Pricing ranges
Whole-house projects use the Preliminary Estimate path. Three scope tiers anchor to a typical ~2,600 sq ft Greater Boston single-family home with 14 rooms or spaces. Final price is confirmed in your Preliminary Proposal after on-site consultation.
Anchor profile — the average home in our service area
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Home size | ~2,600 sq ft |
| Kitchens | 1 |
| Full bathrooms | 2 |
| Half bathroom (powder room) | 1 |
| Bedrooms (1 primary + 3 secondary) | 4 |
| Living, dining, family rooms | 3 |
| Home office, mudroom, laundry | 3 |
| Finished basement (partial or full) | 1 |
| Attic (often unfinished or partial) | 1 |
| Garage (two-car) | 1 |
| Total rooms / spaces | 14 |
Exterior: Roof ~2,000 sq ft, siding ~2,800 sq ft of exterior wall, 20 to 25 windows, 3 exterior doors, driveway and walkway, lot ~8,000 to 10,000 sq ft. Sources: U.S. Census, Realtor.com, Massachusetts Association of Realtors, Boston-area market data.
| Scope tier | Typical investment range | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic scope | $145,000 – $245,000 | Cosmetic refresh — paint, flooring, light fixtures, cabinet hardware. Minor kitchen or bath updates. No structural changes, no additions, no exterior envelope work |
| Mid-range scope | $245,000 – $345,000 | Full kitchen and bathroom remodels, systems upgrades (HVAC, electrical, plumbing), some exterior envelope, selective flooring and interior finish work |
| Full-scope conversion | $345,000 – $445,000 | Top-to-bottom transformation — full kitchen and bathroom remodels, complete systems upgrades, exterior envelope (roof, siding, windows). Often includes basement or attic finish; may include additions |
Top five cost drivers
- Number of kitchens and bathrooms fully remodeled — highest-cost rooms; cabinets, countertops, tile, plumbing fixtures, appliances concentrate here.
- Exterior envelope work — roof replacement on ~2,000 sq ft, siding on ~2,800 sq ft, 20 to 25 windows. Each represents a standalone project-scale investment.
- Structural changes and layout reconfiguration — opening walls between kitchen, dining, and living; relocating bathrooms; adding a primary suite. Engineering services plus structural steel.
- Systems upgrades — panel upgrades, new HVAC, plumbing rough-ins, whole-home rewiring.
- Basement, attic, or addition scope — each is effectively a standalone project layered on top of the main whole-house scope.
Process narrative
Ten-step client-visible flow: Sales, Design & Planning, Procurement, Construction, and Completion. The same phase names appear on your proposal, your schedule, and on the job site.
- Consultation Scheduled (Sales Phase).
- Preliminary Proposal Sent & Preliminary Proposal Signed (Sales Phase).
- Site Measurement & Design Consultation (Design & Planning) — whole-home Validation Assessment for load-bearing walls, electrical panel, HVAC, plumbing systems.
- Material Selection Process (Design & Planning) — Part A measuring; Part B selections at the Bay State Kitchen Gallery showroom and vendor partners.
- Layout Development & Design Development & Presentation (Design & Planning).
- Final Proposal Sent, Negotiation & Contract Signed (Sales Phase).
- Design & Planning Summary Meeting + Design & Planning Completion Gate (Design & Planning).
- Permit Preparation & Submission (Design & Planning) — Long Form permit plus stamped engineered drawings. Newton, Wellesley, Brookline, Cambridge have longer review cycles.
- Project Mobilization & Execution Phase (Construction).
- Final Completion Walkthrough & Project Completion (Completion).
Timeline by scope tier
| Scope tier | Typical duration | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic scope | 4 to 6 months (design + permits + build) | Cosmetic refresh — paint, flooring, light fixtures; no structural changes, no additions, no exterior envelope work |
| Mid-range scope | 6 to 8 months (design + permits + build) | Full kitchen and bathroom remodels, systems upgrades, some exterior envelope, selective flooring and interior finish |
| Full-scope conversion | 8 to 12 months (design + permits + build) | Top-to-bottom transformation — full kitchen and bathroom remodels, complete systems upgrades, exterior envelope, basement or attic finish; may include additions |
What's included (scope)
Whole-house projects layer multiple package scopes onto a single contract. Typical mid-range scope: full kitchen plus 2-3 bathroom remodels, HVAC/electrical/plumbing systems upgrades, some exterior envelope, selective flooring and interior finish. Items unique to whole-house versus single-room packages:
- Exterior envelope as a unified scope: roofing, siding & exterior trim, windows, exterior doors, hardscape, fencing, masonry finishes
- Whole-home flooring decisions (consistent throughout vs. mix; refinish existing vs. replace)
- Custom millwork, built-ins, trim package across multiple rooms — entertainment centers, home office built-ins, mudroom storage, wainscoting, coffered ceilings, crown molding
- Layered package scope (basement / attic / addition each as their own sub-project sequence)
Materials guidance
Top five selection-complexity drivers
- Number of kitchens and bathrooms fully remodeled — each kitchen adds cabinets, hardware, countertops, tile (backsplash), plumbing fixtures, appliances, often flooring. Each bathroom adds vanities, hardware, countertops, tile, plumbing fixtures, accessories, glazing & mirrors.
- Exterior envelope work — roofing, siding, windows, exterior doors, hardscape, fencing, masonry finishes.
- Flooring scope across the home — consistent vs. mix; refinish vs. replace.
- Custom millwork, built-ins, and trim package — entertainment centers, home office built-ins, mudroom storage, wainscoting, coffered ceilings, crown molding.
- Whether basement, attic, or addition work is included — adds flooring, electrical fixtures, custom closet, staircase, plus possibly bathroom vanities, cabinets, appliances if a secondary kitchen or wet bar is included.
Photo placement
Frequently asked
Why doesn't the whole-house guide have a fixed cost calculator?
Whole-house renovations have too many scope variables that dramatically shift pricing — how many rooms are touched, whether exterior envelope work is included, whether additions or basement/attic conversions are layered in, and how extensively the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems are upgraded.
What does the average BSR whole-house client's home look like?
~2,600 sq ft single-family in Greater Boston (Boston, Newton, Wellesley, Brookline, Cambridge, surrounding towns). 14 rooms or spaces — 1 kitchen, 2 full baths, 1 powder, 4 bedrooms, plus living/dining/family/home office/mudroom/laundry/finished basement/attic/two-car garage. Roof ~2,000 sq ft, siding ~2,800 sq ft, 20 to 25 windows.
Can I live in the house during a whole-house remodel?
We use continuous dust control throughout the home — protection of floors, cabinetry, and areas outside the active construction zone. Whether you stay in the house depends on scope. Phased contracts where work moves room-to-room often allow the family to remain through most of the build. Single-contract gut renovations typically require a temporary move.
How does BSR sequence whole-house work?
Each full kitchen and bathroom remodel includes its own demolition, rough-in, inspection, drywall, tile, cabinet, countertop, plumbing finish, and tile inspection sequence. These phases cannot fully overlap — rough inspections for one bathroom often hold up drywall across adjacent rooms.
Why does Newton (or Wellesley, Brookline, Cambridge) take longer?
Newton, Wellesley, Brookline, and Cambridge often have longer review cycles than smaller municipalities. Plan for additional permit time when working in those towns.
When should I plan exterior envelope work?
Roof, siding, and window work is weather-dependent. A rainy fall, a cold winter, or extreme heat can delay exterior phases by days or weeks. Schedule exterior work into the right season — typically spring through early fall in New England.
Ready to put this into practice?
A 30-minute consult is usually enough to confirm whether we are the right fit.
Book a consult