Your home is one of the largest investments you will ever have. And just like any investment, it’s important to take care of your home by doing necessary repairs, regular maintenance, and most of all, keeping your home’s design up-to-date. By doing so, the value of your home will increase significantly. However, due to current financial woes, a home renovation project may not be at the top of your to-do list right now.
But what if I told you that there are ways to save a lot of money on your home remodeling? Yes, you can remodel your home at an affordable price. All you need to do is strategically plan your materials, design, and timing for your home remodeling project. You will see that it is actually not that difficult to cut costs without compromising the quality of the project. Here are some tips on how to remodel your home without blowing your budget.
1. Efficiency matters, not size. Rearranging your home, bathroom, or kitchen for maximum utility doesn’t necessarily require building or creating more space. You can do this by using shelves with hidden cabinets or pull-out drawers. This can be very useful, especially in the kitchen, where careful planning for extra space pays off by not needing to extend the cabinets to the other rooms.
2. Let there be light. You can let more natural light into your home without having to build additional doors and windows. Before breaking down the walls for more folding windows or doors, why not think of less expensive and less invasive ways to get more light? For example, you can make a windowless hallway brighter by installing a solar tube skylight that could be more affordable than installing a new window.
3. DIY demolition. If you are planning to start a home renovation project on a tight budget, you can start by being your own demolition crew. Although tearing down part of your home may not be as expensive as rebuilding it, you can still save a few dollars by doing some of the demolition work yourself. Just be careful and take extra precautions. Don’t forget to salvage reusable buildings and little-used accessories. If you have more time to spare, you can also try some of the finishing work yourself, such as painting, sanding, installing insulation, and removing trash.
Four. Consider long-term expenses. Buying pre-finished materials can be expensive up front, but it saves you cash on extensive painting or finishing jobs. For example, you can get weatherboards, baseboards, decking boards, and even pre-cast wall finishes with primer and paint. These items typically cost more upfront, but they will also help you save valuable time and money by avoiding costly paint jobs.
5. It’s about timing. Renovation work can be expensive, especially in peak season. Contractors often double their rates if they are in high demand. Therefore, you may want to create a timetable on when to efficiently start your renovation project. This way, you will have more bargaining power with the contractor and are likely to get a fair deal on your remodeling project. It’s also important to get price quotes from more than one contractor.
6. Go out and buy your own remodeling supplies. Remodeling materials are often expensive. Also, there are some contractors who add a small price commission to the building materials they buy on your behalf, making the process even more expensive. That is why it would be best if you buy them yourself rather than handing over that task to the contractor to make sure you are getting exactly what you are paying for. This also allows you to control every penny you spend on your renovation project.
