BudgetsProject
Construction budget template
A one-page budget for a build or remodel. Costs are grouped into soft costs, site and structure, systems, finishes and closeout, each line with columns for what you budgeted, what it cost and the difference, and a totals block at the bottom.
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On this page
What prints
The title is Construction Budget, with write-in lines for the Project and the Start date. The table has the columns Item, Budget, Actual, Difference and Notes. Its 22 lines come in five bands:
- Soft costs: Permits and fees, Design and engineering, Surveys and inspections, Insurance.
- Site and structure: Site work and excavation, Foundation, Framing, Roofing, Windows and doors, Siding and exterior.
- Systems: Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, Insulation.
- Finishes: Drywall, Flooring, Cabinets and countertops, Painting, Fixtures and appliances.
- Closeout: Landscaping, Dumpster and cleanup, and a line named Contingency (10 to 15%).
Below the table is a block of three boxes, Total budget, Total actual and Over or under, and an optional notes box.
The settings
- Heading. Name the job, for example "Kitchen remodel".
- Notes box. Optional ruled space at the bottom.
This page uses the Construction or remodel project type. The marketing budget uses the same layout with different lines.
Using the contingency line
Almost every building job turns up surprises: rot behind a wall, a code change, a price jump. The printed contingency label of 10 to 15 percent is a common allowance, not a promise. Work out your own figure only after you have filled in the other lines, then set it aside and treat it as spoken for.
Collect two or three written bids for big lines, such as framing and HVAC, and write the winning number in Budget. Use the Notes column for who the contractor is, what the bid covers and when a deposit is due. When an invoice arrives, write it in Actual that day.
Worked example: a $118,800 addition
The lines are: permits and fees $2,500, design and engineering $6,000, foundation $14,000, framing $18,000, roofing $9,000, windows and doors $8,500, plumbing $7,000, electrical $8,000, HVAC $9,500, drywall $6,000, flooring $7,500 and cabinets and countertops $12,000.
Those add up to $108,000. A 10% contingency is $10,800, so Total budget = 108,000 + 10,800 = $118,800.
Midway through, the foundation actual is $16,500 against $14,000 budgeted, a difference of $2,500 over. Instead of reworking the plan, the owner draws that from contingency: 10,800 − 2,500 = $8,300 left in reserve. A note in the margin explains the extra rebar.
Keeping it current
A budget only helps if it stays close to reality. Update the Actual column whenever an invoice or receipt arrives, and add the Difference right away so a small overrun does not hide until the end. Keep copies of permits, contracts and change orders in one folder, and mention the folder in Notes. At closeout, the totals box gives you a clear record for the next project.
Before you sign
Budgets here are estimates for your own tracking, not a lender's figures or professional cost advice. If you are financing the work, ask your lender how draws and disclosures work.