Ways to Save Money on Your Next Home Renovation

Renovating your home can be an exciting venture; however, as most people know, the costs can quickly add up, which can put a damper on your project. Fortunately, there are ways to renovate your home without breaking the bank, which the following tips will help you with.

Go Window Shopping

Browsing the selections at your local home improvement or hardware store prior to your project will help give you a feel for the appliances and fixtures you want as well as give you an estimate of costs. Once you have a feel for the goods you like, be sure to communicate it to your contractor to ensure you get what you want.

Cut Design Costs

If you have a small project, simply consider hiring an architect for a one-time design consultation as opposed to a complete job, which can really add up. Simply have the architect evaluate the issue and then draw out a few designs, which can then be taken to your builder and then made into formal construction blueprints.

Have a Demo Party

You can save on renovation costs by enlisting some friends and doing minor demolitions yourselves, provided that you proceed with caution. However, experts warn against demolishing the inside of the home yourself unless you have prior experience or you are working with a contractor, in which case he or she will help you avoid knocking out load bearing as well as avoid hitting live wiring or plumbing fixtures.

Work with a Contractor

If you are an avid do-it-yourselfer, you can cut costs by doing the job yourself with the assistance of a contractor. Some contractors offer mentoring and consulting services on a per hour basis to do-it-yourselfers and will walk you through every aspect of the project to ensure a professional job.

Tackle Small Tasks Yourself

Tackling small projects like painting a room yourself is fairly simple and helps save on renovation costs. In fact, the only materials you will need include paint, paint brushes, sandpaper, and tape, which will only set you back about $100 as opposed to the typical $25 to $100 an hour professional paint job.

Buy Pre-finished Wood

Pre-finished and pre-painted wood may cost a bit more, typically about an additional 10 to 20 cents per foot; however, the paint and finish last for years, which will help save time, money and effort on additional paint jobs down the road.

Since factory finishes and paint are applied on dry wood under controlled conditions as opposed to being exposed to harsh weather conditions, it provides longer lasting results.

Ask Your Contractor for Leftovers

Sometimes your subcontractor will have leftover materials such as wood in various lengths and widths from previous jobs, which make excellent use for flooring or cabinetry. So before embarking on your project, simply ask your contractor if they have any leftover materials that would otherwise be thrown in the trash, which will help save on material costs.

Purchase Salvaged Materials

If you plan to complete your project yourself, you can save big on recycled building materials and light fixtures. In fact, there are a few stores, such as the ReStore, which offers recycled materials well below home improvement store prices. However, be warned, if you are working with a contractor, they will not use recycled materials because they do not want to be held liable if the product is faulty.

Consider Using Replicas

Some replicas have the look and feel of the real thing, but they are available at a fraction of the price. For instance, there are some hybrid woods that are sustainably harvested in plantations for the exceptional look and feel of various real wood types. So when looking to save on material costs, especially for cabinetry and wood flooring, simply consider its replica or a hybrid version instead.