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Is a bump out worth it?

Is a bump out worth it? Yes, a bump out is worth the effort and cost. Even if you're only adding a 2-foot bump out across the whole length of the room, that adds up to significant square footage, which can increase your property value.

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Factors That Influence the Cost to Bump Out a Room

Size is the main factor that influences the cost to bump out; most pros price per square foot. The cost of bump outs compared to the cost of full home additions is less because you don't need to worry about extra insulation, plumbing, electrics, lighting, foundation, or supports. But there are other costs that add to your total budget for a bump out.

Finishing the Space

Once the bump-out construction has finished, you've got to finish the space before you can outfit and furnish it. This adds to the total project cost.

Flooring

In most cases, installing new flooring costs $3 to $22 per square foot. However, there are loads of flooring options, and you'll want the flooring to match the existing space. But this could also be a good time to install new flooring in the whole room. For bump outs that are their own space, like a home office, laundry room, or craft space, you have more flexibility with flooring choices. On a tight budget, laminate flooring is a good choice. For warmth, carpet or hardwood is the better option. In bathrooms, go for tile flooring.

Decorating

As well as flooring the bump out, you'll also need to decorate the bare walls. Just like with the flooring, if the bump out needs to match the larger room, you have limited options unless you plan to update the entire room’s look, which could save you money in the long run. For example, when the bump out is ready for finishing, it's a good opportunity to redecorate as part of the cost to remodel a living room, rather than trying to match the bump out to the existing decor, then remodeling the whole thing in a few years.

Here are some common decorating additions and their associated costs.

Windows

Installing windows costs $3,500 to $9,900, depending on the size and number of windows. Most people pay toward the lower end of this range for bump outs. If your bump out adds to a bay or bow window and seating area, expect to pay between $800 and $15,000, all-in, for the cost to install a new bow or bay window, including the window panes and the bump out.

Electrical

While not always necessary, hiring an electrician costs $50 to $100 per hour. You'll need to hire a local electrician if the bump out requires additional lighting, outlets, or a ceiling fan.

Outfitting the Space

Depending on which room you bump out and what you plan to do with the extra space, you'll need to budget for the materials and installation required to appropriately outfit the space.

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Will food prices go down in 2023?

US – USDA released its latest report and predicts that in 2023 we will pay even more for our food. The Consumer price index reported that from June 2022 to July 2022 food prices increased 10.9 % higher than in July 2021.

US – USDA released its latest report and predicts that in 2023 we will pay even more for our food. The Consumer price index reported that from June 2022 to July 2022 food prices increased 10.9 % higher than in July 2021. That inflation is not expected in 2023 but expected at around 6.5 to 7.5% according to the USDA. Between the 1970s and early 2000s, food-at-home prices and food-away-from-home prices increased at similar rates. Since 2009, however, their rates of growth have mostly diverged; while food-at-home prices deflated in 2016 and 2017, monthly food-away-from-home prices have been rising consistently since then. The divergence is partly due to differences between the costs of serving prepared food at restaurants and retailing food in supermarkets and grocery stores. In 2020, food-at-home prices increased 3.5 percent and food-away-from-home prices 3.4 percent. This convergence was largely driven by a rapid increase in food-at-home prices, while food-away-from-home price inflation remained within 0.3 percentage points of the 2019 inflation rate. The largest price increases were for meat categories: beef and veal prices increased by 9.6 percent, pork prices by 6.3 percent, and poultry prices by 5.6 percent. The only category to decrease in price in 2020 was fresh fruits, by 0.8 percent. In 2021, food-at-home prices increased 3.5 percent and food-away-from-home prices increased 4.5 percent. The CPI for all food increased an average of 3.9 percent in 2021. Of all the CPI food-at-home categories tracked by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Economic Research Service (ERS), the beef and veal category had the largest relative price increase (9.3 percent) and the fresh vegetables category the smallest (1.1 percent). No food categories decreased in price in 2021 compared with 2020.

Read the entire report here: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20food%20price%20increases,between%206.5%20and%207.5%20percent.

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