Q&A with Jean: Why Is Renovating in New York City So Expensive?
Renovate to live, Sweeten to thrive!
Sweeten brings homeowners an exceptional renovation experience by personally matching trusted general contractors to your project, while offering expert guidance and support—at no cost to you.
Start your renovationWelcome to the second installment of our Q&A series with Jean, where we tackle the most perplexing renovation questions. Today, we’re diving into the heart of NYC home renovations: the costs. Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or a seasoned renovator, understanding the financial landscape is crucial. Join us as we explore renovation costs in NYC and delve into our comprehensive kitchen and bath cost guides, including our handy “Budget Basics: Renovation Costs Per Square Foot” resource.
Sweeten’s Founder + CEO Answers Your Renovation Questions
Why is renovating in New York City so expensive?
JEAN: Like a lot of things in NYC, it comes down to logistics. For a general contractor to transport the drywall and studs—not mention the many other materials and tools necessary for the job—to your home, the planning can be really complicated. Not only does the team need to get everything to your apartment building, they need to get it up to your floor. Sometimes that means coordinating with an elevator, but in some cases, it can mean using a crane and craning in materials. What adds to the high cost of the materials part of a bid is the logistics.
The labor side of the equation is equally complicated. A lot of renovation projects going on simultaneously in the city and every contractor needs a tiler, a plumber, an electrician, etc. In order to survive the competition, he/she has to pay a premium to get a crew to show up at your job site. It all comes down to supply and demand. There are only so many skilled laborers in the city, and getting those laborers plus materials to your apartment can be challenging. Even for a house in Brooklyn, the crew still has to drive through traffic and bring the drywall from a warehouse that’s likely stationed in another borough, like Queens. Overall, it’s the cumulative expense of coordinating the drivers, trucks, and deliveries, plus having someone ready to accept deliveries and bring it to your home, that really drives up the cost.
We can help plan your renovation
Find endless home renovation inspiration, detailed guides, and practical cost breakdowns from our blogs. You can also post your project on Sweeten today and get matched with our vetted general contractors and get estimates for free!
