Renovation budgets usually fail for small reasons, not big ones. I saw this happen during a project in Seattle, Washington.
Everything looked fine at the planning stage, but a few early shortcuts ended up costing more later. The biggest one was underestimating prep work.
Before renovation photo is showing worn and even areas.
Another mistake was ordering materials too early. Some items sat on-site for weeks and got damaged before installation. Reordering added both cost and delays.
Skipping professional help for certain tasks also caused problems. Some work had to be redone once inspections failed.
Once everything was corrected, the renovation turned out fine, but the budget had already stretched. Those early decisions made the biggest impact.
Finished space after renovation.
If you’re renovating in Seattle, plan for prep work, time your material deliveries, and know when to bring in a professional. It can save money in the long run.