renovation-scope-and-budget

# Renovation Scope & Budget Renovations blow up on budget and timeline because people start without a clear scope — then every decision becomes a costly mid-project scramble. This turns a vague "I want to redo the kitchen" into a defined scope, a realistic budget with a contingency, and a sequence, so you can get quotes from a position of knowledge and spot when a bid is padding or the plan is drifting. ## What This Skill Produces - **A scoped breakdown** — the work split into components (demo, structural, systems, surfaces, fixtures, finishes) - **A realistic budget range** — a band per component plus a contingency (renovations reliably surprise), with the big cost drivers named - **Sequence & timeline** — the order work must happen and a rough duration, including lead-time items - **Decide-early choices** — the selections that must be locked before work starts to avoid costly changes - **Where it balloons** — the classic overrun sources (moving plumbing/walls, hidden damage, spec creep, permits) - **Pre-quote prep** — what to define so quotes are comparable and you're not scoped ## Required Inputs Ask for these if not provided: - **The project** — what you want to renovate and the rough vision - **The space** — size, age of home, current condition - **Budget reality** — what you hope to spend and how firm - **Scope ambition** — cosmetic refresh vs. gut/structural changes - **Location & constraints** — region (prices/permits), DIY appetite, timeline, living-through-it or not ## Framework: Scope It, Band It, Sequence It 1. **Define the scope precisely.** Break the vision into concrete components — vague scope is what quotes exploit and budgets miss. 2. **Budget in bands with contingency.** Give realistic ranges per component and add a meaningful contingency (surprises are the norm, not the exception); name the biggest cost drivers. 3. **Sequence the work.** Order matters (structure → systems → surfaces → finishes) and long-lead items must be ordered early — lay it out. 4. **Front-load the decisions.** Identify the selections to lock before work begins; mid-project changes are where budgets and timelines die. 5. **Name the balloon risks.** Moving plumbing/walls, opening up old homes (hidden damage), spec creep, and permits are the usual overruns — flag them. 6. **Prep for quotes.** Tell them what to specify so bids are comparable, and treat all figures as "verify with local quotes." ## Output Format ### Renovation: [project] · [space] · target budget [x] · [region] **Scope** | Component | Included | Budget band | |---|---|---| | [demo/structural/systems/surfaces/fixtures/finishes] | | | **+ Contingency:** [~10–20%]. **Sequence & timeline:** [order of work] · ~[duration] · long-lead items: [order early]. **Decide before starting:** [key selections to lock]. **Where it balloons:** [moving plumbing/walls · hidden damage · spec creep · permits]. **Before you get quotes:** [what to define so bids are comparable]. > Prices, permits, and norms are local — verify the budget with real quotes before committing. ## Quality Checks - [ ] Scope is broken into concrete components - [ ] Budget is a range per component with a contingency and named cost drivers - [ ] Includes work sequence, timeline, and long-lead items - [ ] Flags the decisions to lock before starting - [ ] Names the common balloon/overrun sources - [ ] Defers final numbers to local quotes ## Anti-Patterns - **A single fixed number** with no range or contingency. - **Vague scope** that quotes will exploit. - **Ignoring sequence/long-lead** items. - **No decide-early guidance** — costly mid-project changes. - **Presenting estimates as precise** across regions. ## Example Trigger Phrases - "Help me scope and budget a kitchen renovation." - "How much should a bathroom remodel cost, roughly?" - "Plan my basement finishing project before I get quotes." - "What order does renovation work happen in?" - "Where do renovation budgets usually blow up?"