Free homeowner tool

Renovation Allowance Checker

Compare contractor allowances with your actual selections and see which categories are pushing the renovation over budget.

Compare allowances with actual selections by category See total overage or savings immediately Spot the categories creating the biggest budget drift Use the result before approving the next selection or change
This tool answersWhich allowances are quietly moving my renovation budget?

Compare the amount carried in the contract with the price of the selections you are actually making.

Enter the allowance and selection priceUse only categories that apply to your project
CategoryContract allowanceActual selectionDifference
Cabinets$0
Tile & flooring$0
Plumbing fixtures$0
Lighting$0
Appliances$0
Other$0
Combined allowance variance$0Selections currently match the entered allowances.
Total allowances$0
Total selections$0
Over / under$0
Largest overageNone entered

Allowances and markup rules vary by contract. Use this as a budgeting check, then confirm how your contractor calculates selection differences before approving or ordering.

Keep every allowance overage and project change in the same running total.Start free with your first project change, then keep tracking for $19 per project.
Start tracking

How to use this renovation allowance checker

Allowances can make a bid look complete while leaving major finish costs uncertain. Compare the allowance carried in the contract with what you actually selected before the overage becomes another surprise.

Use the result as a conversation starter

These homeowner tools organize the information already in your contract, selections, change orders, invoices, and closeout records. They are designed to surface missing information and questions before the next decision.

Save the supporting documents and confirm any contract-specific or jurisdiction-specific requirement directly with the appropriate professional. RenoTally does not decide whether a contractor charge is legally valid or whether a payment is legally required.

Keep the result connected to the running project total

Once an allowance overage, credit, approved change, or payment becomes real, add it to the same running project record. That keeps the free decision tools from becoming another disconnected spreadsheet or note.

Stop recalculating it by hand

Turn the calculation into a running project.

Create your renovation or rehab in RenoTally, add your first change free, and keep every addition, credit, contractor payment, and pending decision tied to one live total.

First change free $19 per project No subscription
Start tracking free