When building a house, it is important not to spend the entire planned budget. A financial reserve can help cover unexpected costs that may appear during construction.
As a general guideline, it is recommended to keep around 10–15% of the total budget for unexpected expenses. For more complex projects or difficult sites, the reserve may need to be higher.
For example, if your house construction budget is €100,000, it would be wise to keep an additional €10,000–€15,000 as a contingency reserve.
This money may be needed for additional work, project changes, increases in material prices, problems discovered on site or other expenses that could not be predicted from the beginning.
The reserve should not be treated as money available for more expensive finishes or additional purchases. It should be kept specifically for unexpected situations.
A well-prepared project and detailed cost estimate can reduce the risk of additional expenses, but they cannot eliminate it completely. That is why keeping a 10–15% reserve is a sensible approach when planning your construction budget.
