Budget categories
Track allowances separately from labor so you can compare bids apples-to-apples.
- Design and permits
- Materials and fixtures
- Labor by trade
- Contingency 10–20%
Spreadsheet columns that matter
Track estimated, quoted, and actual columns so change orders are visible early.
- Line item / trade / room
- Material allowance vs fixed spec
- Labor subtotal
- Contingency row (15%)
Allowance traps
Low tile or fixture allowances make bids look cheap until you shop.
- Specify allowance amounts in writing
- Upgrade costs come from your pocket
- Match allowances across all three bids
Start from trades, not from a room name
“Kitchen” is not a budget line. Cabinets, counters, appliances, electrical, plumbing, floor, and labor are. If you cannot assign a trade to a dollar, it is still a wish. Build the sheet the way a GC bills, then add contingency as its own row.
- One row per trade even if one company does two trades
- Owner-supplied materials get a row so they are not forgotten
- Permits and dumpsters are rows, not vibes
Financing should follow a frozen scope
A HELOC that funds an undefined kitchen is how balances grow. Freeze the drawing, then choose cash versus credit. Contractor “same as cash” promotions are still debt if you miss a date. Read the backup rate.
- Do not finance allowances you have not selected
- Keep a cash buffer for hidden conditions even if the main job is financed
- The budget-method bathroom page and this page should not contradict — one is a room, one is the household