Start with the scope, not the number
A budget without a scope is wishful thinking. Define the work first — rooms, materials, finishes, fittings — then price it.
The three-bucket model
- Hard costs — materials, labour, fittings, fixtures
- Soft costs — design fees, permits, engineering, project management
- Contingency — 15–20% reserved for surprises and decisions
Get itemised quotes
A single number on a quote (“$80,000 for the renovation”) tells you nothing. Itemised quotes — material X, labour Y, fitting Z — let you compare contractors fairly and make informed choices about where to spend and where to save.
Keep a single source of truth
A shared spreadsheet or budget app updated weekly is non-negotiable. Track committed spend, paid spend, and remaining contingency. Surprises hurt much less when you can see them coming.
