Plan your project with Estiquote
A renovation budget planner you can actually use
Keep three numbers separate: the work you have priced, the items still uncertain and the amount you can afford. That makes a budget easier to update when real quotes arrive.
Start with a room-by-room brief
For each room, record what stays, what changes and what is still undecided. A kitchen refresh that keeps its layout needs a different brief from a renovation that moves walls, services and openings.
List the finish you expect and who supplies each item. “New bathroom” leaves far more room for different interpretations than a list of fixtures, tiling areas, lighting and installation requirements.
Printable renovation budget worksheet
Copy the table into your notes or use your browser’s Print option. Add the date and source of each number so you can distinguish a written quote from your own allowance.
| Budget line | Amount | Included elsewhere? | Source / unknowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main construction quote | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Owner-supplied fixtures and appliances | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Other excluded work | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Design and professional fees | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Applications and inspections | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Temporary living or storage costs | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Applicable tax not already included | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Contingency for uncertainty | _______ | _______ | _______ |
| Optional upgrades — separate subtotal | _______ | _______ | _______ |
A worked budget, with assumptions visible
This fictional example demonstrates the arithmetic only. It is not an estimate of what a renovation normally costs. Assume all amounts are on the same tax-inclusive basis where tax applies.
- Construction quote: £48,000.
- Owner-supplied appliances excluded from that quote: £4,000.
- Separately priced design and inspection costs: £3,000.
- Chosen contingency: £5,000.
- Planning budget: £60,000. A further £2,000 optional upgrade would bring it to £62,000 if selected.
If the construction quote already includes the appliances, do not add them again. If a line is unknown, label it as unresolved rather than treating the £60,000 as complete.
Choose a contingency around the unknowns
A contingency is money held for uncertainty, not an invitation to spend the full amount on upgrades. Record what is uncertain: concealed conditions, unresolved design or items that cannot yet be accurately priced.
There is no percentage that makes every project safe. Ask your project professional to help assess the risks. Estiquote displays a 15% contingency to hold alongside its planning midpoint; that is a model assumption, not a guarantee that it will cover your project.
Replace assumptions as information improves
- Keep the original allowance and its source in your notes.
- Add the dated written price when it arrives.
- Check scope and tax before replacing the allowance.
- Update the remaining contingency only after understanding the change.
GOV.UK’s VAT guide for building work explains that treatment can vary. Confirm the applicable amount with the supplier instead of assuming every line uses the same rate.
Track payments separately from the total budget
A £60,000 budget does not tell you when money will be needed. Beside the budget, note the agreed payment stages and any owner-supplied items you must buy before installation. Keep invoices and payment records with the written agreement.
Turn the budget into a better conversation
If quotes exceed what you can afford, identify changes to scope and specification and have the builders reprice them. Do not simply reduce an allowance on paper and assume the work becomes cheaper.
Estiquote can provide the initial guide range and a detailed project report with Project Pass. The worksheet here is a manual planning aid; the current app does not track your payments or actual spending. Use our builder quote guide when the written prices arrive.