Custom home & large renovation budget simulator
A project-scale planning model for custom estates and major remodels in the Santa Barbara County markets. Configure up to three scenarios — design options or site conditions — and compare them side by side. Everything is editable; nothing is stored or sent anywhere.
Illustrative planning model built from editable hypothetical amounts — not a quote, not a bid, not market benchmark data, and not a determination that any site or scope is buildable or permittable. Replace every line with real proposals before making financial decisions.
Cost buckets
Every amount and spread is owner-editable. Seeded figures are illustrative placeholders.
Grading, drainage, retaining, driveways — site-dependent; geotechnical findings move this the most.
Result — Scenario A
| Bucket | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Site infrastructure | $175,000 | $400,000 |
| Structure & envelope | $1,080,000 | $1,957,500 |
| Interiors & finishes | $675,000 | $1,440,000 |
| Design & engineering | $187,000 | $308,000 |
| Permits & fees allowance | $60,000 | $120,000 |
| Utility connections | $60,000 | $140,000 |
| Landscaping allowance | $90,000 | $300,000 |
| Contingency | $279,240 | $559,860 |
| Duration soft costs | $180,000 | $180,000 |
| All-in project budget | $2,786,240 | $5,405,360 |
Core build rate (structure + interiors)
$390–$755 / conditioned sq ft
All-in budget per conditioned sq ft
$619–$1,201 / conditioned sq ft
Includes site work, design, fees, utilities, landscaping, contingency and soft costs — never compare this figure against a builder's quoted construction rate.
Scenario comparison
| Scenario | All-in low | All-in high | Core $/sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scenario A | $2,786,240 | $5,405,360 | $390–$755 |
| Scenario B | $2,786,240 | $5,405,360 | $390–$755 |
| Scenario C | $2,786,240 | $5,405,360 | $390–$755 |
What this model excludes
- Land acquisition, financing points and closing costs
- Permit and impact fees beyond the editable allowance (confirm with the agency)
- Sales tax on materials (jurisdiction-specific; confirm current rates)
- Hazardous-materials survey or abatement on existing structures
- Utility main extensions or capacity upgrades quoted by the utility
- Furnishings, art and AV equipment beyond allowances
- Cost escalation beyond the modeled duration
Questions to ask before committing
- Which buckets did each bidder exclude — and are the exclusions identical across bids?
- Is the geotechnical report final, and does the site line reflect its findings?
- What is the assumed escalation if the schedule extends six months?
- Which allowances are placeholders, and what would make each one move?
- Who carries the contingency — and how are draws against it documented?