May 2009 Consumer Reports survey on the hidden costs of home improvement

If the survey of 17,129 readers about their experiences with 18 common projects, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center survey, can serve as a guide, odds are high that something will go wrong with your next remodeling project.

Below you'll find the list of eight common projects and the percentage of survey respondents who went over budget. Read the rest of the story to find out how much over budget they went in dollars and what the main expenses were. Then check out "Project Runaways," which offers advice on how to keep your project expenses on track.
Illustration by Headcase Design

Basement finishing 56 percent

Bathroom remodel 60 percent

Deck addition 45 percent

Interior painting 31 percent

Kitchen remodel 56 percent

Major landscaping 45 percent

New windows 33 percent

Room addition 55 percent