CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cleveland ranks among the most expensive cities for home remodeling, factoring in median incomes and the cost to do the work, according a recent study done by Front Door.
The company that connects homeowners with home maintenance professionals identified Cleveland to be the second least affordable place for home remodeling.
The findings were determined based on data that estimated the costs of remolding the living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and dining room.
Front Door determined that Cleveland households would spend 211.3% of their income to remodel those five main rooms of the home with estimated costs in Cleveland to be around $71,173.
Metrics were based on the cost of hiring contractors, the average age of houses and access to suppliers and builders.
The estimated costs were then turned into a percentage based on the median household income. Only cities of at least 100,000 residents or ranking among the top five in their state were included in the study.
Coming in at No. 1 among the most expensive was Detroit at 220.94%, which like Cleveland has often been ranked among the poorest big cities in the country based on poverty rates.
At No. 3 was Newark, New Jersey at 203.76%, Hartford, Connecticut, was named fourth with renovation costs at 198.44%. Huntington, West Virginia rounded out the top five at 197.26%
Another Ohio city made the top 10 least affordable cities for remodeling: Dayton, Ohio placed ninth with remodeling costing 170.68% of the median household income.
As far as the most affordable cities, Front Door gave Frisco, Texas, the top spot at 43.1%.
Front Door had suggestions for people looking to save on home renovations:
- DIY what you can – Using YouTube videos and books can help homeowners learn basic skills and tips. Also making a DIY plan with the assistance of an expert can help with avoiding potentially dangerous mistakes.
- Shop Around – Front Door suggests shopping around for less expensive options for fixtures and fittings. It suggests looking into PVC wall panels instead of pricey tiles and comparing prices of new appliances on different websites.
- Reuse and upcycle –The company noted that cabinetry is the most expensive feature to change in the kitchen and suggested giving them a makeover with paint, and upgraded handles. As for furniture, it would be worth taking a look at sites like Facebook Marketplace for cheaper deals.