Setting Your Budget – With a Contingency

Every renovation guide will tell you to set a budget. But it’s wise to build in a contingency on top of it. Once walls and floors are opened up, it’s common to discover things you didn’t know about beforehand. There can be outdated wiring, old plumbing in awkward spots, or timber framing that needs attention. But if you’ve put aside a contingency of an extra 10–15% on top of your budget, it means they’re just an adjustment, not a crisis.

Is Your Kitchen Payout Changing?

The layout is the decision that has the biggest effect on both cost and timeline. Renovations that keep the sink, benches and appliances roughly where they already are are faster, simpler, and cheaper, because the plumbing and wiring stay put, and there’s less for the sub-trades like plumbers, electricians, and flooring to do. A change to the layout, if it affects the structure of your house, could also trigger a building consent, which will add extra cost and time.

Neither approach is better, but knowing which way you’re going before you start will save a lot of back-and-forth.

Check What Needs Consent

So we just touched on consents. Not every kitchen renovation needs a building consent, but some do, for example, if you’re removing a load-bearing wall, relocating plumbing, or making significant electrical changes. If consent is necessary, it pays to build that into your planning from day one rather than discovering it partway through.

Plan for Living Without a Kitchen

It’s easy to focus entirely on the finished result and forget about the weeks in between. A mid-range renovation typically takes several weeks from demolition to completion, and it might even be longer if there’s structural work or consents haven’t been planned for. While you’re kitchenless, setting up a temporary cooking place makes the in-between period less painful. It’s worth budgeting for a few more takeaways than usual, too.