Why You Need a Contingency Budget (and How Much)
A renovation contingency fund covers the surprises hidden behind walls. See how much to set aside, the HUD 10 to 20 percent benchmark and how to spend it.
Author
Ryan
Ryan writes Home Remodel Guidance's planning guides: the order of a remodel, permits, contracts, budgets and contingencies, room-by-room renovations, and which jobs a homeowner can do versus which need a licensed trade.
Ryan has written most of Home Remodel Guidance, covering a renovation from first plan to final inspection: the sequence of work, permits and inspections, contracts and change orders, contingency budgets, financing and insurance, and guides for kitchens, bathrooms, additions and home systems. His DIY-versus-professional guides separate the jobs a careful homeowner can take on from those that need a licensed electrician, plumber or engineer. Guides on this site cite their sources and are updated when the facts change.
Articles by Ryan
Financing Your Renovation: Loan Options Explained
Compare home equity loans, HELOCs, cash-out refinancing, FHA 203(k) and Fannie Mae HomeStyle loans, with the risks and rules from CFPB, HUD and Fannie Mae.
How to Vet and Select the Right Contractor
Vet a remodeling contractor in order: look up the license, verify insurance, call references, check complaints and compare bids before you choose.
Home Office Design After the Pandemic: What Changed and What Lasts
See how home office design has changed since 2020, with Census work-from-home data, OSHA ergonomics, lighting and layout choices that suit hybrid work.
Whole-Home Automation: Control Systems, Hubs and Protocols Compared
Compare whole-home automation systems: ecosystem hubs, Home Assistant and pro-installed Control4 or Lutron, plus Matter, Thread, Zigbee and Z-Wave.
Design-Build vs. Traditional Build: Which Is Right for You?
Design-build uses one contract for design and construction; traditional build splits them. Compare cost, speed, risk and control for a home remodel.
Modular and Prefab Construction: Changing the Industry
What modular and prefab construction is, how it differs from HUD Code manufactured homes, how codes and inspections work, and what to ask before you buy.
Home Gym Ideas: 2026 Fitness Trends and Equipment Choices
Choose home gym equipment and design features using the ACSM 2026 fitness trends, CDC activity guidelines and manufacturer safety and power data.
Industrial Design Elements in Modern Homes
Exposed brick, steel, concrete and matte metal fixtures define industrial style. See the key elements, how to soften them, and what to check first.
Mixing Materials: The Art of Contrasting Textures
How to mix wood, metal, stone and fabric in a room so the textures contrast without clashing, with pairing rules, finish advice and room-by-room examples.
