Home Renovation Checklist
Plan a room refresh or a whole-house renovation from first sketch to final sign-off. Track budget, permits, trades and materials in one place, with an estimated-vs-actual cost total that updates as you go.
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
- $$
About Home Renovation Checklist
A renovation touches far more than the room you're updating — design decisions, budget, permits, demolition, several trades, materials, and a final inspection all have to land in the right order. The Home Renovation Checklist starts you with a sensible project plan across seven phases — planning and design, budget and financing, permits and approvals, demolition and prep, trades and contractors, materials and fixtures, and inspections and sign-off — so nothing gets missed between the first sketch and the final walkthrough.
Every task carries an estimated cost and an actual cost, so the running totals at the top show your planned budget, what you've actually spent, and the variance between them — the number that matters most once quotes turn into invoices. The seven starter phases are fully editable — rename them, delete ones that don't apply to your project, or add your own for a self-build, extension, or landscaping job. Everything is stored only in your browser's local storage: there is no account, no sign-up, and nothing is uploaded to a server. Use Export for a JSON backup, "Download PDF" for a printable copy to share with a contractor, and pair this with the Checklist Generator for one-off lists.
How to Use Home Renovation Checklist
- Enter a project name, pick a scope (single room, multiple rooms, or whole house), set a target completion date, and choose your currency.
- Work through each phase in order. Remove any default task that doesn't apply using the trash icon, and add anything missing in the "Add a task" field — press Enter or tap the + button.
- Make the phases fit your project: click a phase's title to rename it, use the trash icon in its header to delete one, or tap "Add phase" to create new ones.
- Enter an estimated cost for each task as you get quotes, then fill in the actual cost once it's invoiced or paid. The phase total and overall variance update instantly.
- Tick a task's box once it's genuinely complete — not just started — so the progress bar reflects real project state.
- Watch the variance figure: a positive number means you're over budget on that task or phase, negative means under.
- Click Export to download a JSON backup before a big milestone (demolition, first fix, final inspection) so you always have a snapshot to fall back on.
- Click "Download PDF" for a printable copy to share with a contractor, keep on-site, or file with your renovation paperwork.
Tip: get quotes for the whole project before demolition starts. Filling in estimated costs early gives you an honest total budget before you're committed, when it's still easy to scale the project back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my renovation plan private?
Yes. Everything is stored only in your browser's local storage on this device. Nothing is uploaded to any server, and there's no account. Clearing your browser data will erase the plan, so keep a JSON export as a backup.
Do I need a permit for my renovation?
It depends on your location and the work involved — structural changes, new electrical circuits, plumbing relocation, and extensions typically need approval, while cosmetic work like painting usually doesn't. Check with your local building department before demolition starts; the Permits & Approvals phase is a starting prompt, not a legal guarantee.
How much contingency budget should I set aside?
Most renovation professionals recommend 10-20% on top of your quoted budget, higher for older properties where hidden issues (wiring, damp, structural surprises) are more likely once walls open up.
What's the difference between estimated and actual cost?
Estimated cost is what you budget or get quoted before work starts; actual cost is what you're invoiced or actually pay. Entering both lets the variance total show you, task by task, exactly where a project is running over or under budget.
Can I add, rename, or delete phases?
Yes. Click any phase's title to rename it, use the trash icon in its header to delete the whole phase and its tasks, and the "Add phase" button below the grid to create your own. Your custom phases are saved along with everything else.
Can I print or save a PDF for my contractor?
Yes. Click "Download PDF" for a clean, printable plan listing every phase, task, estimated cost, and actual cost, with a box showing which tasks are complete. In the print dialog choose a printer for a paper copy or "Save as PDF" to share by email.
What order should renovation phases happen in?
Roughly: planning and design first, then budget and permits in parallel, demolition and prep, then first-fix trades (electrical, plumbing) before plastering, followed by materials installation (flooring, tiling, fixtures) and decoration, ending with inspections and sign-off. Your contractor will sequence the details for your specific job.
Does it work for a whole-house renovation, not just one room?
Yes. Set the scope to "Whole house", then duplicate or rename phases per room using "Add phase" if you want separate cost tracking for, say, the kitchen and bathroom, or keep one shared plan and just add more tasks.
Does it work offline?
Once the page has loaded, your plan lives in local storage and works offline. Just open it on the device where you saved it — your data doesn't travel between devices unless you Export and Import it.