Renovation Scope Classifier

Paste a renovation scope and an AI model in your browser rates it cosmetic, moderate or major and lists likely permits.

Private.

Not legal advice.

Last updatedHow we build & check our tools

Interactive Tool

This tool runs in your browser and is loading now.

Enter your values once it appears to see your results.

How Renovation Scope Classifier works

Press Load model once: your browser downloads Gemma 4 E2B instruction-tuned (web build) (2.0 GB) from this site and keeps it in its cache. Then add your text and press Classify locally. The model runs on this device using your graphics card, so nothing you enter is sent to a server. Until the model is loaded, or if your device cannot run it, the tool falls back to a simple keyword check and labels the result as the fallback.

Gemma 4 E2B instruction-tuned (web build) is a small open language model from Google. The tool sends it the instruction below plus your text, asks for a JSON answer with fixed fields, and shows each field as a card. It runs at temperature 0, so the same input gives the same answer on the same device, though different graphics cards can word it slightly differently.

Inputs longer than 6,000 characters are cut to that length before they reach the model, and the result says so. The model only sees what you paste: it does not look anything up.

The instruction the model gets

You classify the scope of a renovation from a scope note. Give one scope level: Cosmetic (paint, flooring, fixtures, cabinets refaced), Moderate (layout kept but new kitchen or bath, non-load-bearing walls, new appliances), or Major (structural changes, load-bearing walls, additions, new electrical service, re-plumbing, roof, foundation). List the items that usually need a permit or a licensed trade, such as electrical panels, structural walls, gas lines and moving plumbing, and say that local rules decide. Do not estimate costs or timelines and do not say the work meets code.

What it returns

  • Scope level: Cosmetic, Moderate or Major, then a few words naming the item that sets the level.
  • Items that often need a permit: Items from the note that commonly need a permit or inspection.
  • Trades involved: Trades the note implies (electrician, plumber, framer, painter and so on).
  • Questions for the contractor: Two or three questions to ask before signing.

Worked example

The model's output for the built-in sample, recorded on a desktop browser. Your run may word things slightly differently.

Scope note: Replace cabinets, keep plumbing in place, open non-load-bearing wall, new 200 amp panel, refinish floors, permit needed for electrical.
Scope level
Moderate, kitchen/bath updates
Items that often need a permit
electrical panel
Trades involved
cabinetmaker electrician flooring installer
Questions for the contractor
What is the exact scope of the wall opening? Are there any existing utility lines that need to be relocated? What is the process for obtaining the electrical permit?

The model

The files are served from this site, versioned so a cached copy is never stale. Nothing is fetched from a third party while you use the tool.

ModelDownloadRuns onLicence
Gemma 4 E2B instruction-tuned (web build)2.0 GBGraphics card (WebGPU)Apache-2.0

Limitations

  • Small language models make mistakes: they can miss an item, merge two, or state something more confidently than the text supports. Check the result against your input before you rely on it.
  • It needs WebGPU and about 8 GB of memory, so it is offered on desktops and laptops, not on phones and tablets. Devices that cannot run it get the keyword fallback, clearly labelled.
  • Results describe the input you gave, not the real-world situation behind it. Review them yourself before acting.
  • This is not financial, tax or legal advice. Confirm anything important against your own records and with a qualified professional.

Good uses

  • Sorting a stack of contractor scope notes before you decide which ones need an architect or engineer
  • Reading an inspection report and separating "cosmetic" items from things that will open a wall
  • Sanity-checking a flip or BRRRR pro forma before you commit to a "light rehab" budget
  • Spotting permit triggers in a landlord turnover scope before the work starts, not after a stop-work notice

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Renovation Scope Classifier

No. The model files download from this site once, and then everything runs in your browser tab. The text you enter is never sent to a server, and closing the tab discards it.

Sources & References

Mortgages and home-buying

Consumer guidance on mortgages, closing costs, and home financing.