In real renovation, prices don’t stay still. Cement jumps. Tiles go out of stock. Exchange rates change. Transport costs rise overnight. Contractors sometimes get blamed for realities they don’t control — but some also hide behind it to inflate costs.
Protect yourself by:
pricing materials close to the purchase date
keeping a small contingency fund (5–15%)
documenting the original quotation
asking for proof of new prices when increases occur
Understand that some increases are genuine, but you deserve transparency. Renovation becomes less stressful when you expect some fluctuation and plan for it instead of being shocked.