Set a budget for your renovation and stick to it

Learn the budgeting basics

If you’re a complete novice, or simply not very disciplined, now is the time to learn how to budget properly.

Start by reading our guide on how to budget and learn how to use our budgeting tools: 

• NAB Spending
• Budget planner calculator

A realistic goal, budget or project needs to be SMART.

• Specific – what exactly are you spending money on?
• Measurable – how much do you need to spend on each item or stage?
• Attainable – can you (really) afford it?
• Realistic – does it fit into your budget without compromising other expenses?
• Timely – is it the right time? Do you need to prioritise other expenses? Will you be able to make payments on time?

Sticking to a budget takes willpower. As painful as it may seem, you need to start practicing patience and may need to start saying no to a few luxuries.

Be realistic about renovation costs

It’s scary how quickly things can add up on renovation projects. And, it’s impossible to set a realistic budget until you get detailed renovation costs and quotes.

There are some helpful renovation budget calculators and cost guides available online. And, they’re free.

Don’t try and guesstimate your costs. If you’re doing a big renovation or extension you absolutely need plans and designs that you can get proper quotes on.

Architects, designers, builders and engineers are the kind of professionals you need to get advice from.

Reconsider what you can afford

Once you have detailed renovation costs, decide what you must have and what you’re willing to live without.

Get professional advice from your local real estate agent to help figure out where to save and where to splurge. You need to know what will add value to your home in the short and long term.

Avoid spending money that you won’t get back when you sell. That’s called overcapitalising. If you plan to live in the home for the long term it may be less of an issue for you.

Lifestyle blogs and online renovation forums can offer advice on where to spend your renovation budget too. For example, some experts recommend spending 5% of the value of your home on a kitchen and up to 1.5% on your bathroom.

Ask for a fixed-price contract

Some builders may offer fixed-price contracts. If their price is more than a standard contract, it’s because they’re taking a risk on any overspend or delays, not you.

It could be worth the extra you pay to know exactly what you have to pay for upfront (and make it much easier to stick to your budget).

Add a buffer to your original budget

If there’s one thing that’s certain in life, it’s that your renovation will cost more than you think.

Even with the most detailed plans and cost guide, the unexpected can happen. It’s recommended you add between 10 and 20% of the cost to your project to your budget.

This buffer helps pay for unexpected costs, like unforseen structural issues or ground works. This is what’s called a 'contingency', and every good renovator should have one.