8 Secrets to Saving Money on Your Home Renovation
It’s no secret that home renovations can be expensive. From getting materials and hiring a crew to deal with zoning boards, permits, and contractors, the costs can really add up. However, you are going to learn cheap easy home renovations in this post.
Tack on the fact that many homeowners underestimate the total cost of a home renovation by more than 60 percent and it’s easy to see why remodeling your home is not a decision to be taken lightly.
To get the most bang for your buck when seeking cheap easy home renovations, follow these 5 steps:
1. Research Home Renovations
Researching cheap easy home renovations is key to saving money when you are undertaking any type of project. You can also research ” custom home building services“. You need to know what you are going to be spending on materials and labor before you start so you don’t find yourself in over your head financially.
Researching cheap easy home renovations online is the easiest way to quickly access a wealth of helpful information about your project. The Internet has made it incredibly simple to find what you need in a matter of minutes.
You can also find local contractors who specialize in each type of renovation project, such as bathroom renovations or kitchen renovations. A lot of this information is available for free on sites like Angie’s List. This will make it easier for you to find someone who can help with your renovation at a reasonable cost.
Angie’s List has been helping people find cheap easy home renovations in the realm of local service providers for more than two decades, and we’re proud to have helped millions of consumers find the right professionals for everything from home repair projects to finding a reliable plumber.
Why Use Angie’s List?
Angie’s List has more reviews of cheap easy home renovations in the category of local service providers (like residential paving contractors) than any other online source. Their objective, user-driven ratings, and reviews give you access to the real opinions of people just like you. They also give you information on background checks, insurance, and licenses, and we link you directly to the provider’s website so you can check them yourself.
They are the only service that provides all this cheap easy home renovations information for free. Every month, over a million visitors, come to AngiesList.com to find local service providers—and they are committed to making sure they get it. That’s why we give you not only our opinions on which companies are best but also details on how they were rated so that you have every bit of information possible before making your decision.
2. Know Your Budget
It’s easy to get carried away when planning a home renovation, including a service like a pest control company. You have to decide what you want and what you can afford. It’s also important to make sure you have a reasonable budget for cheap easy home renovations and stick to it. There are many things that can drive up costs, like permits, professional fees, and unexpected repairs. Here are some things to consider when planning a renovation budget:
Set your budget. It’s better to overestimate the cost of the project so there will be money left over. Especially, if you desire to add new trends like a high speed door, or new heating solutions. A good rule of thumb is to set aside 10% more than you anticipate spending on the project.
Get multiple estimates, including quotes from an HVAC contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers as well as a general contractor or project manager. Take the most expensive estimate and add 10%. This should give you a reasonable budget for the project.
Decide how much of the work you want to do yourself versus hiring tradespeople. Be realistic about how much time you can devote to the project so that you don’t bite off more than you can chew. For instance, it might be better to hire an electrical contractor instead of trying to do electrical work yourself.
3. Have a Contingency Budget
While your ideal budget is a great starting point, it is just that — a starting point. You should always have a contingency budget in place for those home improvement projects that inevitably go over budget. This could happen if you end up needing residential roofing services or decide to do some complicated landscaping.
If you don’t have a contingency budget, you risk being hit with a big surprise (like finding out you need new air conditioning).
if your remodel costs more than you anticipated. A change order is usually required for any additional work after the contract has been signed. You may be able to negotiate the cost of these changes or additions, but if you have already gone over your initial budget by a significant amount, it will be difficult to justify spending even more on the project.
Instead of trying to deal with change orders and potential overruns once the work has begun, set aside an additional 10-20% of the total budget for a contingency fund. This will allow you to make any necessary changes without going over your allotted budget. The cost of some materials can be affected by market fluctuations and other unforeseen circumstances, so this extra money will help ensure that you are able to stay within your overall budget without sacrificing quality or aesthetic appeal.
4. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask for Discounts
A quick way to save hundreds of dollars on home remodeling is to ask for discounts. This is so key for cheap easy home renovations. No, this doesn’t mean haggling with the contractor over the price. It means asking for a discount on the supplies or materials that you need.
Tackle this project the same way you’d shop for a car or anything else: Know what you want and where to get it, and then negotiate aggressively. You can also save money by shopping at the right time of year and being flexible about the items you buy.
Here are some ways you can save money when remodeling your home:
Ask for price breaks. This tip applies to almost everything you buy, from paint to light fixtures to carpeting to appliances. When the salesperson in the store asks if you have a preferred vendor, say yes. Then ask for any available discounts or coupons from that vendor in exchange for your business.
Shop at off times of the year. Most people don’t think about doing major renovations in January, but that’s actually one of the best times to do it, as long as you’re not trying to find an indoor job. Contractors have less workspace available because they’re doing fewer jobs during cold-weather months; prices are generally lower on materials.
5. Take Your Time finding a Contractor
Finding the right contractor for your home remodel is as important as finding the right house. Every remodels is unique and finding a contractor that understands your needs and can deliver on time, within budget, and on point is not easy. Everyone has a contractor horror story or two in their past, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are some tips to help you find the right contractor(s) for your project:
Know what you need and want. Before you begin shopping for a contractor, make a list of everything you need and want to be done. This way you can tell potential contractors what they need to do to get the job and if they aren’t willing to get it done, you’ll be able to move on without wasting any time or money.
Ask around. There’s no better way to find out about a good contractor than from someone who has already used them. Ask friends and family if they know of any good contractors in your area, or ask around at work or even on social media (don’t forget hashtags). Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find out about contractors who are reliable and will get the job done well.
Set up an appointment with at least three contractors that look like they’d be a good fit for your project.
6. Use Less Expensive Flooring
Flooring is a big expense, so why not get the best value you can? The flooring industry is coming up with more and more good choices for budget-minded homeowners. Here are some materials to consider for your remodeling project:
Vinyl floor tiles: These are made from engineered materials that are easy to install, come in big patterns and colors, resist scratches, and can be removed or replaced as budgets change.
Linoleum: This old standby is still available in rubber and vinyl versions. It cleans easily and wears well, and it’s easier on the environment than many other flooring choices. In fact, about 40 percent of all linoleum sold in the U.S. is made using recycled content.
Laminate flooring: Laminate floors have been around for years but now can be installed over almost any subfloor, including concrete slabs. They wear well, often look like real wood, and can last 20 or 30 years — or longer if they’re regularly cleaned with a product like Swiffer Sweeper Dry Sweeping Cloth Refills (starting at $9.99 at Amazon).
Cork flooring: This renewable resource is available in sheets or tiles that install pretty easily.
7. Do Your Own Painting
You can save big bucks by painting your house yourself. You don’t need experience or special training to paint well — just follow some basic instructions and use the right equipment and supplies.
Follow these handy tips for successful painting:
Painting your own home can be a great way to save money on unexpected expenses.
TIP: Choose an even, solid color and avoid a shiny finish. This will help the paint last longer and reduce the need for frequent touch-ups.
TIP: Use drop cloths or tarps to protect floors and carpets from paint drips and spills. A single drip can ruin expensive flooring or carpeting, so take care to protect them whenever you’re painting.
TIP: If you get paint on your hands, wipe it off immediately with a paper towel. Don’t apply water — that will only spread the paint further. And don’t use soap — it will leave a residue that will make your hands slippery, increasing the chance of a fall.
TIP: Avoid thinning latex paints with water. Doing so may make cleanup easier, but it also makes the paint more likely to crack over time as it dries in your home’s natural climate conditions.
8. Include Reclaimed Materials In Your Renovation Process
Reclaimed materials are those that have been recycled from existing structures. If you’re going to be renovating your home, using reclaimed materials can give it a rustic or industrial look, just the thing for the eco-conscious homeowner.
These are some of the many common items that can be obtained from salvage yards and used for home improvement projects:
Wood – Wood is one of the most popular reclaimed building materials because it’s easy to work with and looks great when finished. Wood can be used in wood floors, cabinets, furniture, and more.
Brick – Brick is a popular choice for building patios, walkways, and walls.
Metal – Steel, aluminum, and copper are all easily salvaged and can be repurposed into things like fences, stair railings, and more.
Glass – Glass is easy to work with and available in a variety of colors. It’s also a very popular choice for glass block walls or vintage-style windows.
Cement – Cement blocks can be cut or broken apart to create an interesting pattern or design in walls or walkways. Additionally, cement blocks are often coated with colored paint so they can easily be matched to existing structures or even used indoors for decorative purposes like tabletops.
So, what do you think? Did this guide help you break down the process of saving money on home renovations? We sure do hope so! It’s one less thing for you to figure out, so, you have hit the ground running with your project!