Core answer: Renovation budgets split roughly: design 3–5%, hard construction 30–35% (demolition, water/electric, masonry, carpentry, paint), main materials 30–35% (tile, flooring, sanitary, cabinets, doors/windows), appliances + furniture 20–25%, contingency 10%. For 100 m²: budget tier ~¥1,500–2,500/m² (¥150–250k total), mid ~¥3,000–4,000/m², high-end ¥5,000+/m². The #1 rule: the contingency is not optional — 80% of renovations exceed the original quote by 10–30%.
The allocation template (100 m², ¥300k mid-range)
| Category | % | ¥ |
|---|---|---|
| Design fee | 4% | 12k |
| Hard construction (半包) | 32% | 96k |
| Main materials | 32% | 96k |
| Appliances + furniture | 22% | 66k |
| Contingency | 10% | 30k |
The three contracting models
- 清包 (labor only): you buy everything; cheapest, highest time cost, zero accountability buffer.
- 半包 (labor + auxiliary materials): contractor does cement/sand/putty; you buy tile/flooring/sanitary — the mainstream balance.
- 全包/整装 (turnkey): one contract covers everything; convenient but material brands/models must be pinned in the contract or expect substitutions.
Worked examples
Example 1 — The quote trap. Company quotes ¥180k 全包; contract says tile "¥80/m² grade", cabinet "similar to display". Mid-project: tile you actually want +¥45/m², cabinet upgrade +¥12k, "unforeseen" wall leveling +¥6k. Final ¥235k. Fix: brands + model numbers + quantities written INTO the contract; changes only via signed 变更单.
Example 2 — Where money hides. Water/electric rework (¥80–120/m), waterproofing (2 coats + 24h closed-water test), wall leveling — the invisible 30% of hard construction. Cheap quotes strip these; the wall cracks and leaks arrive in year 2.
Example 3 — Payment rhythm. Never pay >30% upfront; standard rhythm 30/30/30/10 tied to milestones (水电验收, 泥木验收, 油漆验收, 竣工). The final 10% is your only leverage — release it after the snagging list is done.
Example 4 — Appliance-first design. Decide fridge/oven/washer models BEFORE cabinets: a 910 mm fridge into an 880 mm slot is a ¥3,000 cabinet redo. Design around appliances, not the reverse.
Common mistakes and myths
- Choosing the lowest quote — low quotes are deposits on future 增项 (change orders); compare itemized bills, not totals.
- Skipping the contingency — old-building surprises (rotten pipes, uneven slabs) are certainties, not risks.
- Trend-chasing hard finishes — the net-red wall treatment costs ¥10k and dates in 3 years; spend on bones (waterproofing, wiring, windows), express taste in soft furnishings.
- Ignoring ventilation time — formaldehyde off-gassing peaks in summer; budget 3–6 months of airing (or source control: E0/ENF boards, water-based paint) before move-in.
- Verbal agreements — every promise that isn't in the contract with quantities and brands is a future dispute; the group chat is not a contract.