Home Renovation

Plan, budget, and manage home renovation projects including contractor coordination, timeline tracking, and cost estimation.

Security Scan

The skill's requests and runtime instructions align with its stated purpose: it is an instruction-only, local project-management helper that creates and maintains files under ~/home-renovation/ and asks for no external credentials or installs.

Purpose & Capability

Name/description (home renovation planning, budgeting, contractor coordination) match the instructions and included templates. The only required artifact is a local config/memory directory (~/home-renovation/), which is proportionate to a project-tracking skill. No unrelated credentials or binaries are requested.

Instruction Scope

Runtime instructions are focused on reading/writing files under ~/home-renovation/, creating per-project markdown files, and guiding conversation flow. They do not instruct network calls, access to other system paths, or accessing external services. Note: the skill will store contractor contact info, budgets, and other PII/financial details in plain text under the user's home directory — this is expected for this purpose but is a privacy consideration the user should be aware of.

Install Mechanism

Instruction-only skill with no install spec and no code files — lowest install risk. There are no downloads, packages, or executables introduced by the skill itself.

Credentials

No environment variables, credentials, or external API keys are requested. The metadata's configPaths entry (~/home-renovation/) matches the declared local storage usage. No disproportionate access is requested.

Persistence & Privilege

always is false (normal). The skill will write its own files to ~/home-renovation/ and store an 'integration' preference (e.g., whether to auto-activate). Autonomous invocation of the model is allowed by default on the platform (not a red flag by itself), but if the user opts into 'always' integration in memory, the skill could activate whenever renovation-related context appears — consider this persistent behavior when granting activation preferences.

Assessment

This skill appears coherent and limited to local project tracking. Before installing, consider: 1) Sensitive data (contractor contacts, license numbers, budgets) will be stored as plain text in ~/home-renovation/ — if that concerns you, store less-sensitive summaries or use an encrypted location. 2) Confirm you are comfortable with the skill creating files in your home directory and optionally setting an 'integration' flag that enables auto-activation; if not, keep integration set to 'on-request'. 3) The skill claims not to contact contractors or access outside files — verify your agent/platform enforces that isolation. 4) Because the source is listed as unknown, prefer installing only if you trust the registry/homepage and periodically review the created files (and delete the folder when finished).

Setup

On first use, read setup.md for integration guidelines. Create ~/home-renovation/ if it doesn't exist.

When to Use

User plans a home renovation or remodel. Agent tracks budgets, timelines, and contractor coordination. User needs help evaluating quotes, planning phases, or managing multiple trades.

Architecture

Memory lives in ~/home-renovation/. See memory-template.md for structure.

~/home-renovation/
├── memory.md          # Status + active projects overview
├── projects/          # Per-project details and tracking
│   └── {project}.md   # Budget, timeline, contractors, notes
└── archive/           # Completed projects

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Setup guide	setup.md
Memory template	memory-template.md
Project types	projects.md
Contractor evaluation	contractors.md
Renovation phases	phases.md

Core Rules

1. Project-Centric Memory

Each renovation gets its own file in projects/. Track:

• Budget: original estimate vs actual spend
• Timeline: planned vs actual dates
• Contractors: who, contact, status, notes
• Decisions: what was decided and why

2. Budget Reality Check

When user shares a quote or estimate:

• Ask square footage and scope details
• Compare to typical ranges (see projects.md)
• Flag if significantly above/below normal
• Never guarantee prices — always "typically ranges from..."

3. Phase-Based Planning

Renovations follow a sequence. See phases.md for details:

1. Planning & permits
2. Demolition
3. Structural/rough-in (electrical, plumbing, HVAC)
4. Insulation & drywall
5. Finishes (paint, flooring, fixtures)
6. Final inspection & punch list

Wrong order = costly rework. Always verify sequence before starting.

4. Contractor Coordination

When multiple trades involved:

• Confirm who handles permits
• Establish communication expectations
• Document verbal agreements immediately
• Track payment schedule vs work completed

5. Scope Creep Defense

Every change request:

• Get written quote before approving
• Update budget tracker
• Recalculate remaining contingency after each approved change order
• Assess timeline impact
• Document decision and rationale

6. Decision Documentation

For every major decision, record:

• What options were considered
• Why this option was chosen
• Cost and timeline impact
• Date decided

This prevents revisiting decisions and provides context for future projects.

7. Progress Updates

When user mentions progress:

• Update project timeline
• Check if on budget
• Note any issues or delays
• Celebrate completed milestones

Common Traps

• Paying too much upfront → Never more than 30% deposit. Balance tied to milestones.
• Verbal agreements → Get everything in writing. "They said" has no legal weight.
• Skipping permits → Insurance won't cover unpermitted work. Resale problems.
• Cheapest bid → Often means corners cut or change orders coming. Middle bid often safest.
• No contingency → Budget 15-20% extra. Something always comes up.
• Scope creep silence → Every "while we're at it..." adds cost. Track it.
• Wrong sequence → Painting before electrical = repaint. Plan phases correctly.

Cost Estimation Guidelines

These are rough ranges only. Always get local quotes.

Project Type	Low	Mid	High	Notes
Kitchen remodel	$15K	$40K	$80K+	Cabinets drive cost
Bathroom remodel	$8K	$20K	$40K+	Tile and fixtures vary
Flooring (per sqft)	$3	$8	$15+	Material + labor
Roof replacement	$8K	$15K	$30K+	Size and material
Window replacement (each)	$300	$700	$1,500+	Standard vs custom
Deck/patio	$5K	$15K	$40K+	Material matters
Painting interior	$2K	$5K	$10K+	Size and prep work

Cost multipliers:

• HCOL area (SF, NYC, LA): 1.5-2x
• Historic home: 1.3-1.5x
• Expedited timeline: 1.2-1.5x
• Custom/high-end materials: 2-3x

Red Flags to Watch

Contractor warning signs:

• Won't provide references
• Demands large deposit (>30%)
• No written contract
• Can start "tomorrow" (why are they free?)
• Much lower than other bids
• Pressures quick decision
• No insurance/license proof
• Won't pull permits

Project warning signs:

• Budget already maxed before starting
• No contingency fund
• Timeline too aggressive
• Too many simultaneous projects
• Unclear scope document

Security & Privacy

Data that stays local:

• Project details in ~/home-renovation/
• Contractor contact info you provide
• Budget and timeline tracking

This skill does NOT:

• Access financial accounts
• Contact contractors directly
• Make purchases or payments
• Access files outside ~/home-renovation/

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:

• money — Personal finance and budgeting
• projects — General project tracking
• plan — Planning and goal setting

Feedback

• If useful: clawhub star home-renovation
• Stay updated: clawhub sync