"sw-a__breadcrumb\">Blog &nbsp;&rsaquo;&nbsp; Contractor Estimating Guides<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"sw-a__eyebrow\">Estimating &middot; Guide<\/span><\/p>\n<h1>How to Estimate a Whole Home Remodel: A Contractor&#x27;s Guide<\/h1>\n<p class=\"sw-a__subtitle\">A contractor&#x27;s framework for pricing a whole home remodel bid. Scope, unit costs, loaded labor rates, overhead, contingency, and a worked sample estimate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sw-a__meta\"><span>SimplyWise<\/span><span class=\"sw-a__dot\"><\/span><span>Updated April 22, 2026<\/span><span class=\"sw-a__dot\"><\/span><span>14 min read<\/span><\/div>\n<figure class=\"sw-a__hero-figure\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/whole-home-remodel-hero-gut-framing.jpg\" alt=\"Active whole home remodel jobsite - gut to studs interior with framing, electrical conduit, drywall stack, and handwritten scope notes on the wall\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"sw-a__tldr\">\n<div class=\"sw-a__tldr-box\">\n<div class=\"sw-a__tldr-label\">The 7-step framework<\/div>\n<div class=\"sw-a__tldr-body\">\n<ol>\n<li>Walk the site and define the scope of work.<\/li>\n<li>Take off quantities by trade.<\/li>\n<li>Price unit costs from current supplier sheets.<\/li>\n<li>Load labor at a billable rate, not a wage.<\/li>\n<li>Collect subcontractor bids and lock them before you bid the job.<\/li>\n<li>Allocate overhead (industry average 23.6% of revenue per NAHB).<\/li>\n<li>Add contingency and markup to hit 29.9% gross margin (NAHB FY2024 benchmark).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"sw-a__body\">\n<div class=\"sw-a__inner\">\n<p>A whole home remodel is the highest-stakes single bid a residential contractor writes all year. Indeed, homeowner spending on improvements is projected to reach $518 billion by the end of 2026, per the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jchs.harvard.edu\/blog\/remodeling-growth-set-downshift-late-2026\">Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity<\/a> (April 15, 2026 revision), with year-over-year growth holding at +1.6% by Q4. The <a href=\"https:\/\/eyeonhousing.org\/2026\/04\/remodeling-market-sentiment-edges-down-but-remains-positive-in-first-quarter\/\">NAHB\/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index<\/a> read 62 in Q1 2026, sitting in positive territory every quarter since Q1 2020, per the April 2026 release on Eye On Housing. Additionally, within that spend, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.houzz.com\/magazine\/2026-u-s-houzz-and-home-study-renovation-trends-stsetivw-vs~185090855\">Houzz 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study<\/a> reports median renovation spend in 2025 held at $20,000, while 90th-percentile spend reached $150,000. Consequently, a whole home remodel bid sits at the top of that distribution, and a contractor bidding one is underwriting six-figure risk on a single project.<\/p>\n<p>This guide walks through a 7-step estimating framework so the bid reconciles with the <a href=\"https:\/\/eyeonhousing.org\/2026\/04\/remodelers-saw-profit-margin-gains-in-2024\/\">NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business Study, 2026 edition<\/a> (FY2024 data) benchmark of a 29.9% average gross profit margin. Specifically, below you will find scope definition, quantity take-off, unit-cost pricing, loaded labor rates, overhead allocation, contingency, and markup, followed by a worked 2,200 square foot sample estimate. Notably, this is the same 7-step logic that <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/simplywise-cost-estimator\/id6670619664\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SimplyWise Cost Estimator<\/a> automates when a contractor drops a jobsite photo into the app.<\/p>\n<h2>What counts as a whole home remodel (and what doesn&#x27;t)<\/h2>\n<p>There is no federally-published definition of a whole home remodel. Contractors work from three industry-convention tiers built from scope, not floor area.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Cosmetic refresh.<\/strong> Paint, flooring, fixtures, and finishes across most rooms. No structural or mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) work.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Full replacement.<\/strong> Cabinetry, countertops, floors, fixtures, and possibly some MEP upgrades. No structural changes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gut to the studs.<\/strong> Strip to framing, rebuild MEP, update structure where needed, full finish-out.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Using the three illustrative per-square-foot tier ranges documented in Section 5, the same 2,000 square foot house can bid anywhere from roughly $100,000 on a cosmetic refresh to $800,000 on a high-end gut, depending on tier. Importantly, classifying the scope tier at the walk-through is the single highest-leverage estimating decision. Consequently, getting that call wrong is the most common source of bid error on whole home remodels. Finally, once you have named the tier, you can step into the 7-step framework.<\/p>\n<h2>The 2026 remodeling market in one page<\/h2>\n<p>First, the table below is the factual baseline every whole home remodel bid should reconcile against. In addition, each row cites a verified source.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Stat<\/th>\n<th>Value<\/th>\n<th>Source<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Projected US homeowner improvement spend, end of 2026<\/td>\n<td>$518 billion<\/td>\n<td>JCHS LIRA, April 15 2026 revision<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Year-over-year growth, end of 2026<\/td>\n<td>+1.6%<\/td>\n<td>JCHS LIRA, April 15 2026 revision<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Remodeling Market Index, Q1 2026<\/td>\n<td>62 (positive since Q1 2020)<\/td>\n<td>NAHB\/Westlake Royal RMI, Q1 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Large-project ($50K+) current conditions component<\/td>\n<td>67<\/td>\n<td>NAHB\/Westlake Royal RMI, Q1 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Median homeowner renovation spend, 2025<\/td>\n<td>$20,000<\/td>\n<td>Houzz 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>90th-percentile spend, 2025<\/td>\n<td>$150,000<\/td>\n<td>Houzz 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Share of projects that are post-purchase home improvements<\/td>\n<td>21%<\/td>\n<td>NAHB\/Westlake Royal RMI, Q1 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Share of projects that are sale-prep<\/td>\n<td>4%<\/td>\n<td>NAHB\/Westlake Royal RMI, Q1 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Industry average gross profit margin, FY2024<\/td>\n<td>29.9%<\/td>\n<td>NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business, 2026 ed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Industry average net profit margin, FY2024<\/td>\n<td>6.3% (highest since 1996)<\/td>\n<td>NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business, 2026 ed.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Overall, read the numbers together. Indeed, demand is steady, but growth is softening. Per the Houzz 2026 study, 37% of homeowners exceeded their initial renovation budget in 2025. As a result, that means bids that look high lose more often than they did 18 months ago. Additionally, the 21% post-purchase share versus 4% sale-prep share tells you where the pipeline is: recent buyers remodeling for themselves are the dominant customer, not sellers prepping to list. Furthermore, on profit, the NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business, 2026 edition, places the industry average gross margin at 29.9% and net margin at 6.3%, the highest net reading since 1996. As a result, a bid that doesn&#8217;t clear 29.9% gross is below industry average and subsidizing the job.<\/p>\n<h2>How to estimate a whole home remodel in 7 steps<\/h2>\n<p>First, the 7-step framework below maps one-to-one to the HowTo schema on this page. Then walk through every step on every whole home remodel bid.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"sw-a__steps\">\n<li>\n<h3>Walk the site and define the scope of work<\/h3>\n<p>First, document every room, surface, and system with a disposition decision (keep, repair, replace, relocate). Next, classify the project against the three convention tiers above. Additionally, photograph everything: elevations, mechanical rooms, every fixture. SimplyWise Cost Estimator ingests a single jobsite photo and auto-generates an itemized scope with room-level line items. However, if you are capturing scope manually, the <a href=\"\/blog\/general-estimate-template\/\">contractor estimate template<\/a> mirrors that structure. Flag any line item gated on a structural or MEP opinion (load-bearing walls, panel capacity, sewer condition). Those become allowance line items until resolved.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Take off quantities by trade<\/h3>\n<p>To begin, break the scope into unit-priced take-offs by trade. For instance, demolition in square feet, cubic yards of debris, and dumpster loads. Framing in linear feet of wall plus new openings and header schedule. Drywall in square feet. Flooring in square feet by material type. Paint in wall square feet, ceiling square feet, and trim linear feet. Plumbing in fixture counts and rough-in runs. Electrical in device counts, circuit runs, and a panel upgrade yes or no. HVAC in tonnage and duct linear feet or ductless zone count. Cabinetry and counters in linear feet and square feet. Fixtures, appliances, and the full finish schedule.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Price unit costs from current supplier sheets<\/h3>\n<p>Start by pulling live pricing. Per the Houzz 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study, 35% of homeowners who exceeded budget did so because they consciously selected higher-end materials, and 31% expanded scope mid-renovation. Therefore, your cost baseline has to be today&#8217;s price, not last year&#8217;s. SimplyWise Cost Estimator pulls current material unit costs into the itemized estimate automatically, and In addition, SimplyWise Receipt Scanner keeps supplier receipts organized by job so the unit-cost library stays current between bids. Finally, build a per-line subtotal: quantity multiplied by unit cost, plus waste factor (typically 8% to 12% for flooring and drywall, 15% for tile).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Load labor at a billable rate, not a wage<\/h3>\n<p>Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2024 data), national median hourly wages are $28.51 for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/construction-and-extraction\/carpenters.htm\">carpenters<\/a>, $29.98 for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/construction-and-extraction\/electricians.htm\">electricians<\/a>, and $30.27 for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/construction-and-extraction\/plumbers-pipefitters-and-steamfitters.htm\">plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters<\/a>. However, those figures describe what the worker earns, not what the contractor bills. To reach a billable rate, first apply burden (benefits, payroll tax, workers&#8217; compensation, typically 25% to 40%), then overhead, and finally margin. For example, a common build-up on a $30 per hour trade wage adds roughly $10 per hour burden, then overhead and margin, typically arriving at $75 to $90 per hour billable at the low end of common contractor bill rates (higher in dense metros). Exact multipliers vary by market; consequently, BLS state-level data is the floor input.<\/p>\n<p>In practice, SimplyWise Cost Estimator builds labor hours automatically from the scope it generates off the jobsite photo, then applies the contractor&#8217;s configured loaded rate. As a result, photo-to-estimate in 6 seconds replaces what would otherwise be a 1 to 2 hour manual take-off. See the full tool at SimplyWise Cost Estimator.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Collect subcontractor bids and lock them before you bid the job<\/h3>\n<p>To start, get at least two bids per trade you sub out. Per the NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business, 2026 edition, trade contractor costs averaged 30% of revenue in 2024, down from 36% in 2021. As a result, that 6-point swing is the difference between a profitable bid and a loss on a six-figure remodel. Therefore, write each sub bid into the estimate as a named line item with the sub&#8217;s company name and a bid expiration date. However, if a sub hasn&#8217;t returned numbers when the homeowner expects the bid, carry an allowance with the sub&#8217;s last known quote, flagged as pending.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Allocate overhead<\/h3>\n<p>Per the NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business, 2026 edition, operating expenses averaged 23.6% of revenue across residential remodelers in 2024. In addition, you can allocate overhead one of two ways: a flat percentage applied to direct cost, or an hourly overhead rate baked into the loaded labor rate. However, most small general contractors use the first method for simplicity; larger shops use the second. Above all, do not forget indirect construction costs: site supervision, small tools, truck time. These are the items that get missed at estimate and show up as margin erosion at job close.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3>Add contingency and margin, then present the bid<\/h3>\n<p>Begin by sizing contingency to the scope tier and the age of the home. Cosmetic refreshes carry 5% to 8%. Full-replacement remodels carry 8% to 12%. Gut-to-studs remodels carry 12% to 20%, with the upper end reserved for pre-1978 homes where lead, asbestos, and structural settlement are statistically likelier (per HUD and EPA guidance). Importantly, contingency is for unknowns, not for bad estimating. Therefore, to hit the 29.9% gross margin benchmark from the NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business, 2026 edition, divide cost of sales by 0.701. As a result, that produces roughly a 1.43 times markup on cost. For example, a $350,000 cost of sales becomes a $500,000 bid. Finally, present the bid as a single total with scope attached. Moreover, line-item breakdowns invite margin negotiation.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Labor cost benchmarks by trade<\/h2>\n<p>Use the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2024 data) as your labor floor. Notably, the national medians below are for wages, not bill rates.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Trade<\/th>\n<th>BLS median annual<\/th>\n<th>BLS median hourly<\/th>\n<th>Jobs (2024)<\/th>\n<th>Outlook 2024-34<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Carpenter<\/td>\n<td>$59,310<\/td>\n<td>$28.51<\/td>\n<td>959,000<\/td>\n<td>+4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Electrician<\/td>\n<td>$62,350<\/td>\n<td>$29.98<\/td>\n<td>818,700<\/td>\n<td>+9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Plumber \/ Pipefitter \/ Steamfitter<\/td>\n<td>$62,970<\/td>\n<td>$30.27<\/td>\n<td>504,500<\/td>\n<td>+4%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Callout:<\/strong> BLS median wage is what the worker earns, not what the contractor bills. The bill rate adds burden (roughly 25% to 40%), overhead (roughly 20% to 30%), and margin. A $30 per hour wage typically bills at $75 to $120 per hour depending on region, trade, and market density.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, use the BLS median as the floor for labor inputs when you cannot get local subcontractor quotes. Additionally, refresh the number every May when BLS publishes the new Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release.<\/p>\n<h2>What does a whole home remodel cost per square foot?<\/h2>\n<p>In short, there is no federally-published per-square-foot benchmark for a whole home remodel. In fact, any source that quotes one authoritative number is extrapolating. In short, here is what is actually measured and what is convention.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is measured.<\/strong> The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jlconline.com\/cost-vs-value\/2024\/\">2024 Cost vs. Value Report<\/a>, published by Zonda for JLC and Remodeling Magazine, averages 23 remodeling projects across 150 US markets. It publishes project-level costs for standard project types. That is the only nationally-averaged, methodology-transparent data source on remodel costs. It anchors line items, not per-square-foot ratios. The Houzz 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study reports total spend distributions (median $20,000, 90th percentile $150,000 in 2025), which reflect project-size variance across all renovations, not a per-square-foot rate. The JCHS Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity publishes total macroeconomic spending.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is convention.<\/strong> Specifically, contractors use three per-square-foot tiers as illustrative, non-benchmark ranges, useful for gut-checking a bid against peer pricing:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Cosmetic refresh: $50 to $100 per square foot (convention range, not a published benchmark)<\/li>\n<li>Full replacement: $100 to $200 per square foot (convention range, not a published benchmark)<\/li>\n<li>Gut to studs: $200 to $400 per square foot (convention range, not a published benchmark), with high-end markets and historic homes trending higher<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>How to actually price per square foot on your bid.<\/strong> Therefore, take your full estimate, divide by heated square feet, and that is your number for this job. Importantly, do not work backward from an industry per-square-foot range to a bid total. In other words, the range is a cross-check, not an input. Indeed, every whole home remodel has too much scope variance for a top-down number to be accurate enough to price risk off of.<\/p>\n<h2>ROI line items to include in the bid presentation<\/h2>\n<p>Notably, whole home remodels are often lost on scope creep, not on the bid total. For instance, when homeowners are choosing between scope reductions and scope additions mid-bid, showing cost-recouped figures moves the conversation toward additions. The 2024 Cost vs. Value Report data below covers national averages across 150 markets.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Upsell<\/th>\n<th>Job cost (2024 national average)<\/th>\n<th>Cost recouped at resale<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Garage door replacement<\/td>\n<td>$4,513<\/td>\n<td>194%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Entry door replacement (steel)<\/td>\n<td>$2,355<\/td>\n<td>188%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Manufactured stone veneer (exterior)<\/td>\n<td>$11,287<\/td>\n<td>153%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Grand entrance (fiberglass, upscale)<\/td>\n<td>$11,353<\/td>\n<td>97%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Minor kitchen remodel (midrange)<\/td>\n<td>$27,492<\/td>\n<td>96%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Siding replacement (fiber-cement)<\/td>\n<td>$20,619<\/td>\n<td>88%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Wood deck addition<\/td>\n<td>$17,615<\/td>\n<td>83%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Siding replacement (vinyl)<\/td>\n<td>$17,410<\/td>\n<td>80%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>All figures above cite the 2024 Cost vs. Value Report (Zonda \/ JLC \/ Remodeling Magazine). Specifically, two items in the table recoup above 100% of job cost at resale: the garage door replacement at 194% and the steel entry door replacement at 188%. Therefore, those are the numbers to lead with when a homeowner is weighing whether to add exterior scope to a whole home remodel. Use the free contractor estimate template to lock scope in writing before upsells enter the conversation.<\/p>\n<h2>Worked example: a 2,200 square foot gut remodel<\/h2>\n<h3>Job brief<\/h3>\n<p> For example, 1965 single-story ranch, 2,200 square feet heated, full gut to studs, HVAC replacement, electrical panel upgrade, plumbing re-rough, new kitchen plus 2.5 baths, engineered hardwood throughout the main level, tile in baths, mid-tier finishes throughout. Note that unit costs below are illustrative, based on mid-tier 2026 supplier pricing in a moderate-cost-of-living US market. Therefore, contractors must replace every unit cost with their own current supplier quotes before using this as a template.<\/p>\n<h3>Line-item breakdown<\/h3>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Line<\/th>\n<th>Qty<\/th>\n<th>Unit cost<\/th>\n<th>Subtotal<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Demolition plus dumpsters<\/td>\n<td>2,200 sqft<\/td>\n<td>$4.50<\/td>\n<td>$9,900<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Framing (walls moved, new openings)<\/td>\n<td>lump sum<\/td>\n<td>n\/a<\/td>\n<td>$18,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Electrical (panel upgrade, full re-wire)<\/td>\n<td>2,200 sqft<\/td>\n<td>$8.00<\/td>\n<td>$17,600<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Plumbing (re-rough plus fixtures)<\/td>\n<td>lump sum<\/td>\n<td>n\/a<\/td>\n<td>$28,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HVAC (new 3-ton plus ductwork)<\/td>\n<td>lump sum<\/td>\n<td>n\/a<\/td>\n<td>$14,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Drywall and finish<\/td>\n<td>2,200 sqft<\/td>\n<td>$3.50<\/td>\n<td>$7,700<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Cabinetry (kitchen plus 2.5 baths)<\/td>\n<td>lump sum<\/td>\n<td>n\/a<\/td>\n<td>$32,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Countertops (quartz, ~75 sqft)<\/td>\n<td>75 sqft<\/td>\n<td>$85<\/td>\n<td>$6,375<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Flooring (engineered hardwood main, tile baths)<\/td>\n<td>2,200 sqft<\/td>\n<td>$9.50<\/td>\n<td>$20,900<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Paint (interior, all surfaces)<\/td>\n<td>2,200 sqft<\/td>\n<td>$3.00<\/td>\n<td>$6,600<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fixtures plus appliances (mid-tier)<\/td>\n<td>lump sum<\/td>\n<td>n\/a<\/td>\n<td>$18,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Permits, dumpster, utilities<\/td>\n<td>lump sum<\/td>\n<td>n\/a<\/td>\n<td>$6,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Direct costs subtotal<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><strong>$185,575<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Subcontractor markup (avg 10% applied to sub bids)<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>$7,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Indirect costs plus site supervision<\/td>\n<td>12% of directs<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>$22,269<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Cost of sales<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><strong>~$215,344<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Contingency (gut remodel, 1965 home, 15%)<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>$32,302<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Adjusted cost of sales<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><strong>$247,646<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Markup to 29.9% gross margin (divide by 0.701)<\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>$105,699<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Bid price to homeowner<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><strong>$353,345<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Per-square-foot sanity check<\/h3>\n<p> $353,345 divided by 2,200 square feet equals $160.61 per square foot. That falls inside the $100 to $200 full-replacement convention range and at the low end of the $200 to $400 gut range, which is reasonable for a 1965 ranch gut at mid-tier finish. As a result, the math reconciles. Importantly, every number in the table above is traceable: material unit costs to current supplier sheets, overhead to the 23.6% of revenue benchmark from the NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business, 2026 edition, and the final markup to the 29.9% gross margin benchmark from the same source.<\/p>\n<h2>Common estimating mistakes to avoid<\/h2>\n<p>In short, six mistakes account for most bid losses on whole home remodels.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Using homeowner-facing ballpark figures as inputs.<\/strong> Specifically, consumer cost-estimator apps quote all-in prices that already include markup. They are not your cost-of-sales input.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Treating BLS median wage as the bill rate.<\/strong> Per the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (May 2024), the medians of $28.51, $29.98, and $30.27 for carpenters, electricians, and plumbers are worker earnings. In contrast, bill rate is wage plus burden plus overhead plus margin.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Skipping contingency on a pre-1978 home.<\/strong> In fact, lead, asbestos, and structural settlement are statistically likelier (per HUD and EPA guidance on pre-1978 properties). As a result, a 15% to 20% contingency on a gut is standard.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Under-allocating overhead.<\/strong> Per the NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business, 2026 edition, operating expenses averaged 23.6% of revenue in 2024. However, if your overhead line is much lower, you are likely missing indirect construction costs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Quoting per-square-foot figures before the take-off is done.<\/strong> Moreover, per-square-foot is a cross-check output, not an input.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Locking the bid before subcontractor bids are back and dated.<\/strong> Specifically, every sub line needs a company name and a bid expiration date attached before you present a total to the homeowner.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>How SimplyWise Cost Estimator shortens whole home remodel estimating<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/simplywise-cost-estimator\/id6670619664\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SimplyWise Cost Estimator<\/a> turns a single jobsite photo into an itemized estimate in 6 seconds, with room-level line items, quantities, material unit costs, and labor hours built in. In short, map that back to the 7-step framework above: Specifically, Cost Estimator automates Steps 1 through 4 (scope capture, quantity take-off, current unit costs, and loaded labor hours), leaving the contractor to apply overhead, contingency, and margin as business decisions. Notably, photo-to-estimate in 6 seconds is the differentiator. Indeed, among the competitors ranking in the top 10 for <code>whole home remodel<\/code> today, none publishes a comparable single-photo to itemized-estimate workflow with a stated 6-second turnaround. Free to try.<\/p>\n<h3>Receipts and templates<\/h3>\n<p>In addition, SimplyWise Receipt Scanner keeps supplier receipts organized by job so the unit-cost library Cost Estimator draws from stays current bid to bid. For example, scan the receipt at the supply house; the line items land in the correct job file. No spreadsheet update required.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, for contractors still running spreadsheets, SimplyWise templates replicate Cost Estimator&#8217;s line-item structure so the math stays consistent across a bid pipeline. The <a href=\"\/blog\/general-estimate-template\/\">contractor estimate template<\/a>, <a href=\"\/blog\/construction-bid-template\/\">bid template<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/blog\/contractor-invoice-template\/\">invoice template<\/a> share a single document flow, so a winning estimate becomes the bid and the bid becomes the invoice without re-keying line items. All three are free to try.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"sw-a__pullquote\">\n<blockquote><p>As a result, a bid that doesn&#8217;t clear 29.9% gross is below industry average and subsidizing the job.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><cite>NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business Study, 2026 edition<\/cite><\/section>\n<section class=\"sw-a__faq\">\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-list\">\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-weight:800;font-size:22px;line-height:1.3;color:#0f172a;margin:0 0 16px;\">Cost, timeline, and scope<\/h3>\n<details>\n<summary>How much does a whole home remodel cost per square foot in 2026?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>In short, there is no federally-published per-square-foot benchmark for a whole home remodel. Contractors use three convention tiers: cosmetic refresh at roughly $50 to $100 per square foot, full replacement at $100 to $200, and gut-to-studs at $200 to $400, with high-end and historic projects trending higher. For any specific job, divide the full estimate by heated square footage. Per the Houzz 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study, median homeowner renovation spend in 2025 was $20,000 and the 90th-percentile spend was $150,000, which reflects project-size variance, not a square-foot rate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How long does a whole home remodel take?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>Generally, timelines depend on scope. Per the Houzz 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study, a kitchen renovation alone averages 9.6 months of planning plus 5.1 months of construction, and a living room averages 8.1 months planning plus 4.1 months of construction. Specifically, a gut-to-studs whole home remodel typically runs 6 to 12 months of construction after permits issue, with 3 to 9 additional months of design, bidding, and permitting beforehand. Overall, age of home, permit pipeline, and subcontractor availability drive most of the variance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-size:19px;line-height:1.3;color:#0f172a;margin:28px 0 14px;\">Remodel or rebuild<\/h3>\n<details>\n<summary>Is it cheaper to remodel a house or tear down and rebuild?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>Typically, remodeling is usually less expensive than a teardown-and-rebuild because existing framing, foundation, and utility connections remain in place. A gut remodel keeps the shell and reworks interior systems, while new construction rebuilds everything from the footing up. However, the comparison shifts when the existing foundation has failed, major structural settlement is present, or asbestos and lead abatement (per HUD and EPA guidance for pre-1978 homes) pushes remediation costs past the value saved. In short, price both paths before advising a homeowner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-weight:800;font-size:22px;line-height:1.3;color:#0f172a;margin:32px 0 16px;\">Estimating and execution<\/h3>\n<details>\n<summary>What&#x27;s included in a whole home remodel estimate?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>Specifically, a complete estimate includes: scope of work (SOW) by room and system, quantity take-off by trade, material unit costs, labor hours at a loaded billable rate, locked subcontractor bids, indirect and overhead allocation (averaging 23.6% of revenue per the NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business 2026 edition), contingency by scope tier, and markup to target gross margin. SimplyWise Cost Estimator builds the SOW, take-off, unit costs, and labor hours automatically from a jobsite photo. Indeed, omitting any category is the most common cause of margin erosion at job close.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How do I price a whole home remodel bid?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>In short, use a 7-step framework: (1) define scope on a site walk, (2) take off quantities by trade, (3) price unit costs from current supplier sheets, (4) load labor at a billable rate not a wage, (5) collect subcontractor bids, (6) allocate overhead, (7) add contingency and markup. To hit the FY2024 industry benchmark of a 29.9% average gross margin (NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business 2026 edition), divide your full cost of sales by 0.701, which produces roughly a 1.43x markup.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-size:19px;line-height:1.3;color:#0f172a;margin:28px 0 14px;\">Profit and margin<\/h3>\n<details>\n<summary>What profit margin should a contractor target on a whole home remodel?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>Per the NAHB Remodelers&#8217; Cost of Doing Business Study, 2026 edition (covering fiscal year 2024), residential remodelers averaged a 29.9% gross profit margin and a 6.3% net profit margin. Notably, net was the highest reading since 1996&#8217;s 6.8%, and gross improved five percentage points from the 2021 record low of 24.9%. In short, treat 29.9% gross and 6.3% net as the industry baseline. Bids that fall below those levels are subsidizing the work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-weight:800;font-size:22px;line-height:1.3;color:#0f172a;margin:32px 0 16px;\">Permits and scope<\/h3>\n<details>\n<summary>What permits are required for a whole home remodel?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>Typically, permit requirements are set by state, county, and municipality. A typical whole home remodel requires a building permit, plus separate permits for electrical, plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), and sometimes demolition and zoning. Historic districts and pre-1978 properties add lead-safe work practice requirements per EPA. In addition, large additions can trigger zoning review that takes weeks to months. Write permit fees and review timelines into the estimate as line items, and document who pulls each permit in the contract.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How do I handle change orders on a whole home remodel?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>Importantly, every change order should be a written amendment signed before the work proceeds, with scope, unit costs, labor hours, and markup listed line by line. Per the Houzz 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study, 37% of homeowners exceeded their initial budget in 2025, and 31% of them expanded scope mid-project. That is the exact moment a written change-order process protects margin. Finally, keep a single document log of all approved change orders attached to the original bid for easy reference at job close.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>What contingency percentage should I build into a whole home remodel estimate?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>Begin by sizing contingency to the scope tier and the age of the home. Specifically, cosmetic refreshes usually carry 5% to 8%. Full-replacement remodels carry 8% to 12%. Gut-to-studs remodels carry 12% to 20%, with the upper end reserved for pre-1978 homes where asbestos, lead-based paint, and structural settlement are statistically likelier (per HUD and EPA guidance). Contingency covers genuine unknowns discovered during demolition, not shortfalls from bad estimating.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-weight:800;font-size:22px;line-height:1.3;color:#0f172a;margin:32px 0 16px;\">Location and tools<\/h3>\n<details>\n<summary>How much does a whole home remodel cost in Texas?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>Generally, Texas whole home remodel costs track national ranges closely, with some downward pressure in non-metro markets due to lower labor rates and no state income tax reducing contractor overhead. There is no federally-published Texas-specific per-square-foot benchmark; use the BLS May 2024 state-level OEWS data for verifiable trade wages in your Texas market, then build up from current supplier unit costs and subcontractor quotes. For reference, Austin, Houston, and Dallas metro gut remodels typically land at the upper half of the national full-replacement to gut convention range (not a published benchmark), while rural East Texas and Panhandle markets commonly land at the lower end. Licensing requirements differ by trade, and a Texas-specific guide is in the SimplyWise content calendar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>How much does a whole home remodel cost in New York?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>Notably, New York City whole home remodels price at the upper end of national ranges due to labor rates, permit complexity, co-op and condo approval processes, and logistics of working in occupied buildings. There is no federally-published NYC-specific per-square-foot benchmark; Manhattan and Brooklyn full-gut projects typically land well above the national $200 to $400 gut convention range (not a published benchmark), with historic townhouses and landmarked properties trending higher still. Conversely, upstate markets like Buffalo and Rochester price closer to national averages. In addition, NYC contractors operate under the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Home Improvement Contractor license, which is covered in a dedicated SimplyWise guide.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Inter,sans-serif;font-weight:700;font-size:19px;line-height:1.3;color:#0f172a;margin:28px 0 14px;\">Software and tools<\/h3>\n<details>\n<summary>Should I use software or spreadsheets for whole home remodel estimates?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"sw-a__faq-answer\">\n<p>In short, use purpose-built estimating software. However, spreadsheets work for a single bid but break down once a contractor runs multiple whole home remodels in parallel because scope, unit costs, labor hours, and bid-to-invoice handoff all live in separate files. Specifically, SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a single jobsite photo into an itemized estimate with room-level line items, quantities, material unit costs, and labor hours in 6 seconds, then hands off directly to bid and invoice in the same document flow. Free to try.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"sw-a__finalcta\">\n<p class=\"sw-a__eyebrow\">Keep the bid profitable<\/p>\n<h2>Put the 7-step framework to work on your next bid<\/h2>\n<p>The 7-step framework (scope, take-off, unit costs, loaded labor, sub bids, overhead, contingency and markup) is how a whole home remodel bid gets priced correctly. NAHB&#8217;s FY2024 industry baseline is 29.9% gross margin and 6.3% net. Reconcile your next bid against both before it goes to the homeowner.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"sw-a__btn\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/simplywise-cost-estimator\/id6670619664\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Try SimplyWise Cost Estimator, free &rarr;<\/a><a class=\"sw-a__btn sw-a__btn--ghost\" href=\"\/blog\/general-estimate-template\/\">Get the estimate template<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"Article\",\"headline\":\"How to Estimate a Whole Home Remodel: A Contractor's Guide\",\"description\":\"A contractor's framework for bidding whole home remodels. Scope, unit costs, loaded labor rates, overhead, and a worked sample estimate.\",\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"SimplyWise\"},\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"SimplyWise\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/simplywise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/simplywise-logo.png\"}},\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-22\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-22\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/simplywise.com\/blog\/how-to-estimate-a-whole-home-remodel\/\"},\"image\":\"https:\/\/simplywise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/whole-home-remodel-estimate-hero.jpg\",\"keywords\":\"whole home remodel, how to estimate a whole home remodel, whole house remodel cost, whole home remodel estimate, cost to renovate a whole house, contractor estimate for home remodel\"}<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How much does a whole home remodel cost per square foot in 2026?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"There is no federally-published per-square-foot benchmark for a whole home remodel. Contractors use three convention tiers: cosmetic refresh at roughly $50 to $100 per square foot, full replacement at $100 to $200, and gut-to-studs at $200 to $400, with high-end and historic projects trending higher. For any specific job, divide the full estimate by heated square footage. Per the Houzz 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study, median homeowner renovation spend in 2025 was $20,000 and the 90th-percentile spend was $150,000, which reflects project-size variance, not a square-foot rate.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How long does a whole home remodel take?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Timelines depend on scope. Per the Houzz 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study, a kitchen renovation alone averages 9.6 months of planning plus 5.1 months of construction, and a living room averages 8.1 months planning plus 4.1 months of construction. Specifically, a gut-to-studs whole home remodel typically runs 6 to 12 months of construction after permits issue, with 3 to 9 additional months of design, bidding, and permitting beforehand. Overall, age of home, permit pipeline, and subcontractor availability drive most of the variance.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is it cheaper to remodel a house or tear down and rebuild?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Remodeling is usually less expensive than a teardown-and-rebuild because existing framing, foundation, and utility connections remain in place. A gut remodel keeps the shell and reworks interior systems, while new construction rebuilds everything from the footing up. However, the comparison shifts when the existing foundation has failed, major structural settlement is present, or asbestos and lead abatement (per HUD and EPA guidance for pre-1978 homes) pushes remediation costs past the value saved. In short, price both paths before advising a homeowner.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What's included in a whole home remodel estimate?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A complete estimate includes: scope of work (SOW) by room and system, quantity take-off by trade, material unit costs, labor hours at a loaded billable rate, locked subcontractor bids, indirect and overhead allocation (averaging 23.6% of revenue per the NAHB Remodelers' Cost of Doing Business 2026 edition), contingency by scope tier, and markup to target gross margin. SimplyWise Cost Estimator builds the SOW, take-off, unit costs, and labor hours automatically from a jobsite photo. Indeed, omitting any category is the most common cause of margin erosion at job close.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do I price a whole home remodel bid?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Use a 7-step framework: (1) define scope on a site walk, (2) take off quantities by trade, (3) price unit costs from current supplier sheets, (4) load labor at a billable rate not a wage, (5) collect subcontractor bids, (6) allocate overhead, (7) add contingency and markup. To hit the FY2024 industry benchmark of a 29.9% average gross margin (NAHB Remodelers' Cost of Doing Business 2026 edition), divide your full cost of sales by 0.701, which produces roughly a 1.43x markup.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What profit margin should a contractor target on a whole home remodel?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Per the NAHB Remodelers' Cost of Doing Business Study, 2026 edition (covering fiscal year 2024), residential remodelers averaged a 29.9% gross profit margin and a 6.3% net profit margin. Notably, net was the highest reading since 1996's 6.8%, and gross improved five percentage points from the 2021 record low of 24.9%. In short, treat 29.9% gross and 6.3% net as the industry baseline. Bids that fall below those levels are subsidizing the work.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What permits are required for a whole home remodel?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Permit requirements are set by state, county, and municipality. A typical whole home remodel requires a building permit, plus separate permits for electrical, plumbing, mechanical (HVAC), and sometimes demolition and zoning. Historic districts and pre-1978 properties add lead-safe work practice requirements per EPA. In addition, large additions can trigger zoning review that takes weeks to months. Write permit fees and review timelines into the estimate as line items, and document who pulls each permit in the contract.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do I handle change orders on a whole home remodel?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Every change order should be a written amendment signed before the work proceeds, with scope, unit costs, labor hours, and markup listed line by line. Per the Houzz 2026 U.S. Houzz and Home Study, 37% of homeowners exceeded their initial budget in 2025, and 31% of them expanded scope mid-project. That is the exact moment a written change-order process protects margin. Finally, keep a single document log of all approved change orders attached to the original bid for easy reference at job close.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What contingency percentage should I build into a whole home remodel estimate?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Begin by sizing contingency to the scope tier and the age of the home. Specifically, cosmetic refreshes usually carry 5% to 8%. Full-replacement remodels carry 8% to 12%. Gut-to-studs remodels carry 12% to 20%, with the upper end reserved for pre-1978 homes where asbestos, lead-based paint, and structural settlement are statistically likelier (per HUD and EPA guidance). Contingency covers genuine unknowns discovered during demolition, not shortfalls from bad estimating.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How much does a whole home remodel cost in Texas?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Texas whole home remodel costs track national ranges closely, with some downward pressure in non-metro markets due to lower labor rates and no state income tax reducing contractor overhead. Use the BLS May 2024 state-level OEWS data for specific trade wages in your Texas market. For example, for a gut remodel in Austin, Houston, or Dallas, expect $200 to $350 per square foot at mid-tier finishes. For rural East Texas or Panhandle markets, $130 to $250 per square foot is more common. Licensing requirements differ by trade, and a state-specific guide is in the SimplyWise content calendar.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How much does a whole home remodel cost in New York?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"New York City whole home remodels typically price at the upper end of national ranges due to labor rates, permit complexity, co-op and condo approval processes, and logistics of working in occupied buildings. Expect $300 to $600 per square foot for a full gut in Manhattan and Brooklyn, with historic townhouses and landmarked properties trending higher. Conversely, upstate markets like Buffalo and Rochester price closer to national averages. In addition, NYC contractors also require a borough-issued Home Improvement Contractor license, which is covered in a dedicated SimplyWise guide.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Should I use software or spreadsheets for whole home remodel estimates?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Use purpose-built estimating software. However, spreadsheets work for a single bid but break down once a contractor runs multiple whole home remodels in parallel because scope, unit costs, labor hours, and bid-to-invoice handoff all live in separate files. Specifically, SimplyWise Cost Estimator turns a single jobsite photo into an itemized estimate with room-level line items, quantities, material unit costs, and labor hours in 6 seconds, then hands off directly to bid and invoice in the same document flow. Free to try.\"}}]}<\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"HowTo\",\"name\":\"How to estimate a whole home remodel in 7 steps\",\"description\":\"A contractor's 7-step framework for pricing a whole home remodel bid: scope, take-off, unit costs, loaded labor, subcontractor bids, overhead, contingency, and margin.\",\"step\":[{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Walk the site and define the scope of work\",\"text\":\"First, document every room, surface, and system with a disposition decision. Classify the project as cosmetic refresh, full replacement, or gut to studs. Photograph everything. Flag any line item gated on a structural or MEP opinion as an allowance until resolved.\"},{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Take off quantities by trade\",\"text\":\"Break scope into unit-priced take-offs: demolition, framing, drywall, flooring, paint, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, cabinetry, counters, fixtures, appliances, and finishes. Capture quantities by each trade's native unit (square feet, linear feet, fixture count, or tonnage).\"},{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Price unit costs from current supplier sheets\",\"text\":\"Pull live supplier pricing for every line item. Build a per-line subtotal of quantity multiplied by unit cost, plus a waste factor of 8 to 12 percent for flooring and drywall and 15 percent for tile. Do not baseline to last year's prices.\"},{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Load labor at a billable rate, not a wage\",\"text\":\"Start with BLS national or state median wages for each trade. Add burden (benefits, payroll tax, workers' comp, typically 25 to 40 percent), then overhead, then margin, to arrive at a billable rate. Apply that billable rate to estimated labor hours per trade.\"},{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":5,\"name\":\"Collect subcontractor bids and lock them before you bid the job\",\"text\":\"Request at least two bids per trade you sub out. Therefore, write each sub bid into the estimate as a named line item with the sub's company name and a bid expiration date. Carry pending trades as flagged allowances, not assumptions.\"},{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":6,\"name\":\"Allocate overhead\",\"text\":\"Allocate overhead either as a flat percentage applied to direct cost or as an hourly overhead rate built into the labor-loaded rate. Target roughly 23.6 percent of revenue based on the NAHB Remodelers' Cost of Doing Business 2026 benchmark. Include indirect construction costs like site supervision, tools, and truck time.\"},{\"@type\":\"HowToStep\",\"position\":7,\"name\":\"Add contingency and margin, then present the bid\",\"text\":\"Size contingency to scope tier: 5 to 8 percent cosmetic, 8 to 12 percent full replacement, 12 to 20 percent gut, with pre-1978 homes at the upper end. Divide cost of sales by 0.701 to hit the 29.9 percent gross margin industry benchmark. Finally, present the bid as a single total with scope attached.\"}]}<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blog &nbsp;&rsaquo;&nbsp; Contractor Estimating Guides Estimating &middot; Guide How to Estimate a Whole Home Remodel: A Contractor&#x27;s Guide A contractor&#x27;s framework for pricing a whole home remodel bid. Scope, unit costs, loaded labor rates, overhead, contingency, and a worked sample estimate. SimplyWiseUpdated April 22, 202614 min read The 7-step framework Walk the site and define [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5902","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Estimate a Whole Home Remodel (Contractor&#039;s Guide)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A contractor&#039;s framework for pricing a whole home remodel bid. 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