Plan the renovation before the invoices start. The Home Cost Desk Renovation Budget & Contractor Quote Comparison Workbook is a structured Excel planning system for homeowners who want one place to compare bids, control allowances, track change orders, monitor payments and see the real final cost of a project.
Premium Home Cost Desk workbook
Purchase availability pending. The workbook is not yet available to buy. Purchase access will be added here once the final file, checkout and delivery have been tested.
What the workbook includes
- Project Setup — define the project, target budget and planning assumptions.
- Master Budget — track planned, committed and actual spending in one view.
- Contractor Quote Comparison — compare up to four contractor bids on equivalent scope instead of headline price alone.
- Allowances — separate uncertain fixture, finish and material allowances from fixed-price scope.
- Change Orders — record additions, deletions, approvals and the effect on the working budget.
- Payments — track deposits, progress payments and remaining balances.
- Timeline — organize planned dates and project milestones.
- Hidden Costs — capture permit, disposal, temporary-service and other costs that are easy to miss.
- Final Review — reconcile the completed project against the original budget.
- Dashboard & Quote Review — see the financial picture without rebuilding the numbers manually.
Who it is for
This workbook is designed for homeowners planning a meaningful renovation or replacement project where several quotes, allowances, payments or scope changes need to stay organized. It is especially useful for kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, HVAC, flooring, exterior projects and multi-trade renovations.
Why quote comparison matters
Two contractor bids can look similar while including very different demolition, materials, allowances, permits, disposal, finish work and warranty terms. The workbook is built to normalize those differences before you choose a contractor, then keep the approved budget visible while the project is underway.
Use it with Home Cost Desk
Start with our free renovation budget guide and Home Improvement Project Budget Calculator to build a planning range. Then use this workbook to organize the real local quotes and project decisions that follow.
How to get started
- Start with Project Setup. Enter your home, project type, working cash budget and contingency percentage in the editable cells.
- Price the work by category. Track the planned amount, what is committed and what has actually been paid on Master Budget.
- Compare up to four contractor quotes. Account for written exclusions before deciding which proposal really costs less.
- Keep the project current. Track selections and allowances, approved change orders, payment milestones and schedule changes, then review your Dashboard and Final Review.
Questions before purchasing
Is this an online calculator or an Excel file?
It is an Excel (.xlsx) planning workbook with 13 worksheets, including a Start Here guide and a dashboard. It is different from the free calculators on this website. Final compatibility testing in Microsoft Excel is still being completed.
Can I use it for multiple projects?
The workbook contains fictional sample data. For each project, work from your own saved copy and replace the sample entries. Keep the original unchanged as a reference.
Will the workbook find contractors or guarantee their prices?
No. It organizes figures and exclusions from your own written quotes; it does not obtain bids, verify credentials, issue payments, provide tax or legal advice, or replace required inspections.
Can I change spreadsheet formulas or insert rows?
Formula cells are designed to be protected and input cells editable. The prepared worksheet layouts have fixed calculation ranges; adding or deleting rows can produce incorrect results. Use the existing entry areas rather than modifying the workbook structure.
Can I buy it now?
Not yet. The final release file, license and refund terms, payment checkout and secure download delivery must pass release checks before purchases are enabled. No payment is being accepted on this page.