What does it cost to renovate a house in 2023?

Aussies love a good home reno job, whether it’s updating an old bathroom to make it feel luxurious and modern, or landscaping the yard to create a little oasis for yourself in the suburbs. If you’re considering a project like this, you may well be wondering, what is the cost of renovating a house? 

There are many reasons you might choose to renovate your house – it might be that you’re looking to sell and add value to the property, it might be that your home is getting older and in need or a refresh, or it may even be that you want to splash out a bit, and create the luxury living space you’ve always dreamed of.

Depending on your needs, budget and situation, you might look at doing a full overhaul of your home in one go, or you might spread the project out, focusing on a certain room or area of the house at a time. Here’s a breakdown of the renovation costs you might expect to face in 2023, as well as a few tips on saving some money on a home reno.

How much does a home renovation cost in Australia?

The cost of renovating your house will vary considerably depending on whether you want to do a total overhaul or renovate a single room at a time. Depending on the job you plan to undertake, you might find that you are looking at costs in the following vicinity:

• Bathroom renovation: $10,000 – $35,000+
• Kitchen renovation: $10,000 – $45,000 +
• Bedroom renovation: $1,000 – $35,000 +
• Living room renovation: $7,000 – $15,000 +
• Landscaping and decking: $12,500 – $44,500 +

How much does a bathroom renovation cost?

Renovating a bathroom can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $35,000 and up, depending on the extent of the renovation, and in particular, the materials you choose. A more high-end bathroom fitout could cost a lot more than a basic one, and according to HiPages, the biggest expense you’re likely to face is tiles. They suggest allowing between one to three weeks to get the job done.

According to real estate agents LJ Hooker, if you’re looking to sell, then the bathroom is the most profitable room besides the kitchen when it comes to selling houses. A redo of this room could run the gamut from a simple makeover, involving painting and updating the vanities and tapware, through to a major renovation, which could include new tiling, flooring and a new shower.

Of course, you may not be looking to sell – there is an increasing trend towards the idea of a bathroom as a luxury retreat, a place you can go to get away from the world and relax after a hard day in spa-like amenities. If you’re renovating your bathroom with this in mind, you may need to spend on the higher end of the scale to get the look and feel you want, but it may be worth it to you for the ability to relax and unwind in comfort.

How to save money on a bathroom renovation

If you’re looking to save on a bathroom renovation, one way might be to consider retaining as much of the existing layout as possible. Moving plumbing points can be expensive and add to labour costs, and keeping them where they are can be one way to help prevent a budget blowout.

Tempting as it may be to attempt DIY in a bathroom to save some money, realestate.com.au cautions against this unless you are sure you can do the job correctly, as fixing mistakes in a bathroom can be costly.

How much does a kitchen renovation cost?

Renovating a kitchen can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $45,000 and up, depending on the extent of the renovation and the materials you choose. According to HiPages, the biggest expense when it comes to renovating a kitchen is likely to be labour, and it could be wise to allow between two and nine weeks to get the job done.

While the cost of a kitchen renovation may make it one of the more expensive rooms to renovate, it is worth keeping in mind that this space is often considered the heart of the home. For many of us who like to cook every day, it’s a place where you’ll spend a lot of time, and is likely to be a focal point of a family home. In addition to this, OpenAgent notes that a great kitchen can also be a major selling point when your home is on the market.

How to save money on a kitchen renovation

If you are looking to save money on a kitchen renovation, you might consider some of the jobs you can do yourself – for example, if you feel confident enough to roll up your sleeves and paint the space on your own, this could be a way to save on labour costs.

When it comes to renovating a kitchen, moving plumbing and electrical points can also prove costly thanks to labour, so keeping these things where they are in the new design can be another way to save money.

How much does a bedroom renovation cost?

The cost of renovating a bedroom can vary greatly, and you could end up spending anywhere from $1,000-$2,000 on the project, all the way up to $35,000 or above, depending on the scope of the renovation and the kinds of furnishings and finishes you choose.

According to HiPages, the biggest expense when it comes to renovating a bedroom is likely to be an ensuite, should you choose to add one. Time-wise, you might expect a more simple bedroom renovation to take less than a week, but adding an ensuite could stretch the time out to several weeks.

The scope of what you could achieve with a bedroom renovation is wide, and the budget will likely end up reflecting this. A basic bedroom renovation might simply involve putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls, skirting boards, door frames and ceilings, and if you want to do the job yourself, your main expenses might be on paint and brushes. Investing in some new bed coverings, curtains and other decorative items could add more to the price, but could be a simple way to freshen up your space.

A mid-range bedroom renovation might also include such things as a new bed frame, new flooring, storage units or even wallpaper, which could add to the budget. According to interior designers Refresh Renovations, a premium renovation is where the big money could come into play – you may opt to spend upwards of $30,000 installing such things as an ensuite, walk-in closet, dimmable lights, luxurious fabrics, soft furnishings and other things to give your bedroom the feel of a retreat.

How to save money on a bedroom renovation

The bedroom is one area of the house in which a simple DIY makeover could still yield an impressive result. If you don’t want to spend the money for a full remodel, installing features like walk-ins and ensuites, you could opt for a fresh coat of paint (applied yourself), a change of sheets and cushions and a new rug, and still make the room feel bright and new.

How much does landscaping and decking cost?

Landscaping is an area where costs can vary, as it can encompass anything from yard maintenance and planting new trees through to installing new decking and pools to drainage and irrigation. Online business marketplace OneFlare says that you could expect to pay a standard hourly rate of $40 to $55 for landscaping, not including the cost of materials, and that a major landscaping job could cost anywhere from $12,500 to $44,500 and up, depending on the materials and labour required.

Whatever kind of gardening or landscaping job you’re planning, one thing to keep in mind is that timber is likely to be a major expense. Over the past several years, the construction industry has faced major timber shortages, delaying many housing projects, with low supply and high demand driving up prices significantly. Timber shortages are expected to last well into 2023, so with this in mind, if you are considering adding a deck to your property, you may need to factor materials shortages and rising costs into your budget.

How to save money on landscaping

A major yard overhaul could involve such things as installing retaining walls, softscaping (to level the ground) and installing lawns, pools or decking. If you want to take a more DIY approach, Canstar has a list of renovation jobs you can knock over in a weekend, including some jobs you can do yourself to give your yard a lift. These include things like:

• Laying down fresh turf in your yard
• Laying down weed matting
• Mulching your garden beds
• Painting your fence
• Laying down landscaping rocks

Jobs like these can be done yourself, if you have the skills and the time, and all you’ll pay is the cost of materials.

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