Most people typically have a rough budget in mind before they set out to renovate their homes. However, if one is not careful, that budget can easily skyrocket due to overlooked renovation costs caused by a lack of detailed planning.

What’s more, different contractors come with different chargers, so it’s easy to miss out important details if you don’t compare quotes.

Sure, you can always screen through a list of renovation contractors or even request multiple quotes from different contractors.

This is why it’s always advisable to overestimate your budget to prevent yourself from getting stuck in a sticky situation.

To spare you from misunderstandings and disputes, here are seven unexpected renovation costs you should look out for.

Electrical wiring or ducting

Thanks to an increased usage of electrical appliances and devices, having lots of plug points is a necessity in modern homes.

For one, your living room alone requires plugs for the TV, modem, wireless router, gaming console, surround sound speakers and so on. Adding plug points usually costs about RM80 per outlet.

This also requires electrical work to extend the cables and the possibility of rewiring cables at the fuse box. You also need to decide whether to conceal the wires inside the walls (which requires hacking), or boxing it up with simple PVC trunking (which may be unsightly).

Similarly, new air conditioner unit installations require trunking to hide the piping so that it doesn’t mess up your interior design, which also leads to added costs. Therefore, always check that your contractor has included all the necessary electrical wiring charges.

Renovation permit

Remember that different local councils have different rules and guidelines. For example, you may need a permit to extend your kitchen if you live within the jurisdiction of DBKL.

“If we’re strictly talking about renovating the interior of a landed property, then general permits aren’t needed,” says Andy, an interior designer cum contractor from Inniva Design and Construction.

“However, if you’re renovating your home to extend an area, then you do need to apply for a permit from your local council. Condominiums on the other hand, are regulated by the community’s management, so permits are required. The prices of these are based on your project’s sum,” notes Andy.

Make it a point to check with your local city council regarding these permits.

Debris cleaning

Renovation costs also include the cost of debri removal. Though it’s mandatory for contractors to haul your debris and other garbage, be cautious of how much they are charging you for it to avoid overcharging.

According to Andy, the cost for debris removal is usually between RM120 to RM500. Also, if you have an open drain in front of your home, it’s important to ensure that the debris is removed so it doesn’t clog your drain.

All renovation contracts should also include the cost of renting a construction waste bin (known as roll-on, roll-off or RoRo) during the renovation. They cost around RM10 per day, and RM200 to empty it every time.

Post-renovation cleaning

Towards the completion of your renovation, your house will be swarming with dust and dirt, hence it is vital to allocate a small chunk of your budget for post-renovation cleaning.

While there are many contractors who do include post-renovation cleaning in their quotes, some might not. Therefore, you may need to hire post-renovation cleaners yourself.

Post-renovation cleaners specialise in cleaning your home after heavy renovation works, and they also have special types of equipment for hard-to-remove stains..

Doors and its hardware

You can always specify to your contractor which door type you prefer. But unless it’s stated otherwise, don’t be surprised if your contractor ends up charging you everything from door knobs and handles, to more intricate details like door latches, locks, and even door paint.

However, Andy says that it’s difficult to quote every nook and cranny because customers have different wants and needs in mind.

“For instance, customer A might assume that doorknobs come included with the installation of doors. Customer B, on the other hand, might assume that they’re not only paying for a door with a doorknob, but it also comes bundled with a door stopper.”

Therefore, you can expect most quotations to include door type prices as well as all the accessories that come included.

Bathroom accessories

In most cases, your contractor will be happy to install bathroom accessories at no additional charges.

However, more complex bathroom fittings, like rain showers or futuristic water jets that shoot out from the walls, may require extra plumbing work.

So, make sure your renovator is aware of any special fittings, otherwise, they will go with the defaults.

Some contractors will also offer to supply all the bathroom accessories for you, however, this will come with a small commission that will be added to your final bill.

Last-minute changes

Everyone is guilty of making impulsive changes to original plans, but constant drastic changes, or more severely – last-minute changes – will greatly impact your renovation and designing costs, especially when the work is already deep in progress.

One such example is making a huge U-turn on the specifications and aesthetics of your built-in cabinets. As these are tailored-made, a sudden change of plan will mean that the cost of rebuilding the latest design will add up to your final bill.

Sticking to your original plan is one way of ensuring that your renovation doesn’t go over budget.

Ultimately, to prevent yourself from hidden renovation costs in your quote, it’s vital that everything is properly planned out and also documented.

This will make it easier to communicate and work with your contractor while also keeping track of both your renovation and the funds that go into it.

This article originally appeared on Recommend.my – Malaysia’s #1 Home Improvement Services Platform. Recommend.my offers a safer and more convenient way to hire the best home improvement and home maintenance professionals. From flooring to interior design to air-conditioner servicing, get access to thousands of the best local contractors and professionals at your fingertips.