A useful budget separates the house from land, design, site works, infrastructure, furniture and contingency.
01
Make scope comparable
State the floor-area basis, finish level, pool, landscape and external works. Compare quotations against the same drawings and inclusions.
02
Account for the site
Access, slope, ground conditions and connections can change the work required. Ask how each has been assessed and priced.
03
Separate allowances
Identify provisional items, exclusions, tax treatment and validity dates. Keep professional fees and operating setup visible.
04
Control changes
Record the budget baseline. Require a written price and time impact before approving variations, then update the forecast.
Turn reading into a useful record
Keep three columns in your working notes: the question, the source of the answer and the action still needed. Give each open issue a responsible person. Ask the relevant professional to explain the limits of their review, and preserve assumptions alongside the conclusions.
Before making a commitment
Use this checklist to prepare a more precise conversation. It does not establish rights, condition, value or suitability of any individual property. Obtain the appropriate independent advice for your transaction and confirm current requirements with the responsible authority.
