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Calculator
Condition
Medium: flooring, kitchen and baths, paint, some systems
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Enter your numbers to see the result. The faded values are an example.
The per-square-foot tiers
Local costs and add-ons
- Cost multiplier. The Los Angeles option (1.15×) is an assumption from older construction-cost indices. Better: calibrate from your last three jobs.
- Pre-1960 homes: a whole-house repipe ($20,000 to $39,000 for about 1,700 sq ft, scaled by size) and a panel upgrade often come with the job.
- Raised foundations in earthquake country: bolting and cripple-wall bracing, $4,500 to $13,000.
- City of Los Angeles rent-stabilized units: relocation of $10,650 to $26,550 per tenant household that leaves (2025-26 amounts; confirm with LAHD).
- Permits: roughly 3% to 8% of the project.
A sanity check
Flipping veterans estimate that rehab plus other expenses typically run between 20% and 33% of the after-repair value (ATTOM). If your total lands far outside that, recheck the scope. Line items you can price yourself (kitchen, baths, flooring, paint, roof, HVAC) follow the same categories as DealMachine's rehab estimator.
What no estimator can see
Foundation, sewer lateral, unpermitted additions, mold and old wiring need a walkthrough and contractor bids. Keep the contingency until you have them.
Questions
Published national tiers run about $15 to $25 a square foot for light work, $25 to $50 for medium, and $60 to $100 or more for a full gut, before local cost differences.
10% to 20% is common. Keep more for older homes and anything you haven't walked through.
It can suggest a condition tier and flag visible issues, but hidden items (foundation, sewer, wiring, mold) need a walkthrough. Treat any AI number as a range, never a bid.
Sources
- 1.How to estimate rehab costs (Aug 3, 2026) · REsimpli · read October 30, 2026
- 2.Rehab estimator calculator (Jul 15, 2026) · DealMachine help · read October 30, 2026
- 3.ATTOM Q2 2026 U.S. Home Flipping Report (Oct 1, 2026) · ATTOM · read October 30, 2026
Changes
- : First published.