7 minute read
Renovation projects rarely fail because of construction. They fail because of decisions made too late — a tile chosen in week nine that changes the shower tray, a kitchen specified after the electrics are closed in.
Front-load your decisions. Every finish, fitting and appliance should ideally be selected before the first wall comes down. It feels excessive; it saves both weeks and thousands.
Hold a contingency of ten to fifteen percent that is genuinely separate from your build budget. Older properties always reveal something, and a contingency turns a crisis into an inconvenience.
Finally, insist on written variations. Any change to scope should be priced and signed before it happens. Good builders welcome this — it protects them as much as it protects you.
