Tip of the Month
Suzanne Z. Kaykas-Canterbury Real-estate LLC
WINDOW REPLACEMENT

Replace 10 existing 3 by 5 foot double-hung windows with vinyl or aluminum-clad double glazed, wood replacement windows.  Wrap existing exterior trim as required to match.  Don't disturb existing interior trim.

      City                                                   Job Cost                     Resale Value                        Cost Recouped

New York City                                         $ 9,340                           $11,615                                     124.4%

Washington, D.C.                                     $ 9,359                           $   9,346                                      99.9%

Los Angeles                                              $ 9,331                           $  8,710                                       93.3%

Portland                                                    $ 9,346                            $  6,358                                       68.0%

San Diego                                                 $ 9,353                            $   3,231                                      34.5%

San Francisco                                           $ 9,354                            $12,380                                     132.3%

Seattle                                                       $ 9,355                            $13,750                                     147.0%

ATTIC BEDROOM
In a house with two or three bedrooms, convert unfinished space in the attic to a 15 by 15 foot bedroom and a 5 by 7 foot shower bath.  Add a 15 foot shed dormer and four new windows.  Insulate and finish ceiling and walls; carpet unfinished floor.  Extend existing heating and central air conditioning to new space.  Retain existing stairs.

       City                                                 Job Cost                      Resale Value                    Cost Recouped

New York City                                        $35,861                           $39,092                                     109.0%

Washington, D.C.                                    $35,880                           $25,654                                       71.5%

Los Angeles                                             $35,852                           $27,517                                       76.8%

Portland                                                   $35,867                           $26,927                                        75.1%

San Diego                                                $35,874                           $17,273                                        48.1%

San Francisco                                          $35,875                           $47,894                                      133.5%

Seattle                                                      $35,876                          $69,000                                       192.3%


FAMILY ROOM ADDITION

Add a 16 by 20 foot room on a crawl space foundation with vinyl siding and fiberglass shingle roof.  Include dry wall interior with bat insulation, pre finished hardwood floor, and 180 square foot of glazing, including windows, atrium-style exterior doors, and two operable skylights.  Tie into existing heating and air conditioning.  

      City                                                  Job Cost                      Resale Value                    Cost Recouped

New York City                                       $52,151                           $57,982                                    111.2%

Washington, D.C.                                  $52,170                            $38,538                                     73.9%

Los Angeles                                           $52,142                            $29,850                                    57.2%

Portland                                                 $52,157                            $39,274                                    75.3%

San Diego                                              $52,164                            $27,375                                    52.5%

San Francisco                                        $52,165                            $65,162                                  124.9%

Seattle                                                    $52,166                           $86,083                                   165.0%



ROOF REPLACEMENT

Remove existing roofing to bare wood and dispose of properly.  Install 30 squares of fiberglass asphalt shingles with new felt underlayment, galvanized drip edge, and mill-finish aluminum flashing.

      City                                                  Job Cost                      Resale Value                    Cost Recouped

New York City                                       $11,384                           $13,577                                       119.3%

Washington, D.C.                                   $11,403                           $12,538                                       110.0%

Los Angeles                                            $11,375                           $ 8,817                                          77.5%

Portland                                                  $11,390                            $ 7,284                                          63.9%

San Diego                                               $11,397                            $ 2,962                                          26.0%

San Francisco                                         $11,398                            $15,359                                       134.7%

Seattle                                                     $11,399                           $17,071                                        149.8%


MASTER SUITE ADDITION

On a house with two or three bedrooms, add a 24 by 16 foot master bedroom suite over a crawl space.  Include walk-in closet/dressing area. whirlpool tub in ceramic tile platform, separate 3 by 4 foot ceramic tile shower, and double-bowl vanity with solid surface countertop.  Bedroom floor is carpet; bath floor is ceramic tile.  Paint the walls, ceiling and trim.  Add general and spot lighting and exhaust fan.

      City                                                  Job Cost                      Resale Value                    Cost Recouped

New York City                                        $87,714                          $77,808                                        88.7%

Washington, D.C.                                    $71,824                          $61,231                                        85.3%

Los Angeles                                             $84,299                          $51,958                                        61.6%

Portland                                                    $75.485                          $50,026                                       66.3%

San Diego                                                 $81,127                          $37,667                                      46.4%

San Francisco                                           $91,298                          $86,626                                      94.9%

Seattle                                                      $79,331                         $120,197                                   152.4%



MAJOR KITCHEN REMODEL

Update an outmoded 200 square foot kitchen with new cabinets, laminate countertops, and standard double-tub stainless-steel sink with standard single lever faucet.  Include energy efficient wall oven, cooktop, ventilation system, built-in microwave, dishwasher and garbage disposer.  Add custom lighting and new resilient floor.  Finish with painted walls, trim and ceiling.  Include 30 linear feet of semi-custom grade wood cabinets, including a 3 by 5 foot island.

      City                                                 Job Cost                       Resale Value                    Cost Recouped

New York City                                       $47,815                           $43,594                                        91.2%

Washington, D.C.                                   $43,393                           $28,417                                        65.5%

Los Angeles                                            $46,899                           $32,417                                        69.1%

Portland                                                   $43,412                           $32,324                                       74.5%

San Diego                                                $45,969                           $22,385                                       48.7%

San Francisco                                          $49,834                           $41,542                                       83.4%

Seattle                                                      $45,807                           $59,583                                     130.1%


BASEMENT REMODEL

Create a 20 by 30 foot entertaining area with wet bar, a 5 by 8 foot full bath, and a 12 by 12 foot auxiliary room.  Walls and ceilings are painted drywall throughout.  Exterior walls are insulated.  Include five six-panel primed hardboard doors.  Main room includes 15 recessed ceiling light fixtures, three surface-mounted light fixtures and snap-together laminate flooring system.  Bathroom includes standard white toilet, vanity with cultured marble top, resilient vinyl flooring, two-piece fiberglass shower unit, a light/fan combination, vanity light fixture, and recessed medicine cabinet.  Bar area includes 10 linear feet of raised panel oak cabinets with laminate countertops, stainless steel bar sink, single-lever bar faucet, under-counter refrigerator and vinyl floor tile.

      City                                                  Job Cost                      Resale Value                    Cost Recouped

New York City                                       $48,220                          $50,902                                       105.6%

Washington, D.C.                                   $48,239                          $32,769                                         67.9%

Los Angeles                                            $48,211                          $30,708                                         63.7%

Portland                                                  $48,226                           $44,440                                        92.1%

San Diego                                               $48,233                           $19,625                                        40.7%

San Francisco                                         $48,234                           $71,109                                      147.4%

Seattle                                                     $48,235                           $75,417                                      156.4%



SUN ROOM ADDITION

Add a 200 square foot sun room to a two-story house.  Form and pour footings for slab-on-grade foundation.  Use exposed post-and-beam framing on interior side and extruded aluminum window frame-and-flashing system with insulated, low-E, laminated, or tempered glazing.  Provide for natural ventilation using screens and ceiling fan.  Insulate all non-glass area; provide movable shades for glass area.

      City                                                  Job Cost                      Resale Value                    Cost Recouped

New York City                                        $30,518                         $30,385                                         99.6%

Washington, D.C.                                    $30,537                         $24,000                                         78.6%

Los Angeles                                             $30,509                         $15,667                                         51.4%

Portland                                                   $30,524                          $18,596                                         60.9%

San Diego                                                $30,531                          $10,091                                        33.1%

San Francisco                                          $30,532                          $28,875                                        94.6%

Seattle                                                      $30,553                          $44,500                                      145.7%


BATHROOM REMODEL

Update bathroom that's at least 25 years old.  Replace all fixtures to include standard sized tub with ceramic tile surround, toilet, solid-surface vanity counter with integral double sink, recessed medicine cabinet, ceramic tile floor and vinyl wallpaper.

      City                                                  Job Cost                      Resale Value                    Cost Recouped

New York City                                        $12,014                         $13,178                                       109.7%

Washington, D.C.                                    $ 9,588                          $10,192                                       106.3%

Los Angeles                                            $11,408                          $ 9,917                                          86.9%

Portland                                                   $10,590                         $ 8,871                                          82.9%

San Diego                                                $11,231                         $ 5,538                                          49.3%

San Francisco                                          $12,617                         $12,619                                       100.0%

Seattle                                                      $11,237                         $19,462                                       173.2%



DECK ADDITION

Add 16 by 20 foot deck using pressure treated SYP joists supported by 4 by 4 posts set into concrete footings.  Install composite deck material in a simple linear pattern.  Include a built-in bench, a planter of the same decking material, and stairs.  Provide a railing system made of the same composite material as the decking or a compatible vinyl system.

      City                                                  Job Cost                      Resale Value                    Cost Recouped

New York City                                        $ 6,819                          $ 9,077                                       133.1%

Washington, D.C.                                    $ 6,838                          $ 7,423                                       108.6%

Los Angeles                                             $ 6,810                          $ 6,817                                       100.1%

Portland                                                   $ 6,825                           $ 5,691                                        83.4%

San Diego                                                $ 6,832                           $ 3,708                                        54.3%

San Francisco                                          $ 6,833                           $ 9,437                                      138.1%

Seattle                                                     $ 6,834                           $13,750                                     201.2%                                        





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