Can you explain allowances?

Allowances are budgets set for certain items in your home so you can choose the exact finishes and fittings that suit your preferences. For example, we might allow $50/m² for tiles-if your home has 60m² of tiling, that gives you a $3,000 budget.

If you select tiles that cost less, you save money; if you choose something more expensive, the difference is added to your contract.

This gives you flexibility to prioritise where you want to spend or save-for instance, using savings on tiles to upgrade to a higher-end benchtop. In the HIA contract, these are referred to as 'Prime Cost Items', but we simply call them allowances to keep things clear. All allowances are clearly outlined in your project proposal so you have full visibility and control over your selections and budget.