I Created the Ultimate Home Renovation Budget Template (2024)

I Created the Ultimate Home Renovation Budget Template (1)

After home remodeling on a budget two times now, I want to share a few of the things I've learned along the way and created a home renovation budget template for you. Whether you're using a home renovation loan or cash, it's a major project. Years ago, we refreshed our Lincoln Park condo and after a few floods, it felt like we went through a full home renovation there! Then, of course, there is my favorite. Our Roscoe Village home, albeit short, was a labor of love that I would 1000% do again.

I created the ultimate home renovation budget template for our Roscoe Village renovation that kept us on budget. It might be one of my greatest accomplishments to date. In my humble opinion, buying a home that needs work is often a super smart investment. If you buy something turnkey, your only upside is market performance. However, if you buy a home that needs a home renovation, you're infusing value into the property right if you invest wisely. Here are my five steps to tackle home remodeling on a budget.

5 Steps to Home Remodeling on a Budget

1. Know your baseline costs and your max house value

I Created the Ultimate Home Renovation Budget Template (2)

Let me nerd out here for a minute... In my corporate days, we would call this the top-down and bottoms-up forecast. First and foremost, it's super important to understand the potential maximum house value of the property so that you do not over-invest. Matt and I have been borderline obsessive about this in the past, but it's always worked out. It's easy to spend money, but what happens when you want to leave? You'd like your investment back, right? Don't over-invest.

On the flip side, it's also important to understand your total costs to live and your savings goals. Whether you're pulling a home renovation loan (more on that later!) or dipping into your savings, you need to have money in the bank for a rainy day and be able to pull your bills.

2. Set an overall budget for the home renovation

Once you've set your budget, it's time to decide how you'll pay for it. Will you get a home renovation loan or will you pay for it with savings? If you haven't heard of it yet, there are home renovation loans or home construction loans, which you can get in addition to your mortage. It's a separate loan used purely to pay for renovation projects. This is a loan calculator that I really like.

Otherwise, you can use your liquid savings to pay for everything in cash. Typically, you'll need a 10% downpayment with a contractor and then there will be payment terms going forward. If you're paying in cash, ensure that you keep a 10-20% contingency budget and extra money in the bank just in case!

3. Create a high-level design plan

I Created the Ultimate Home Renovation Budget Template (4)

Here is my best trick. Make a design plan for your home renovation! Pull together mood boards and specifics that you love. Create your ideal designs, but then also create a backup plan. I personally love Pinterest for this reason, and I have a board dedicated to it here.

4. Price out your designs and prioritize

I Created the Ultimate Home Renovation Budget Template (5)

This part is not as fun, but it might be the most important. When you're home remodeling on a budget, you have to price out the designs you like. I highly recommend my home renovation budget template for this, which you can get here, and to create line items by room of what the design entails. My guess is you'll land over budget and it's time to start prioritizing.

One of the ways I prioritized during our City home renovation (here) was I picked one splurge item per room. I focused on that item and then designed around it as inexpensively as I could while still finding quality items.

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5. Create a master budget, and timeline and get to work!

I Created the Ultimate Home Renovation Budget Template (7)

Work with your contractor to understand the overall timeline as well as when he or she needs specific items for install. If products are delayed, it can then delay your contractor, which delays the overall timeline. Home remodeling on a budget can be tricky, which is why I made a template for you to make it easier!! You can track your financials and timing in it.

A huge thank you to Belen Aquino for these photos.

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I Created the Ultimate Home Renovation Budget Template (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to track home renovation costs? ›

To create a renovation budget, you need a clear idea of what goes into the project, including the labor, material costs, and the delivery of the materials. Once you have the information, build your budget by creating a spreadsheet that factors in all the costs you might incur and each part of the renovation.

How to plan a renovation project template? ›

How to Use a House Renovation Project Plan Template
  1. Set your goals and budget. Define your expectations for the renovation project by setting goals and a budget. ...
  2. Identify what needs to be done. ...
  3. Create a timeline. ...
  4. Find contractors/workers/suppliers. ...
  5. Start executing!

How do I figure out how much to spend on a renovation? ›

Generally speaking, when setting your home renovation budget, it's a good idea to avoid overspending on aspects that may not add much value to your home. One rule of thumb you can use for your home renovation budget is to spend no more than 20% of your home's value on renovations.

What is the 30% rule for renovations? ›

Home renovation is a huge undertaking, and almost invariably takes more time and costs more money than homeowners expect. Rasekh says it's a good idea to set 20 to 30 percent of the total cost of your project aside for the unexpected — that's up to 30 percent on top of the project's original cost estimate.

Is $100,000 enough to renovate a house? ›

A $100,000 renovation budget can go a long way in transforming your living space and enhancing your home's functionality and value. By partnering with Multigroup Contracting, you can make the most of your budget and create a beautiful, custom home that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.

Is there an app to track renovation expenses? ›

HomeZada is an indispensable financial planning app for home management. It helps you plan and organize the financing of your home renovation and remodeling projects.

What is the app that track renovation expenses? ›

HomeZada helps you create a budget for all the items on your project, regardless of whether you DIY or hire a contractor. Track all your costs, receipts and invoices to compare against your budget.

Are HGTV remodel costs accurate? ›

"HGTV pays for some labor or costs to expedite production if needed, but generally, homeowners are paying for their services. And, they may have access to discounted services or goods." So a new kitchen island that costs $1,000 might actually cost $3,000 if the homeowners weren't being featured on a TV show.

How do I make a renovation checklist? ›

The DFW Step-by-Step Home Renovation Checklist
  1. Identify and Set Your Goals. ...
  2. Create a Detailed Home Renovation Plan. ...
  3. Establishing a Budget. ...
  4. Select the Right Materials for Your Project. ...
  5. Prioritize and Compromise on Design Elements. ...
  6. Choose Which Projects You'll Take On First. ...
  7. Enlist the Help of a Professional.
Oct 28, 2023

Is 100k a good renovation budget? ›

Tell me the average cost of a house remodel? According to HomeAdvisor, the cost of a remodel was estimated at approximately $46,755. If this figure has to be included homeowners who complete only one or two projects at one time. Most homeowners should spend somewhere between $100,000 and $200k for a house renovation.

What is the profit margin on a home renovation? ›

According to the National Association of Home Builders, remodeling companies have an average gross profit margin of 24.9% and a net margin of 4.7%. In addition, the report suggests that the average profit margin for home remodeling has declined and gone flat over the past few years.

How do you determine if a house is worth renovating? ›

You should always, always, always get a home inspection — especially on fixer-uppers. If the inspection reveals only superficial repairs are needed — things like replacing broken doors/windows, repainting chipped walls, or adding some new shingles, then you've likely found a good investment.

How much remodeling can be done with $100,000? ›

Location plays a significant role, as does the choice of materials. You can your $100k budget towards a kitchen remodel, bathroom renovations, bedroom makeovers, or exterior upgrades. To maximize your return on investment, prioritize projects that add value to your home.

Is 50k enough to renovate a house? ›

A more realistic budget would be around $50,000 – this allows you to do more than make changes in only one space. For under $50,000, you can make several renovations to a home and increase its value significantly, especially if you know how to cut costs without compromising on quality.

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