Guides / Renovation · Published 2026-10-29
The renovation costs missing from the quote
The quote is not your renovation budget.
Most contractor quotes leave out costs you still pay. Soft costs: design, drawings, an engineer if walls move, permit fees. Site costs: dumpster, protection, patching and paint after the trades. Materials: sales tax, delivery and 10% extra tile and flooring (15% for diagonal). Living costs: eating out without a kitchen, storage or a short move-out. Then add a 10–20% contingency for surprises behind the walls.
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