Conflicting information on Demo Cost?

[Ron Hollingsworth]

I am trying to determine what the cost will be for a 1800sq flip home to be demo'd.  The demo would consist of, removal of the following items:

All flooring (tile & carpet)

all base and casing 

5-8 lighting fixtures

2 bathroom mirrors 

2 showers/tubs

2 vanities

2 toilets

all light switches/electrical covers

Kitchen cabinets and appliances (backsplash)

5-6 interior doors

5 ceiling fans

blinds

removal old water heater

vent covers

Assume this is a completely vacant house, no trash, nothing in the yard.

Now assume the home has a bunch of personal items in it that need to be trashed.  Furniture, just basically junk, boxes of stuff everywhere.  How would that change the cost.  Also assume that I have the required sized dumpster for each of these two scenarios. 

Thank you!

[Jaron Walling]

You're not going to find a set % or number this type of work. Maybe a rule of thumb but it's just labor work other than plumbing the water heater. I'd DIY it or hire a plumber to handle the replacement and hauling the scrapped unit. You'll save a little bit if the dumpster is outside and available. It's the hassle factor and skills you're paying for. 

Everything else is labor/time. I'd estimate how much time it takes for 2-3 reasonably quick workers to complete the demo. That's about 2 days worth of time. Call it 7 hrs per/day x 3 workers @ $30 per/hr x 2 days = $1260

Add in the water heater replacement (hired out) for $900-1200 

Add your dumpster fee of $450

Total: $2900

Everything is negotiable for the most part. Skills trades don't work for free. I'm friends with a plumber and he does countless water heater installs. He won't do an install for <$265 labor + materials. Not worth his time and effort. I'd offer $2600 for the demo and see what happens. Then you could move up to the "budgeted" number and make people happy.