Budget-Friendly Home Renovation Tips to Save You Money
A home renovation project can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be incredibly stressful if you’re not prepared. Before you start tearing apart your walls or installing new fixtures, take some time to plan out your project and figure out what your budget limitations are. With so many expenses included in renovation projects, it’s easy to go over budget without realizing it.
These tips can help you save money on your home renovation project while still achieving your desired outcome, and you’ll be ready to transform your home into the space you’ve always wanted! Home renovation projects can be costly, but these budget-friendly home renovation tips can help you save money on your next project.
Let’s have a look at some budget-friendly home renovation tips to help you do just that and save money in the process:
Have a Plan
When beginning a home renovation project, it’s essential to have a plan. Before making any decisions about what you’d like to do with your home, sit down and write out exactly what you want. Keep your vision simple:
Start with which room or rooms you want to renovate and what improvements you’d like.
Include where in your home is going on rent immediately after your makeover is complete (if applicable). This will help you figure out just how much money you can spend while still staying within budget.
Write down as many details as possible—even if they seem unrelated at first glance—so that everything is clear in your mind when it comes time for pricing estimates.
Choose the Right People
One of the most common reasons people give up on home renovations is their unexpected costs. While you can do most of your work yourself, certain tasks are best left to experts. For example, hiring an outside source may be your only option if you don’t have plumbing experience or a specific toolkit. Fortunately, it’s easy to find trustworthy professionals online. Many websites allow you access to information about more than just pricing—you can read reviews from other consumers about their experiences as well. Reviewing these sites should help you pinpoint who is right for your project and will save you a bundle of headaches down the road.
Set a Limit
When starting a budget home renovation project, it can be easy to go overboard and blow your budget on unnecessary items. Setting a limit will help you stick with what you need and avoid unnecessary purchases. For example, if you renovate your kitchen, set a budget limit on each part of your renovation. Maybe $500 is enough for cabinets and countertops but not appliances, while $3,000 will get you new cabinets and appliances. Doing so will help keep costs in check while still allowing room for splurges without going over budget.
Don’t Rush the Bidding Process
While you’re eager to get your renovation started, always take your time getting estimates. It’s easy to become infatuated with a contractor who seems like they will save you money somehow. But if that contractor doesn’t have enough work lined up or takes on too many projects, those savings could cost you big time—and in unexpected ways. Once you award a contract, watch out for home renovation contractors who ask for additional payments early in the process. If a contractor has agreed on pricing and deadlines but then asks for an early payment, which can be a sign of trouble ahead.
Mix Materials
It’s very common for homeowners who are doing a makeover on their home or living space to want to use only one type of material throughout. However, by mixing and matching your materials, you can create a more visually interesting space and save money. When you limit yourself to only one material, especially if it is expensive, like hardwood flooring, you will spend more than if you used it as an accent rather than as your main feature. Mixing and matching materials like that can save you a ton of money when it comes time for renovations! Remember: if all things are equal, stick with what looks best!
Do Some Work Yourself
It sounds obvious, but doing some of your work can save you a good amount of money. For example, if you are remodeling your kitchen, you can opt to do some of it yourself and get help from a friend or family member for other parts. It might not be ideal in every case, but for some things, it may actually save you more money than paying someone else to do it all for you. Also, consider where you can cut corners and still accomplish what you want with your DIY home renovation project. Sometimes all it takes is looking at things differently than others have before us.
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Prepare for Hidden Costs
When making a home renovation plan, be sure to budget for all costs and expenses, not just materials. For example, if you plan on hiring a professional to make your home improvements, budget at least an extra 10% for their fees. Also, consider hidden costs like utilities and insurance and factor those into your budget as well. And don’t forget about your personal investment either—you might need to buy new tools or paintbrushes to finish certain projects, so account for that when calculating overall expenses.
Be an Over-Communicator
When you’re overseeing a renovation project, you want to make sure that everything is going according to plan. So far, so good? Communication is key. Call or email your contractor with any questions or concerns that come up during construction—you should be clear on your vision and expectations from day one. If something goes wrong, stress isn’t going to solve anything; communication will allow you and your home renovation contractor to work together quickly and easily to reach a solution. If something comes up that has not been discussed prior, be sure that it is adequately corrected and completely before moving on.
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Consider Reclaimed Materials
You can keep costs down with many materials like reclaimed lumber, reclaimed stone, and even reclaimed glass for your home renovation project. If you choose to reuse something that is being recycled anyway instead of producing a brand new product, you’ll save money on your home renovation project. Reclaimed lumber and stone are incredibly common in today’s home remodeling projects because people love repurposing old items for new purposes. The best part is that often these items can be found for much less than it would cost to buy similar materials from a retailer. The only drawback here is that if you don’t know what you’re doing, removing some of these older elements from your home could leave damage or make reusing them more difficult.
Combine Projects
When tackling a home renovation project, it’s tempting to take on as much as possible. While it can be fun and rewarding, you’ll end up spending more money—plus, you’ll have a lot of decisions (and stress) on your hands. One way to save money and make things easier is by combining projects. For example, if you’re renovating a bathroom and replacing flooring in other home areas, consider installing tile in your bathroom instead. Doing so will save you money on your bathroom remodeling project because you only need to purchase one type of flooring material rather than two different kinds. Plus, it’s easy to find inexpensive items like shower curtains that can add visual appeal without costing much!
Sell What You’re Not Using
One of the best ways to save money on home renovations is by selling things you already own. For example, if you have a large bedroom set that’s taking up too much space in your home, consider listing it on eBay or Craiglist and getting it sold. The money you make from selling that item can be used as your down payment on a new piece of furniture. This can be especially effective for anyone who doesn’t plan on moving homes anytime soon—since it’s one less thing you have to buy!
Think About Alternatives
While some home renovations will cost thousands of dollars, some alternatives may save you money. For example, think about purchasing an older home and remodeling it instead of buying a brand new one. Also, consider using DIY home remodel projects to get things done yourself rather than hiring professional contractors; there are many how-to videos online that can help you learn how to do these kinds of projects yourself. And lastly, while it’s okay to want high-quality materials in your home renovation project, think about other ways to save a little bit of money here and there on certain things. Think outside of what’s typically accepted or expected.
The Bottom Line
Home renovation is a pricey undertaking, and no one likes to overspend on home renovations. However, start with an end goal in mind, and set a budget for your project. You can actually save a significant amount of money by undertaking home renovations yourself. It isn’t easy to know where to start and what products are best for your particular project with so many choices available. Thankfully, though, the above discussed budget-friendly home renovation tips can help if you’re looking for ways to save money while making home improvements. If you follow these simple tips, you’ll likely come away with a better product at a lower price point!