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Renovation Readiness Checker

Twelve honest questions across money, timing, decisions, and risk tolerance. Get a readiness score out of 100 and a straight answer on whether you should start now or wait.

Answer 12 honest questions. Takes two minutes. No email required.

Financial

Do you have the full project budget saved or secured (not relying on hypothetical future income)?

Have you added at least 15% contingency on top of the project cost?

Do you have cash available for unexpected overruns without relying on credit?

Timing

Are you prepared for 2 to 5 months of construction disruption in your home?

Have you planned where to live during the disruptive phase, or confirmed you can cope staying put?

Do you have a realistic deadline (not 'ASAP' or 'no rush')?

Decision clarity

Do you know exactly what you want built (not 'something nice')?

Have you made the major design decisions: layout, finishes, materials?

Is everyone in the household aligned on the project scope?

Risk tolerance

Are you prepared for timeline slips beyond your target finish date?

Do you understand that quoted costs can legitimately increase if conditions change (e.g. discovered defects)?

Are you comfortable making decisions mid-project if unexpected issues arise?

Frequently Asked Questions

What does renovation readiness actually mean?

Ready means you can start the project without it blowing up in your face. You've got the full budget in cash or committed finance, not 'we might get a bonus in March'. You've got a 15% contingency on top that isn't earmarked for anything else. You know roughly what you want built and you've agreed on it with whoever else lives in the house. You've mentally priced in two to five months of disruption and you know how you'll handle it. Most people who come to me underestimate every single one of those. Readiness is the difference between a project you finish proud of and one you finish relieved to see the back of.

How much contingency do I really need?

15% on top of the quoted price is the minimum I tell people. On a £60,000 kitchen extension that's £9,000 sitting untouched until you need it. On a full renovation where walls come down and the house reveals what's really in it, I'd go 20%. People hate hearing that because it makes the project look more expensive. The alternative is running out of money halfway through and ending up with a half-finished kitchen while you wait for a remortgage to clear. I've seen it. The contingency isn't optional margin. It's the buffer that stops the project from controlling you.

Can I start even if I score low?

You can. I'd rather you didn't. A low score means there's something missing that's going to bite you later. Usually it's money: people want to start before they've genuinely secured the budget, then run out halfway through. Sometimes it's scope: you haven't agreed with your partner whether the kitchen island is in or out, and now three trades are waiting on a decision. Sometimes it's tolerance: you think you can handle two months of dust and noise and you can't. Fixing those before you start costs nothing. Fixing them mid-build costs real money and weeks of lost time.

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