Home Budget Guide

One of the hardest questions at the start of a renovation, extension or new-build home is knowing what budget is realistic.

Accurate costing needs drawings, specification, consultant input and a proper understanding of the site. But before you get to that point, a broad early-stage sense check can be very useful.

This guide is designed to help you understand the likely scale of budget involved, so you can start to align your brief, ambitions and expectations before committing to the next stage.

01

Project type

Choose the option that feels closest overall. The areas below can then describe the actual scope.

Don’t worry if you are unsure. The guide is designed to work with approximate information, and the result should be treated as a sensible starting point rather than a fixed cost.
02

Areas

Approximate areas are enough. Leave anything blank that does not apply.

Approximate new ground-floor extension area in m².
For two-storey extensions. Leave blank if not applicable.
Approximate existing floor area affected in m².
For loft or roof works forming part of a wider project.
Approximate total internal area in m².
03

Refurbishment scope

This helps estimate the amount of work likely within the existing house. Choose the closest fit — it does not need to be exact.

04

Finish level

The finish level sets the general quality assumption. Optional allowances can be added later for specific items such as kitchens, bathrooms or joinery.

05

Complexity drivers

Select any that apply. These do not duplicate the refurbishment scope — they capture additional risks or coordination issues.

06

Architectural service

Select how much architectural input you would like the guide to include.

Site-stage services are shown separately so the pre-construction fee does not feel inflated.
Construction-stage support is normally charged monthly during the build.
07

Optional allowances

Open this if you want to include kitchens, bathrooms, glazing, external works or other known allowances.
You can leave these blank if you do not know yet. They are only to help include likely client-selected items or known upgrades.
Adds a broad allowance for units, worktops, appliances and installation beyond the general construction rate.
Adds an allowance for sanitaryware, tiling, fittings and bathroom installation beyond the general construction rate.
For larger sliding doors, specialist glazing, rooflights or higher-performance glazing systems.
For built-in storage, window seats, wardrobes, utility joinery or bespoke fitted elements.
For patios, terraces, driveways, garden works, drainage, retaining walls, boundary works or external finishes.
For rent, storage or moving costs if living in the property during works is difficult.
08

View your budget guide

The result is a broad early-stage range to help test whether the brief and budget are broadly aligned.

Please select a project type and enter at least one relevant project area so the guide has a project to calculate.

Your early-stage project budget guide

Indicative total project budget inc. VAT
£—
Construction / works £—
Pre-site architectural fees £—
Construction support Optional
Detailed breakdown
Notes and assumptions
Discuss my project If this range feels broadly aligned — or if you would like help making sense of it — the next step is an initial conversation.

What the figures mean.

This guide gives you a broad early-stage budget range to help you sense-check the scale of your project. It is not a quotation, cost plan or professional fee proposal.

Every project needs to be reviewed individually. The right budget will depend on the property, planning context, brief, specification, consultant input, site conditions and the level of architectural support you would like through the process.

If the range feels broadly realistic, we would be happy to talk it through with you. A short initial conversation can help identify whether your brief and budget are aligned, where the main risks may be, and what the next sensible step should be.

Home projects involve a lot of decisions. Our role is to help make the process clearer, better coordinated and less overwhelming.

  • “They listened carefully to what we wanted and showed great flexibility and patience in the face of our lack of experience and indecision! Frances was a pleasure to work with and comes very highly recommended.”

  • “From the very start of the process both Simon and Frances worked extremely hard to create a vision of a beautiful family home situated in a lovely surrounding garden.They offered advice and support too which was all gratefully received as this is a huge undertaking both financially and emotionally too. Fantastic service.”

  • “Very happy with the work of Sharpe Architecture. Frances saw our project through from concept to completion, built a good working relationship with the builder but also pushed back when construction was not as planned or expected. Overall 10/10.”

Let’s talk about your project.

Sharpe Architecture – RIBA Chartered Architects in Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Email: hello@sharpearchitecture.co.uk
Phone: 01892 527 329

Whether you’re planning an extension, a new build or a renovation, we’d love to hear about your project. Use the contact form below to give us a quick overview of what you’re planning. Once we receive your message, we’ll get back to you promptly to arrange a no-obligation discussion to explore how we might work together.

Thanks for considering Sharpe Architecture. We look forward to talking with you soon.