None of us really start out living in our dream homes. Most of us have to take what we can afford and whatever the bank will mortgage for us. So, the way we get around this is to have our homes renovated so that they’re more in line with the sort of dream homes that we have always envisioned.
However, this too can cost a lot of money! Home renovations can set you back thousands of dollars, even for small jobs. How does one go about knocking this price tag down a bit? Here are five simple ways that you can save big money on your home reno projects.
5 Ways to Budget Your Home Reno Project
1: Choose the Right Company
One of the best ways by which you can save money on any sort of renovation project in the home is to choose the right contracting company, like Ultimate Renovations, to come in and handle things for you. This is going to be your best way to save simply because the best companies in the business offer competitive rates. They’re interested in your repeat business, your positive reviews and your referrals; they’re not interested in gouging you for a job. So, to get a renovation on a budget, start with the right company doing the work.
2: One Room at a Time
Home renovations in no way have to be complete-home reno jobs. If you have the budget for that, it’s fine. Though in case you don’t, like most people don’t, then you can really piece it out and just get what you can afford to get. Go with a room at a time here. This also has the added benefit of helping you figure out what to do with the rest of your home. When you get your bathroom completed, for instance, you may realize that the living room doesn’t need to be gutted. Paint and rearrange things for that brand new look and feel.
3: Refurbish Instead of Replace
There are many different aspects of your home that just need freshening up, not replaced. If you have hardwood floors, for instance, you can get them sanded down and re-stained for a mere fraction of the price that you would pay for new hardwood floors. They have to rip out your floors, the padding and put in three different layers of brand new stuff. This is thousands more than just refurbishing. The same goes for old kitchen cabinets, staircases, and more. Fixing instead of replacing is a great tool in your budget arsenal.
4: Opt for Cheaper Materials
When you’re envisioning your home all fixed up after a fresh round of renovations, you’re likely comparing it in your mind to something you see on those fixer-upper home TV shows. Well, curb your expectations and demands a little bit here. They have huge budgets there, whereas the rest of us are merely human! Instead of that restaurant-style range, opt for just a good stove. Instead of that expensive and rare Italian granite, just get some faux marble that still looks great and is a fraction of the price. This is a great way to save money.
5: Do the Easy Stuff Yourself
Okay, so maybe you’re not Tim the “Tool Man” Taylor, who’s going to refurbish that water heater over the weekend, but there are still things that you can do to save money. For example, the construction crew is going to put up your drywall; that’s a given. But who says they have to stick around to paint it or to put wallpaper up? This is the sort of stuff you can do. The same goes with the crew rouging in a toilet hook-up. You can get a wax ring and a wrench and do some of it yourself. Now, we’re not talking about the complex stuff; but for the easier stuff, you can save a lot by handling the job(s) yourself.
Most of us have that ‘If only I had money” attitude, especially when it comes to things we’d love to do with our homes. What we’d like for everyone to understand is that it doesn’t cost a fortune to have some renovations done by a quality, professional company. If you can follow a few simple tips, then you can get some quality renovations done without breaking the bank.