Everyone needs a project to break up the monotony of everyday life. For some, that project is building an addition or remodeling their kitchen. However, the costs of making these changes can be daunting—especially for those on a fixed income.
Fortunately, there are several ways one can cut costs without sacrificing quality and beauty in your home renovation.
1. Unnecessary Upgrades
If you’re feeling bold enough to take on a colossal renovation project, then you probably have grand visions of the finished product as well as grandiose expectations as to how it will look and what it will do for you and your family’s comfort levels.
But if you let those dreams run away with your spending account, you’ll inevitably land yourself in debt—which no one wants to deal with, especially when you’re already making a risky financial investment!
Therefore, before you set out on your renovation journey, carefully consider whether the change is necessary.
2. Find Affordable Building Materials
There are more options available than just the big-box stores. You’ll find that locally-owned building supply businesses offer cheaper rates on materials than the big conglomerates do—plus, if you purchase enough of one material (i.e., cabinets), then they will usually give you a discount on it.
For instance, you can contact wholesalers like Banner Solutions to get the best deal on hardware materials. Or you can find used building materials at garage sales, online classified ads, or even dumpsters. And if you’re handy with tools, look for equipment that has been abandoned on the side of the road; it could be exactly what you need to save some money.
3. Cut Down on Supplies
In most cases, renovation projects require more supplies than expected since it’s easy to underestimate how much paint you’ll need or the number of nails required for drywall installation.
Many people also forget about electrical wire when they’re working with appliances, which is why it’s important to check the specs of your specific unit prior to shopping around for supplies while keeping in mind things like shipping costs—which may be substantial if you live in a rural area.
4. Seek Out Free Assistance
Many companies offer free advice about construction, while others will only charge for the time it takes to drive out to your location and inspect the project.
This can be done online or by phone, but either way, you should be able to get some input from contractors who have experience working on projects similar to yours without making them feel obligated to take on the job once they look over your plans.
If this is not an option in your area, then consider hiring a professional mentor instead—or even asking friends or family members if they know anyone who has completed work like this before so that you won’t have any rookie mistakes made on the job site.
5. Be Patient
As with any home renovation, one of the biggest expenses is the labor itself. Unfortunately, this means that you’ll have to wait until your project is nearly complete before you can get a good idea of how much money you’ve saved versus how much you’ve spent.
Obviously, this isn’t fun, and it’s not ideal for anyone who has a deadline they must meet, but it does happen—so don’t let yourself get too discouraged if all goes according to plan and your savings are realized only after the last paint roller has been dried and put away.
6. Consider What You Can Do Yourself
Many people opt to hire pros because they think their own lack of skills will result in shoddy work or increased costs further down the road. This could be true if you’re not careful, but it doesn’t have to be that way!
You can easily learn how to complete many renovation tasks yourself instead of relying on others for everything because this will allow you to cut costs in the long run.
7. Pay Attention to Trends
The best way to make sure you get your money’s worth is by following popular trends—which are constantly changing—in real-time so that, once it comes time for replacement or repair, you can find exactly what you need without having to waste money on something you could have gotten cheaper just a few months earlier.
For instance, if your carpeting starts looking shabby before its due date, then swap it out for one of the latest styles to give your home a whole new look without spending more than you need to.
Renovating your home can be a costly endeavor, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. If you’re careful about where you spend your money and are patient enough to wait for the savings to add up, then you can save yourself a lot of stress (and cash) in the long run. Keep these tips in mind as you begin planning your next house remodel!
