Most renovation budgets don’t fail because of bad luck. They fail because the number was never realistic to begin with. These guides help you build a budget you can trust and protect it once construction starts.
Follow a five-step process for setting a realistic renovation budget, then see the costs most contractor quotes don’t include, from permits and design fees to temporary living expenses. Learn the renovation mistakes that cost homeowners thousands, how renovation compares with building new on price, and exactly what to do if your contractor goes over budget.
Each guide is written by Cally Reyes, co-founder of Purple Door Studio, based on real projects we’ve seen succeed and struggle. If you’d like a second set of eyes on your numbers before you commit, our owner’s representative service is built for exactly that.
We’ve all heard horror stories of renovations gone wrong. A “bad” contractor left your neighbor high and dry. Your cousin experienced change order after change order that sent their budget sky high. Your last renovation failed the final inspection twice because of “misunderstandings.” None of these, unfortunately, is an anomaly. They happen with a regularity […]
The 3 Renovation Mistakes That Cost Homeowners Thousands Read More »
You’re standing in a house that needs everything. The roof is at the end of its life. The electrical is original to the 1960s. The plumbing is galvanized and running slow. The kitchen hasn’t been touched since 1992 and look like it. The bathrooms aren’t any better. A contractor just handed you an estimate, and
New Construction vs. Full Renovation: How to Choose and What’s the Cost Difference? Read More »
The message comes in on a Tuesday. Your contractor has an update. Something came up during demo, and the project is going to cost more than the contract. The number they’re quoting is real and needs to be addressed before work continues. You didn’t budget for it. You’re not sure the explanation fully makes sense.
What Happens If Your Contractor Goes Over Budget? Read More »
Six weeks into a kitchen renovation, a homeowner realizes the number they started with was never real. They built a budget around a single contractor’s estimate that had five line items and left almost everything to “allowances.” They didn’t price the tile themselves. They had no contingency. The first change order wiped out what little
How to Set a Realistic Home Renovation Budget in 5 Steps Read More »
The quote in your hand is real. The contractor priced what they were asked to price. The number isn’t wrong. It’s just not complete. I’ve watched homeowners go into renovation projects with a contractor quote and a bank account that matched it — and come out the other side having spent 25, 30, sometimes 40
Renovation Budget Reality: What the Quote Doesn’t Include Read More »
