By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-02 09:30:25 | Updated at 2026-08-02 20:44:18
14 hours ago
With more Americans choosing to renovate instead of relocate, countless homeowners are diving into DIY projects to save money - but it comes at a cost.
For New Jersey resident Kaan Esendemir, trying to make long-lasting changes with a few quick fixes ended in even more stress.
The homeowner looked at his garage and decided that, aside from the garage door opener, the space felt small and outdated - the concrete block walls were slowly turning 'to dust.'
Water began seeping in near the bottom of the walls, while noticeable cracks spread through the aging concrete. Esendemir estimates the garage is more than 70 years old, and years of stains made the space feel disorganized and not 'inviting' when entering.
As a result, he organized a mini-renovation project.
His decision comes as more homeowners are choosing to improve the houses they already own instead of navigating the housing market. According to QS Supplies' recent report, 87 percent of homeowners would rather renovate their current home than move in today's housing market.
Bathrooms are the priority room in 2026, with almost half of renovating homeowners, or 47 percent, tackling a bathroom only, compared to 25 percent focusing on kitchen-related changes.
And while about 26 percent of renovators scaled back their original plans, another 51 percent said they are still willing to go over budget if they find the right upgrade. For Esendemir, even doing the bare minimum left him spending more than he anticipated.
Kaan Esendemir planned to do most of the manual labor for his renovation project, setting a budget of $500
Originally the concrete walls had noticeable cracks and were turning 'to dust' because they were so old
Kaan Esendemir is an Enterprise AI Architect based in New Jersey
'I wanted to modernize it for the least amount of cost possible,' he told the Daily Mail. 'I figured I could skim coat and paint the walls myself and then hire an electrician to run more outlets, an outdoor security camera and lighting.'
He also planned to hire someone to pour self-leveling concrete over the existing blocks - so that 'it wouldn’t warrant a full concrete job.'
The whole thing, he thought, would cost around $500. That was considering he'd lend a hand when it came to the manual labor.
'My vision was to bring it to the future, with black satin walls and roof rafters,' he added, 'and cabinets for storage and a workbench around the side wall.'
The idea first took shape at the end of 2024, but work didn't begin until April 2025. What he expected to be a manageable renovation, mostly done by himself, somehow dragged on for months.
'I would work on it here and there, then lose motivation,' he said. 'The garage was unusable for months, until I finally finished at the end of September 2025.'
The physical demands of the project, Esendemir explained, were one of the biggest challenges. After he completed 'about 20 percent' of the wall renovation, he had to spend even more money to hire someone to finish the project.
In New Jersey, having a professional add a new layer of concrete over existing concrete garage walls typically costs between $4 and $15 per square foot for labor and materials, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $4,500 depending on the wall surface area and prep work.
Following the post-pandemic housing boom, the US remodeling market remains well over $600 billion
In the end, with the electric wiring, labor, materials and added additions to the garage like the cabinets, Esendemir spent over $2,000.
His original $500 budget would've covered the electric rework, supplies and hiring someone to do the leveling of the concrete - but the added physical labor element pushed him well over his maximum.
He even spent an extra $200 to make the electrical work look 'pretty,' or rather cover up any exposed wires that could be potentially dangerous.
And Esendemir is not alone.
According to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies, the US remodeling market remains well over $600 billion following the post-pandemic boom, mostly because of aging housing stock and homeowners choosing to renovate rather than move.
Industry experts say the so-called 'lock-in effect' also kept many homeowners in place. Millions of Americans who secured mortgage rates below 4 percent in recent years are wary to give them up for today's higher borrowing costs, making renovations a more attractive option than purchasing another home.
Still, even small home improvement projects can quickly surpass their original budgets.
Esendemir believes his renovation was ultimately worth the time and money. Now that it's finished, he says the garage feels cleaner, more functional and like a space where he can 'hang out' without worrying.
But while he's pleased with the transformation, he admits he truly underestimated the amount of work the project required.
'The biggest mistake I made was wanting things that were purely cosmetic and not useful,' Esendemir said. 'I also did not have who I would call in advance, I had to find someone for the concrete work and wall skim coat when I got to that point in the project.'
'I procrastinated a lot rendering my garage out of commission for months,' he added. 'And finally, everything should be prepared in advance. I would recommend you create an AI rendering of how you want it to turn out, then do your homework, and then set forth on the project.'
