03/09/2026
Something we talk through with every family before pricing a job: set aside a contingency of around 10 to 20 percent on top of your build budget.
Once walls come off, renovations tend to turn up things nobody could see during planning. Old wiring that isn't up to code, plumbing that needs replacing, water damage, termite history, or a structural fix that only becomes obvious once the work starts. It's especially common in older homes. None of it means anything has gone wrong. It's just the nature of opening up a house.
A contingency is what keeps those surprises from derailing the whole project. With a buffer in place, an unexpected find becomes a decision you make calmly, rather than a scramble to find more money or a compromise on the finishes you were looking forward to. Without one, people often end up cutting corners at the back end of a build, which is the last place you want to be saving.
Where you land in that 10 to 20 percent range comes down to the home. A newer place in good condition sits at the lower end. An older home, or one where a lot is being changed structurally, is worth budgeting closer to the top.
Not the exciting part of planning, but one of the most important. And if you're upfront with your builder about your total budget, contingency included, a good one will help you spend it where it counts.
