Get professional help . Financial consultants, lenders, and fundraising organizations can help congregations set a budget for renovations. And building experts, such as architects and contractors, can help a building committee outline a project that meets their comfort level. Specialists, such as roofers or structural engineers, can help evaluate the condition of existing buildings and note problems that should be taken care of before a building is altered. Check church resources .
Some denominations offer consultants and workshops to help congregations with building projects.
Allow for extras . In drawing up a budget, factor in approximately 5 percent of construction costs for emergency expenses. Keep the right perspective . Don't let money be the only factor in deciding whether or not to implement a building proposal. One church we worked with had traffic-flow problems, largely due to a stairway that was built in the 1950s to connect the old sanctuary to the education building.