Learning • Step 5 of 8

Cost intuition: repairs, upgrades, and reality checks

Buyers often underestimate repairs because they don’t have cost intuition yet. You don’t need perfect estimates — you need ballparks that help you sanity-check decisions in real time.

Rule #1: think in ranges, not exact numbers

Your actual price depends on location, access, labor market, materials, and how much hidden damage gets discovered mid-project.

Example

A useful mindset: • Low end: simple job, easy access, no surprises • Mid: typical job with normal prep • High end: complex job, difficult access, surprises

Summary

The goal isn’t accuracy — it’s to avoid being off by 2–3× when you’re deciding whether a home is “worth it.”

Exterior + interior: paint and surfaces

Paint is one of the most common ‘starter projects’ — but it’s rarely as cheap as people assume when prep is required.

Example

Ballparks: • Interior paint: ~$2–$6 per sq ft (home footprint pricing is common) • Exterior paint: often ~$1.50–$4 per sq ft (can run higher depending on access/prep) If you see peeling, rot, or lots of trim/windows, expect the higher end.

Summary

Cosmetic projects can still cost real money — especially exterior work where prep + access dominate the price.

Floors: LVP vs hardwood as a quick gut-check

Flooring is a great example of why ‘just replace it later’ can become a serious budget line item.

Example

Ballparks: • LVP installed: ~$4–$11 per sq ft • Hardwood installed: broad range ~$6–$25 per sq ft A 1,200 sq ft floor replacement can quickly become a 5-figure decision.

Summary

If you’re mentally treating flooring as a weekend DIY project, you’ll underestimate both cost and disruption.

Big-ticket remodel intuition: kitchen and bathroom

Kitchens and bathrooms tend to be the most expensive remodel areas because they combine labor, trades, and expensive finishes.

Example

Ballparks: • Kitchen remodel (common mid-range estimates): ~$150–$250 per sq ft (huge variance) • Bathroom remodel: often ~$70–$250 per sq ft depending on scope/finishes Even a small bathroom remodel can land in the $10k–$25k+ range.

Summary

If you’re compromising because you assume a quick remodel is cheap — pause. These rooms are where budgets go to die.

Outside projects: lawn replacement and why it adds up

Lawns look simple. But replacing one can include removal, grading, soil fixes, irrigation issues, and ongoing maintenance.

Example

Ballpark: • Sod installed: roughly ~$1.70–$2.60 per sq ft (varies by region and prep) A 1,000 sq ft yard refresh can be several thousand dollars before you even talk about sprinklers.

Summary

Outdoor projects tend to expand. The number you first imagine is often the *minimum*, not the typical.

Windows (not $/sq ft, but worth having intuition)

Big windows look amazing — but they’re expensive to replace and can be energy-inefficient depending on type and age.

Example

Ballpark: • Replace one window: often a few hundred dollars, with many sources citing typical ranges in the low hundreds to ~$700+ A home with lots of large windows can turn ‘eventually’ into a major line item.

Summary

Features that look premium often *cost premium* later. Don’t ignore replacement costs just because they’re not urgent today.

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