Compare the percentage of your renovation cost already paid with estimated work completed and understand what questions to ask when the two drift apart.
Calculate paid percentage from the current approved cost
Use the current approved project cost, not only the original contract. Approved additions and credits change the denominator. Divide payments made by that approved total to see the percentage already paid.
Treat progress percentage as an estimate
Homeowners rarely have a perfect construction percentage-complete calculation. Use a reasonable estimate based on completed milestones and visible work, then discuss material gaps with the contractor rather than treating the estimate as proof.
Review the contract and milestone logic
A payment percentage being ahead of physical progress is not automatically improper. Materials, deposits, mobilization, custom orders, and contract terms can explain timing. The useful question is whether the schedule and invoices match the agreement and the work being performed.
Frequently asked questions
What should I track during a renovation?
Keep the original contract amount, approved additions, credits or refunds, pending changes, payments, and an optional contingency. Those pieces let you calculate a current approved project cost and a separate possible total.
Should pending changes count in my renovation total?
Keep pending work visible, but separate it from the approved project cost until you actually approve it. That distinction keeps committed cost from becoming inflated by options you may never accept.
How do I record a contractor credit or refund?
Record it as a negative project change. Once approved, it reduces net approved changes and lowers the projected final cost.
How often should I update my renovation tracker?
Update it whenever you approve or reject a change, receive a credit, make a payment, or learn that a previously uncertain cost has become more concrete.
Compare the percentage of your approved renovation cost already paid with your estimate of physical project progress.
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