Breakdown of Home Renovation Costs in Westchester County

Westchester County, New York, is a beautiful place to call home, but homeownership often comes with a desire to renovate. Whether you’re looking to modernize your kitchen, create a spa-like bathroom, or add extra living space in your basement, there are a number of factors to consider when budgeting for your renovation. This blog post will provide you with a breakdown of average renovation costs in Westchester County, taking into account square footage, materials, and the scope of your project.

A guide to house renovation costs for Westchester, including kitchen, bath, and whole-home (plus a basement budget and permit tips!)

(Above) Westchester home renovation by Sweeten general contractor Alan

UPDATED: Read our most up-to-date Westchester County Kitchen Remodeling Costs and Bathroom Remodeling Costs

Moving into a new house—or realizing an older home hasn’t kept up with your lifestyle—can make renovation feel like a path to reinvention. However, creating a budget for a remodel is unique to every project! Budgets depend on many factors, like the materials you choose, changes in layout, or moving plumbing or gas lines.

We have compiled a guide to renovation costs across Westchester County, New York, focusing on four categories: kitchen, bathroom, basement, and permits.

At Sweeten, we’re experts at all things general contractors — we pre-screen them for our network, carefully select the best ones for your remodeling project, and work closely with hundreds of general contractors every day. So, we’ve tapped our internal expertise to bring you this guide.

Here’s a breakdown of typical starting costs compiled from Sweeten renovations and Remodeling’s Cost vs. Value report.

• Full home renovation: $125-$300 per square foot (psf)
• Budget kitchen remodel: Starting from $30,000-$35,000 for under 100 square feet
• Mid-grade kitchen remodel: Starting at $50,000-$60,000
• High-end kitchen remodel: Starting at $80,000
• Budget bathroom remodel: Starting at $18,000
• Mid-grade bathroom remodel: Starting at $25,000
• High-end bathroom remodel: Starting at $35,000 (for a standard full-size bathroom) or $50,000 (for a master bathroom)
• Basement remodel: $60-$80 psf

Additional factors to consider:

• Location: Renovation costs can vary depending on the location within Westchester County. Costs tend to be higher in more affluent areas.
• Permits and fees: Be sure to factor in the cost of permits and fees, which can vary depending on the scope of your project.
• Design fees: If you’re working with a designer, be sure to factor in their fees, which can range from 10-20% of the total project cost.
• Contingency: It’s always a good idea to set aside a contingency fund of 10-20% of your total project cost to cover unexpected expenses.

Westchester home remodeling costs per square foot

It’s no secret that Westchester County, with its proximity to New York City, is one of the more expensive areas for real estate and home renovations. On average, Sweeten projects in Westchester can range from $125 psf to $300 psf.

Sweeten contractor Gregory, based in Westchester, has worked on projects involving multiple rooms or gut renovations at the $250 psf range. Higher costs often stem from factors such as:

• Specialty trades: Architects, engineers, and specialized contractors can significantly increase project costs.
• Insurance costs: Insurance premiums for complex renovations can add to the overall budget.
• Material quality: High-end materials and finishes will naturally increase the cost per square foot.
• Contractor experience: Skilled and experienced contractors typically command higher rates, but their expertise can contribute to a higher-quality result.
• Design services: Comprehensive design services, including planning, scheduling, and material advice, can add to the project cost.

Note on Market Fluctuations:

The home renovation industry is subject to market fluctuations in labor and material costs. Prices you’re quoted today may differ from those quoted six months or a year from now. It’s essential to obtain current estimates from multiple contractors to get an accurate understanding of current market rates.

How much a Westchester kitchen renovation costs

• Budget kitchen: Sweeten kitchen remodels can start at $25,000—$30,000 for under 100 square feet with budget-friendly finishes from retailers such as Home Depot.
• Mid-grade kitchen: Expect to see starting budgets from $40,000—$50,000 for a typical mid-grade kitchen.
  

Westchester-based Sweeten contractor Majid has worked on projects costing $40,000 for 150 square feet, or about $260 psf. This budget includes mid-grade finishes.

Remodeling’s Cost vs. Value report puts $350 psf or $70,000 total, as an average for Westchester County. These figures are based on a 200-square-foot kitchen with standard finishes, like an energy-efficient range, built-in microwave, and ventilation system. It also includes garbage disposal, custom lighting, and resilient floorings such as vinyl, linoleum, or cork.

• High-end kitchen: Sweeten has seen projects start at $70,000 for a high-end kitchen.
  

In the Cost vs. Value report, the average high-end kitchen remodel cost more than $137,000 for a 200-square foot space. A project in that price range includes custom cabinets, built-in sliding shelves, stone countertops, and imported tile backsplashes. The appliances can include a commercial-grade cooktop and vent hood as well as high-end faucets and a water filtration system.

According to Sweeten contractor Majid, a large part of a high-end kitchen can be attributed to the cabinets. For example, one of Majid’s clients recently spent $50,000 on fully custom European cabinets.

How much a Westchester bathroom renovation costs

• Budget bathroom: A budget bathroom renovation, including demo, plumbing work, and new finishes, can reach $16,000, said Oziel. Bathrooms in this category typically lean on big-box stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot to source the majority of materials.
  
• Mid-grade bathroom: A mid-grade bathroom in Westchester County will cost on average $22,000, according to the Cost vs. Value report, which is $628 psf for a 35-square-foot bathroom. This includes a recessed medicine cabinet, a standard toilet, solid-surface vanity counter, and a porcelain-on-steel tub.
  
• High-end bathroom: Prices can start at around $32,000 for a standard full bath with high-end finishes. However, homeowners are more likely to splurge for high-end in their master baths, bringing the starting cost for a typical high-end bathroom to around $46,000.

With a higher budget, clients are looking at faucets that can cost $2,000 apiece, marble flooring, custom vanities, built-in medicine cabinets, a rain shower, and top-of-the-line lighting fixtures. At times, those pricey finishing materials can amount to half the budget. Whether it is budget or high-end, good general contractors can strategize with a reasonable budget to help clients achieve renovation goals.

Costs for a basement renovation in Westchester

Sweeten contractors have worked on basement renovations that cost anywhere from $20,000 to $75,000. A $20,000—$30,000 or $50/psf budget would update an already finished basement. This includes painting, flooring, and lighting. If the space is raw and being renovated to a finished living area, the cost is around $75,000. For this budget, a bathroom, a kitchen, and HVAC can be added.

For Majid, a simple basement remodel can cost as little as $50 a square foot, which works out to be about $40,000 for an 800-square-foot space. Adding a toilet or shower could increase your budget, plus any necessary work to bring the room up to code. Waterproofing and drainage can also push up a basement project’s cost. 

Some town regulations might require two forms of egress or natural light (by adding a door or a window) or a certain ceiling height, which means digging down and lowering the floor. An average basement conversion in Westchester is $75,000, according to the Cost vs. Value report. A project with this budget includes a 20×30 foot room, a 5’×8′ bathroom with a shower and bar area, plus insulation and laminate flooring. This example project works out to $117 psf.

Costs for permits in Westchester

Permit costs can vary significantly between towns in Westchester County. The following are approximate figures to provide a general understanding:

• Pelham: Building permits for projects under $5,000 typically cost $250, plus $12 per additional $1,000.
• Scarsdale: Permit costs range from $255 for projects between $10,000 and $50,000 to $1,755 for projects over $100,000, with an additional $14 per $1,000 or fraction over $100,000.
• Katonah: Permits cost $14 per $1,000 of the project’s budgeted cost.
• Hastings-on-Hudson: Permits cost $17 per $1,000 of the estimated construction cost.

Note: These figures are estimates and may not reflect the exact costs for your specific project. It’s essential to contact the building department in your town for accurate and up-to-date permit fees.

Additional Considerations:

• Permit types: Depending on the scope of your renovation, you may need various permits, including building permits, electrical permits, plumbing permits, and zoning permits.
• Project complexity: More complex projects may require additional inspections and approvals, which can increase permit costs.
• Timeline: Permit processing times can vary, so it’s important to factor in potential delays into your project timeline.

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!