Almost all homeowners wish for their dream home and there comes a time when they finally decide to renovate their house to fulfil that dream. However, renovating a house is not as easy as it sounds.
There are so many factors which shape the overall process of renovation but the main factor is budgeting. Most of the homeowners do not even have an idea how much is it going to ask and what amount they should put aside for the whole process.
Here, we will describe some guidelines and estimate costs about what constitutes home renovation in Singapore. The factors which determine the costs of renovation will be described followed by some of the ideas which you could utilize to fit a certain budget during renovation. Finally, some tips will be described on how you can minimize the cost of home renovation.
Factors That Determine The Cost Of Home Renovation
There are many different factors which can determine the total cost of renovating a home but some of the most important ones are discussed below:
Home Size
The first and most important factor is the size of home you want to renovate. It’s common sense that a house with a larger area will require more budget for renovation as compared to a smaller area house.
All the other elements of renovation such as demolition, electrical wiring, plumbing, tiles, flooring, paint, and carpentry work require more money as the area of the house increases.
Current Condition Of Home
The current condition of the house also plays a role in what the renovation costs will be. If the condition is very poor, it might even require complete demolition before the new structures and other elements are installed.
This would increase the renovation costs as compared to the case where house has strong foundations, no plumbing or flooring issues etc.
Type Of Design
The next main factor that will determine the cost of your home renovation is the type of design you want to incorporate in your home. When it comes to the different designs and styles available, the sky’s the limit! You can choose from a wide range of different options which fall in your budget and then decide accordingly.
What You Can Actually Get In Certain Budget Ranges
Depending on the interior designer you hire, the condition of your house, designs, and materials used, the costs of renovation may vary. However, we can define certain cost ranges which can give you an idea of what kind of renovation you can expect with a budget that falls in those ranges.
These costs are just an estimate and actual costs may vary depending on other factors. The costs also do not include furnishings.
Less Than $30,000
This home renovation budget is ideal for small homes that have an area of less than 100 sq meters. If the house does not require any demolition and major maintenance work, you would be able to incorporate good design changes within this budget.
Since carpentry requires the most budget during renovation, you can just add small carpentry details instead of elaborate designs within this price range.
Similarly, for flooring, you would have the option of choosing from simple and affordable materials such as laminated wood, vinyl, and ceramic tiles. In this budget, you will not be able to carry out complex maintenance work or reflooring of the complete house.
$30,000 – $50,000
This price range will cover the renovation of relatively bigger houses with 3 or 4 rooms. Again, if no major maintenance is required and the flat or condo is relatively new, you would be able to renovate it decently within this budget.
You can incorporate open kitchen concepts, glass partitioning, and simple but stylish wall panelings within this price range. Since the house area is relatively bigger, you can even add walk-in wardrobes and other built-in features in various areas of the house. The materials can be chosen from a relatively larger range.
However, expensive materials such as marble stone may still not be manageable within this range. In this budget, you can add various design details including new carpentry, flooring, electrical, wiring, and paints. If the house required some form of maintenance or dismantling, you would have to forgo some of the design elements to adjust it in your budget.
$50,000 – $70,000
Within this price range of renovation, you can renovate houses that are bigger than 100 sq meters and require some form of dismantling and maintenance work because of the poor condition of the house.
In such a case, you can do complex flooring, electricals, and carpentry work. If not much maintenance is required, you can use the extra money to add fancy and elegant design elements in the house during renovation. You can add creative and innovative fixtures such as extensively built-up areas, sliding partitions, and concealed areas.
The material used in renovation can also offer a wider and better range of options such as cement blocks, marble stone, and herringbone parquet. Within this price range, you can add elements of style and elegance, and completely change the outlook of your home through a revised architecture and building material.
$70,000 and above
This budget will cover all kinds of complete overhaul that one might have for their dream home. This renovation cost will cover the renovation for executive apartments, maisonettes, penthouses, and big flats.
In this price range, you can add luxurious design elements into the house which is bound to leave you in awe and admiration. This includes the use of natural stone tiles, marble countertops, and wooden partitions.
Top-notch carpentry work can be expected along with the addition of built-in fixtures, shapeshifting layouts, and other elements. You will not have to spare any part of the house for renovation and give a makeover to the complete house.
Again, it depends on how much you are willing to spend on renovation. The more the budget, the greater the amount of luxury and style you can add to the renovation.
How To Minimize On Home Renovation Costs
So, let’s face it: not everyone has huge amounts of money placed aside for home renovation. However, everybody wants their dream home in one way or the other. Here, we will discuss some of the ways you can minimize the costs of home renovation so you can materialize the notion of your dream home within your budget.
Carpentry Work
Carpentry work is probably the most costly work during renovation of any area. It can cost anywhere between $100 to $350 per foot run for the kitchen cabinets and bedroom wardrobes.
Obviously, you can’t go without them either. So the solution in such a case is to use ready-to-install carpentry. It will help in reducing the overall cost of carpentry work when compared to custom carpentry for renovation.
These ready-to-install carpentry elements are available in a number of materials, finishes, and styles giving you a wide range of options to choose from.
Upcycle!
Instead of replacing the things which you consider worn-out, try to change their look if possible. For example, if the cabinets and wardrobes are essentially functional but you just feel like they don’t appear stylish, do not replace them as that will cost you a lot.
Instead, cover them with a fresh coat of paint, or use laminate sheets to give them a new look. You can even paint different designs or patterns to give them a new look at a much lesser price. Similarly, get upcycled furniture instead of buying new one.
You can upcycle your existing furniture to give them a completely new look at a much reasonable price. Change the upholstery and fabric of furnishings to bring about new and interesting changes to their look.
Electricals
We all want electrical sockets to be available at any given location in the house. However, the more electrical sockets you install in your house, the greater it will cost you. Electricians usually charge clients per socket. So instead of wasting money on installing a great number of sockets, prioritize the areas where they are absolutely necessary. This will help in reducing these overhead costs.
Avoid Major Maintenance
Dismantling and removing things to replace with new ones can cost a lot. Try to avoid such major works if possible. For example, if the flooring is not worn-out, then it is not a good idea to remove it and replace it with a new flooring because you felt bored with that previous look.
There are always ways through which you improve the appearance of different types of floors through polishes and other things. So utilize them instead of replacing them and eventually adding more costs to your renovation budget.
Tan Studio is one of the best reviewed interior designer in Singapore. We specialise in HDB interior design services in Singapore, call us and check out quotations for your home renovation today.
